The Whales of Ecuador. . .
The Humpback is the whale of Ecuador. During the months of June through September, the Humpbacks can be seen off of the Ecuadorian Coast but can be observed specifically along the Province of Manabi's coastline. Whale watching is superb during this time as the humpbacks are migrating from Antarctica into to the warm waters off the Province of Manabi to calve and rear their young. Dolphins and sea turtles are also in abundance during this time as the conditions are all but perfect for most marine mammal and aquatic life.
Humpback whales are mammals that live and travel in pods of up to 8 or 10. They can average 130 feet (40 meters) or more and can weight well over 40 tons. These whales are in danger of extinction and are protected by international law. Whaling during the 19th and 20th centuries reduced their counts greatly to populations somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 whales. There numbers are building but at a slow rate. Protection needs to continue for some time if not indefinitely. Humpbacks song, produced by the male for courtship, can be often heard and is a beautiful repertoire of sounds.
Whale watching is the best near Isla de La Plata (Silver Island). Isla de La Plata is often called the "Poor Mans Galapagos" and is a great alternative to the Galapagos Islands because it has a great deal of wildlife that the Galapagos contains, such as blue footed and masked boobies, the giant albatross, frigates, pelicans as well as sea turtles, sea lions, and dolphin. Isla de La Plata is part of Ecuador's Machalilla National Park and is only 17 miles off the mainland. Sir Francis Drake was rumored to have buried treasure on the island, creating a legend and making this island famous as “Silver Island”. There is a fee to enter the park and island. Surrounding Isla de La Plata are numerous reefs, which has made it a favorite of scuba divers and snorkellers. You can arrange a whale watching tour in the town of Lopez near the Malicon (main road by the sea). Just ask anyone and they will happily point you to a tour service. The cost is usually around $20.00 USD for a 2-4 hour trip which can include a snorkeling stop (just ask them).
Day Trips to Isla de La Plata are the best way to enjoy the island and its inhabitants. There are tours from the town of Lopez. The tours leave 8:30 AM and return around 6:00 PM. The cost is usually around $50.00 USD which includes a trip on a boat with seating of around 14-16 that transports you to the island, during which whales may be observed on the way. The captains are usually more than happy to devert to see the whales.
