Baja California, Mexico - This is the heartwarming moment an affectionate 40-foot mother whale and her curious calf popped up to say hello to tourists who showered them with hugs and kisses.

Guests were amazed when the friendly grey whales drifted up to the boats. The friendly mother rose to the surface just in time to make these holiday snaps ones to remember.

The images were captured by professional photographer Justin Hofman off the coast of Baja California, Mexico.

"This is the most amazing wildlife encounter on the planet. It's impossible not to smile and laugh at these incredible whales," Californian Mr Hofman said.

"There are lots of grey whales that are friendly and seek out contact, not just one individual," he added: "It's a very powerful experience when a whale is looking into you."

"The number one comment I hear afterwards, besides that they feel so weird and rubbery, is that people say the whale looked right at them. "People walk away fundamentally changed after an experience like this."

Grey whales migrate more than 5,000 miles from their summer feeding grounds in the Bering and Okhotsk seas of the Arctic. They use the relatively warm waters off Mexico to give birth, mate, and nurse their newborns.

The naturally curious species has made a dramatic recovery since it was nearly hunted to extinction in the early part of the 20th century.