+57 (602) 395 9999 PBX
Where to go whale watching in Colombia?
At our Valle del Cauca!
Suposing you blame yourself for still not having scheduled your trip to go whale watching in Colombia, this note may still interest you...
Because at Spiwak Hotels, we don't want you to miss the humpback whale watching season: a natural phenomenon celebrating life in the beautiful waters of our Colombian Pacific.
If you are interested in knowing more about this and want to witness this unique moment, read us below for more details.
Why do whales come to Colombia?
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate to our seas after traveling around 8,500 kilometers from Antarctica in search of warm, clean and calm waters.
At this latitude, they seek to rest, mate, give birth and nurse their calves, struggling to find a safe environment for less energetic effort to maintain their body temperature, and where the absence of natural predators allow them to care for their offsprings while these grow.
When does whale watching start in Colombia?
It is often advertised that whale season in Colombia starts from July 1 and ends on October 20.
And although August and September are the ideal months for humpback whale watching in Colombia, it is not usually known that between May and June whales begin to reach the Colombian seas, and until November it is still possible to spot them in our ocean.
Places to spot whales in Colombia
As an ecotourism activity, whale watching in Colombia is widely spread throughout our Pacific Ocean, and popular destinations for it are:
- Bahía Cúpica, Bahía Solano, Utría, Nuquí and Bajo Baudó in the Chocó department.
- Gorgona Island, Guapí and Timbiquí in the Cauca department.
- Tumaco, Cabo Manglares and Mosquera in the Nariño department.
However, one of the best places to see whales in Colombia is the Pacific coast of our department of Valle del Cauca, specifically in the following three (3) sectors:
Buenaventura
Everything related to whale watching in our region is at the Buenaventura Tourist Dock: where boats depart to sighting locations not far from this port.
Although some claim that it is possible to see these huge mammals from Buenaventura itself, taking these boats is a convenient idea because they also land people to nearby beaches for serene enjoyment, like: Playa Dorada Magüipi, Playa Piagüita, La Bocana and Punta Soldado, all of them protected and served by their own communities (some with cozy hostels to spend the night, restaurants with exquisite native Pacific cuisine, and beautiful natural attractions such as Charco Escondido, el Paso del Duende and the Charco de la Dicha).
It is relevant to notice current departure times and frequencies, so we recommend checking this information in advance with respective boaters' cooperatives that operate at the quay.
Bahía Málaga
If there is no rush (and time and distance to travel by boat from Buenaventura are not a problem), the villages of Ladrilleros, Juanchaco, La Barra and Bahía Málaga are recipients of tourists who arrive to see whales from its shores (in the so-called "Mirador de las Ballenas" in Ladrilleros), or just coming from watching them right in the sea.
From these hamlets, people can also take authorized boats to navigate around the Uramba Bahía Málaga National Natural Park and get to know places like: Balneario de las Tres Marías; the waterfalls of La Sierpe and Ostional; the natural arch of Isla La Palma; and beaches such as Juan de Dios and Chucheros.
As another curiosity, associations from La Plata, Puerto España and Miramar allow visitors to get to their piers, enjoy the beauty of their surroundings, and make people learn how native inhabitants live: an action that helps disseminate the work communities do in protecting the park's ecosystems. In addition, the Bahía Málaga area is a popular enclave for adventure lovers and athletes who enjoy kayaking, boat rides, cliff walks and caving.
Malpelo
Although considered one of the best destinations on the planet to dive and swim with sharks (especially among whale sharks hammerhead sharks), the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary has also been reported as a place to observe humpback whales, but with a much limited access given the enormous distance between this island and the Colombian coast (as well as the requirements and physical conditions that are demanded for this visit).
At this point, the journey to Malpelo is done by boat, and it takes between 30 to 40 hours of ocean crossing, depending on weather conditions and the state of tides.
These cruises are usually taken by scientists and advanced diving enthusiasts due to the type of currents that dominate around the island. Since Malpelo has no hostels or restaurants, these boats have cabins that require booking well in advance... And as a natural heritage strongly guarded by the Colombian National Navy camping sites are also not allowed.
How to plan a trip to watch whales from Cali?
Given the good roads and proximity of our departmental capital to the port of Buenaventura, it is easy to plan a trip to these sites and witness this beautiful event of nature.
One option from Cali is to hire the services of a tour operator, namely: Valley Adventours, Travelgrafía, Viajes Colombia Viva, Colombia Travel & Vacations Group, Adrenaline Colombia, Seven Travel, or Aviatur itself, all agencies that handle good-value tours in agreement with communities of boatmen and fishermen of the Pacific, as well as with shuttle companies and hotels that make this alternative a more comfortable, artisanal and supportive method of travel.
For those who prefer to build a travel programme by themselves, there are coaches from transporters such as Corredor del Pacífico and Flota La Magdalena, which in an approximate 3- hour journey take passengers from Cali's Terminal to Buenaventura's Bus Depot, close to the city's wharf, from where anyone can hire guides and take boats to beaches and observation points indicated above.
From other cities within the country, tour operators such as Territorio Explora in Pereira, Baquianos Travel in Santa Marta, Ecoglobal Expeditions in Medellín, or the guys from Avistamiento de Ballenas in Bogotá also offer predetermined packages to live the most vivid and comfortable experience while contemplating these magnificent cetaceans.
There are also non-stop flights departing from Bogotá and Medellín to the Gerardo Tovar Lopez Airport in Buenaventura, and airlines such as Satena help facilitate arrival at this destination.
Please note there are no air connections from the Aeropuerto Internacional Alfonso Bonilla Aragón with Buenaventura. That said, we advise anyone arriving to Cali through an international flight to first rest in our city for at least one day, then embark on the road to Buenaventura.
If you wish to reach the island of Malpelo, the Malpelo Foundation lets travelers aboard its ship, the Ferox, to spot fauna and educate crew members in the job it does on preserving the island' species... There is also the option of boarding the Seawolf, through the El Mejor Buceo agency.
Finally, on page 59 of this beautiful guide you can find more information on agencies and accommodations that provide travel and lodging services to all those interested in visiting these places to see our magnificent whales.
We hope this information comes handy. Happy journey!
—
Spiwak Hotels: your best lodging option in Cali. Located in the north of the city, half an hour from the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport, close to the Granada Pink Zone, and easy access to the Chipichape Shopping Center. 493 suites, parking and 12 rooms for social and business events. We are the largest hotel complex in Valle del Cauca!
