Best Whale Watching Spots Around the World

Whales are native to all parts of the world, from warm tropical waters to the frigid Arctic, meaning there are plenty of spots to go whale watching on your next vacation. Here are just six of many locations considered to be the best.

Baja California, Mexico

Mexico’s east coast is home to thousands of majestic gray whales that can grow up to 15 meters long. Baja California, especially San Ignacio Lagoon, is famous for hosting these pods from January to April before they begin their 20,000-mile journey to Alaska.

Húsavík, Iceland

European travelers regularly go to Iceland for its spectacular whale watching spots. Visitors can see them in Reykjavík’s harbor, but the best place to go is Husavík, a small town on the northern coast of Iceland with humpback, minke and blue whales.

Kaikoura, New Zealand

If you prefer a warmer destination, Kaikoura is one of the few places that can offer whale watching year-round thanks to the two-kilometer deep Kaikoura canyon. A rich marine ecosystem provides an abundant supply of food for the local population of sperm whales, which can grow up to 20 meters long.

Hermanus, South Africa

Many believe this is the best whale watching spot in the world, where the season lasts from July to November. Walker Bay is the mating ground for southern right whales, and you can even take a boat or kayak to get up close to them.

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Many visitors come to Alaska for its beautiful waters and glaciers, one of which is Margerie Glacier, where you can see 40-ton humpback whales perform gravity-defying breaches.

The Azores, Portugal

To see the majestic blue whale, Portugal’s autonomous Azore Islands are the place to go. These whales are the largest animals to roam the earth, growing up to 30 meters in length and weighing up to 200 tons.