The world is full of amazing destinations that you can travel to if you want to see something fun, educational, and breathtaking. If you’re an animal lover who loves to spot as many interesting creatures as possible during your travels, you might be on the lookout for locations that will allow you to do just that. However, as some animals might be a bit more elusive than others, you might have to plan your trip extra carefully to be certain you’ll manage to catch a glimpse of them. With that in mind, if you want to see whales when you go traveling, here are some stunning destinations to consider.
Head to Scotland
When thinking of Scotland, bagpipes, castles, Highlanders, and Nessie might come to mind. However, this magnificent country has so much more to offer. Once you’re done exploring these main attractions as well as Glasgow and Edinburgh, you can also visit the places where you are most likely to see some whales. For example, Loch Gairloch on the west coast is a great place to join a boat tour and spot some minke whales, in addition to dolphins and sharks. A bit more north, you will find The Minch where minke and orca whales can be seen during the annual migration. Mull, Orkney, and Shetland are all spots to visit if you want a glimpse of these giants. Fin, pilot, sperm, humpback, and northern bottlenose whales have all been known to appear in these regions. Time your visit for the period between May and October.
Take a trip to the Azores
No matter if you take a trip to the Azores to see some majestic volcanos or transform your life while relaxing on a beach, you should also make some room in your itinerary for whale-watching. This remote archipelago is home to some resident whales but migrating species can also be spotted. For example, you can see sperm whales all year long while blue, sei, and fin whales pass by from late March to early June. Humpback, bearded, and short-finned pilot whales are also around. Besides whales, you can also see turtles, manta rays, dolphins, and a variety of seabirds.
Vacation in Mexico
Mexico is yet another location where you can go if you want spotless beaches and some fun in the sun. For instance, a classic destination you might opt for is Cabo San Lucas. Fortunately, if you’re also looking for whales, this is a great option from January to April. From standard boats to luxury trimarans and even boats with a glass bottom, the ways of transportation and exploration abound. While various species like blue, fin, sperm, minke, humpback, and Bryde’s congregate in the Sea of Cortez, grays come to Ignacio Lagoon to breed. Other species you might encounter include California sea lions, northern elephant seals, Guadalupe fur seals, and dolphins.
Relax in Hawaii
If you were planning an escape to Hawaii during the December to May period, you’ll be glad to hear that this is prime whale-watching time as around ten thousand humpback whales come to Hawaii in order to escape the cold Alaskan waters. Regardless of which island you decide to visit, you can find boat tours that will show you these social, curious, and acrobatic mammals. If you prefer watching from land, make your way to Maui at some point.
Have a fun time in Australia
You’re probably aware that, due to its size, Australia provides residents and visitors with a wide variety of animals that they can see, including all sorts of whales. So, no matter if you decide to stop at Tasmania or Queensland, you can see some gentle giants if you time your visit right. Moreover, when in Western Australia, you can go whale watching in Perth. From September to December, you can spot humpback whales, southern right whales, and blue whales here. Plus, if you visit the state’s south coast, you can go on Bremer Bay orca tours and see these amazing creatures as well.
Plan a trip to New Zealand
While Auckland is a great destination if you’re looking to travel for New Year’s Eve, New Zealand is an amazing country that has so much more to offer to its visitors. It is known for its pristine natural beauty and you can engage in all sorts of fun activities such as bungee jumping, paragliding, and white water rafting. However, you can also go whale watching as Kaikoura is a hotspot for spotting these mammals. In addition to orca, blue, sperm, humpback, and southern right whales, you can also see seals, dolphins, penguins, albatrosses, and shearwaters. To see sperm whales, you can go year-round while orcas can be spotted from December to March and humpbacks in June and July.
Consider visiting Tonga
Even though there are countless other destinations you can opt for if you want to go whale watching, don’t skip Tonga if you get a chance. This Polynesian country that comprises 169 islands is a great place to see sperm and humpback whales from July to October. Don’t be surprised if your tour operator offers a chance to swim with whales as this is one of a few places on the planet where this activity is permitted. Even if you don’t jump in, you’ll still love the sight of humpback mothers with their calves. Furthermore, you might also see white-tip and black-tip reef sharks.
When planning a getaway, you’re surely taking several considerations into account. If seeing some whales during your travels is a must, don’t skip these seven locations.