There are few things as exciting as being aboard a boat and hearing the highly anticipated words “There, there’s one! A Whale!” Many people dream their entire lives of whale watching, and Ecuador’s coast is a perfect place to make those dreams come true.
From late June to early October humpback whales spend their time off the coast of Ecuador, which serves as their breeding grounds during this time. The exciting part about this being a breeding ground is that whales will tend to put on more of a show than usual. Similar to many other animals, males must show to females that they are strong, healthy and will make great offspring, so they do what they can to demonstrate this. As they compete for mates, whales will spend more time near the surface, slapping their tails on the water, breaching, and showing off in general, so it gives people a better opportunity to see them in action.
Though humpback whales can be seen along most of the coast and there are whale watching opportunities in many areas, whale watching in Ecuador is most popular in and around the village of Puerto Lopez near La Isla de la Plata. This island is also home to Blue Footed Boobies and has great diving opportunities, including chances to see manta rays and other interesting sea life at different points of the year.
If you are ready to get whale watching checked off on your bucket list, ask us about our tours on Ecuador’s coast!