Every fall, humpback whales arrive in Banderas Bay, finishing a long annual migration that started in the Northern Pacific Ocean near Alaska. During the winter months, the whales use the warm, deep waters of our bay to breed and give birth to their calves before traveling north again in the late spring.
Humpback whales are about 50 feet (15 meters) long and weigh around 40 tons. Due to intensive commercial whaling in the 1800s and the first half of the 1900s, humpback whales were driving to the brink of extinction. Fortunately, an international ban on humpback whaling went into effect in 1966, and the whales’ population has recovered substantially.
Humpbacks are the most popular species for whale watching for a number of reasons: they’re easily recognizable, they’re naturally curious, and they perform a number of acrobatics such as breaching and slapping the water with their fins, tails, and heads. Whale watching in Banderas Bay is closely regulated by the Mexican Federal Department of Natural Resources. Each year, there is a set time period in which whale watching is permitted; this year’s season lasts from December, 2011 through March, 2012. Also, only about 100 boats in Banderas Bay have permits to approach the whales. The purpose of this regulation is to minimize the incidence of whales being hit by boats, and mothers and calves being separated.
Most whale watching tours in Puerto Vallarta last about four hours, and include an expert marine biologist on board to explain the whales’ behavior and to answer questions. Some tours also let you listen to the whales’ songs with special underwater microphones called hydrophones. Tour sizes are usually small (8 – 12 people), so reservations are important. It’s recommended that you wear a bathing suit, a windbreaker, a hat, and sunglasses, and that you bring sunscreen, a towel, and of course, your camera!
Please see the following companies’ websites for more information, or to book a tour.
Vallarta Adventures
Ocean Friendly
Whalecome to Vallarta
Ecotours de Mexico
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