Where to Go Whale Watching: The World's Best Places

The best places to go whale watching are a handful of coastlines where migrating whales pass close to shore — Mozambique, South Africa, Iceland, Hawaii, Australia, Argentina, Baja California and a few others. Which one is “best” depends entirely on which whale you want to see and when you can travel, because whales are always on the move between cold feeding grounds and warm breeding waters.

We run humpback whale trips in Mozambique, so we’re not neutral. But here’s the honest worldwide picture — including the places that aren’t us — so you can match the trip to the season you’ve got.

When can you go whale watching?

Whale watching follows the migrations, which run opposite in each hemisphere:

• Apr–Oct (northern summer) — Iceland, Norway, New England (USA), Canada, the Azores.
• Jun–Nov (southern winter/spring) — Mozambique, South Africa, Argentina, Australia.
• Dec–Apr — Hawaii and Baja California (breeding season), the Dominican Republic, and Sri Lanka’s blue whales.
• Jul–Oct — Tonga, the prime place to swim with humpbacks.

If your dates are fixed, that list narrows the destination for you. If they’re flexible, the question is which whale — and which kind of encounter.

The best places to go whale watching

Mozambique — warm-water humpbacks

Where. Tofo and the Bazaruto Archipelago off Vilanculos. When. June to November, peak August–October. Whale. Humpback.

Mozambique is a breeding ground, not a feeding ground — humpbacks migrate up from the cold Antarctic each southern winter to mate and calve in the warm, calm Indian Ocean. That means mothers with newborn calves, males singing, and the famous breaches, in 25°C water rather than a cold grey sea. It’s quieter than the big-name spots, the boats are small, and the same trips often turn up dolphins, whale sharks and manta rays. See our Tofo humpback ocean safari and the Vilanculos whale watching day trip — or our full whale watching in Mozambique guide for the season detail.

South Africa — the shore-watching classic

Where. Hermanus and the Western Cape. When. June to November, peak September–October. Whale. Southern right.

Hermanus is one of the few places on earth with world-class whale watching from dry land — southern right whales come so close to the cliffs that the town has an official “whale crier.” Humpbacks and Bryde’s whales pass too. The natural pairing with a Cape Town trip makes it an easy add-on.

Argentina — Península Valdés

Where. Península Valdés, Patagonia. When. June to December, peak September–October. Whale. Southern right.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important southern right whale nurseries on the planet. Calm gulfs fill with mothers and calves, and there’s orca and elephant-seal action on the same peninsula.

Hawaii — winter humpbacks

Where. Maui and the Au’au Channel. When. December to April, peak January–March. Whale. Humpback.

The North Pacific mirror of Mozambique: humpbacks leave Alaska for warm Hawaiian water to breed and calve. Thousands gather, the water is clear and warm, and breaches are common — one of the easiest, most reliable humpback experiences anywhere.

Iceland & Norway — the cold-water mix

• Iceland (Húsavík, Apr–Oct) — Europe’s whale-watching capital: minke and humpback reliably, with a chance of blue whales, the largest animal that has ever lived.
• Norway (Andenes / Tromsø) — sperm whales off Andenes in summer; and from November to January, orcas and humpbacks pour into the fjords near Tromsø to follow the herring, often under the northern lights.

New England & Baja — North America’s two sides

• New England (Stellwagen Bank, off Cape Cod, Apr–Oct) — humpback, fin and minke whales on a rich feeding bank, an easy day trip from Boston.
• Baja California, Mexico (San Ignacio & Magdalena Bay, Jan–Apr) — the gray whale lagoons, where the famously “friendly” mothers bring their calves right up to the boats to be touched. Unlike anywhere else on this list.

Australia, Sri Lanka, the Azores & Tonga

• Australia (May–Nov) — the “Humpback Highway”: tens of thousands of humpbacks migrate up both coasts; Hervey Bay is a standout nursery.
• Sri Lanka (Mirissa, Nov–Apr) — one of the most reliable places to see blue whales, plus sperm whales.
• The Azores (Portugal) — resident sperm whales year-round, with blue, fin and sei whales passing on the spring migration (Apr–Jun).
• Tonga (Jul–Oct) — one of the very few places in the world where you can legally get in the water and swim with humpback whales under permit.

Can you swim with whales?

Almost everywhere, whale watching means watching — from a boat, at a respectful distance, because these are enormous, protected animals and the law keeps you back for good reason. The exceptions are a handful of strictly permitted swim-with-humpback programmes, chiefly Tonga (Jul–Oct) and the Dominican Republic’s Silver Bank (Jan–Mar).

In Mozambique you watch from the boat — but humpbacks are curious, and a calm, well-handled approach often ends with one rolling up alongside to look at you. (For getting in the water with giants, the year-round option here is whale sharks — see our guide to where to swim with whale sharks.)

How to choose

• Fixed dates? Match your window to the season list above — it usually decides it.
• Want warm water, calm seas and calves? A breeding ground: Mozambique, Hawaii, or Baja’s gray whales.
• Want the biggest spectacle from shore? South Africa or Argentina for southern rights.
• Want to swim with them? Tonga or the Dominican Republic, in their short seasons.
• Travelling in southern winter (Jun–Nov) and want it warm and uncrowded? Mozambique — humpbacks off Tofo and the Bazaruto coast, on small boats with local crews, often with dolphins and whale sharks on the same day.

Still not sure?

If Mozambique is on your list, tell us roughly when you’d travel and we’ll tell you honestly what the whales are doing then. Have a look at our Tofo humpback ocean safari and the Vilanculos whale watching day trip, read the whale watching in Mozambique season guide, or message us on WhatsApp and we’ll help you plan it.

Last reviewed: 27 May 2026. Seasons are migration-driven and vary year to year. Sources: NOAA Fisheries — Humpback Whale, the IUCN Red List, and Península Valdés (UNESCO).