PUERTO VALLARTA WHALE WATCHING

Whale watching is one of the most impressive activities in nature you can participate in. Of all the whales, the humpbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae) are the most spectacular ones thanks to their breaching, lobtailing, flippering and their beautiful songs, which are part of their courtship rituals. Wildlife Connection offers you the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable encounter with these friendly giants who arrive to Puerto Vallarta to mate and give birth, during the winter months, year after year. We can also enjoy different species of dolphins inside the bay. Come with us and meet these magnificent creatures.

WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCHING

During winter we combine the whale watching with dolphin watching.  The whales come here to mate and to give birth, so you will have the chance to see baby whales and the lots of activity on surface such as breaching, lob tailing, fluking, flippering as part of their courtship. There are different dolphin species in the bay, we can find (mostly only on the morning tour) bottlenose dolphins, spotted dolphins, spinner dolphins, rough toothed dolphins and  with luck we can find Orcas or False Orcas. We can also see giant mantas and marine turtles. In this tour we don't swim with the dolphins, if you are interested on swimming with them we recommend you our Dolphins in the Wild tour. We have hydrophone on board to hear whale songs and the dolphins communication.

Our guides are specialists in cetaceans, Biologists with Masters Degree in Marine Ecology, Science Journalist and Professional Wildlife Photographer (National Geographic magazine and Animal Planet).We have some research programs with whales and dolphins, and during the tour we will share with you this information and you will have the opportunity to participate on our research.  Your participation on our tour it's what makes our research possible, and our research and experience helps us to GUARANTEE 100% that we can find the animals if not your money back.

SCHEDULE

• We have 2 itineraries: Morning tour “HIGHLY RECOMMENDED” (includes the dolphins) , and Afternoon tour (same price but dolphins are not guaranteed).
• 08:00 (morning tour) or 12:30 (afternoon tour)
  1- OPEQUIMAR (Vallarta). Located across the street from Westin Regina Hotel in Marina Vallarta.
  2.-YATCH CLUB (Nuevo Vallarta). Located beside the Paradise Village public pier.
• Light Continental breakfast is served while you receive an educational explanation to introduce you to the world of whales as well as information about the different species of dolphins in the bay and their habitat.
• 08:30 (morning tour) or 13:00 (afternoon tour).
  Departure from: OPEQUIMAR/ Nuevo Vallarta. Whales and dolphins are searched inside the bay, the time to find them varies. Once they are found more information about them is provided. Big chances to see giant mantas, marine turtles and with lot’s of luck Orcas.
• 13:00 (morning tour) or  17:00 (afternoon tour). Arrival to Puerto Vallarta/ Nuevo Vallarta.

SMALL GROUPS: We use a small boats because is the best way to get close to the animals with low impact. Our boats are  a 26ft, 27 ft and 33ft shaded fast boats , with 12, 14 and 20 pax of capacity (depends the number of passeguers the boat or boats we use). So it’s a private and personalized tour.

WHALE RESEARCH PROJECT

Due to the fact that whales spend most of their lives underwater, the first studies conducted were performed on animals that were stranded or caught during the whaling era. The whaling itself was a dark age in the history of many species reducing their populations to almost extinction. Humpback whales were no exception. Today, they are still on the endangered species list, which means that any ongoing research is of a great importance since a lot more information is needed to successfully assist the conservation of the species.

Wildlife Connection has been studying the Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Banderas Bay since 1991. The first and very important step was to recognize the whales individually, which has been carried out by taking photos of the ventral part of the fluke, where unique patterns of pigmentation are present. Using these patterns as a fingerprint we have now catalogued more than 810 different whales. Our project continues, as there is still much to learn and understand. Over these past few years we have learned more about humpback behavior and the importance of certain areas for their successful breeding and survival. Banderas Bay, being a place where humpbacks gather every winter to mate and breed, is a place of an enormous importance and its conservation has to be recognized as an urgent priority. For more information please contact us.

ADOPT A WHALE!

We invite you to participate in the study and conservation of the whales.Wildlife Connection has the first real Adopt-A-Whale Program in Puerto Vallarta, called RADAR. Ask us for information and adopt your own whale!