Whales are some of the most majestical creatures in the world and there is nothing more breathtaking and memorable than watching them close up in their natural habitats. With that being said, one of the most memorable things and something that every animal lover should do at least once in their lifetime is going whale watching. Whales can be found in many oceans of the world all the way from Antarctica to Africa. Because they can be seen in so many different places, it is hard to choose the best place to go to if you don’t know what to look for. Yes, you can see them in all those places, but in certain places, it will be more magical than others. But what people don’t know is that whales are engaged species because for centuries they have been hunted. If you have never been whale watching, here are some of the most magical locations where you will be able to experience whales to the fullest potential.
Canada
If you have been wanting to see whales for a while and it is your dream, Vancouver is one of the best places you can go, especially if you want to see killer whales. Depending on what whales you want to see you will want to go at different times of the year. If you want to see orcas, you will want to go in September. While you are there you will also be able to spot humpback whales. What makes Canada different is that they have orca sanctuaries where they will help them and interact with them ethically.
Hawaii
Hawaii is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the whole world. Even though there are so many different fun and magical things you can do while there, not a lot of people know about whale watching. Even though you can go whale watching no matter where you are in Hawaii, the best place to go is between Maui and Lanai. The best time to go is from January to March.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a beautiful place on its own, but what makes it that much magical is that it is one of the most magical places where you can go whale watching. Depending on what type of whales you want to experience you can go at different times of the year. From November to April, you will be able to see sperm whales, humpbacks as well as dolphins. But if you want to see blue whales you need to go during February and March.
Antarctica
As most can probably guess, Antarctica is one of the most popular whales watching destinations. The best time that you can go if you want to see whales is between February and March. As it is so popular you will have to make sure that you are booking your tickets for everything well in advance. The most common sights are humpbacks as well as orcas, but you can also see blue whales as well as minke whales if you are lucky.
Tonga
A destination that is not that popular among tourists is Tonga. It is a Polynesian archipelago that allows you to swim with whales. What makes it so much special is that it is a place where whales will mate and give birth. The best time that you can visit is from July to October during which you will be able to see different rituals such as the male whales singing or even months with their calves.
South Africa
Another destination that is not that popular amongst those who want to go whale watching in South Africa. If you are not too keen on being out in the middle of open water, this is the best location as you will be able to stay on dry land. There are a couple of different things that you can do depending on what you like, you can take an aerial tour as well as a boat one if that’s what you desire. The season stretches all the way from July to October.
New Zealand
New Zealand is possibly the best place you can go to when you want to see whales as it is a place where you will be able to see whales all year round. But if you want to see acrobatic humpback whales the best time you can go is from June to July. Make sure that you are booking your ticket in advance as they are often sold out during the peak of the season.
Perth
Australia which is also known as The Land Down Under and it offers a very wide variety of whale watching opponents, and it will give you the best whale watching experiences you can experience. One of the most popular places is whale watching in Perth and the best time to indulge in such adventure is from mid-July to November, but the best time you can go is in late August. It is the best time because you will be able to experience humpback whales and their calves learning their basic survival skills before they are ready to migrate back to Antarctic waters and live their lives.
Iceland
Island is one of the under-the-radar locations for whale watching despite it being one of the best places in the whole of Europe for such activity. There are over twenty species that you will be able to see from blue whales to orcas. But something that you have to be careful about is choosing the right operator as it is still legal that you hunt whales. Always do your research before booking as you don’t want to end up disappointed or even traumatized.
The Maldives
Another fun place you can visit if you want to go whale watching is in the Maldives. The Maldives is home to over twenty different whales as well as dolphin species. You will be able to experience anything from the largest whales to spinner dolphins as well as blue whales relaxing in their natural habitats. But there are also a bunch of less popular whales such as melon-headed whales to dwarf sperm whales that call the Maldives their home. If you are lucky, you will be able to see some orcas on your trip.
The Azores
The Azores are remote Portuguese islands and they are among one of the most popular destinations where you can go whale watching. They have one of the most diverse whale types and that is what makes them so popular. There you will be able to spot dolphins, killer whales, orcas as well as fin and blue whales. The peak season is from April to September. But make sure that you are booking your ticket well in advance because it is a really popular place. Another thing that you need to be careful about is that you are choosing companies that are approved by the World Cetacean Alliance.
As you can see, there are so many different magical places where you can go to experience the breathtaking creatures. At the end of the day when it comes to choosing the perfect location, whichever ones that you choose from this list, you won’t make the wrong decision. It will be a memory that will forever stay engraved in your adventures.