Outings and excursions · Punta del Este
Whale season on the Uruguayan coast
Photos: Hugo Hulsberg / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Between July and November, southern right whales come close to the shores of Maldonado and Rocha. Where and how to see them.
Every year, between July and November, the southern right whale travels the Uruguayan coast between Piriápolis and Barra del Chuy. It comes to mate and often swims so close to shore that you can watch it from land, without getting on a boat. In some years the first whales show up earlier, in autumn.
A sanctuary voted unanimously
In 2013 Uruguay declared its waters a Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary. The initiative was promoted by the Organización para la Conservación de Cetáceos (OCC) together with schoolchildren from Rocha and Maldonado, who took the request to Parliament, where it passed unanimously.
Where to see them
- From the shore: high points and rocky headlands in Maldonado and Rocha, such as around Punta del Este and La Paloma, make good lookouts. Be patient: a blow or a tail on the horizon is the first sign.
- From the water: boat trips leave from the ports of Punta del Este, Piriápolis and La Paloma. Choose licensed operators who keep a respectful distance from the animals.
Tips
- Bring warm clothes and binoculars: winter on the coast is windy.
- Calm days, with little wind and a flat sea, are the best for spotting blows.
- Do not fly drones near the animals or try to swim up to them.
