Mompiche – From Mompiche it is possible to get whale watching tours from operators who hang out on the beach. Such tours can also visit Isla Jupiter, where some tourists are lucky enough to swim with dolphins, and later visit mangroves. Mompiche is best reached by taking a bus to Esmeraldas or Atacames, which takes 6 or 7 hours, and then changing to take another bus to Mompiche, which takes 90 minutes from Esmeraldas or one hour from Atacames.

Ballenita – Ballenita, or “little whale” as its name is translated is a good spot to pick up a whale watching tour. In this town, it is even possible to see whales from beachside restaurants if you are lucky. Ballenita is accessible by bus.

Bahia de Caraquez – the “Eco City” of Bahia is a nice place to pick up a whale watching trip. Tours can be arranged in the town. The town can be reached by bus from Quito, which takes about 8 hours.

Other places to pick up a whale watching tour are: Montañita, Manta, Pedernales, Puerto Cayo, Tonsupa, Súa and Esmeraldas.

Costs

Whale watching trips usually last for about half a day and costs range from $20 to $25.

Travel Tips

It is advisable to take sea-sickness medicine before the trip. Good operators will have life jackets on board, so be sure to ask and to use them. Bring a plastic bag for your camera, and keep it in the bag when you are not using it, as small waves sometimes splash into seating areas. Bring a warm sweater for the boat because it can sometimes get chilly.

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Whale Watching Ecuador

Every summer between the months of June to October the warm waters off Ecuador’s Pacific coastline become a breeding ground for Humpback Whales. The whales travel from the furthest southern seas to congregate on Ecuador’s coastline for breeding. Since the whales are born without sufficient fat to survive in colder waters, the young are reared in the warm water until they are big enough to survive elsewhere.

Ecuador boasts some 28 species of whales and dolphins, about 30% of all cetacean species reported worldwide

If any mammal understands the value of life, it is the Humpback Whale that migrates more than 7000 kilometers every year from the cold waters of Antarctica to the warmer waters off the coast of Ecuador to give birth to their cubs and ensure their survival.

They travel in large pods and stay close to the coast. Young males are the first to begin the migration and the first to arrive off the coast of Ecuador. Pregnant females are the last to arrive. The average swimming speed is about four knots but when migrating it can be up to 6 knots.

From late June until late September, about 400 to 2600 whales arrives to Ecuador, it is possible to take whale-watching tours from many of Ecuador’s coastal towns. The male whales leap out of the water as they try to attract a mate. They also emit unusual sounds while they are doing so.

Whale Watching Hotspots in Ecuador

There are a number of different places along the Ecuadorian coast from which to take whale-watching tours. Tour companies are found all over the coast offering this activity. Some of the most important are:

Salinas - It is also possible to find whale watching tours as far south as Salinas. Salinas can be accessed by bus from Guayaquil, which takes about an hour. Flights can be taken from Quito to Guayaquil, which take 35 minutes. Buses to Guayaquil from Quito take around 6 hours.

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