Panama is one of the best places in the world for whale watching and is home to more than 30 species of cetaceans (dolphins and whales) as well as Manta rays, Sea Turtles and Whale Sharks.

Panama is the only place in the world to view Humpback whale migrations from both the southern and northen hemispheres.

From July to November each year there is a 95% chances of observing whales and dolphins on a glass bottom boat or sail on a  catamaran. 

The first groups to be seen in Panama are usually the newly pregnant females, followed by the immature whales of both sexes, and then come the mature males and females.

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is aptly named from the Greek ‘mega’ meaning ‘great’ and ‘pteron’ meaning ‘a wing’, because of its huge winglike flippers. It is the fifth largest of the great whales. Adult females grow to 19 metres, slightly longer than adult males. A mature humpback may weigh 40 tonnes.

Humpbacks are generally blackish with white underneath and at the sides. The endangered Humpbacks are readily identified as a Baleen feeder. That is, it filters its food from a large mouthful of prey and water. Feedings are in the rich cold waters at high latitudes.

Their acrobatics are legendary and always an inspiring sight to behold. The male's songs are likewise a most unique characteristic - most always sung during the non-feeding season in the warm waters of their chosen breeding and birthing areas. Their songs stay the same for a season, then the following they year create a new one. Their signature “blow” is caused by the surface exhale via a double blowholes, where the air at over 200 mph causes the water around the hole to be vaporized, giving rise to their huge spouts readily seen miles away in cool air.

Each year, beginning about late June, the humpbacks leave Antarctica to migrate northwards to their tropical calving grounds, especially in the Pearls Archipelago, Panama.