The sea of Puerto Vallarta will soon be filled with enormous humpback whales, who travel thousands of kilometers to the Mexican Pacific coast in search of warmer waters to begin the mating and breeding season.
Their arrival also marks the beginning of the season for sighting these mammals, one of the best experiences you can have in winter in the Bay of Banderas.
What are humpback whales like?
The humpback whale is one of the 11 species of baleen whales in the world and is distributed in the oceans of the entire planet, although in winter they migrate from the Arctic to the Mexican Pacific coast (up to 5,000 kilometers) in search of warmer waters.
Females are usually larger (15 to 19 meters long) than males (14 to 17.5 meters) and weigh between 30 and 40 tons, according to the Action Program for the Conservation of the Endangered Species Humpback Whale of Semarnat.
It is called humpback because of the way it arches its back before diving, although it is also known as the ‘whale with the big wings’ due to its pectoral fins (up to 5 meters long).
Despite being one of the heaviest animals in the world, they are quite playful and ‘acrobatic’, as it is common to see them propelling themselves out of the water.
They are easily recognizable by these fins, their robust body, and their somewhat elongated snout, which has a kind of baleen.
Humpback whale season in Puerto Vallarta
As we said, humpback whales escape from the cold Arctic waters in winter and arrive at the warm waters of the Mexican Pacific, where they reproduce and give birth to their calves.
They are usually seen from November in the Bay of Banderas, although the official season begins on December 8 and ends on March 23, with the possibility of extending until the beginning of May.
The tour operator Vallarta Adventures indicates that the best season for sightings is in January and February, since this is when these enormous mammals are most active.
Although there are no exact numbers, it is estimated that around 26,000 whales migrate each year to the coasts of the Mexican Pacific, according to Fidetur Puerto Vallarta.
Humpback Whale Watching Tours in Puerto Vallarta
Vallarta Adventures offers a couple of experiences in the waters of Puerto Vallarta to see humpback whales, all of them guided by marine life experts and members of RABEN (Red de Asistencia a Ballenas Enmalladas), a Mexican organization dedicated to the conservation and release of this species.
The first of these is a photographic safari aboard an inflatable boat, ideal for small groups. It lasts about 3 hours and covers some of the sites where the most sightings are recorded. In addition, each boat is equipped with hydrophones to listen to the songs and sounds emitted by the whales.
It costs $2,289 pesos per person, although you can get a discount if you book online, where the rate is $1,602.38. It includes fruit and water.
If you are looking for a more complete experience, there is the catamaran ride around the bay. This is a 2-story boat and during the tour (about 3 hours), the guides share information about the whales. Additionally, the boat has an area with a buffet and open bar (alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks).
This tour has a regular cost of $2,079 pesos per person, although online it has a discount, having a rate of $1,455.30. It includes a buffet, open bar and hydrophones on board.
Rules for whale watching
Take into account that it is essential to hire services from tourism providers certified by Semarnat. On the part of the guides, it is mandatory that they follow the following instructions:
It is prohibited to use sonar and echo sounder equipment to locate whales; the number of boats allowed in an observation area is 4 and they can remain on the site for up to 30 minutes; they must maintain a speed of between 9 to 4 kilometers per hour when close to a whale or group of whales and a minimum distance of 240 meters.
The approach must be diagonally from the rear side and the advance must be parallel to the course of the whales.
Visitors must remain silent so as not to disturb the whales and it is strictly forbidden to feed them, touch them and/or swim next to them.
Source: eluniversal
