Best spots for whale watching

Whales are special animals, not only because they are the largest animals, but also because they are very intelligent. Whales are found in almost every sea and ocean and can, therefore, be spotted on every continent.

It is definitely recommended to go whale watching at least once in your lifetime. It is only incredibly disappointing if you have paid a lot of money for such a boat trip and you will not encounter any whales.

That is why we have made a list for you, covering the places where you have the greatest chance of seeing these magical animals. We also have a number of tips for you especially and we round it all off with some special videos.

Number 5: Alaska

In Alaska, you can actually spot whales everywhere, but for the most special experience, southeast Alaska is the best place.

This is because the phenomenon of ‘bubble-net feeding’ often occurs, where the whales enclose large schools of fish with bubbles, making them group up and easy to catch.

You will find mainly humpbacks in Alaska and sometimes minke whales and orcas. Especially the large groups of whales are particularly impressive here.

Tip # 1: Do not start a whale safari with high expectations, you will not encounter 10 species of whales, no dolphins who want to play games with you or giant humpback whales that jump out of the water. If you go in with those expectations, it can only be disappointing. It all indeed happens sometimes, but that is a matter of enormous luck.

Number 4: Argentina

In Argentina, you can find whales at Peninsula Valdes, where the calves of the Southern right whale and humpbacks are born.

After the birth of their calves, the whales leave for Antarctica. They can be found here between June and November. Blue whales are also regularly spotted here. They are the largest whales.

Tip # 2:  Think carefully about what kind of safari you want. You can search for these majestic mammals on a fast boat, which gives you a better chance of seeing the animals but is indeed quite chilly and less comfortable. Or you can go on a catamaran, for example, which is cozier and more comfortable and you might have dolphins come swimming right next to the boat, but on the other hand, you can go less far out and the chance of spotting any whales is smaller.

Number 3: Antarctica

The whales found in Antarctica spend the time during the cold period in warmer areas such as Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina.

From January to March there are many whales to find in this area, especially around the Antarctic Peninsula, where you can spot many southern right whales, humpbacks and minke whales. 

Tip # 3:  You can get soaked easily here, especially if you go out on the sea with a faster boat or if, just like in the video from our previous page, a whale jumps out of the water right in front of your boat. Keep this in mind. If the weather was to be very hot this would be less of an issue, but you are best advised to be prepared and bring extra clothing or a raincoat.

Number 2: Eastern Canada

Whales of all shapes and sizes occur in Eastern Canada, from the St. Lawrence River to Quebec and the Atlantic part of Canada.

Humpbacks love to come here and so do blue whales and white belugas. The white belugas are particularly special and they cannot be called shy, either. If you like to see it for yourself, feel free to check out this article about a wild beluga whale singing with a man.

Tip # 4:  Dress well, because it can be extremely cold on the open sea, even if it is 30 degrees on the mainland. It is really not fun to spot whales while you are shivering with cold.

Number 1: Western Canada

The best place for whale watching is on the west coast of Canada. You are almost guaranteed to see whales when you go to Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island.
On Vancouver Island, you can participate in an ‘Orca Camp’.

Here you will spend a few days camping in the bays of Vancouver Island, whilst canoeing amongst the killer whales during the day. There are really many Orcas to find in this area and almost any other whale species happens to gather here between July and mid-September, too.

Tip # 5: Take a good look at the weather forecast for the day, BUT certainly at the weather forecast for the days ahead. You are in the middle of the open sea and miles off the coast.  And lastly, don’t forget to enjoy it and take some nice pictures.

If you have booked a trip to one of these places or would like to do so, we definitely recommend that you book an excursion and we wish you a lot of fun.