Whales. The great and colossal behemoths of the sea.
Their sheer size gives them a sense of awe and wonder, while their location in the depths of the sea give a sense of mystique and unknown.
Largely peaceful towards humans baring some exceptions, these intelligent and - mostly - gentle giants of the seas have been a feature of human myth and culture for as long as we have known they exist.
Sadly, due to a combination of hunting and pollution - made worse by the fact that cetaceans such as whales lack a sense of smell, which makes it hard for them to detect toxic pollution before it's too late - whale numbers around the world have been on a heavy decline. But there are still plenty of places these great titans of the sea are known to frequent, and where aspiring whale watchers can go see them. This is no small niche hobby either. According to one 2009 study released by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, whale watching is enjoyed by millions of people across the world, and is a multi-billion-dollar tourism industry.
Do note though that while the whale watching industry is unregulated, there are guidelines and recommendations issued by organizations such as the NGO Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) to make whale watching both sustainable and conservation-friendly. As such, we will be going through the list issued in 2024 by the WDC themselves, as well as a few other places we know of, while also mentioning any concerns organizations such as the WDC have issued about them.
Whale then (pun intended), without further ado, let's fin-ish these introductions and flip(per) right on to looking at some of the best whale watching spots in the world.
The Dominican Republic
The Caribbean is long been a destination of choice for tourists seeking an exotic getaway, complete with a beautiful climate and environment as well as a host of marine animals to see.
Cetaceans are no exception, and when it comes to seeing them in the wild, there is arguably no better spot in the Caribbean than the Dominican Republic.
With several large whale watching zones in the over 49,000 square kilometer-Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic, visitors can spot a number of cetacean species. But the main attraction here is the amazing humpback whale.
These majestic and musical whales are enormous and have a huge range of habitat, given that they migrate such vast distances every year. And they are also well known for being very visible on the surface, often leaping through the surface of the water and into the air. Known as breaching, this activity is what makes humpbacks so famous and so incredible to watch, as their enormous bodies splashing up through the water and back down along with their singing creates a true sense of amazement.
But not all is perfect in the Dominican Republic. Several tour operators there allow for guests to swim with dolphins and, in the case of at least one, swimming with humpback whales. While this may seem harmless, conservationists have pointed to many issues that come with this practice, including posing risks to both the animals and the humans.
Iceland
Iceland is home to numerous whale-watching sites throughout the country, particularly in the summer, when numerous species flock to their waters.
The main attractions are, as in the Dominican Republic, humpback whales, as well as minke whales and white-beaked dolphins. But there are numerous other species that have been spotted, including the humongous blue whales, the deep-sea diving sperm whales, and the now far more frequently spotted orcas.
However, Iceland is also rife with ethical concerns in this field. The country is one of a select few that still actively practice whaling, and whale meat is still available in restaurants.
Kaikoura, New Zealand
Going down to another part of the world for this entry.
New Zealand is home to a number of different species, mostly dolphins, and numerous locations to boot. However, the best spot for whale watching is Kaikoura, and the star attraction here is none other than the sperm whale.
These gigantic whales are the stuff of legends, famed deep-sea hunters and have of course gone on to form a key part of popular culture through works like Moby Dick.
Interestingly, sperm whales aren't a seasonal sighting here. Rather, they can be seen year-round.
The big concern with New Zealand whale watching is, as with many other places, tours offering guests the chance to swim with dolphins.
South Africa
Located at a key spot on the migration path, South Africa is a great spot for whale watching all year round, but especially in the summer.
Humpbacks can be spotted here, but arguably the most exciting whale watching attraction is the southern right whale.
The whale migration paths here are like clockwork, with it being a regular occurrence every year for whales to pass by the southern coast close to shore. The town of Hermanus has even made whale watching a main part of the city's tourism culture, including hosting an annual whale festival at the end of every September.
The eastern coast of South Africa gets whale sightings too, mostly during the massive migration of prey known as the sardine run.
While South Africa has a rich whaling history, the country banned whaling in the 1970s and is now a prime whale watching destination.
Central California
The United States is an enormous country with enormous coastlines on multiple bodies of water. As such, there are vast numbers of good places for whale watching.
However, we will start with Central California, such as places like San Fancisco and Santa Cruz.
There are dozens of species that can be seen throughout the year, such as humpbacks and grey whales. But arguably, the biggest highlight is, well, the biggest whale of all: The blue whale.
These gigantic whales are the single largest beings thought to ever exist on Earth. And while their numbers have recovered to an extent like other whales such as humpbacks, it hasn't been to the same level. As such, they remain critically endangered, and while they don't face threats of whaling anymore, they still face dangers from man-made underwater noise, pollution, and ship strikes.
Blue whales can still be seen though, whether on specially curated boat trips or from land-based viewpoints.
However, there are some concerns still about whale watching here. Most notably, many tours also include kayaking, to help visitors get closer to the whales. This is dangerous for all parties involved, and is discouraged by organizations such as the WDC.
Vancouver Island, Canada
Vancouver is a great place for whale watching, especially for orcas. While orcas can be found all over the world, Vancouver does have a few resident populations, including one that is endangered.
Visitors can see them on land-based viewpoints, as well as specially-curated boat excursions. However, there are still issues with Vancouver.
Most notably, the orca population often suffers from very high-density boat traffic, which brings threats of ship strikes and noise pollution. Some of the companies offering tours by boats can also have their own issues as a result, and aspiring whale watchers should be thourough in their research for a tour operator.
The Azores
This Portuguese island chain is very strategically located in the Atlantic Ocean, which makes them a great place to spot whales as they migrate through.
It seems like the Azores truly has it all. Sperm whales, blue whales, fin whales, sei whales, pilot whales, humpback whales, and so much more.
And there are boat trips and land-based viewpoints aplenty for viewing these gentle giants, too.
But the big concern here, as is the case with many other places, is once again tours that offer the chance to swim with the dolphins.
Juneau, Alaska
The last spot on our list is back in the US, and it's in the biggest state of all.
Alaska is filled with untouched wilderness and still contain a huge number of opportunities for spotting species in their native habitat, and whales are no exception.
Alaska is the home of the humpback whale breeding ground, where they migrate to every year. The rich fishing grounds are also prime for orcas to come and hunt, making both species regular sights to see.
One of the best spots to go to is the capital city, Juneau, where you can book long boat trips to spot these whales in their natural habitat.
The biggest concerns here are with several tour operators, meaning careful research is needed to pick one responsibly, and the large volume of cruise ships posing risks for ship strikes and noise pollution.
The Environment and Climate Change portal is produced in cooperation with the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Jerusalem Post maintains all editorial decisions related to the content.
