Travel Destinations

Whale watching is a $1.25 billion dollar industry funded by over ten million people from 90 countries worldwide. Whether you had a Caribbean whale watching cruise in mind or an Alaskan foray into the natural territory of the gray and killer whales, you will find there are many different types of environments to choose from for your next whale watch. When planning your adventure, you’ll have to do your research to know which pods inhabit which waters and when the season for whale watching peaks. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common places to travel for a sighting of these elusive and colossal animals.

Azores, a remote Portuguese chain of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the best places to whale watch in Europe. In the summertime, you will be able to observe short finned pilot whales and sperm whales, however, the very best time is from February to June, during which time you can see humpback, fin, killer, sei and blue whales, along with several species of dolphins. Yet in the winter months (November to January) there is little opportunity to see anything.

The setting for Moby Dick was none other than America’s own Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In fact, in the whaling industry’s glory days, this Northeastern port was the place to be. Today the whale watch industry has taken over where whalers left off, transporting visitors by boat to view pilot, right, humpback and minke whales, dolphins and sea turtles. If you’re lucky, during April, you may spot the northern right whale, which is the most rare species of whale in the world. Due to the fact that currents push food down from Nova Scotia, whales love to feed off the coasts of Barnstable, Boston, Provincetown or Plymouth. May through October is usually the ideal time to visit.

Dominica, one of the Caribbean islands, is renowned for its colorful coral reefs, underwater hot springs, and stunning aquatic life. Vacationers visiting Christopher Columbus’s paradise in the Lesser Antilles can spend their time on rainforest nature hikes and viewing many of the rarest animals, birds and plants throughout the world. Dominica is considered to be the only region on the planet where sperm whales make their home all year long. Every now and then there are whale watch possibilities, and you’ll see feeding, breeding and migration of pygmy sperm whales and dwarf sperm whales, not to mention humpback, Bryde’s and killer whales, dolphin species including spinner, common, Atlantic spotted and Risso’s and giant sea turtles. While tourists are likely to spot something at any time of year, November to April feature the most diverse sightings and the winter months feature the best acrobatics when 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 whale and dolphin watching.