Itinerary to see whales in Colombia
This plan is little known by Colombians and foreigners so, as always, quality information.
Today I bring you an article with the necessary information to see whales in Colombia. This plan is little known by Colombians and foreigners so, as always, quality information.
Few countries have the chance to see whales, that's the truth, and Colombia, as always, is one of them.
Next you have a complete itinerary because you should know that you can't see whales all the time, right?
Every year, between the months of July and October, the Colombian Pacific coast becomes the scene of an incredible spectacle. The humpback or humpback whales arrive after traveling 8,500 kilometers from Antarctica and southern Chile to develop their reproductive stage that includes fertilization, gestation and birth of calves.
This show takes place between the Uramba Bahía Málaga, Gorgona and Utría National Natural Parks, so that Colombians and foreigners can visit the Colombian Pacific and enjoy one of the most majestic attractions that nature offers: whale watching in our marine ecosystems.
Malaga Bay
Every year, more than 3,000 humpback whales reach the Colombian coast, thanks to which the country is recognized worldwide as the destination for the largest seasonal migration of humpback whales.
In addition to whale watching, Bahía Málaga is a great tourist attraction for nature lovers because it is one of the areas with the most species of continental and marine fauna and flora on the planet, housing around 1,396 species distributed among mollusks, crustaceans, marine algae, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and coastal and aquatic mammals.
The Uramba Bahía Málaga National Natural Park is also a tourist destination that enjoys great popularity among adrenaline lovers, since it offers the possibility of kayaking, boat rides, cliff walks and caving.
You can get to Buenaventura by air or land, and from there take a boat to Juanchaco, in the department of Valle del Cauca.
Nuquí
Located in the Gulf of Tribugá, in the department of Chocó, Nuquí is one of the places with the greatest biodiversity on the planet and one of the best places for whale watching, because it is possible to get up to 200 meters by boat to take pictures. incredible views of the mating ritual and the birth of calves.
Most of the whales arrive in this area of the country at the end of October. However, tourists who visit this municipality at other times of the year can dive, tour the mangroves, enjoy the refreshing waters of the Cascada del amor, go hiking, visit the thermal baths and do artisanal fishing activities.
There are two ways to get there: by air, taking a 10 to 15 minute flight from Medellín or Quibdó to the Reyes Murillo airport, or by sea from Buenaventura or Bahía Solano.
Gorgona - Where the whales are born
The Gorgona National Natural Park is located 46 kilometers from the municipality of Guapi, in the department of Cauca. It is a place of great natural wealth as it is home to 11 types of whales and dolphins, 12 kinds of coral reefs, 75 species of migratory birds, 41 species of reptiles and 723 species of flora including mosses, macroalgae marine and herbaceous plants.
Gorgona is one of the favorite destinations for Colombian and foreign travelers to watch whales and rest in the middle of the jungle and the sea, since the park offers the possibility of hiking, snorkeling, autonomous diving and participating in tours of the archaeological ruins. .
To get there, you must take a plane from Cali to Guapi or Buenaventura, then travel by boat until you enter the open sea and continue the journey to the island, which lasts between two and four hours.
Recommendations for whale watching:
There is a greater chance of finding humpback whales in the early hours of the morning or at the end of the day, when the sea is calmer and the sun is less intense.
If you are going to observe the whales from the coast, we recommend using binoculars.
If you prefer to see them from a boat, it is best to be accompanied by a guide. Always remember to keep a prudent distance and remain silent so as not to interfere with the activities of the whales and their calves.
Be patient and enjoy the beauty of the Colombian landscape while you wait for this spectacle of nature.
What clothes and what shoes to wear?
Shorts and a cotton T-shirt, a jacket to protect yourself from the wind, a raincoat and non-slip sandals or tennis shoes. Do not forget the cap or a hat with laces so that the wind does not make them "fly"
The life jacket is part of the safety during navigation
Sun protection is essential, as well as sunglasses
What you can not miss
A waterproof backpack cannot be missing to protect personal items: wallet, cell phone, camera, etc.
Binoculars should always be at hand, so as not to deprive yourself in detail of this spectacle of nature.
The stopwatch is used by experts who already know how long whales spend underwater, approximately 40 minutes, before coming back to the surface.
A camera, hopefully with a telephoto lens, is the best equipment to take for a whale watching. You have to be proactive and take a cover to prevent it from getting wet
Personal bottle: You have to drink water, it is about three or four hours adrift and constant hydration is necessary
This is an ideal plan for foreigners who are not used to the majesty of nature.
Rarely do you see a whale, haha, almost never do you have the chance to see a whale.
So make the plan and go.
Air tickets
If you look for the tickets in advance, you will be able to take advantage of good prices, the disadvantage of places to which flights are not available is their price, but that will not be a problem if you want to live this experience.
The recommendation is that they generally tend to increase prices when there is a high season; and humpback whale watching tends to attract the attention of many tourists.
An air ticket for airlines such as Satena, Avianca or Viva Colombia, could be worth between 600 and 800 thousand pesos each way (100-200 dollars). So if you plan ahead, you can save some 'pesos'.
In total you would spend about 2-3 million pesos per person to see whales. Approximately 600-700 dollars.