When is the Best Time to Go Whale Watching?
Rarely are whales resident animals. Most of the time, you’ll find that they are migratory creatures, following mating and feeding routes across the globe. Some cover thousands of miles! A female humpback whale is known to hold the longest migratory record, travelling nearly 10,000 miles from Brazil to Madagascar.
What this means is that the best whale watching in the world is only going to be so during certain times of the year. The migratory behaviour of whales means that they don’t stay in one place for too long.
When Exactly is the Best Time to Go Whale Watching?
All year round! Whales are always in the ocean, and just because they’ve migrated away from one area, that doesn’t mean they’ve gone. They’ve just moved elsewhere, and you can see them there. Some places offer whale watching opportunities during all seasons. Baja California, Monterey Bay and the Azores are all whale watching locations that you can see animals at all times of the year.
Other destinations for whale watching have very specific seasons. In Canada off the coast of Vancouver Island, your best chances are May through October, but if you’re not able to make your trip until later in the year, sperm whales will be gathering around the trenches of Dominica starting from November and staying until March.
But what if April is the only month you’ve got to travel to see whales? Head to Mirissa in Sri Lanka and you’ll have a very good chance of seeing blue whales.
Get the most out of your whale watching excursion with our top whale watching tips!
Whale Watching to Fit Any Schedule
Your concern should not be when you can see whales, because the best time to see whales is every day, somewhere in the world at least. What you should be thinking about is where you’ll be going based on your available travel dates. If you can pick and choose, then you can pick and choose the location and the kind of species you want to see. If you’re limited by dates, you don’t have to worry, just find a location that is known to see whales visit during your available time.
Every single month of the calendar is covered in our ultimate guide to whale watching. View here: best whale watching in the world
