The World’s Major Whale Habitats Explained

There can be relatively few people amongst us, who having walked into London’s Natural History Museum, have not gawped in astonishment and awe at the simply colossal skeleton of Hope, the juvenile blue whale that has adorned its ceilings for almost 100 years. And who doesn’t remember ‘that’ David Attenborough moment when a living version, the largest animal on earth and all 30 metres of it, surfaced like a submarine right next to him eliciting an immediate emotional response that was sheer joy and unequivocal delight. I understand that feeling all too well, watching whales does that to you.

The combined mystery and magnificence of these beguiling giants fills us with a sense of wonder, their immense size and power, softened by a visible gentleness and grace, a reminder of our own insignificance. Ecologically, they form the top of the food chain, circulating nutrients, fertilising plankton blooms and absorbing carbon dioxide. They're undoubtedly highly intelligent, they sing, they surf, they play, they're tactile, and they fiercely protect their own. While some have teeth, others have baleen, some are solitary, others are social, yet all are masters at leaving us wanting more. They tease us with fleeting, irresistible glimpses into their aquatic existence as dorsal fins slice through the water when they surface to breathe, when fluking, tail and flipper slapping, lob-tailing, spy-hopping, sailing, and especially, when breaching. Our disbelieving eyes take a moment to comprehend just how 45 tons of marine mammal can erupt heavenward, breaking the horizon. They're the great navigators of our infinite oceans, an environment about which we know so little.

Broadly speaking, whales can be described as migratory. For the most part, summer months are spent in their respective Arctic or Antarctic feeding grounds, gorging on nutrients and piling on the reserves required to sustain them when they gravitate towards tropical, warmer waters, in order to breed and give birth. As they move around the globe, sharing their natural habitat with other marine wildlife as diverse as dolphins to sea lions, turtles to sea otters, and polar bears to whale sharks, not to mention seabirds, they provide us with a bewildering choice of places from which to enjoy whale watching tours. So, where do you start? Well, as the largest water body on Earth, and 75 years on since commercial whale watching began there, the Pacific is as good a place as any!

The Pacific Ocean

For arguably the best whale watching experiences on the planet, you can’t go wrong with Baja California. Between the months of January and April, a mindboggling number of the world’s whale species gather along this 1,200 kilometre long peninsula, which separates Mexico’s Pacific coast from the rich marine life found within the Sea of Cortez to the east. Mating, birthing and nursing their young, multiple species including blue whales, humpback whales, fin whales, sperm whales, pygmy sperm whales and Bryde’s whales all overwinter here, and with luck, you may also see killer whales (orca are, in fact, dolphins, but were labelled as ‘killers of whales’ in times gone by).

The undisputed stars of the show though, are the grey whales who frequent lagoons and shallow water all along Mexico's Pacific coast. Endearingly termed ‘friendly’ whales, they actively seek us out, offering themselves for belly rubs and head scratches, a captivating wildlife experience that's as adrenaline inducing as it is life changing. The personalities of calves shine through, playful and bold, but it's especially humbling when an adult female pushes her precious, shy youngster towards you, demonstrating enormous trust when you consider that our forefathers almost hunted them to extinction.

For a chance to relish numerous species, countless sightings and super pods of dolphins, join our Ultimate Baja Whale Safari, a sensational small group tour that combines an exclusively chartered liveaboard in the Sea of Cortez, complete with spotter plane to aid with sightings, and the opportunity to snorkel with whale sharks. That’s not all though, flying on to San Ignacio Lagoon, daily whale-watching trips will see you up close and personal with the alluring grey whales. If you’d prefer a single centre stay, focussing specifically on the greys, choose a departure date and duration to suit with our tailor-made trip idea, Grey Whales of San Ignacio Lagoon.

One other annual phenomenon occurs off the Pacific coast from October to December, and that's the incredible Magdalena Bay Sardine Run. Join lunge feeding Bryde’s and humpback whales, leviathans amongst a chaos of darting striped marlin, sharks and mahi mahi, as they follow their sought after prey, dramatically corralling them into frenzied bait balls. Witnessing this spectacle from both above, and within the water (get your snorkels ready!), is an event that has to be experienced to be believed.

Continuing with the snorkelling theme, much further west lies the remote island nation of Tonga, one of a handful of destinations around the globe that permit, and strictly regulate, swimming with humpback whales. On their terms only, Echoes of the Deep – Swimming with Humpbacks epitomises responsible whale watching, providing respectful and non-intrusive encounters as the adventure is taken to the next level by slipping beneath the waves with a maximum of four participants at a time. The whales stay from June to October, following their migration up from Antarctica, and daily whale watching tours depart from the comfort of your boutique island retreat. This truly is a moving, intimate, and emotive once-in-a-lifetime holiday.

In the heart of the Pacific Ocean, our Hawaii Wildlife Cruise offers an off-the-beaten-track voyage through this lush and achingly beautiful archipelago. The 3,600 square kilometre Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary protects breeding grounds utilised between November and April, a prime time to spot whales. Multiple species share this space too, from false killer and melon-headed whales to pilot and beaked whales, so grab your binoculars and hang out on deck with the onboard marine biologist. There’s the chance to spend an unforgettable evening snorkelling with giant Pacific manta rays, and of course, there are tropical reefs teeming with fish, superb birding opportunities (Hawaiian honeycreepers anyone?), volcano walks, and more, all waiting to be explored by skiff, paddleboard, kayak and bicycle.

All in good time, Hawaii becomes a distant memory as the humpbacks migrate to their feeding grounds off British Colombia. Against a glorious, rugged backdrop of mountains, glaciers and fjords, watching them can be combined with other amazing wildlife such as grey whales, orca, Pacific-white-sided dolphin, Dall’s porpoise, harbour seal, Stellar sea lion, sea otter, grizzly and black bear, coyote, coastal wolf and bald eagle. There's no shortage of ways in which to explore the diversity of Western Canada, whether it be through the freedom of a hire car as per our Vancouver Island Self-drive, which incorporates several whale watching boat trips within it, or a stay at a remote lodge directly overlooking Johnston Strait as offered here through our Safari Slowly on Canada’s West Coast trip idea. Why not explore the waterways of the Great Bear Rainforest on a liveaboard with our Orcas, Bears & Totems holiday, or embrace the great outdoors off Vancouver Island’s north-east coast through Kayaking with Whales & Grizzlies?

Further north still, and the action continues as we reach Alaska where the potential to view minke whales, in addition to humpback, grey and orca, increases the sublime cetacean experiences on offer. You may wish to cruise up Alaska’s Inside Passage: Whales & Glaciers Expedition, a highlight of which will be spending two full days in sublime Glacier Bay National Park. Or increase your photographic prowess, capturing images of bears, whales, and more, on our dedicated Seldom Seen Alaska Photography tour, but perhaps the most sought after phenomenon in these waters, is the focus on Alaska’s Humpback Bubble-net Bonanza. Privately chartering a small whale watching boat, our group hope to observe this learned behaviour utilised by just a few individuals, whereby herring are rounded up from the depths, trapped in bubble nets, and forced to the surface where a dazzling explosion of open mouths and enormous bulging throats appear, in unison, ready to gorge on the spoils. What a performance!

The Arctic Ocean

Polar bound, the Arctic Circle north of the Bering Strait is ice free in the northern hemisphere’s summer months, facilitating entry to the realm of specialist Arctic marine mammals such as narwhal, bowhead and beluga whales (also known as sea canaries due to their impressive vocal repertoire). Make Beluga Whales & Polar Bears the centre of your attention, embarking on boat tours into Hudson Bay and searching for polar bears on foot (yes, you read that correctly!) from an isolated lodge in the tundra accessed from Churchill. Alternatively, cover more ground aboard Canada’s Arctic Discovery, following in the steps of legendary explorers, but with helicopters at your disposal, on an expedition voyage into the Northwest Passage, an untamed wilderness that few are fortunate enough to behold firsthand.

Greenland too, inspires fascination and wonder, a huge mass of ice and polar desert, whose surrounding waters play host to humpback, fin whales and pinnipeds galore. Navigating the immense panoramas of the Scoresby Sund fjord system aboard the Greenland Odyssey with just 11 other passengers, will take your breath away … and if travelling in September, the Northern Lights may well just prove to be the icing on the cake!

The Atlantic Ocean

Belugas may also be found year round off the east coast of Canada, an area remarkably easily accessed from gorgeously quaint Quebec City on our Whales of Tadoussac & Saguenay Fjord self-drive. Celebrate the host of cetaceans who join them for the summer, watching whales from land and sea; think blue, fin, minke, and humpback, plus the occasional sperm whale.

To enjoy the best of eastern Canada’s maritime provinces, we can offer complete flexibility with our Whales of New Brunswick or Whales of the Bay of Fundy self-drive, the latter including Nova Scotia. Otherwise, how about a long weekend treat, a taster if you will, spending three nights in historic St John’s with birding potential galore on our trip idea, Humpback Whales in Newfoundland?

Akin to their Pacific cousins, humpback whales of the Atlantic Ocean amalgamate in huge numbers in warmer waters when it comes to the important business of breeding. For many, this means traversing the USA’s eastern seaboard to converge en masse in the Dominican Republic between January and April. For 35 years or so, a handful of selected operators have been licensed to offer snorkelling with them and we're proud, no, thrilled, to offer a private liveaboard charter for our clients every February accordingly. Snorkelling with Humpbacks on Silver Bank offers the chance to create exceptional memories that will last a lifetime during extraordinary encounters in the Caribbean Sea with adults and calves alike. It takes whale watching to another level.

The South Atlantic too, plays host to a variety of cetaceans, with resident orcas stealing the limelight in October/November and again in March/April. They practice their risky feeding strategy, intentional stranding, off Argentina’s remarkable Peninsula Valdes, which involves surfing the waves of high tide in order to surge onshore and snatch unsuspecting elephant seal or sea lion pups from the beach. Patience and a great deal of luck is required to witness the event but you can try by joining our small group trip Patagonia’s Pumas & Orcas, which, as the name suggests, incorporates big cat viewing in Chile’s staggeringly scenic Torres del Paine National Park. As combinations go, they don’t come much better than this!

Not to be eclipsed, Southern right whales migrate and congregate off the peninsula too, breeding, birthing and nursing between mid-June and December. Sheer cliffs provide perfect vantage points from which to watch whales from above, or join boat tours for a closer view. Patagonia’s Marine Life honours these gentle giants and offers the chance for endearing Magellanic and rockhopper penguins, striking Commerson’s dolphin, guanacos, mara, and other wildlife make an appearance.

Across the pond, Southern right whales also reach South Africa’s Western Cape province, where their arrival every year is heralded and celebrated by the Hermanus Whale Festival. This lovely, walkable town boasts, in their opinion, the best shore-based whale watching in the world so join our small group, South Africa’s Wildlife of Land & Sea, to watch whales not only from the comfort of our clifftop accommodation, but from the water too. With potential to spot Bryde’s and humpbacks in addition, we go on to fuse this trip with four nights in the Greater Kruger area, where we do our best to mingle with the Big Five, spotted hyena, wild dog and cheetah!

Australia, New Zealand & Antarctica

Bringing it back to whales, Southern rights breed off Australia too, a destination glaringly missing, so far, as it doesn’t tend to be a whale-watching destination in its own right. It goes without saying though, that we can build whale-watching trips, viewing humpback, orca and more, into longer itineraries there, whether they be along the west, east or southern coast. Indeed, Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef provides the penultimate destination from which it's possible to snorkel with humpbacks between the months of June and October.

A hop, skip and jump away brings us to the town of Kaikoura, off the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Here, resident sperm whales may be viewed year round, accompanied seasonally by blue, fin, humpback, southern right, orca, minke, pilot and beaked whales. With a veritable smorgasbord of scenery, wine and wilderness in the surrounding area, take a look at our Kiwis & Whales Galore: South Island Self-drive for more information.

Further south still, navigate beautiful coastal scenery and venture further offshore to the little visited Puysegur Trench searching for rare and elusive beaked whales such as Cuvier’s, Arnoux’s, Shepherd’s and strap-toothed whales aboard our private charter, Untamed New Zealand – A Fjordland Wildlife Cruise.

As the crow flies, the frozen seventh continent, Antarctica, is now within reach, and cetaceans flock there to fatten up over the Austral summer. Arguably, the peak months to view blue, fin, orca, humpback and sei whales are February and March, pre migration, so consider embarking on our Antarctic Circle Penguin & Whale Safari in order to make the most of spellbinding icescapes and other wildlife, including adorable fluffy penguin chicks!

For a truly exceptional and extended voyage, consider our Whales & Dolphins of Antarctica & the Chilean Fjords. Another exclusively chartered vessel, travel in the company of renowned cetacean experts and Wildlife Worldwide founder, Chris Breen, for a heady mix of wildlife, wilderness and sensational scenery.

Asia

And now for something a little different. Thailand conjures up visions of sun-kissed islands, paddy fields, temples, rainforest clad interiors and amazing food, but whales? Well, yes. Eden’s whales, a sub-species of Bryde’s whales, reside in the Gulf of Thailand and they appear to have developed a rather clever feeding technique. Frenzied tail slapping gets the ball rolling, handily disturbing and stunning huge shoals of anchovies. In their haste to escape the commotion, they jump into an area of calm water provided by the now stationary whale, hanging motionless in the water, lower jaw agape. The mouth closes and it's a case of mission accomplished. Not only can you benefit from the company of renowned zoologist and conservationist, Mark Carwardine, but there’s also the chance to view Irrawaddy dolphins, finless porpoise and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin on Trap-feeding Eden’s Whales of Thailand.

In the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is an island that has long been associated with whale watching, Mirissa on the south coast being perhaps its most famous venue. A magical destination, boasting culture, history and scenery in abundance, masses of other wildlife can be seen on our small group trip, Elephants, Whales & Leopards.

Europe

Closer to home, a number of destinations are attainable, being just a short flight away. The Azores archipelago, the most remote island chain in the North Atlantic, sits on a migratory route making for a potential baleen bonanza of humpback, blue, fin and sei whales every spring. Resident sperm whales inhabit these waters year round so try your luck on our Whales & Dolphins of the Azores small group holiday, where our partners are accredited with the highly regarded World Cetacean Alliance. Using smaller boats, exercising caution in close encounters, avoiding overcrowding and educating on whale behaviour are key.

Meanwhile, take in Iceland’s epic wild volcanic landscapes, geological landmarks, waterfalls and wildlife at your own pace on Iceland’s Natural Wonders Self-drive. Scan the seas for humpback and minke whales off Husavik and for orca off the Snaefellsness Peninsula. The Northern Lights could just illuminate the night sky, something that may also be witnessed when Swimming with Whales in Norway. If the idea of donning a dry suit and entering the water from a Zodiac to view orca, humpback, sperm and potentially fin whales gets your adrenaline going, join us on our private charter of Virgo in the heart of the Arctic winter!

Showcasing our own shores, how about Scotland? With cetacean sightings on the increase, what could be better than setting sail on a 6-night Isle of Mull Wildlife Cruise searching for minke whales, common and bottle-nosed dolphin, basking sharks, sea birds and other marine life? If you prefer your feet on dry land more often than not, our Isle of Mull Wildlife Extravaganza or Best of the Outer Hebrides with Mike Dilger small group adventures incorporate half and full-day marine mammal boat tours amongst combing the dramatic landscape for otter, deer, eagles and a plethora of other bird species.

Still not sure where to go? In that case, contact one of our friendly Travel Consultants to talk through any of the aforementioned itineraries in more detail. God forbid that they throw anything else into the mix such as Madagascar, Mozambique, Costa Rica, Colombia or Chile! Alternatively, you can view all our whale watching holidays.