The Top Places On The Planet To Whale Watch
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, an out of the way Portuguese chain of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, is among the best locations to whale watch in Europe. Over the summertime, it's possible to catch sight of sperm whales and short-finned pilot whales, but the best time is from February to June, during which time you can see humpback, fin, killer, sei and blue whales, as well as a few species of dolphins. On the other hand, in the cold months (November through January) there is not much opportunity to see anything.
The backdrop for Moby Dick was none other than America's own Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Actually, through the course of the whaling industry's peak, this Northeastern port was a happening place. Now the whale watch industry has taken over where whalers left off, carrying visitors by boat to see pilot, right, humpback and minke whales, sea turtles and dolphins. If you're fortunate, if it's April, you can see the northern right whale, which is the most rare species of whale on the planet. Because the currents push down food from Nova Scotia, whales love to feed off the coasts of Plymouth, Barnstable, Boston and Provincetown. May through October is usually the ideal time to visit.
Dominica, one of the Caribbean islands, is known for its colorful coral reefs, stunning marine 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 viewing 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 reside all year long. Every now and then there are whale watch possibilities, and you'll observe feeding, breeding and migration of pygmy sperm whales and dwarf sperm whales, not to mention humpback, Bryde's and killer whales, Risso's dolphins, spinner dolphins, common dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins and giant sea turtles. While visitors are almost certain to see something throughout the year, November to April offer the most varied 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.
