The Best Places On Earth To Watch Whales
April 4th, 2010 by Adam Wheeler, under Travel and Leisure. No Comments
One of the things on many people’s “bucket list” is to whale watch and see some of these gentle, magnificent creatures in their natural habitats. It’s hard to really picture the sheer magnitude of their size or grasp the dynamics of the pod from video documentaries. Some things in life you just have to experience for yourself. While there are many places around the world to visit during whale watching season, you have to be careful that you’re not choosing an exploitative enterprise that will take you on a “whale chase,” more than a watch. It’s best to stay at least 300 feet from the pod and view from binoculars or let them come to you; but many operators, in their rush to provide the biggest thrill, take tourists on a sea-sickening journey that will threaten the psyche of the whales, not to mention the contents of your stomach!
Azores, a remote Portuguese chain of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, is among the best places for European whale watching. Throughout the summertime, it’s possible to catch sight of sperm whales and short-finned pilot whales, yet the very best time is from February to June, when you can see fin, killer, humpback, blue and sei whales, together with several species of dolphins. But in the winter (November to January) there is little opportunity to observe anything.
The setting for Moby Dick was none other than America’s own Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In fact, during the whaling industry’s zenith, this Northeastern port was a happening place. Now the whale watch industry has picked up where whalers left off, carrying tourists by boat to observe humpback whale pods, minke whales, pilot whales, right whales, dolphins and sea turtles. If you’re lucky, throughout April, it’s possible you’ll catch a glimpse of the northern right whale, which is the rarest whale species on the planet. Because the currents carry food down from Nova Scotia, whales love to feed off the coasts of Barnstable, Boston, Provincetown or Plymouth. May through October is usually the perfect time frame to go.
Dominica, one of the Caribbean islands, is famous for its colorful coral reefs, beautiful aquatic life, and undersea hot springs. Vacationers traveling to Christopher Columbus’s paradise in the Lesser Antilles can spend their time on rainforest nature hikes and observing some of the rarest birds, plants and animals throughout the world. Dominica is considered to be the only region in the world where sperm whales live throughout the year. Every now and then there will be whale watch possibilities, and you’ll see migrations, feeding and breeding activity of pygmy sperm whales and dwarf sperm whales, together with humpback, Bryde’s and killer whales, dolphin species including spinner, common, Atlantic spotted and Risso’s and giant sea turtles. Although travelers are almost certain to see something any time of the year, November through April have the most diverse sightings and the winter is when you will see the most acrobatics as the sperm and humpback whales mate.
No discussion about the world’s whale watch capitals would be complete without mentioning Hermanus, South Africa. The best shore-based whale watching opportunities are located at Walker Bay, the southernmost tip of Africa, where whales leap out of the water, breach and fluke. Each year, Hermanus hosts a Whale Festival to celebrate the return of the southern right whales in May. Here they’ll mate and calve in the warm, shallow waters throughout the spring and summer, although the best time for viewing is in October. Travelers will enjoy Bryde’s, humpback and killer whale watching and, most commonly, southern right whales. With great restaurants, accommodations and local attractions, Hermanus is a great place to vacation.
Visit our Whale Watching Cruises site to discover the best places anywhere for a whale watching cruise.
