Some of the biggest appeal could be whales since the country is globally recognized for watching humpback whales. Humpback whales migrate through the Southern Ocean during winter and are sighted off the shores of Ecuador from June to October. This is the period when many animals jump into the water and mate, making Ecuador’s coastline fascinating and beautiful to watch for tourists.
Tours are also available in Ecuador national parks such as the coastal park of Machalilla that features a rich bio-diverse. These wonderful whales can reach the size of 60 feet in length and 40 tons in weight and cover thousands of miles up to 5000 miles.
Altogether, they perform some gorgeous tricks – breaches, slaps with tails, slaps with pectoral fins, spy hops – when dolphins lift their heads above the water to have a look around.
The humpback’s mating dance is as enthralling as the male sings elaborate and eerie songs to entice the female. They can happen to be 20 minutes long, and every group of whales has its own catalog of songs that change with the shift of time.
Some of the ideal locations for marine viewing of humpback whales include Puerto Lopez, Salinas, Mompiche, and Machalilla National Park. Puerto Lopez, a small coastal town, is particularly famous for going on whale-watching tours. Light boats are hired daily to take tourists for a ride and watch the whales in their natural environment.
The visitors are assured of getting a vantage view as they embark on these fascinating boat experiences. It should also be noted that the tours are guided by experienced guides familiar with the search for whales and their approach to tourists.
Apart from whale watching, other places are nearby, Isla de la Plata, the so-called “poor man ‘s Galapagos.” Here tourists can watch oddities like the blue-footed booby or even touch marine species like turtles or sea horses. The region also provides snorkeling and hiking experiences; therefore, it is an ideal multi-activity arena.
Salinas is another perfect site for watching the whales, where tourists can get closer to the whales in their natural habitat. You can also walk around the savannah, and there is a whale museum that talks about the habits and movements of humpback whales.
Mompiche is another lovely site that may be slightly less travelled, and in addition to the whales, it is a beautiful place for a calm beach whale-watching experience.
Just north of Puerto Lopez is the Machalilla National Park, where more protected waters for humpback whales can be observed. The park measures over 30 miles in size and has a dry forest biome, which is an ideal habitat for the whales.
Tourist activities on the island involve watching whales and other marine mammals perform fantastic activities such as breach and tail slapping, thus making Machalilla an attractive site to anyone who loves whales.
The best time to visit Ecuador for this exercise is between mid-June and October since the water is full of nutrients and plankton that sustain whales. The tours are very exciting; the tourists have an opportunity to watch and learn about the behaviors and migration patterns of these giants of the sea.