Puerto Vallarta, on Banderas Bay on Mexico’s Pacific coast, is one of that country’s most popular destinations, and no wonder. Banderas Bay is the largest natural bay in Mexico and home to all kinds of marine wildlife. In fact, many people reserve a villa rental Puerto Vallarta just so they can spend time on the bay whale watching.
The bay is lined with beaches of every sort and description, and they bring in volumes of sun and sea worshipers. During the official whale watching season (December through March), though, many visitors walk right on past the beach. They head instead for the open waters of the bay to catch a glimpse of the magnificent mammals that appear early each spring to calve and feast before moving on up the coast.
Do You Have a License for That?
More and more people today recognize the importance of protecting these valuable wildlife resources. The Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching Forum makes an effort to educate whale watchers on the fine points of responsible watching; their rules of conduct encourage visitors to give the animals plenty of room and treat them gently. In an effort to protect the welfare of the animals, the Mexican government regulates the activities of tour operators and requires that they obtain a license; the organization keeps a roster of licensed whale watching vendors in Puerto Vallarta to help guests identify legal operators.
A large number of operators run whale watching expeditions from points in and near Puerto Vallarta. Vallarta Adventures and Ecotours de Mexico take visitors out to see whales and dolphins, then return to shore for swimming, snorkeling and other beach-oriented activities. The Whale Watching Center is operated by a team of oceanologists who take small groups on small boats for an up-close experience.
Humpbacks
Banderas Bay is famous for the humpback whales that visit each year. The species is remarkable because each animal’s dorsal fin and flukes are unique, unlike those of any other animal. When the whale dives, it usually throws it flukes high in the air, and this behavior, combined with each whale’s unique markings, have inspired tracking research that relies on photo identification. Some research projects even encourage recreational whale watchers to share their photos and help with the research.
In most cases, a whale watching tour is a day-long adventure. Wear your hat and shades and take plenty of sun block. And don’t forget your camera. When you’re done for the day, head back to your villa Puerto Vallarta to relive the day’s events while you enjoy the gorgeous sunset over Banderas Bay.
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