Whale watching is a popular annual event in the Dominican Republic when the Humpback whales arrive at the north coast to mate and nurture their young. Each winter Humpbacks migrate anywhere from 2000 to 4000 miles, from their distant northern feeding grounds in the Gulf of Maine, the east coast of Canada, Greenland and Iceland, to the warm Caribbean water of the Dominican Republic. Although Samana Bay, Silver Bank and Navidad Bank are recognized as the main breeding areas, Humpback whales are coastal whales and can frequently be seen breaching off the shore of Cabrera as they pass along the coast.
The Humpback whale is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the water and they are generally curious about objects in their environment. Some individuals, referred to as “friendlies”, will approach whale-watching boats closely, often staying under or near the boat for many minutes. Because humpbacks are often easily approachable, curious, easily identifiable as individuals, and display many behaviors, they have become the mainstay of whale-watching tourism in many locations around the world. At Samana you can book a trip to see the whales at very close quarters but to protect these creatures and their habitat restrictions as to the number of licensed boats and the amount of time spent close to the whales is regulated.
Males produce a complex song, which lasts for 10 to 20 minutes and is repeated for hours at a time and is thought possibly related to mating although this has yet to be proved. When in Samana the Humpback whales “song” can be clearly heard.
The Humpback whales arrive in the Dominican Republic in mid January and are here until the end of March.
