The regions of the Pearl Islands are the most suitable for the observation of whales and other marine mammals. As you prepare for your next vacation to this part of the world, don’t forget to add this activity to your vacation schedule. Whale Watching in the Pearl Islands is a great memory that always thrills adults and children.
From June to September, the Pearl Islands are visited by numerous Antarctic humpback whales who come to give birth to their young and nurse them in the warm tropical waters.
The surrounding waters are home to many marine species, including harbor seals, blue whales, humpback whales, and fin whales. They can be seen near the coasts of the islands. It is one of the best places in the world for whale watching.
Meeting these giants is an experience that will not be forgotten. They are particularly abundant around the Pearl Islands, 40 nautical miles from Panama City. The beautiful waters of these Pearl Islands are home to many species of fish and multicolored corals. Also for much larger marine mammals.
It is one of the most extraordinary places in the world to observe whales and dolphins in their natural environment. The island benefits from a privileged location where marine mammals are present for all, in the immediate vicinity of our coasts and the opportunities to observe them are numerous.
When to observe whales in the
Pearl Islands
From mid-spring, with the migration of capelin. Many large cetaceans follow schools of fish to feed after a few months of fasting in the subtropical waters of Antarctica. Indeed, whales spend the summer in warm subtropical waters to reproduce. During their migration, whales penetrate deep into the deep waters, disperse into the ocean and push their way to the Pear Islands. Some areas are rich in plankton and other small marine organisms which attract fish and which in turn become the preferred prey of cetaceans. These observation sites have been identified for several decades and are distributed in all regions of Panama.
A diversity of marine mammals in the Pearl Islands
Scientists are very interested in the biodiversity present in this region. In order to better understand the richness of the heritage of the Pearl Islands and to protect them. Today, more than 25 species of cetaceans are available here.
Among them, the most observed are the humpback whales and the blue whale. They are visible all year round near the coast. The impressive humpback whales are present every southern winter, from June to October. These humpback whales travel thousands of kilometers from Antarctica, to find the warm waters of the Pearl Islands. They come to mate there and give birth to their young. Other marine mammals are also present but rarer such as sperm whales, fin whales and beluga whales.
Watch these majestic mammals, the acrobatics of calves and dolphins along the coast of the
island.
Wonder Guaranteed!
It is also possible to observe belugas and minke whales without taking the boat into the water. Just sit on the seashore and enjoy the breathtaking views. Pearl Islands are the best viewing site where whales and other marine mammals are concentrated. The cold waters from the depths of the English Channel are brought to the surface by the underwater relief, pushing the plankton and fish by the thousands and therefore attracting large marine mammals so close to humans. Several whale-watching cruise companies offer sea tours to observe these cetaceans.
A little further east, the breaths, and backs of whales (fin whales, humpback whales) are visible from the shore of the Islands. Very often, minke whales swim regularly near the shores of Pearl Islands. Sometimes, blue whales, fin whales, and humpback whales feed a few hundred meters from the seaside.
