With February quickly approaching, we are about to enter into the best time of year to see Humpback whales off the west coast of Puerto Rico. If you have the chance to head to the west coast around the Rincon area, you might be lucky enough to see these magnificent, endangered species during their mating and birthing season.
Photo by Seamus Murray. Please note that the above image was not taken off the coast of Puerto Rico. But, if you are lucky, you might get to see something just as incredible
Here in Puerto Rico, the month of February is the peak season for whale watching, but whales have been spotted from January to Late March. One of the best places to spot these magnificent Humpback whales is from the observation park at the Rincón Lighthouse on the west coast.
If you would prefer to see the whales from the sea, I have been told that you should just ask at the marina to see if there are any whale watching trips available.
Two other locations that are also worth considering are El Faro and the Mona Passage.
Some quick facts about the Humpback Whale:
Scientific Name: Megaptera novaeangliae
Adults can grow up to 50 feet
Tails can be up to 12 feet wide
There are only 15,000 Humpback whales remaining
They breathe air at the surface of the water through 2 blowholes located near the top of the head
The female Humpback Whale typically breeds every two or three years
Weighs up to 40,000 kg
Lifespan (hopefully) 45–- 50 years
If you have the opportunity to go whale watching, why not come back to this post and leave a comment. If you have been whale watching here in Puerto Rico in the past; how was it?