Whales are the largest animals that have ever existed. They belong to a group of marine mammals known as cetaceans. They are not fish because they are warm-blooded, breathe air through their lungs, and give birth to live young that feed on their mother's milk.
With some curious customs and ways of communicating, humpback whales are famous for their special song, essential in the exchange of information between them.
The hump on its dorsal fin is what makes it the most popular and special whale, from which comes its name: the humpback whale.
During the winter, the exuberant Bay of Banderas is home to humpback whales, a species that visits our destination to mate and/or give life to the next generation of these beautiful animals.
Why do they get that name?
Humpback whale takes its name from the "hump" that is formed when submerging, in front of its small, low and fleshy dorsal fin that can be triangular or falcate, located in the rear third of its back.
The humpback whale is stout, the body rapidly thinning towards the tail. The head is broad and rounded with a flattened dorsal surface. On the back of the head and on the lower jaw there are prominent tubercles (cototes) distributed more or less randomly.
The pectoral fins are very long, (5 to 7 meters) can measure up to a third of the body length, are wavy on the leading edge and predominantly white below and mottled black and white above.
How much does a whale weigh?
The weight of these animals is only possible because they live in an aquatic environment. Whales are the heaviest animals on the entire planet, being able to reach the figure of 80 tons. Moving so much weight on land would be impossible, but thanks to water these animals can live and even move quickly.
How do humpback whales feed?
Humpback whales belong to the family of baleen whales, characterized by having a series of keratin sheets in their mouths instead of teeth, which function as a filter curtain. Passing through schools of krill or small fish, they swallow large mouthfuls of water and food, then expel the water through their baleen, retaining the krill in their mouths. Humpbacks sometimes strike the surface of the water with their caudal or pectoral fins to stun their prey.
How are the courtship rituals of humpback whales?
Females reach sexual maturity at 5 years of age, males at 7. Males gather in groups to fight for supremacy. These fights can include lunging, jumping, periscopic movements (when they stick their head out of the water like a periscope). Copulation takes place in the tropics during the winter months when the whales have finished their migration from the summer feeding grounds.
What threats do the whales have?
Whales do not have natural predators, and even so, they are animals that are currently in danger of extinction.
Sport hunting, illegal and excessive fishing, the destruction of natural habitats, all these factors negatively affect the survival of whales. Also taking into account that these animals take between 7 and 14 years of age to reproduce, and that the gestation process takes about fifteen months on average, the situation becomes even more complex.
Curious facts about humpback whales
- They are able to jump out of the water. Their fins are known as "wings" because they are so large that they allow them to leap off the surface.
- They have a big heart. And not figuratively. This organ in humpback whales weighs about 150 kg, and has four chambers in it.
- They are acrobatic. Despite their large size, they stay on the surface by tumbling and moving. This makes them appear curious and sociable.
- Like dolphins, some whales sleep with one eye open. This is because one half of the brain is always on alert to "remember" to breathe.
- The popular "whale songs" are intonations that the male elaborates to seduce the female. Something like reciting a love poem.
- Whales love music, and a group of scientists even found that they could dance to the beat of the melody.
Tours to see humpback whales in Puerto Vallarta
You can take one of the various excursions that exist for whale watching. Experienced guides know where they can find more whales, and your chance of seeing them will be much higher.
Canuwa
Book your trip to see the humpback whales on a beautiful luxury catamaran while enjoying delicious snacks and an international bar. It can be a private charter in the company of your friends and family or on a public tour that starts at 69 dlls.
Mike's
Start a trip to the open sea in search of the humpback whale, walk for approximately 4 hours. The cost per boat goes from 576 dlls up to 10 people.
PV Fun
When you go out to sea in search of whales, don't forget to also watch for the dolphins and migratory and local birds that fly over the Marietas Islands. One of Puerto Vallarta's all-time favorite excursions is here: the famous whale watching tour.
Humpback whale watching in Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit is one of the most impressive activities that our destination can offer during this period of the year, and it is a substantial part of a large offer of ecotourism activities that you can do here.