This is a question that many Colombians and foreigners ask themselves when they want to experience whale watching on the Pacific coast of our country. After having hundreds of tourists in each of the destinations where this activity can be done, our response is always the same: in our opinion there is no better destination than another, they are simply different and it depends on your particular interest to make that decision about where to go whale watching.
To watch whales in Colombia it is possible to do so in the following destinations: Bahía Solano, Nuqui, Bahía Málaga, Isla Gorgona and Tumaco. Each one with attractions and logistical advantages over others, since the destinations are different and have their own magic so that you can live an incredible experience in this region that, in addition to whales, has incredible nature, charming culture, amazing gastronomy and a lot of life!
Let’s start with the first one from north to south: Bahía Solano. This destination has the peculiarity that it is the closest to the Utría PNN, which makes it an ideal destination if you want to get to know this national park where you will find a very well-marked trail with mangroves and the Utría cove, which is a quiet place at the same time. that the whales usually arrive.
Bahía Solano is very close to the Serranía del Baudó, which makes it a place where the mountain meets the ocean and generates the conditions for unique biodiversity, rugged landscapes with wild beaches and food for many marine life. In this destination you can enjoy maritime tours accompanied by biologists and experts in research on these cetaceans.
Finally, the frequencies of flights and connections from Medellín, Bogotá and Quibdó to Bahía Solano are greater than to Nuqui, the other major whale watching destination in Chocó. Nuqui It is located south of the PNN Utria and although it is a little further from the Utria cove, it also has access to it. Among the great attractions of Nuqui are its beaches, such as those of Guachalito, which are shown in the “Choquibtown” song that has the same name as the Chocoan town.
Nuqui has several towns that can be reached after several walks and is a perfect destination for lovers of walking and active experiences where paths will be traveled near the beach when the tide allows it. From Panguí to Arusí you can pass through several towns in the middle of an incredible natural environment and with the possibility of even finding natural hot springs in said area.
In the Valle del Cauca is Bahía Málaga, another destination with exuberant nature and whose main advantage is its easy access from the interior of the country since to get there you must take boats to Buenaventura and for this city there is land connectivity as well as airport with direct flights from Bogotá with the SATENA airline or the proximity to Cali, a city that has extensive air and land connectivity.
Another great advantage of Bahía Málaga is its proximity to local culture and gastronomy. In this destination it is possible to further immerse yourself with the population of the towns of Ladrilleros and Juanchaco, try typical food or enjoy a good native party in front of the sea along with open places that are proud of their local culture. Additionally, Malaga Bay has a geography characterized by several cliffs and sites with impressive waterfalls that complement whale sightings very well.
Further south, in the Cauca Pacific, is Gorgona Island, a perfect place for lovers of fauna and biodiversity and especially recommended for people who want to go diving, since its waters, unlike all the other destinations already mentioned, present better visibility and there is already a whole diving logistics where coral reefs, turtles, groupers and even whales can be seen doing this activity.
Another important aspect to comment on Gorgona Island is the total disconnection that there is, since there will be no cell phone signal (except for the Wi-Fi pins that they sell you at the hotel). This is a very quiet place and where the activities to do on the land surface are brief and simple. If you are looking for adventure, the action on this island is found under the sea in diving activities. A good option for Gorgona is to mix activities with the neighboring town of Guapi (a place that must be reached by plane from Cali to take a boat to the island) and have a little contact with the local culture there.
Finally we have Tumaco, the southernmost destination to watch whales in Colombia, which can be reached by direct flight from Bogotá or by land from Pasto and which is famous for its dark beaches with rock formations in the sea such as the from “El Morro” and where you will have the possibility of having extensive contact with the local culture and traditions of the Pacific of Nariño.
It is worth mentioning that all whale watching destinations in the Pacific are very rainy, so it is important to always be ready with waterproof clothing and protection for our electronic devices. Likewise, for whale watching, it is important to follow the instructions of responsible guides and experts to do this activity with these cetaceans, which must be done with great care and respect for these giants of the ocean.
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