Top Picks For A Whale Watching Cruise
The worldwide whale watch industry brings in roughly $1.25 billion dollars each year. According to outspoken Canadian animal rights activist Paul Watson, "Back in 1980, whale watching surpassed whaling as an industry. Now it's worth about four times as much. Whale watching provides far, far more jobs to people than whaling ever did. Whale watching has become an ally in the fight to end whaling." While some tour operators are reckless and irresponsible, the promise of conservation through education is sound. In this article, you will learn about some of the best places throughout the world for a whale watching cruise.
Azores, an isolated Portuguese-owned island chain in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the best places to whale watch in Europe. Situated 950 miles from Lison, the Azores Archipelago survives autonomously from cattle farming, fishing and tourism. Many travelers love the nine major islands and eight smaller volcanic islands because it remains one of the few unspoiled paradises on the planet. With massive craters, towering mountains and bountiful wildflowers, this idyllic paradise makes a great setting. Over the summer, you can see sperm whales and short-finned pilot whales, although the best time for a whale watching cruise is February to June, when you can see humpback, fin, killer, sei and blue whales, as well as several types of dolphins. The winter months (November through January) offer little opportunity to see anything, so be sure to plan accordingly.
The World Wildlife Fund named Hawaii one of the "Top Ten Whale Watch Spots in the World." While all Hawaiian Islands tout their whale watching cruises, the best area is the protected Auau Channel off the warm west coast of Maui. Whaler's Village near Kannapali Beach is another one of the best places to catch a glimpse of humpback whales migrating from Alaska, giving birth and rearing their young. McGregor Point overlooking Maalaea Bay offers great views of humpbacks during early morning and late evenings, where they breach, fluke and head slap. The ideal time to travel is December through April, although the calving season begins in late January, when you will see the little guys curiously floating up to shore.
A whale watching cruise in California is always an amazing experience. Why bother with SeaWorld, when you can witness the mighty migration of 26,000 gray whales? The grays are the largest of the whales, so viewing the last leg of their 10,000 mile migration from the Arctic Sea to Baja, California is truly impressive. December through March is generally the best time to spot these slow swimmers. Other whales varieties you may spot include the California gray, humpback, pilot, fin, blue, killer, southern right and minke whales, California sea lions, harbor seal, as well as Pacific white sided, bottlenose and common dolphins.
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Tips For Whale And Dolphin Watching
Whale and dolphin watching is a thriving tourist industry, bringing in over $1.25 billion a year and whisking more than 10 million curious travelers around the vast oceans of the world. Whether you're visiting Boston, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Mexico or the Caribbean islands, you can add a whale watching cruise to your itinerary to get a closer look at these amazing animals.
Making The Most Of Whale Watch Cruises
To get the most out of your whale watching experience, choose a tour operator that has onboard naturalists or marine biologists. These whale research experts can explain the whale behaviors to you and point out which species are frolicking in the water. Some larger ships have a guide narrating over a PA system, while smaller ships allow for intimate interaction with your captain.
Where To Find a Whale Watch Cruise
If you're looking for a whale watch cruise in the South, consider going to Mexico. You can call up Discover Pacific Tours, Baja Whale or Go-South-Adventures to see fins, orcas or grays. Many people love to take their whale watching cruise in Mexico because this is where most of the whales migrate to feed and breed during the winter months.