SeasonMap

Whale season, month by month around the world

The months the whales are in the bay.

126 destinations on SeasonMap, ranked within each month by the comfort score — because the point is not only where the season is on, but whether the weather is worth the trip while it is.

← All seasons · The world's calendar

When it is on

Number of destinations with whale season on in that month. Windows move a little each year.

Whale season in January

  1. 🇲🇽 Los Cabos, MexicoWhale season · 15 Dec – 15 AprGrays and humpbacks pass the cape between mid-December and April, peaking in February.93climate
  2. 🇪🇸 Tenerife, SpainWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jan – 31 DecA resident population of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins sits in the channel off the south-west coast all year, which is unusual and not seasonal.93climate
  3. 🇲🇽 La Paz, Baja California, MexicoGray whales at Puerto Chale · 1 Jan – 30 AprGray whales calve in the Pacific lagoons on the other side of the peninsula, under three hours by road, and the season there runs from January to the end of April.93climate
  4. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandSperm whales, all year · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe canyon comes within a kilometre of the shore, so resident sperm whales are here in every month rather than in a season.92climate
  5. 🇲🇽 Mazatlán, MexicoHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 5 Apr (usually)Humpbacks come down the Pacific coast to calve and the boats run out past Isla de Chivos most mornings.90climate
  6. 🇺🇸 Kauai, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May, peaking around February.89climate
  7. 🇲🇽 Sayulita, MexicoHumpback whale season · 10 Dec – 25 Mar (usually)Humpbacks come into Banderas Bay to calve and are visible from the headland at Punta Sayulita on a calm morning, never mind the boats.86climate
  8. 🇺🇸 Maui, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe North Pacific humpbacks calve in the shallow Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai.85climate
  9. 🇲🇽 Puerto Vallarta, MexicoHumpback season · 8 Dec – 23 MarThe permitted watching season in Banderas Bay runs 8 December to 23 March, a few hundred humpbacks calving in the deepest bay in the country.85climate
  10. 🇺🇸 Honolulu, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Nov – 15 May (usually)The humpbacks arrive from Alaska and are around the islands into spring, with the most of them in February.83climate
  11. 🇺🇸 San Diego, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Twenty thousand gray whales pass the coast between Alaska and the Baja lagoons, close enough to watch from the cliffs at Cabrillo.83climate
  12. 🇺🇸 Kona, United StatesHumpback whale season · 1 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Humpbacks come down from Alaska to breed and calve in the warm water off the leeward coast, with the peak numbers in February and March.83climate
  13. The Bottom, SabaHumpback whale season · 1 Jan – 30 Apr (usually)Humpbacks pass close enough to Saba's coast from January to April that dive boats occasionally hear them before they see them.83climate
  14. 🇲🇽 Puerto Escondido, MexicoHumpbacks offshore · 1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)Humpbacks pass down the Oaxacan coast through the winter and the small boats out of Puerto Angelito find them most mornings.82climate
  15. 🇺🇸 Lahaina, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai holds the densest breeding population in Hawaii, and the federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May.82climate
  16. 🇺🇸 Laguna Beach, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Grays pass close inshore heading for Baja from about Christmas and come back north with calves in March and April.82climate
  17. 🇵🇷 Rincón, Puerto RicoHumpback whale season · 1 Jan – 31 MarHumpbacks pass through the Mona Passage from January to March and are watched from land at the Punta Higuera lighthouse park as often as from a boat.81climate
  18. 🇩🇴 Samaná, Dominican RepublicHumpback whales in the bay · 15 Jan – 30 MarThousands of North Atlantic humpbacks calve and court in the bay and the season is fixed by law from 15 January to 30 March.81climate
  19. 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 30 Apr (usually)The whole population passes offshore on its way to Baja and back, southbound around January and northbound with calves in March.80climate
  20. 🇲🇽 Huatulco, MexicoHumpback whale season · 1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)Humpbacks come into the bays to calve from December and are usually gone by April.80climate
  21. 🇺🇸 St. Augustine, United StatesRight whale calving season · 1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)This is the only known calving ground for North Atlantic right whales, and a few hundred animals remain in the population.80climate
  22. 🇩🇴 Punta Cana, Dominican RepublicHumpback whales in Samana Bay · 15 Jan – 31 MarThousands of North Atlantic humpbacks calve in Samana Bay, and the environment ministry opens and closes the watching season by decree each year.79climate
  23. 🇲🇽 Zihuatanejo, MexicoHumpback season · 15 Dec – 20 Mar (usually)Humpbacks come into the bay and the water off Playa Larga through the winter, close enough that the pangueros run short trips out of the pier before the fishing boats leave.79climate
  24. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos IslandsHumpbacks in the Columbus Passage · 15 Jan – 15 Apr (usually)Humpbacks funnel through the deep passage between the Caicos and Turks banks on their way to and from the Silver Bank.79climate
  25. 🇩🇴 Puerto Plata, Dominican RepublicHumpbacks on the Silver Bank · 15 Jan – 31 Mar (usually)Thousands of North Atlantic humpbacks calve on the banks off this coast in late winter.78climate

…and 15 more in January.

What's on around the world in January →

Whale season in February

  1. 🇪🇸 Tenerife, SpainWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jan – 31 DecA resident population of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins sits in the channel off the south-west coast all year, which is unusual and not seasonal.94climate
  2. 🇲🇽 Los Cabos, MexicoWhale season · 15 Dec – 15 AprGrays and humpbacks pass the cape between mid-December and April, peaking in February.92climate
  3. 🇲🇽 Mazatlán, MexicoHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 5 Apr (usually)Humpbacks come down the Pacific coast to calve and the boats run out past Isla de Chivos most mornings.91climate
  4. 🇲🇽 La Paz, Baja California, MexicoGray whales at Puerto Chale · 1 Jan – 30 AprGray whales calve in the Pacific lagoons on the other side of the peninsula, under three hours by road, and the season there runs from January to the end of April.91climate
  5. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandSperm whales, all year · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe canyon comes within a kilometre of the shore, so resident sperm whales are here in every month rather than in a season.90climate
  6. 🇺🇸 Kauai, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May, peaking around February.88climate
  7. 🇲🇽 Sayulita, MexicoHumpback whale season · 10 Dec – 25 Mar (usually)Humpbacks come into Banderas Bay to calve and are visible from the headland at Punta Sayulita on a calm morning, never mind the boats.88climate
  8. 🇺🇸 St. Augustine, United StatesRight whale calving season · 1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)This is the only known calving ground for North Atlantic right whales, and a few hundred animals remain in the population.87climate
  9. 🇺🇸 San Diego, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Twenty thousand gray whales pass the coast between Alaska and the Baja lagoons, close enough to watch from the cliffs at Cabrillo.86climate
  10. 🇺🇸 Honolulu, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Nov – 15 May (usually)The humpbacks arrive from Alaska and are around the islands into spring, with the most of them in February.85climate
  11. 🇺🇸 Kona, United StatesHumpback whale season · 1 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Humpbacks come down from Alaska to breed and calve in the warm water off the leeward coast, with the peak numbers in February and March.84climate
  12. 🇺🇸 Laguna Beach, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Grays pass close inshore heading for Baja from about Christmas and come back north with calves in March and April.84climate
  13. The Bottom, SabaHumpback whale season · 1 Jan – 30 Apr (usually)Humpbacks pass close enough to Saba's coast from January to April that dive boats occasionally hear them before they see them.84climate
  14. 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 30 Apr (usually)The whole population passes offshore on its way to Baja and back, southbound around January and northbound with calves in March.83climate
  15. 🇲🇽 Puerto Vallarta, MexicoHumpback season · 8 Dec – 23 MarThe permitted watching season in Banderas Bay runs 8 December to 23 March, a few hundred humpbacks calving in the deepest bay in the country.83climate
  16. 🇲🇽 Huatulco, MexicoHumpback whale season · 1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)Humpbacks come into the bays to calve from December and are usually gone by April.83climate
  17. 🇺🇸 Lahaina, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai holds the densest breeding population in Hawaii, and the federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May.83climate
  18. 🇺🇸 Maui, United StatesWorld Whale Day · 8–22 Feb (usually)A parade down South Kihei Road and a day of ocean programming in mid-February, at the peak of the whale count.82climate
  19. 🇲🇽 Zihuatanejo, MexicoHumpback season · 15 Dec – 20 Mar (usually)Humpbacks come into the bay and the water off Playa Larga through the winter, close enough that the pangueros run short trips out of the pier before the fishing boats leave.81climate
  20. 🇵🇷 Rincón, Puerto RicoHumpback whale season · 1 Jan – 31 MarHumpbacks pass through the Mona Passage from January to March and are watched from land at the Punta Higuera lighthouse park as often as from a boat.81climate
  21. 🇩🇴 Samaná, Dominican RepublicHumpback whales in the bay · 15 Jan – 30 MarThousands of North Atlantic humpbacks calve and court in the bay and the season is fixed by law from 15 January to 30 March.81climate
  22. 🇲🇽 Puerto Escondido, MexicoHumpbacks offshore · 1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)Humpbacks pass down the Oaxacan coast through the winter and the small boats out of Puerto Angelito find them most mornings.80climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Santa Barbara, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Grays pass down the channel to Baja through the winter and back north with calves from late February, close enough in that the boats out of the harbour are a half-day trip.80climate
  24. 🇩🇴 Puerto Plata, Dominican RepublicHumpbacks on the Silver Bank · 15 Jan – 31 Mar (usually)Thousands of North Atlantic humpbacks calve on the banks off this coast in late winter.80climate
  25. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos IslandsHumpbacks in the Columbus Passage · 15 Jan – 15 Apr (usually)Humpbacks funnel through the deep passage between the Caicos and Turks banks on their way to and from the Silver Bank.80climate

…and 15 more in February.

What's on around the world in February →

Whale season in March

  1. 🇪🇸 Tenerife, SpainWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jan – 31 DecA resident population of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins sits in the channel off the south-west coast all year, which is unusual and not seasonal.95climate
  2. 🇲🇽 Mazatlán, MexicoHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 5 Apr (usually)Humpbacks come down the Pacific coast to calve and the boats run out past Isla de Chivos most mornings.93climate
  3. 🇺🇸 St. Augustine, United StatesRight whale calving season · 1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)This is the only known calving ground for North Atlantic right whales, and a few hundred animals remain in the population.92climate
  4. 🇨🇻 Praia, Cabo VerdeHumpback whale season · 1 Mar – 31 May (usually)Humpbacks use Cabo Verde as a breeding ground in the northern spring, and boats go out from the Santiago coast for them.90climate
  5. 🇲🇽 Los Cabos, MexicoWhale season · 15 Dec – 15 AprGrays and humpbacks pass the cape between mid-December and April, peaking in February.90climate
  6. 🇺🇸 San Diego, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Twenty thousand gray whales pass the coast between Alaska and the Baja lagoons, close enough to watch from the cliffs at Cabrillo.89climate
  7. 🇲🇽 Sayulita, MexicoHumpback whale season · 10 Dec – 25 Mar (usually)Humpbacks come into Banderas Bay to calve and are visible from the headland at Punta Sayulita on a calm morning, never mind the boats.89climate
  8. 🇲🇽 Puerto Vallarta, MexicoHumpback season · 8 Dec – 23 MarThe permitted watching season in Banderas Bay runs 8 December to 23 March, a few hundred humpbacks calving in the deepest bay in the country.88climate
  9. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandSperm whales, all year · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe canyon comes within a kilometre of the shore, so resident sperm whales are here in every month rather than in a season.88climate
  10. 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 30 Apr (usually)The whole population passes offshore on its way to Baja and back, southbound around January and northbound with calves in March.87climate
  11. 🇺🇸 Kauai, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May, peaking around February.87climate
  12. 🇲🇽 La Paz, Baja California, MexicoGray whales at Puerto Chale · 1 Jan – 30 AprGray whales calve in the Pacific lagoons on the other side of the peninsula, under three hours by road, and the season there runs from January to the end of April.86climate
  13. 🇺🇸 Laguna Beach, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Grays pass close inshore heading for Baja from about Christmas and come back north with calves in March and April.86climate
  14. The Bottom, SabaHumpback whale season · 1 Jan – 30 Apr (usually)Humpbacks pass close enough to Saba's coast from January to April that dive boats occasionally hear them before they see them.86climate
  15. 🇺🇸 Lahaina, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai holds the densest breeding population in Hawaii, and the federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May.84climate
  16. 🇺🇸 Honolulu, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Nov – 15 May (usually)The humpbacks arrive from Alaska and are around the islands into spring, with the most of them in February.83climate
  17. 🇺🇸 Santa Barbara, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Grays pass down the channel to Baja through the winter and back north with calves from late February, close enough in that the boats out of the harbour are a half-day trip.83climate
  18. 🇲🇽 Zihuatanejo, MexicoHumpback season · 15 Dec – 20 Mar (usually)Humpbacks come into the bay and the water off Playa Larga through the winter, close enough that the pangueros run short trips out of the pier before the fishing boats leave.83climate
  19. 🇺🇸 Maui, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe North Pacific humpbacks calve in the shallow Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai.82climate
  20. 🇺🇸 Kona, United StatesHumpback whale season · 1 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Humpbacks come down from Alaska to breed and calve in the warm water off the leeward coast, with the peak numbers in February and March.82climate
  21. 🇯🇵 Okinawa, JapanHumpback whales off Zamami · 1 Jan – 31 Mar (usually)Humpbacks calve in the shallow water round the Kerama islands from the new year, and the boats out of Naha and Zamami run daily through the season.81climate
  22. 🇵🇹 Ponta Delgada, PortugalWhale and dolphin season · 15 Mar – 15 Oct (usually)Blue and fin whales pass on migration from about April to June, the biggest animals anyone will ever see from a boat.81climate
  23. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos IslandsHumpbacks in the Columbus Passage · 15 Jan – 15 Apr (usually)Humpbacks funnel through the deep passage between the Caicos and Turks banks on their way to and from the Silver Bank.81climate
  24. 🇩🇴 Samaná, Dominican RepublicHumpback whales in the bay · 15 Jan – 30 MarThousands of North Atlantic humpbacks calve and court in the bay and the season is fixed by law from 15 January to 30 March.80climate
  25. 🇩🇴 Punta Cana, Dominican RepublicHumpback whales in Samana Bay · 15 Jan – 31 MarThousands of North Atlantic humpbacks calve in Samana Bay, and the environment ministry opens and closes the watching season by decree each year.79climate

…and 19 more in March.

What's on around the world in March →

Whale season in April

  1. 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 30 Apr (usually)The whole population passes offshore on its way to Baja and back, southbound around January and northbound with calves in March.96climate
  2. 🇪🇸 Tenerife, SpainWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jan – 31 DecA resident population of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins sits in the channel off the south-west coast all year, which is unusual and not seasonal.96climate
  3. 🇺🇸 San Diego, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Twenty thousand gray whales pass the coast between Alaska and the Baja lagoons, close enough to watch from the cliffs at Cabrillo.94climate
  4. 🇺🇸 Santa Barbara, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Grays pass down the channel to Baja through the winter and back north with calves from late February, close enough in that the boats out of the harbour are a half-day trip.93climate
  5. 🇵🇹 Funchal, PortugalWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)The water drops off steeply a few kilometres out, so the boats find bottlenose and spotted dolphins most trips and pilot and sperm whales through the warmer half of the year.92climate
  6. 🇵🇹 Lagos, PortugalDolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)Common and bottlenose dolphins are close in from spring to autumn and the same small boats run the grotto trips at Ponta da Piedade.91climate
  7. 🇺🇸 Laguna Beach, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Grays pass close inshore heading for Baja from about Christmas and come back north with calves in March and April.91climate
  8. Gibraltar, GibraltarDolphins in the bay · 1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)Three species work the bay year-round and the boats out of Marina Bay run several trips a day through the summer.90climate
  9. 🇺🇸 Kauai, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May, peaking around February.89climate
  10. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainWhale and dolphin season · 1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually)Pilot whales and three dolphin species are resident in the strait through the season, with sperm whales passing.89climate
  11. 🇨🇻 Praia, Cabo VerdeHumpback whale season · 1 Mar – 31 May (usually)Humpbacks use Cabo Verde as a breeding ground in the northern spring, and boats go out from the Santiago coast for them.87climate
  12. 🇺🇸 Big Sur, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 1 May (usually)The southbound migration passes close inshore from mid-December, and the northbound mothers and calves hug the coast even closer from March.87climate
  13. 🇺🇸 Monterey, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 10 May (usually)Grays head south past the bay from Christmas and back north with calves from mid-February to May, hugging the shore because the submarine canyon brings deep water close in.86climate
  14. 🇲🇽 Mazatlán, MexicoHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 5 Apr (usually)Humpbacks come down the Pacific coast to calve and the boats run out past Isla de Chivos most mornings.86climate
  15. 🇺🇸 San Francisco, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 May (usually)The southbound run passes outside the Golden Gate around the turn of the year and comes back with calves in spring; the headlands work as well as a boat.85climate
  16. 🇲🇽 Los Cabos, MexicoWhale season · 15 Dec – 15 AprGrays and humpbacks pass the cape between mid-December and April, peaking in February.85climate
  17. 🇵🇹 Ponta Delgada, PortugalWhale and dolphin season · 15 Mar – 15 Oct (usually)Blue and fin whales pass on migration from about April to June, the biggest animals anyone will ever see from a boat.84climate
  18. 🇺🇸 Santa Cruz, California, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Grays pass the bay heading south in midwinter and back north with calves into April, often within sight of the cliffs.84climate
  19. 🇺🇸 Honolulu, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Nov – 15 May (usually)The humpbacks arrive from Alaska and are around the islands into spring, with the most of them in February.82climate
  20. 🇺🇸 Maui, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe North Pacific humpbacks calve in the shallow Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai.82climate
  21. 🇲🇽 La Paz, Baja California, MexicoGray whales at Puerto Chale · 1 Jan – 30 AprGray whales calve in the Pacific lagoons on the other side of the peninsula, under three hours by road, and the season there runs from January to the end of April.82climate
  22. The Bottom, SabaHumpback whale season · 1 Jan – 30 Apr (usually)Humpbacks pass close enough to Saba's coast from January to April that dive boats occasionally hear them before they see them.82climate
  23. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandSperm whales, all year · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe canyon comes within a kilometre of the shore, so resident sperm whales are here in every month rather than in a season.80climate
  24. 🇺🇸 Lahaina, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai holds the densest breeding population in Hawaii, and the federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May.80climate
  25. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos IslandsHumpbacks in the Columbus Passage · 15 Jan – 15 Apr (usually)Humpbacks funnel through the deep passage between the Caicos and Turks banks on their way to and from the Silver Bank.78climate

…and 13 more in April.

What's on around the world in April →

Whale season in May

  1. 🇵🇹 Lagos, PortugalDolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)Common and bottlenose dolphins are close in from spring to autumn and the same small boats run the grotto trips at Ponta da Piedade.95climate
  2. 🇺🇸 Santa Barbara, United StatesBlue and humpback season · 15 May – 15 Sep (usually)Blues and humpbacks feed in the channel off the Channel Islands through the summer, the largest animal that has ever lived on a day trip from a small harbour.95climate
  3. 🇵🇹 Funchal, PortugalWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)The water drops off steeply a few kilometres out, so the boats find bottlenose and spotted dolphins most trips and pilot and sperm whales through the warmer half of the year.94climate
  4. 🇪🇸 Tenerife, SpainWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jan – 31 DecA resident population of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins sits in the channel off the south-west coast all year, which is unusual and not seasonal.94climate
  5. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainWhale and dolphin season · 1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually)Pilot whales and three dolphin species are resident in the strait through the season, with sperm whales passing.93climate
  6. Gibraltar, GibraltarDolphins in the bay · 1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)Three species work the bay year-round and the boats out of Marina Bay run several trips a day through the summer.93climate
  7. 🇺🇸 Big Sur, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 1 May (usually)The southbound migration passes close inshore from mid-December, and the northbound mothers and calves hug the coast even closer from March.92climate
  8. 🇺🇸 Kauai, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May, peaking around February.90climate
  9. 🇺🇸 San Francisco, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 May (usually)The southbound run passes outside the Golden Gate around the turn of the year and comes back with calves in spring; the headlands work as well as a boat.88climate
  10. 🇺🇸 Monterey, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 10 May (usually)Grays head south past the bay from Christmas and back north with calves from mid-February to May, hugging the shore because the submarine canyon brings deep water close in.88climate
  11. 🇺🇸 Boston, United StatesWhales on Stellwagen Bank · 15 Apr – 20 Oct (usually)Humpbacks and finbacks feed on the bank an hour out of the harbour from mid-April to late October, and the boats stop for the winter.86climate
  12. 🇺🇸 Maui, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe North Pacific humpbacks calve in the shallow Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai.86climate
  13. 🇵🇹 Ponta Delgada, PortugalWhale and dolphin season · 15 Mar – 15 Oct (usually)Blue and fin whales pass on migration from about April to June, the biggest animals anyone will ever see from a boat.86climate
  14. 🇨🇻 Praia, Cabo VerdeHumpback whale season · 1 Mar – 31 May (usually)Humpbacks use Cabo Verde as a breeding ground in the northern spring, and boats go out from the Santiago coast for them.85climate
  15. 🇦🇺 Wollongong, AustraliaHumpbacks past the escarpment · 15 May – 15 Nov (usually)The whole east-coast migration passes close in below the escarpment, and the headlands at Bald Hill and Hill 60 are free grandstands.84climate
  16. 🇨🇦 Victoria, BC, CanadaWhale watching season · 1 May – 15 Oct (usually)Resident and transient orcas work the Salish Sea through the summer and humpbacks have come back in numbers, all of it a boat ride from the inner harbour.84climate
  17. 🇺🇸 Lahaina, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai holds the densest breeding population in Hawaii, and the federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May.83climate
  18. 🇺🇸 Honolulu, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Nov – 15 May (usually)The humpbacks arrive from Alaska and are around the islands into spring, with the most of them in February.81climate
  19. 🇬🇧 Inverness, United KingdomDolphins at Chanonry Point · 1 May – 30 Sep (usually)The Moray Firth bottlenose pod feeds on the rising tide at the point across the water, half an hour from town.80climate
  20. 🇦🇺 Kangaroo Island, AustraliaSouthern right whales · 15 May – 30 Sep (usually)Southern rights move along the north coast and into the bays through winter, with mothers and calves close in.80climate
  21. 🇨🇦 Tofino, CanadaGrey whale migration · 20 Feb – 15 May (usually)Around twenty thousand grey whales pass on the northbound run to the Arctic each spring, and a few dozen stay to feed off the beaches all summer.78climate
  22. 🇮🇸 Akureyri, IcelandWhales in Eyjafjordur · 1 May – 30 Sep (usually)Humpbacks work the length of the fjord through the summer and the boats leave from the town quay rather than a separate harbour.76climate
  23. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandSperm whales, all year · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe canyon comes within a kilometre of the shore, so resident sperm whales are here in every month rather than in a season.74climate
  24. 🇮🇸 Húsavík, IcelandWhale watching season · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)Skjalfandi bay is the reason the town exists on the tourist map: humpbacks feeding from April to October, sightings on the great majority of summer sailings, and the odd blue whale in June.74climate
  25. 🇮🇸 Reykjavík, IcelandWhale watching season · 1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually)Minke and humpback come into Faxafloi through the summer and the boats run several times a day from the old harbour.72climate

…and 5 more in May.

What's on around the world in May →

Whale season in June

  1. 🇺🇸 Santa Barbara, United StatesBlue and humpback season · 15 May – 15 Sep (usually)Blues and humpbacks feed in the channel off the Channel Islands through the summer, the largest animal that has ever lived on a day trip from a small harbour.98climate
  2. 🇵🇹 Funchal, PortugalWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)The water drops off steeply a few kilometres out, so the boats find bottlenose and spotted dolphins most trips and pilot and sperm whales through the warmer half of the year.94climate
  3. 🇳🇦 Swakopmund, NamibiaWhales off Walvis Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks pass Walvis Bay, half an hour down the coast, through winter and spring.94climate
  4. 🇵🇹 Lagos, PortugalDolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)Common and bottlenose dolphins are close in from spring to autumn and the same small boats run the grotto trips at Ponta da Piedade.93climate
  5. 🇿🇦 Durban, South AfricaHumpback migration · 1 Jun – 30 NovThe continental shelf runs close in here, so the humpbacks heading north to calve pass within sight of the bluff from June, and come back south with the calves from September.93climate
  6. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainWhale and dolphin season · 1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually)Pilot whales and three dolphin species are resident in the strait through the season, with sperm whales passing.93climate
  7. 🇪🇸 Tenerife, SpainWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jan – 31 DecA resident population of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins sits in the channel off the south-west coast all year, which is unusual and not seasonal.91climate
  8. Gibraltar, GibraltarDolphins in the bay · 1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)Three species work the bay year-round and the boats out of Marina Bay run several trips a day through the summer.91climate
  9. 🇵🇹 Ponta Delgada, PortugalWhale and dolphin season · 15 Mar – 15 Oct (usually)Blue and fin whales pass on migration from about April to June, the biggest animals anyone will ever see from a boat.90climate
  10. 🇺🇸 Boston, United StatesWhales on Stellwagen Bank · 15 Apr – 20 Oct (usually)Humpbacks and finbacks feed on the bank an hour out of the harbour from mid-April to late October, and the boats stop for the winter.89climate
  11. 🇦🇺 Broome, AustraliaHumpbacks off the Kimberley · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)One of the largest humpback populations anywhere calves in Kimberley water and passes Broome from late June.89climate
  12. 🇨🇦 Victoria, BC, CanadaWhale watching season · 1 May – 15 Oct (usually)Resident and transient orcas work the Salish Sea through the summer and humpbacks have come back in numbers, all of it a boat ride from the inner harbour.89climate
  13. 🇿🇦 Port Elizabeth, South AfricaWhales in Algoa Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks work through the bay across winter and spring.88climate
  14. 🇲🇬 Toliara, MadagascarHumpback whale season · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)Humpbacks pass close to Anakao and Ifaty on their migration from Antarctic waters, roughly mid-June to September, with boat trips out of both villages finding them most days at the season's peak in July and August.88climate
  15. Jamestown, Saint HelenaHumpback whales · 15 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)Humpbacks use the island's waters through the southern winter and spring, with mothers and calves close in along the lee coast.88climate
  16. 🇦🇺 Brisbane, AustraliaHumpbacks in Moreton Bay · 1 Jun – 5 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass Moreton Bay from June to early November, and the day boats out of Redcliffe and Manly work inside the bay rather than in open sea, which keeps the crossing short.87climate
  17. 🇦🇺 Gold Coast, AustraliaHumpback migration · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass close inshore on the way north and back south again with calves, and the boats out of Main Beach run daily.86climate
  18. 🇷🇪 Saint-Denis, RéunionHumpbacks off the coast · 15 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)Humpbacks come up from the Antarctic to calve off Réunion in the austral winter and are watched from the coast road as often as from a boat.86climate
  19. 🇿🇦 Knysna, South AfricaSouthern right whales · 15 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Southern rights work the coast between the Heads and Buffalo Bay through winter and spring.86climate
  20. 🇲🇬 Morondava, MadagascarHumpback whales at Belo sur Mer · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)Humpbacks pass close to shore at Belo sur Mer, a boat trip down the coast from Morondava, from around mid-June to September.86climate
  21. 🇦🇺 Cairns, AustraliaDwarf minke whales · 1 Jun – 31 Jul (usually)Dwarf minkes turn up on the Ribbon Reefs north of here for June and July, the only place in the world permitted to snorkel with them.85climate
  22. 🇦🇺 Noosa, AustraliaHumpbacks off the headland · 15 Jun – 5 Nov (usually)The national park headland walk looks straight down on the migration line, so the whales cost nothing to watch here.85climate
  23. 🇬🇧 Inverness, United KingdomDolphins at Chanonry Point · 1 May – 30 Sep (usually)The Moray Firth bottlenose pod feeds on the rising tide at the point across the water, half an hour from town.84climate
  24. 🇦🇺 Byron Bay, AustraliaHumpback migration past the cape · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Cape Byron sticks out into the migration route, so the lighthouse walk is one of the more reliable land-based watches in the country.83climate
  25. 🇺🇸 Juneau, United StatesHumpback whale season · 1 May – 20 Sep (usually)Humpbacks feed in Stephens Passage and Auke Bay from May until September, and the bubble-net groups work the same water year after year.83climate

…and 26 more in June.

What's on around the world in June →

Whale season in July

  1. 🇳🇦 Swakopmund, NamibiaWhales off Walvis Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks pass Walvis Bay, half an hour down the coast, through winter and spring.95climate
  2. 🇨🇦 Victoria, BC, CanadaWhale watching season · 1 May – 15 Oct (usually)Resident and transient orcas work the Salish Sea through the summer and humpbacks have come back in numbers, all of it a boat ride from the inner harbour.95climate
  3. 🇺🇸 Santa Barbara, United StatesBlue and humpback season · 15 May – 15 Sep (usually)Blues and humpbacks feed in the channel off the Channel Islands through the summer, the largest animal that has ever lived on a day trip from a small harbour.94climate
  4. 🇺🇸 Big Sur, United StatesBlue and humpback whales offshore · 1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)Upwelling packs krill into the submarine canyon and the big rorquals work the shelf all summer.94climate
  5. 🇲🇿 Maputo, MozambiqueHumpback whales · 1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)Humpbacks move up the southern Mozambican coast through the winter and are watched from the boats and the dunes at Ponta do Ouro, a few hours south of the city.93climate
  6. 🇲🇿 Vilankulo, MozambiqueHumpback whale migration · 1 Jul – 15 Nov (usually)Migrating humpback whales pass the Bazaruto Archipelago Marine National Park between July and November, and boats out of Vilankulo find them most days through the middle of that window.93climate
  7. 🇵🇹 Funchal, PortugalWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)The water drops off steeply a few kilometres out, so the boats find bottlenose and spotted dolphins most trips and pilot and sperm whales through the warmer half of the year.92climate
  8. 🇦🇺 Broome, AustraliaHumpbacks off the Kimberley · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)One of the largest humpback populations anywhere calves in Kimberley water and passes Broome from late June.92climate
  9. 🇵🇹 Ponta Delgada, PortugalWhale and dolphin season · 15 Mar – 15 Oct (usually)Blue and fin whales pass on migration from about April to June, the biggest animals anyone will ever see from a boat.91climate
  10. 🇿🇦 Durban, South AfricaHumpback migration · 1 Jun – 30 NovThe continental shelf runs close in here, so the humpbacks heading north to calve pass within sight of the bluff from June, and come back south with the calves from September.91climate
  11. 🇲🇬 Toliara, MadagascarHumpback whale season · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)Humpbacks pass close to Anakao and Ifaty on their migration from Antarctic waters, roughly mid-June to September, with boat trips out of both villages finding them most days at the season's peak in July and August.91climate
  12. 🇲🇿 Tofo, MozambiqueHumpback whale season · 1 Jul – 15 Nov (usually)Humpback whales pass this stretch of the Inhambane coast on their winter migration, and boats out of Tofo add whale watching to the manta and reef trips from July through to November.90climate
  13. 🇨🇦 St. John's, Newfoundland, CanadaHumpbacks and the capelin roll · 1 Jun – 31 Aug (usually)Humpbacks follow the capelin inshore in June and stay through the summer.90climate
  14. 🇷🇪 Saint-Denis, RéunionHumpbacks off the coast · 15 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)Humpbacks come up from the Antarctic to calve off Réunion in the austral winter and are watched from the coast road as often as from a boat.89climate
  15. 🇦🇺 Hervey Bay, AustraliaHumpbacks in the bay · 5 Jul – 25 Oct (usually)Humpbacks break their southern run in the flat water behind K'gari, mothers and calves resting for days at a time.89climate
  16. 🇲🇬 Morondava, MadagascarHumpback whales at Belo sur Mer · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)Humpbacks pass close to shore at Belo sur Mer, a boat trip down the coast from Morondava, from around mid-June to September.89climate
  17. 🇧🇷 Florianópolis, BrazilSouthern right whales · 1 Jul – 15 Nov (usually)Right whales calve along the coast just south of the island, with the best odds in September and October off Garopaba and Imbituba.88climate
  18. 🇦🇺 Brisbane, AustraliaHumpbacks in Moreton Bay · 1 Jun – 5 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass Moreton Bay from June to early November, and the day boats out of Redcliffe and Manly work inside the bay rather than in open sea, which keeps the crossing short.88climate
  19. 🇦🇺 Gold Coast, AustraliaHumpback migration · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass close inshore on the way north and back south again with calves, and the boats out of Main Beach run daily.88climate
  20. 🇵🇹 Lagos, PortugalDolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)Common and bottlenose dolphins are close in from spring to autumn and the same small boats run the grotto trips at Ponta da Piedade.88climate
  21. 🇧🇷 Vitória, BrazilHumpback whales offshore · 1 Jul – 15 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass the Espírito Santo coast on the way to and from the Abrolhos calving banks through the southern winter, and the boats out of the bay go looking for them in those months.88climate
  22. 🇿🇦 Port Elizabeth, South AfricaWhales in Algoa Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks work through the bay across winter and spring.88climate
  23. Jamestown, Saint HelenaHumpback whales · 15 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)Humpbacks use the island's waters through the southern winter and spring, with mothers and calves close in along the lee coast.88climate
  24. 🇳🇨 Nouméa, New CaledoniaHumpbacks in the southern lagoon · 1 Jul – 30 Sep (usually)Humpbacks calve inside the reef in the sheltered water south of Nouméa, an hour or two out by boat from Prony.87climate
  25. 🇦🇺 Cairns, AustraliaDwarf minke whales · 1 Jun – 31 Jul (usually)Dwarf minkes turn up on the Ribbon Reefs north of here for June and July, the only place in the world permitted to snorkel with them.87climate

…and 59 more in July.

What's on around the world in July →

Whale season in August

  1. 🇳🇦 Swakopmund, NamibiaWhales off Walvis Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks pass Walvis Bay, half an hour down the coast, through winter and spring.95climate
  2. 🇦🇺 Hervey Bay, AustraliaHumpbacks in the bay · 5 Jul – 25 Oct (usually)Humpbacks break their southern run in the flat water behind K'gari, mothers and calves resting for days at a time.94climate
  3. 🇦🇺 Exmouth, AustraliaSwim season with humpbacks · 1 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)Ningaloo is one of the few coasts licensed for in-water humpback encounters, run from August to October by the same operators as the whale sharks and on the whales' terms, not yours.94climate
  4. 🇨🇦 Victoria, BC, CanadaWhale watching season · 1 May – 15 Oct (usually)Resident and transient orcas work the Salish Sea through the summer and humpbacks have come back in numbers, all of it a boat ride from the inner harbour.94climate
  5. 🇦🇺 Brisbane, AustraliaHumpbacks in Moreton Bay · 1 Jun – 5 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass Moreton Bay from June to early November, and the day boats out of Redcliffe and Manly work inside the bay rather than in open sea, which keeps the crossing short.93climate
  6. 🇦🇺 Airlie Beach, AustraliaHumpbacks in the Whitsundays · 1 Jul – 15 Sep (usually)Humpbacks come into the sheltered water between the islands to calve through the winter, and the sailing day trips tend to find them without going looking.93climate
  7. 🇦🇺 Gold Coast, AustraliaHumpback migration · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass close inshore on the way north and back south again with calves, and the boats out of Main Beach run daily.92climate
  8. 🇿🇦 Durban, South AfricaHumpback migration · 1 Jun – 30 NovThe continental shelf runs close in here, so the humpbacks heading north to calve pass within sight of the bluff from June, and come back south with the calves from September.92climate
  9. 🇦🇺 Noosa, AustraliaHumpbacks off the headland · 15 Jun – 5 Nov (usually)The national park headland walk looks straight down on the migration line, so the whales cost nothing to watch here.92climate
  10. 🇺🇸 Santa Barbara, United StatesBlue and humpback season · 15 May – 15 Sep (usually)Blues and humpbacks feed in the channel off the Channel Islands through the summer, the largest animal that has ever lived on a day trip from a small harbour.92climate
  11. 🇺🇸 Big Sur, United StatesBlue and humpback whales offshore · 1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)Upwelling packs krill into the submarine canyon and the big rorquals work the shelf all summer.92climate
  12. 🇷🇪 Saint-Denis, RéunionHumpbacks off the coast · 15 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)Humpbacks come up from the Antarctic to calve off Réunion in the austral winter and are watched from the coast road as often as from a boat.91climate
  13. 🇲🇿 Maputo, MozambiqueHumpback whales · 1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)Humpbacks move up the southern Mozambican coast through the winter and are watched from the boats and the dunes at Ponta do Ouro, a few hours south of the city.90climate
  14. 🇲🇿 Tofo, MozambiqueHumpback whale season · 1 Jul – 15 Nov (usually)Humpback whales pass this stretch of the Inhambane coast on their winter migration, and boats out of Tofo add whale watching to the manta and reef trips from July through to November.90climate
  15. 🇲🇿 Vilankulo, MozambiqueHumpback whale migration · 1 Jul – 15 Nov (usually)Migrating humpback whales pass the Bazaruto Archipelago Marine National Park between July and November, and boats out of Vilankulo find them most days through the middle of that window.90climate
  16. 🇲🇺 Grand Baie, MauritiusHumpbacks off the west coast · 1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually)Humpbacks pass along the west coast through the winter, and the boats that go out to them leave from Black River, an hour and a half down the coast rather than from Grand Baie itself.90climate
  17. 🇲🇺 Le Morne, MauritiusWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually)Boats out of Le Morne and nearby Black River find humpback whales moving through from July to October, alongside pods of resident sperm whales and spinner dolphins that work this coast year-round.90climate
  18. 🇵🇹 Funchal, PortugalWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)The water drops off steeply a few kilometres out, so the boats find bottlenose and spotted dolphins most trips and pilot and sperm whales through the warmer half of the year.89climate
  19. 🇦🇺 Byron Bay, AustraliaHumpback migration past the cape · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Cape Byron sticks out into the migration route, so the lighthouse walk is one of the more reliable land-based watches in the country.89climate
  20. 🇿🇦 Port Elizabeth, South AfricaWhales in Algoa Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks work through the bay across winter and spring.89climate
  21. 🇲🇬 Toliara, MadagascarHumpback whale season · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)Humpbacks pass close to Anakao and Ifaty on their migration from Antarctic waters, roughly mid-June to September, with boat trips out of both villages finding them most days at the season's peak in July and August.89climate
  22. 🇨🇦 St. John's, Newfoundland, CanadaHumpbacks and the capelin roll · 1 Jun – 31 Aug (usually)Humpbacks follow the capelin inshore in June and stay through the summer.88climate
  23. Jamestown, Saint HelenaHumpback whales · 15 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)Humpbacks use the island's waters through the southern winter and spring, with mothers and calves close in along the lee coast.88climate
  24. 🇵🇹 Lagos, PortugalDolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)Common and bottlenose dolphins are close in from spring to autumn and the same small boats run the grotto trips at Ponta da Piedade.87climate
  25. 🇦🇺 Broome, AustraliaHumpbacks off the Kimberley · 15 Jun – 15 Sep (usually)One of the largest humpback populations anywhere calves in Kimberley water and passes Broome from late June.87climate

…and 58 more in August.

What's on around the world in August →

Whale season in September

  1. 🇳🇦 Swakopmund, NamibiaWhales off Walvis Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks pass Walvis Bay, half an hour down the coast, through winter and spring.96climate
  2. 🇦🇺 Brisbane, AustraliaHumpbacks in Moreton Bay · 1 Jun – 5 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass Moreton Bay from June to early November, and the day boats out of Redcliffe and Manly work inside the bay rather than in open sea, which keeps the crossing short.95climate
  3. 🇦🇺 Hervey Bay, AustraliaHumpbacks in the bay · 5 Jul – 25 Oct (usually)Humpbacks break their southern run in the flat water behind K'gari, mothers and calves resting for days at a time.95climate
  4. 🇦🇺 Gold Coast, AustraliaHumpback migration · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass close inshore on the way north and back south again with calves, and the boats out of Main Beach run daily.94climate
  5. 🇦🇺 Noosa, AustraliaHumpbacks off the headland · 15 Jun – 5 Nov (usually)The national park headland walk looks straight down on the migration line, so the whales cost nothing to watch here.93climate
  6. 🇺🇸 Santa Barbara, United StatesBlue and humpback season · 15 May – 15 Sep (usually)Blues and humpbacks feed in the channel off the Channel Islands through the summer, the largest animal that has ever lived on a day trip from a small harbour.93climate
  7. 🇳🇨 Nouméa, New CaledoniaHumpbacks in the southern lagoon · 1 Jul – 30 Sep (usually)Humpbacks calve inside the reef in the sheltered water south of Nouméa, an hour or two out by boat from Prony.91climate
  8. 🇺🇸 Big Sur, United StatesBlue and humpback whales offshore · 1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)Upwelling packs krill into the submarine canyon and the big rorquals work the shelf all summer.91climate
  9. 🇿🇦 Port Elizabeth, South AfricaWhales in Algoa Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks work through the bay across winter and spring.91climate
  10. 🇦🇺 Exmouth, AustraliaSwim season with humpbacks · 1 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)Ningaloo is one of the few coasts licensed for in-water humpback encounters, run from August to October by the same operators as the whale sharks and on the whales' terms, not yours.91climate
  11. 🇵🇹 Funchal, PortugalWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)The water drops off steeply a few kilometres out, so the boats find bottlenose and spotted dolphins most trips and pilot and sperm whales through the warmer half of the year.90climate
  12. 🇺🇸 Boston, United StatesWhales on Stellwagen Bank · 15 Apr – 20 Oct (usually)Humpbacks and finbacks feed on the bank an hour out of the harbour from mid-April to late October, and the boats stop for the winter.90climate
  13. 🇷🇪 Saint-Denis, RéunionHumpbacks off the coast · 15 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)Humpbacks come up from the Antarctic to calve off Réunion in the austral winter and are watched from the coast road as often as from a boat.90climate
  14. 🇵🇹 Lagos, PortugalDolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)Common and bottlenose dolphins are close in from spring to autumn and the same small boats run the grotto trips at Ponta da Piedade.90climate
  15. 🇦🇺 Byron Bay, AustraliaHumpback migration past the cape · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Cape Byron sticks out into the migration route, so the lighthouse walk is one of the more reliable land-based watches in the country.90climate
  16. 🇦🇺 Airlie Beach, AustraliaHumpbacks in the Whitsundays · 1 Jul – 15 Sep (usually)Humpbacks come into the sheltered water between the islands to calve through the winter, and the sailing day trips tend to find them without going looking.89climate
  17. 🇲🇺 Grand Baie, MauritiusHumpbacks off the west coast · 1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually)Humpbacks pass along the west coast through the winter, and the boats that go out to them leave from Black River, an hour and a half down the coast rather than from Grand Baie itself.89climate
  18. 🇲🇺 Le Morne, MauritiusWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually)Boats out of Le Morne and nearby Black River find humpback whales moving through from July to October, alongside pods of resident sperm whales and spinner dolphins that work this coast year-round.89climate
  19. 🇿🇦 Cape Town, South AfricaSouthern right whales · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)The whales come inshore along False Bay and Walker Bay to calve, roughly June to November, and September and October are when you can watch them from a cliff path without a boat.88climate
  20. 🇦🇺 Perth, AustraliaHumpbacks off the coast · 1 Sep – 5 Dec (usually)Humpbacks pass Rottnest and the metropolitan coast on the way south, calves in tow, from September to early December.88climate
  21. 🇦🇺 Wollongong, AustraliaHumpbacks past the escarpment · 15 May – 15 Nov (usually)The whole east-coast migration passes close in below the escarpment, and the headlands at Bald Hill and Hill 60 are free grandstands.88climate
  22. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainWhale and dolphin season · 1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually)Pilot whales and three dolphin species are resident in the strait through the season, with sperm whales passing.88climate
  23. 🇿🇦 Hermanus, South AfricaSouthern right whales · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights come into Walker Bay to calve and stay close enough to the cliff path to watch without a boat.88climate
  24. 🇿🇦 Knysna, South AfricaSouthern right whales · 15 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Southern rights work the coast between the Heads and Buffalo Bay through winter and spring.88climate
  25. Jamestown, Saint HelenaHumpback whales · 15 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)Humpbacks use the island's waters through the southern winter and spring, with mothers and calves close in along the lee coast.88climate

…and 57 more in September.

What's on around the world in September →

Whale season in October

  1. 🇳🇦 Swakopmund, NamibiaWhales off Walvis Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks pass Walvis Bay, half an hour down the coast, through winter and spring.97climate
  2. 🇿🇦 Cape Town, South AfricaSouthern right whales · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)The whales come inshore along False Bay and Walker Bay to calve, roughly June to November, and September and October are when you can watch them from a cliff path without a boat.94climate
  3. 🇦🇺 Perth, AustraliaHumpbacks off the coast · 1 Sep – 5 Dec (usually)Humpbacks pass Rottnest and the metropolitan coast on the way south, calves in tow, from September to early December.94climate
  4. 🇿🇦 Hermanus, South AfricaSouthern right whales · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights come into Walker Bay to calve and stay close enough to the cliff path to watch without a boat.94climate
  5. 🇦🇺 Adelaide, AustraliaSouthern right whales · 1 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)Southern rights calve in Encounter Bay off Victor Harbor, an hour south.93climate
  6. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaSouthern right whales · 1 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)The right whales come into Golfo Nuevo to calve and stay half the year; boats go from Puerto Piramides an hour up the road, and in a good spring you can watch them from the town beach.92climate
  7. 🇿🇦 Port Elizabeth, South AfricaWhales in Algoa Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks work through the bay across winter and spring.92climate
  8. 🇿🇦 Knysna, South AfricaSouthern right whales · 15 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Southern rights work the coast between the Heads and Buffalo Bay through winter and spring.92climate
  9. 🇿🇦 Plettenberg Bay, South AfricaWhale season · 1 Jul – 15 Dec (usually)The official whale season runs July to December, with southern right whales through the middle of it and migrating humpbacks arriving with their calves from early November.91climate
  10. 🇵🇹 Lagos, PortugalDolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)Common and bottlenose dolphins are close in from spring to autumn and the same small boats run the grotto trips at Ponta da Piedade.90climate
  11. 🇺🇸 Big Sur, United StatesBlue and humpback whales offshore · 1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)Upwelling packs krill into the submarine canyon and the big rorquals work the shelf all summer.90climate
  12. 🇦🇺 Wollongong, AustraliaHumpbacks past the escarpment · 15 May – 15 Nov (usually)The whole east-coast migration passes close in below the escarpment, and the headlands at Bald Hill and Hill 60 are free grandstands.90climate
  13. 🇵🇹 Funchal, PortugalWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Apr – 31 Oct (usually)The water drops off steeply a few kilometres out, so the boats find bottlenose and spotted dolphins most trips and pilot and sperm whales through the warmer half of the year.89climate
  14. Jamestown, Saint HelenaHumpback whales · 15 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)Humpbacks use the island's waters through the southern winter and spring, with mothers and calves close in along the lee coast.89climate
  15. Norfolk Island, Norfolk IslandHumpbacks pass the island · 15 Jun – 15 Oct (usually)The island sits alone in the middle of the migration route, so humpbacks are watched from the clifftops rather than from a boat.89climate
  16. 🇦🇺 Exmouth, AustraliaSwim season with humpbacks · 1 Aug – 31 Oct (usually)Ningaloo is one of the few coasts licensed for in-water humpback encounters, run from August to October by the same operators as the whale sharks and on the whales' terms, not yours.87climate
  17. 🇪🇸 Tenerife, SpainWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jan – 31 DecA resident population of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins sits in the channel off the south-west coast all year, which is unusual and not seasonal.86climate
  18. 🇦🇺 Byron Bay, AustraliaHumpback migration past the cape · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Cape Byron sticks out into the migration route, so the lighthouse walk is one of the more reliable land-based watches in the country.86climate
  19. 🇪🇸 Tarifa, SpainWhale and dolphin season · 1 Apr – 15 Oct (usually)Pilot whales and three dolphin species are resident in the strait through the season, with sperm whales passing.86climate
  20. 🇺🇾 Punta del Este, UruguayRight whales off the coast · 15 Jul – 31 Oct (usually)Southern right whales pass this coast on their way along the River Plate through late winter and spring, and they can be watched from the headlands between here and Jose Ignacio without a boat.85climate
  21. 🇵🇪 Máncora, PeruHumpback whales · 1 Jul – 15 Oct (usually)Humpbacks come up from the south to calve in the warm water off this corner of Peru, and boats out of Los Órganos twenty minutes down the coast run daily through the season.85climate
  22. 🇲🇺 Grand Baie, MauritiusHumpbacks off the west coast · 1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually)Humpbacks pass along the west coast through the winter, and the boats that go out to them leave from Black River, an hour and a half down the coast rather than from Grand Baie itself.84climate
  23. 🇺🇾 Punta del Diablo, UruguaySouthern right whales · 1 Jul – 31 OctThe Rocha coast sits on the right whales' route from July to October, and the rocky points here are one of the places you can pick them up from the shore without a boat.84climate
  24. 🇲🇺 Le Morne, MauritiusWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jul – 31 Oct (usually)Boats out of Le Morne and nearby Black River find humpback whales moving through from July to October, alongside pods of resident sperm whales and spinner dolphins that work this coast year-round.84climate
  25. 🇦🇺 Gold Coast, AustraliaHumpback migration · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass close inshore on the way north and back south again with calves, and the boats out of Main Beach run daily.83climate

…and 38 more in October.

What's on around the world in October →

Whale season in November

  1. 🇳🇦 Swakopmund, NamibiaWhales off Walvis Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks pass Walvis Bay, half an hour down the coast, through winter and spring.97climate
  2. 🇿🇦 Hermanus, South AfricaSouthern right whales · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights come into Walker Bay to calve and stay close enough to the cliff path to watch without a boat.96climate
  3. 🇿🇦 Cape Town, South AfricaSouthern right whales · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)The whales come inshore along False Bay and Walker Bay to calve, roughly June to November, and September and October are when you can watch them from a cliff path without a boat.95climate
  4. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaSouthern right whales · 1 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)The right whales come into Golfo Nuevo to calve and stay half the year; boats go from Puerto Piramides an hour up the road, and in a good spring you can watch them from the town beach.94climate
  5. 🇿🇦 Port Elizabeth, South AfricaWhales in Algoa Bay · 1 Jun – 30 Nov (usually)Southern rights and humpbacks work through the bay across winter and spring.94climate
  6. 🇦🇺 Perth, AustraliaHumpbacks off the coast · 1 Sep – 5 Dec (usually)Humpbacks pass Rottnest and the metropolitan coast on the way south, calves in tow, from September to early December.92climate
  7. 🇿🇦 Knysna, South AfricaSouthern right whales · 15 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Southern rights work the coast between the Heads and Buffalo Bay through winter and spring.92climate
  8. 🇿🇦 Plettenberg Bay, South AfricaWhale season · 1 Jul – 15 Dec (usually)The official whale season runs July to December, with southern right whales through the middle of it and migrating humpbacks arriving with their calves from early November.92climate
  9. 🇪🇸 Tenerife, SpainWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jan – 31 DecA resident population of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins sits in the channel off the south-west coast all year, which is unusual and not seasonal.90climate
  10. 🇦🇺 Margaret River, AustraliaWhale season, coast to coast · 1 Jun – 10 Dec (usually)Humpbacks and southern rights shelter off Augusta in the middle of winter, then work north to Geographe Bay through spring, so the boat leaves from a different town depending on the month.90climate
  11. Jamestown, Saint HelenaHumpback whales · 15 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)Humpbacks use the island's waters through the southern winter and spring, with mothers and calves close in along the lee coast.89climate
  12. 🇦🇺 Wollongong, AustraliaHumpbacks past the escarpment · 15 May – 15 Nov (usually)The whole east-coast migration passes close in below the escarpment, and the headlands at Bald Hill and Hill 60 are free grandstands.88climate
  13. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandSperm whales, all year · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe canyon comes within a kilometre of the shore, so resident sperm whales are here in every month rather than in a season.85climate
  14. 🇿🇦 Durban, South AfricaHumpback migration · 1 Jun – 30 NovThe continental shelf runs close in here, so the humpbacks heading north to calve pass within sight of the bluff from June, and come back south with the calves from September.81climate
  15. 🇺🇸 Honolulu, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Nov – 15 May (usually)The humpbacks arrive from Alaska and are around the islands into spring, with the most of them in February.80climate
  16. 🇦🇺 Byron Bay, AustraliaHumpback migration past the cape · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Cape Byron sticks out into the migration route, so the lighthouse walk is one of the more reliable land-based watches in the country.80climate
  17. 🇦🇺 Brisbane, AustraliaHumpbacks in Moreton Bay · 1 Jun – 5 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass Moreton Bay from June to early November, and the day boats out of Redcliffe and Manly work inside the bay rather than in open sea, which keeps the crossing short.78climate
  18. 🇦🇺 Gold Coast, AustraliaHumpback migration · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Humpbacks pass close inshore on the way north and back south again with calves, and the boats out of Main Beach run daily.78climate
  19. 🇦🇺 Noosa, AustraliaHumpbacks off the headland · 15 Jun – 5 Nov (usually)The national park headland walk looks straight down on the migration line, so the whales cost nothing to watch here.78climate
  20. 🇧🇷 Florianópolis, BrazilSouthern right whales · 1 Jul – 15 Nov (usually)Right whales calve along the coast just south of the island, with the best odds in September and October off Garopaba and Imbituba.76climate
  21. 🇲🇿 Vilankulo, MozambiqueHumpback whale migration · 1 Jul – 15 Nov (usually)Migrating humpback whales pass the Bazaruto Archipelago Marine National Park between July and November, and boats out of Vilankulo find them most days through the middle of that window.75climate
  22. 🇲🇿 Tofo, MozambiqueHumpback whale season · 1 Jul – 15 Nov (usually)Humpback whales pass this stretch of the Inhambane coast on their winter migration, and boats out of Tofo add whale watching to the manta and reef trips from July through to November.74climate
  23. 🇵🇫 Bora Bora, French PolynesiaHumpback season · 20 Jul – 20 Nov (usually)Humpbacks come up from Antarctica to calve in the lee of the islands and stay outside the reef until November.71climate
  24. 🇲🇿 Pemba, MozambiqueWhale migration · 1 Jun – 15 Nov (usually)Humpback and southern right whales migrate past Pemba between June and November, and dive boats heading out to the Quirimbas regularly cross paths with them along the way.69climate
  25. 🇧🇷 Trancoso, BrazilHumpback whales off the coast · 1 Jul – 15 Nov (usually)Humpbacks breed on the Abrolhos bank south of here through the southern winter and pass close enough to be seen from the clifftop church on a calm morning.67climate

…and 12 more in November.

What's on around the world in November →

Whale season in December

  1. 🇦🇺 Margaret River, AustraliaWhale season, coast to coast · 1 Jun – 10 Dec (usually)Humpbacks and southern rights shelter off Augusta in the middle of winter, then work north to Geographe Bay through spring, so the boat leaves from a different town depending on the month.96climate
  2. 🇪🇸 Tenerife, SpainWhales and dolphins offshore · 1 Jan – 31 DecA resident population of pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins sits in the channel off the south-west coast all year, which is unusual and not seasonal.92climate
  3. 🇿🇦 Plettenberg Bay, South AfricaWhale season · 1 Jul – 15 Dec (usually)The official whale season runs July to December, with southern right whales through the middle of it and migrating humpbacks arriving with their calves from early November.92climate
  4. 🇦🇷 Puerto Madryn, ArgentinaSouthern right whales · 1 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)The right whales come into Golfo Nuevo to calve and stay half the year; boats go from Puerto Piramides an hour up the road, and in a good spring you can watch them from the town beach.90climate
  5. Jamestown, Saint HelenaHumpback whales · 15 Jun – 15 Dec (usually)Humpbacks use the island's waters through the southern winter and spring, with mothers and calves close in along the lee coast.89climate
  6. 🇦🇺 Perth, AustraliaHumpbacks off the coast · 1 Sep – 5 Dec (usually)Humpbacks pass Rottnest and the metropolitan coast on the way south, calves in tow, from September to early December.87climate
  7. 🇲🇽 Los Cabos, MexicoWhale season · 15 Dec – 15 AprGrays and humpbacks pass the cape between mid-December and April, peaking in February.87climate
  8. 🇳🇿 Kaikōura, New ZealandSperm whales, all year · 1 Jan – 31 DecThe canyon comes within a kilometre of the shore, so resident sperm whales are here in every month rather than in a season.86climate
  9. 🇺🇸 Kauai, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May, peaking around February.85climate
  10. 🇲🇽 Mazatlán, MexicoHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 5 Apr (usually)Humpbacks come down the Pacific coast to calve and the boats run out past Isla de Chivos most mornings.84climate
  11. 🇺🇸 San Diego, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Twenty thousand gray whales pass the coast between Alaska and the Baja lagoons, close enough to watch from the cliffs at Cabrillo.83climate
  12. 🇺🇸 St. Augustine, United StatesRight whale calving season · 1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)This is the only known calving ground for North Atlantic right whales, and a few hundred animals remain in the population.83climate
  13. 🇺🇸 Laguna Beach, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Grays pass close inshore heading for Baja from about Christmas and come back north with calves in March and April.83climate
  14. 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 30 Apr (usually)The whole population passes offshore on its way to Baja and back, southbound around January and northbound with calves in March.81climate
  15. 🇺🇸 Maui, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe North Pacific humpbacks calve in the shallow Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai.81climate
  16. 🇲🇽 Puerto Escondido, MexicoHumpbacks offshore · 1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)Humpbacks pass down the Oaxacan coast through the winter and the small boats out of Puerto Angelito find them most mornings.81climate
  17. 🇲🇽 Huatulco, MexicoHumpback whale season · 1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually)Humpbacks come into the bays to calve from December and are usually gone by April.81climate
  18. 🇲🇽 Sayulita, MexicoHumpback whale season · 10 Dec – 25 Mar (usually)Humpbacks come into Banderas Bay to calve and are visible from the headland at Punta Sayulita on a calm morning, never mind the boats.80climate
  19. 🇺🇸 Lahaina, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Dec – 15 MayThe Auau Channel between Maui, Lanai and Molokai holds the densest breeding population in Hawaii, and the federal sanctuary season runs mid-December to mid-May.79climate
  20. 🇺🇸 Honolulu, United StatesHumpback whale season · 15 Nov – 15 May (usually)The humpbacks arrive from Alaska and are around the islands into spring, with the most of them in February.78climate
  21. 🇺🇸 Kona, United StatesHumpback whale season · 1 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Humpbacks come down from Alaska to breed and calve in the warm water off the leeward coast, with the peak numbers in February and March.78climate
  22. 🇲🇽 Puerto Vallarta, MexicoHumpback season · 8 Dec – 23 MarThe permitted watching season in Banderas Bay runs 8 December to 23 March, a few hundred humpbacks calving in the deepest bay in the country.77climate
  23. 🇺🇸 Santa Barbara, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 15 Apr (usually)Grays pass down the channel to Baja through the winter and back north with calves from late February, close enough in that the boats out of the harbour are a half-day trip.77climate
  24. 🇲🇽 Zihuatanejo, MexicoHumpback season · 15 Dec – 20 Mar (usually)Humpbacks come into the bay and the water off Playa Larga through the winter, close enough that the pangueros run short trips out of the pier before the fishing boats leave.74climate
  25. 🇺🇸 Monterey, United StatesGray whale migration · 15 Dec – 10 May (usually)Grays head south past the bay from Christmas and back north with calves from mid-February to May, hugging the shore because the submarine canyon brings deep water close in.73climate

…and 13 more in December.

What's on around the world in December →