Whale watching holidays

Whales travel vast distances to feed and breed, and so can be seen in most oceans at various times of year. The Atlantic waters off the Azores attract many species, including blue whales, which pass through between May and June. Alaska, where the wildlife watching is never short of spectacular, is a great spot to catch athletic humpbacks, as well as orcas (okay, they’re not actually whales, but still).

Cruises in places like Greenland can pass minke, beluga and fin whales, as well as endangered bowhead whales, which share these pristine environments with polar bears and sea lions. South Africa offers some of the finest land-based whale watching in the world, while in Baja, Mexico, the grey whales are so curious and unafraid of humans that they will sometimes bring their calves alongside boats.

The Azores, a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, is the location for some of our greatest whale watching holidays. The 3km deep, dark and chilly waters off islands such as Pico and São Miguel offer perfect feeding territory for many species of cetaceans, some of which are resident here year-round, while others pass through at different times of year.

Up until the 1980s, the watchtowers along the islands’ coasts were used to hunt whales, but nowadays they are used to direct boat tours, often with stunning accuracy as to where a whale will surface and when. When not out on a boat here tracking down whales and dolphins, active travellers can hike, cycle or try some canyoning among these lush landscapes, while the UNESCO-listed vineyards of Pico offer delectable wine tasting.

The excitement of seeing whales and dolphins in the wild far surpasses any thrill you’ll get from watching them perform unnatural tricks in a marine theme park. Seeing a water spout off in the distance, watching as dozens of dolphins swim gracefully around your boat, perhaps even witnessing an athletic humpback leap into the sky – these are memories that kids (and parents) will be talking about for years to come.

Our whale and dolphin watching holidays are perfect for families. Boat trips usually last no more than a few hours, so younger children won’t get too bored, and you can opt for a larger vessel to reduce the risk of seasickness. And there are a lot of land-based activities you can enjoy as well, from hiking and cycling along coastal trails, to museums which trace mankind’s long history with whales, from hunting to conservation and ethical tourism.

While there are some places, such as Hermanus in South Africa, where you can easily sight whales from land, the best way to see them is from a boat. Larger vessels such as catamarans offer greater stability and comfort, while smaller RIBs carry fewer passengers but can bounce through the waves a lot faster.

It’s vital to choose a responsible boat tour, one that doesn’t chase whales or get too close to them, or separate mothers from their calves. Our holidays follow international whale watching guidelines to ensure that the whales are not crowded, that boats kill their engines when they get close and allow whales to approach them rather than the other way round, and that they only stay with whales for a short time before moving on. Another reason to recommend a responsible whale watching tour by boat is that you will usually have a trained marine biologist aboard, capable of explaining the behaviours you’re seeing and help identify the species.