Seeing whales in their natural environment is on many people’s travel bucket list – and for good reason. Witnessing a whale breaching the water and arching through the air with surprising elegance is often a profoundly moving experience. It’s certainly one you’re likely to remember for years to come.
Because whales make some of the longest migrations on Earth, they can be found in most of the world’s oceans. More good news is that many whale watching cruises take you past some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable – so when you’re not watching these highly intelligent mammals, you can sit back and soak in the view. You also have a good chance of spotting other marine animals, from dolphins and sharks to various seabirds.
If you’d like to experience the magic of seeing whales in their natural habitat, you can choose from plenty of destinations – and much depends on the holiday you’d like to have. Are you dreaming of a sun-soaked tropical escape, or an intrepid adventure into a frozen wilderness?
To get you inspired, here are nine of the best places to go whale watching.
1. Baja California, Mexico
Famously called the “world’s aquarium” by oceanographer Jacque Cousteau, Mexico’s Sea of Cortez is arguably the world’s top spot for whale and dolphin watching. Tucked between the Mexican mainland and the Baja California peninsula, this body of water is home to all kinds of colourful fish, dolphins, and turtles, but it’s most known for its whale population. You can spot all kinds of species here, including blue, grey, fin, minke, Bryde’s, pilot, orca, sperm, and humpback.
In winter, humpback whales are usually found in large groups, often breaching and slapping their tails against the water, and putting on a show – while swimmers may be lucky enough to hear their chirping songs. The lagoons are also breeding grounds for grey whales, so to see calves, head here from January to March. Grey whales are friendly and curious, and often swim right up to boats, delighting tourists. Sea lions, rays, and bottlenose dolphins are common too.
2. Mirissa, Sri Lanka
If you’re interested in seeing the largest animal in the world – and like the idea of a tropical escape – you may want to head to Sri Lanka. Located on the country’s southern tip, the town of Mirissa backs onto the depths of the continental shelf, and the waters of this stretch of the Indian Ocean are unusually rich in krill. This makes Mirissa one of the world’s best places to spot blue whales – and between November and April, you have a 90-95% chance of spotting them on a whale watching cruise.
These incredible creatures can reach over 100 feet, and seeing these gentle giants swimming the waters alongside you is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You also have a good chance of seeing Bryde’s whales, sperm whales, and even orcas, as well as acrobatic spinner dolphins, turtles, and flying fish…so a whale watching cruise can be very eventful! The waters can be choppy from May until October, however, so you may want to pack some seasickness pills.
3. Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand
New Zealand’s South Island boasts some of the most dazzlingly beautiful landscapes imaginable – but it’s also home to equally incredible wildlife. Just off the coast of the picture-perfect town Kaikoura, ocean currents meet and tectonic plates collide, creating a unique marine habitat that attracts creatures great and small. Not only can you see seals, dolphins, albatrosses, and penguins in these gleaming waters, but you can also spot whales including blue, pilot, humpback, orca, and southern right.
Plus, this special environment is one of the few places in the world where sperm whales can be observed year-round, so there’s a good chance of an encounter whenever you visit. Thanks to the nutrient-rich water, whales here can grow as long as 65 feet, and seeing them breach in such a stunning setting can take your breath away. While there’s only one boat-based whale watching company here, Kaikoura is known for its rich Maori culture, so there’s plenty to see and do in the area.
4. Husavík, Iceland
The Land of Fire and Ice might be best known for its otherworldly scenery, but it’s also excellent for wildlife watchers. You can see whales off the coast of southern Iceland, with many cruises departing right from Reykjavik harbour – but for the most exceptional sightings, head to the rugged north coast. The small town of Husavík is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top whale watching spots, home to species including blue, minke, humpback, pilot, and orca.
May to September is best for whale watching, and you have a good chance of spotting puffins during the summer months, too. The most responsible way to see the whales is from a silent electric boat – and the animals often come much closer this way. After your cruise, you can learn more about these magnificent creatures at Husavík’s Whale Museum. If you’d like to combine whale watching with seeing the Northern Lights, the best time to go is late September, when you can spot pods of predatory orcas.
5. Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada
The Canadian wilderness is one of the best destinations in the world for spotting wildlife – and it’s just as good for whale watching. Located in northeast Canada, Manitoba’s Hudson Bay coastline is home to the world’s largest population of beluga whales. These snow-white whales are known for their sweet smiling faces, and they’re just as friendly as they look. When Manitoba’s tundra begins to blossom, in June, over 60,000 of these cute bubble-headed whales arrive in the waters of Hudson Bay.
Nicknamed ‘sea canaries’ due to their high-pitched whistles, whale watching excursions here are lots of fun. You can enjoy close encounters with the whales, listen to their ‘conversations’ using hydrophones, and even snorkel with them. Excitingly, the Hudson Bay coastline is also a popular place for polar bears, and you can take trips in custom-built Polar Rovers to observe these incredible, yet sadly, very rare, bears. The best time to see both belugas and polar bears is from late August to mid-September.
6. Juneau, Alaska, USA
Just like Canada, Alaska is a paradise for animal lovers, and the vast wilderness is home to all kinds of wildlife. The oceans are no less exciting and, during summer, these nutrient-rich waters feed all kinds of whales and sea creatures. Orcas, belugas, humpbacks, minke, and grey whales are often sighted in the waters around Juneau, the capital, and boat tours from the city are incredibly popular. Plus, they’re excellent ways to see glaciers, as well as whales.
While orca and minke can be seen throughout the year, the main attraction for whale watchers are humpbacks. Between April and November, around 600 humpback whales arrive in the waters of the northern Inside Passage and, in summer, you can observe them bubble-net feeding – where they spray bubbles from their blowholes to confuse and confine their prey. You might also spot moose, bears, and eagles on a whale watching cruise – and the pristine frozen scenery is another bonus.
7. Western Cape, South Africa
Sharks may be their most famous resident, but South Africa’s oceans are also home to various whales, including Bryde’s, southern right, and humpback. Two oceans converge around the Western Cape, which is the reason for the incredibly diverse marine life, and the sheltered bays and warm waters make excellent calving spots for migrating whales. So, if you’re hoping to see mothers and their calves, the southern tip of South Africa is one of the best spots.
The most common whale is the southern right, and if you visit in September and October, sightings are pretty much guaranteed — although whales are generally active between August and November. You don’t even need to hop on a boat to have an incredible whale experience in this part of the world; at Walker Bay, you can see whales breaching from the clifftop path. Keep your eyes peeled for great white sharks, dolphins, African penguins, and cape fur seals.
8. Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Wild, rugged Patagonia is a haven for all kinds of animals, and whales are no exception. You can spot whales on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Patagonia, but the top spot is arguably the Valdés Peninsula on Argentina’s east coast – particularly the waters around the remote town of Puerto Madryn. The best time to see whales here is from June to December, when migrating southern right whales and orcas swim right up to the shoreline – so close you can watch them from the pier.
The area’s also home to penguins, and while they can be observed from late September to mid-March, the best time to spot them is after November, once their adorably fluffy chicks are born. Orcas can be spotted here too,while along the coast at Puerto Deseado, beautiful black and white Commerson’s dolphins leap from the water. Other whale watching hotspots in Patagonia include the Chilean Fjords, home to humpbacks and orcas, and the Corcovado Gulf, where blue whales can sometimes be seen.
9. Shetland Islands, Scotland
If you’re keen to see whales but aren’t in a position to jet off to the furthest corners of the world, there’s good news: you can go whale watching in the British Isles. While whales (and dolphins) can be spotted all around the UK, the best place to see them is western Scotland – particularly the Shetland Islands. A third of the North Atlantic’s whale population passes through the waters of western Scotland on their annual migration, while some species live here year-round.
You can spot minke, humpback, fin, and sperm whales here, while large orca pods can be seen off Shetland. The Hebrides are another whale watching hotspot, particularly for minke – and what’s unusual about whale watching from the Scottish Isles is that you can almost always spot these mammals from land. The best time to visit is between May and October, when the waters are warmest. You may be able to spot other local wildlife, too, from porpoises and puffins to white-tailed eagles.
Final thoughts…
From the frigid waters of Iceland and Patagonia to the warmer seas of Sri Lanka and South Africa, whales can be found all over the world – including off our very own coastline.
Seeing these highly intelligent gentle giants swimming in the wild is a magical and often moving experience, and you’ll usually spot all kinds of other wildlife too.
If you’re keen to go whale watching, you might want to do it sooner rather than later – as sadly, due to climate change, hunting, and entanglement in fishing gear, whale numbers have been declining since the 1960s.
The good news is that you don’t have to fly across the world to make your whale watching dreams a reality; neither do you have to fork out a small fortune for a luxury holiday. Many whales can be seen from our own shores, which hopefully makes this bucket list experience more accessible for everyone.
Are you interested in going whale watching? Have you already seen whales in their natural habitat? We’d love to hear about your wildlife experiences in the comments below.