Dolphin observing in La Palma, Canary Islands, constitutes one of the best activities possible in this spectacular coastal setting.
La Palma is one of the most beautiful islands within the Canary Islands, and it’s also one of the most popular islands, along with Tenerife and Gran Canaria, to spot whales. Thanks to its scenic beauty and abundance of cetaceans, I highly recommend scheduling a La Palma whale-watching tour.
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Best La Palma dolphin-watching tour
If you’re looking for the optimum whale-watching excursions from La Palma, I suggest this one.The boat tour begins in Puerto de Tazacorte, to the western part of La Palma. The vessel will travel along the island`s shore, giving scenic panoramic views of La Palma as you sail out into the Atlantic Ocean pursuing cetaceans.
This ranks among the premier dolphin watching excursions in La Palma since the surrounding waters are home to up to 29 unique cetacean species. During the outing, a specialist guide will provide info pertaining to the whales and dolphins observed. Additionally, guests receive the chance to tour Cueva Bonita, an underground volcanic cavern molded by thousands of years of erosion.
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- Highlights: Dolphin and whale-watching cruise, visit to Cueva Bonita
- Starting point: Puerto de Tazacorte, La Palma
- Duration: 3 hours
- Price: $35
- Description: This cruise goes along the shoreline of La Palma and ventures into the Atlantic Ocean seeking untamed dolphins and whales. An expert guide will share data about all the cetaceans that inhabit the region, and you’ll make a brief visit to Cueva Bonita.
La Palma whale-watching season
By now, you`re probably wondering the best time to observe dolphins in La Palma. I can explain that La Palma`s advantageous location in the Canary Islands allows cetaceans to be spotted throughout the year. Many of the native species reside there permanently, so nearly any time of year is good to take a whale-watching cruise from La Palma.
When taking a La Palma dolphin watching cruise, keep in mind that each tour differs, and these marine mammals are wild creatures, so their movements can never be totally anticipated. However, the top La Palma whale watching companies possess years of experience, allowing them to forecast where the whales and dolphins will be with great accuracy.
Where to see dolphins in La Palma
All tours aimed at observing whales depart from Puerto de Tazacorte, which is situated in a town of an identical name, west of La Palma. From there, the tour boats head to areas with the highest documented concentrations of dolphins and whales. Numerous excursions also visit Cueva Bonita or other caves, where it’s possible to see other marine animals in the crystal clear waters.
Types of whales in La Palma
Now that you know everything about whale and dolphin-watching in La Palma, I’ll tell you a bit about the types of species you can expect to see here.
Dolphins in La Palma
The chances of seeing dolphins in La Palma are extremely high since they are among the most commonly spotted cetaceans in the Canary Islands. Among the various species of dolphins living around La Palma, the two most frequently seen are the bottlenose dolphin and the common dolphin.
The common dolphin can be recognized by its yellow sides, while the bottlenose dolphin has a darker gray appearance and is significantly larger.
Pilot whales in La Palma
Pilot whales, despite their designation, are part of the dolphin family, and similar to common and bottlenose dolphins, the pilot whale can frequently be seen in La Palma. These sea creatures usually stretch about 16 feet and weigh somewhere from 1 to 2 tons. They compose one of the most spectacular types you`ll observe during a whale-watching tour departing from La Palma.
Other cetaceans in La Palma
On some whale watching trips from La Palma, you may see other cetacean species, like sperm whales, humpbacks, and blue whales. Though uncommon, you could get lucky and spot an orca in La Palma, but they are exceptionally rare in the Canary Islands.
The provided information equips you with everything necessary to schedule the finest La Palma dolphin watching tour. We found the La Palma whale watching excursion we partook in to be fascinating, and believe you too will thoroughly enjoy your experience.
If you have any questions or want to share your experience observing dolphins near La Palma, feel free to leave a comment. I hope you have smooth sailing!
