63Field guides
Destinations and activities, spot by spot
Each guide is written from local rules, identified operators, and real seasonality. Gwenaël publishes them one at a time.
63 guides02Where are the guides?
Where are the guides?
Every dot is a documented destination. The map grows with each new publication.
Azores (Pico, Faial, São Miguel)
Resident sperm whales, passing fin whales, dolphins year-round: factual guide to best islands, periods, regulatory distances & criteria for ethical operators in the Azores.
Andenes & Vesterålen
Andenes on Andøya: Bleik Canyon draws sperm whales all summer. Ethical operators, field ID, logistics and detailed calendar.
Antarctic Peninsula
Orcas, humpback and minke whales: everything you need to know to watch whales in Antarctica, choose an ethical cruise and identify species in the field.
Bay of Fundy
Humpback, North Atlantic right and minke whales gather in the Bay of Fundy thanks to record tides. Seasons, ethical operators and identification criteria.
Balearics (Ibiza, Menorca)
Fin whales, striped dolphins, loggerhead turtles: whale watching in the Balearics (Ibiza, Menorca) from June to September with ethical operators and best practices.
Bay of Islands & Paihia
Common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and occasional orcas: the Bay of Islands offers year-round sightings. Species, ethics, operators and logistics from Paihia.
Big Island (Kona)
Humpback whales, short-finned pilot whales, green turtles: everything you need to know to see whales at Hawaii Big Island from Kona. Species, seasons, ethical operators and NOAA regulations.
Bimini & Grand Bahama
Wild spotted dolphins, crystal-clear waters, year-round boat trips: everything you need to know for ethical dolphin watching in the Bahamas.
Bremer Bay
Bremer Bay hosts Australia’s largest known orca aggregation each austral summer. Site biology, ethical operators, regulated distances and logistics from Perth.
Tenerife & La Gomera
Resident pilot whales, diving sperm whales, passing fin whales: everything you need to know to see whales in the Canaries at Tenerife and La Gomera, with ethical operators and proper distances.
Cape Town & False Bay
Southern right whale, orca, False Bay: everything you need to know to see whales in Cape Town. Species, seasons, ethical operators and field tips.
Chiloé & Corcovado
Corcovado Gulf holds the highest density of blue whales in the southern hemisphere. Species, season, ethical operators, logistics: everything you need to know before you go.
Churchill
Churchill, Manitoba: each summer thousands of belugas enter Hudson Bay. When to go, how to pick a responsible operator, what to see and how to get there.
Akamas & Lara Bay
Species, behaviors, ethical approach and logistics for seeing turtles in Cyprus at Lara Bay and Akamas Peninsula, June to August.
Cork, Kerry & Dingle
See dolphins in Ireland year-round off Cork, Kerry and Dingle: identified species, calendar, ethical operators and citizen science via the IWDG.
Uvita, Drake Bay & Golfo Dulce
Humpback whales, dolphins, sea turtles: Costa Rica's South Pacific hosts cetaceans year-round. Spots, key seasons and how to choose a responsible operator.
Disko Bay
Humpback whales, orcas, icebergs: Disko Bay concentrates the main cetacean fauna of western Greenland. Species, season, ethical operators and practical tips.
Dominica
Watch sperm whales in Dominica year-round: biology, best seasons, ethical approach, certified operators and practical tips by Gwenaël, cetacean observer.
Gaspésie (Percé, Forillon)
Species present, best period, regulatory distances and field ID criteria for whale watching in Gaspésie from Percé and Forillon.
Strait of Gibraltar & Tarifa
Observe Iberian orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar from April to October: ecology, photo-ID, ethical operators, regulated distances and practical tips from Tarifa.
Gold Coast & Byron Bay
Byron Bay sits on the humpback whale migration route from Antarctica to Queensland. Season dates, species, ethical operators and land-based viewing spots.
Zakynthos, Kefalonia & Kyparissia
Loggerhead turtles in Zante, Cephalonia and Kyparissia: May to August season, marine park rules and responsible operators.
Guadeloupe
Humpback whales, sperm whales, resident dolphins: everything you need to know for whale watching in Guadeloupe, choosing an ethical operator, and identifying species at sea.
Hermanus, Walker Bay & Gansbaai
Species, monthly calendar, TOPS regulations and criteria for choosing an ethical operator: everything you need to know for whale watching in South Africa at Hermanus, Walker Bay and Gansbaai.
Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay hosts hundreds of humpback whales each austral winter. Behaviors, ethical operators, prices and practical tips for a successful trip.
Húsavík & Eyjafjörður
Húsavík and Eyjafjörður offer the best conditions for whale watching in Iceland: species, seasons, ethical operators, and practical tips.
Juneau, Sitka, Icy Strait
Humpback whales, orcas, bubble-net feeding: everything you need to know for whale watching in Alaska, including NOAA distances, ethical operator criteria, and top southern spots
Kaikoura & Cook Strait
Resident sperm whales, orcas, dolphins and southern right whales: species, seasons, regulations and ethical operators for whale watching at Kaikoura and Cook Strait.
Lofoten
Humpback whale, minke whale, orca: species, seasons and ethical operators to watch cetaceans in the Lofoten Islands in summer. Logistics from Svolvær.
Los Cabos & Cabo San Lucas
Species observed, best season, on-water identification, NOM-131-SEMARNAT rules and criteria for choosing an ethical operator in Cabo San Lucas.
Lošinj & Istria
Resident Adriatic bottlenose dolphins tracked since 1987. Where and when to see them at Lošinj and Istria with reputable operators.
Madeira (Funchal, Calheta)
Sperm whales, pilot whales, Bryde's whales: Madeira is one of the few places to see cetaceans year-round. Field tips, species, ethical operators.
Martinique
Humpback whales, dolphins, sea turtles: everything to know for observing cetaceans in Martinique within the AGOA sanctuary. Seasons, regulatory distances, operator criteria.
Maui (Lahaina, Kihei)
Species, seasonality, NOAA 2021 rules and criteria for choosing an ethical operator in Maui. Field guide to whale watching in Hawaii.
Mirissa, Weligama & Galle
Blue whale, pilot whale, optimal season, ethical operator choice: everything you need to know for whale watching in Sri Lanka from the south coast.
Monterey Bay
Whale watching in Monterey Bay is possible year-round thanks to the submarine canyon. Species, calendar, ethical operators and field tips by Gwenaël, cetacean observer.
Morbihan & Belle-Île
Common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, porpoise: Morbihan and Belle-Île offer remarkable year-round observation conditions. Species, sites, ethical operators, and on-site tips.
Ogasawara
Sperm whales, Bryde's whales, UNESCO subtropical waters: everything you need to know to watch cetaceans at Ogasawara from May to November with a responsible operator.
Biarritz, Hendaye & San Sebastián
Fin whales, dolphins, pilot whales: Gouf de Capbreton hosts over 15 species near Hendaye and Biarritz. Seasons, ethical operators, at-sea identification.
Pelagos Sanctuary
Fin whale, sperm whale, dolphins: the Pelagos Sanctuary hosts the greatest diversity of cetaceans in the Mediterranean. Everything you need to know before setting sail, from May to October.
Valdés Peninsula
Species, month-by-month calendar, ethical operators, regulatory distances, and logistics from Puerto Madryn for whale watching in Patagonia at Peninsula Valdés.
Puerto López & Machalilla
Species, precise calendar, IWC approach rules and criteria to choose an ethical operator in Puerto López. Everything for whale watching in Ecuador.
Réunion (Saint-Gilles, Saint-Leu)
Optimal period, on-water identification, prefectural regulations and criteria for choosing an ethical operator: everything you need to know to see whales in La Réunion.
Sainte-Marie Island & Nosy Boraha
Humpback whale biology, July-September window at Nosy Boraha, ethical operator choice, and approach rules for observing whales in Madagascar.
Samaná
Species, schedule, regulated distances, and criteria for choosing an ethical operator: everything you need to know to see whales in Samaná, Dominican Republic.
San Ignacio Lagoon
San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur: the only place in the world where gray whales voluntarily approach boats. Season, ethics, logistics, everything you need to know.
San Juan Islands
Critically endangered resident orcas, NOAA regulatory distances, ethical operators: everything you need to know to see orcas in the San Juan Islands responsibly.
Sardinia & Sicily
Fin whales, bottlenose and Risso's dolphins off Sardinia and Sicily. Season, departure areas and ethical operators.
Snæfellsnes & Grundarfjörður
Spot orcas in Iceland from Grundarfjörður and Snæfellsnes: season, behavior, ethical operators, logistics, and field tips by Gwenaël, cetacean observer.
Trincomalee
Blue whale, sperm whale, humpback whale: species, March–August season, field ID and ethical operators for cetacean watching in Trincomalee.
Stellwagen Bank
Stellwagen Bank hosts humpback, fin and North Atlantic right whales April–October. Species, ethical operators, regulated distances and field tips for whale watching at Cape Cod.
Svalbard
Beluga, bowhead whale, narwhal: Svalbard offers some of the rarest cetacean encounters in the Arctic. Zones, periods, Norwegian regulations, and criteria for choosing a serious operator.
Sydney, Port Stephens & Eden
Humpback whales, dolphins, coastal viewing spots and ethical operators: field guide to whale watching in Sydney, Port Stephens and Eden.
Tadoussac & St. Lawrence
Species, schedule, marine park regulations, and ethical operator choices: everything you need to know for whale watching in Tadoussac and the St. Lawrence estuary.
Tahiti
Best season, behaviors to recognize, Polynesian rules and criteria to choose a responsible operator for whale watching in Tahiti.
Skjervøy, Tromsø & Lyngenfjord
Seeing orcas in Norway from Skjervøy and Tromsø: seasonality, species identification, criteria for choosing an ethical operator. Rigorous field advice.
Telegraph Cove & Vancouver Island
Resident orcas, Bigg’s orcas, humpback whales: everything you need to know to watch cetaceans at Telegraph Cove and Vancouver Island, with the right operators and best practices.
Humpback whale · Mayotte
Champion of song and acrobatic leaps.
Humpback whale · Moorea & Bora Bora
Champion of song and acrobatic leaps.
Humpback whale · Silver Bank
Champion of song and acrobatic leaps.
Humpback whale · Vava'u, Ha'apai & Tongatapu
Champion of song and acrobatic leaps.
Dolphins · Manaus & Rio Negro
42 species, social, playful, everywhere.
Whale shark · Ningaloo & Exmouth
The largest fish in the world, peaceful filter feeder up to 12 m.