It’s not even December and the fishermen are already reporting whale sightings in Banderas Bay, off the coast of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit.
They’re here!! The humpback whales are back! There’s no doubt the warm waters of the Mexican Pacific are a favorite winter vacation spot for these magnificent creatures, who travelfor their annual December through March stay. Their visit is much anticipated by the hundreds of tourists that come to view Nature’s “celebrities.”
Every year these cetaceans visit the Banderas Bay to give birth or reproduce, a ritual that involves a serenade by the males as well as a graceful marine ballet. At the end, the female—larger than the male—decides who is the chosen one. Sound familiar?
This encounter between these gigantic mammals is an amazing spectacle for visitors to the Riviera Nayarit, as they perform amazing stunts and can, at times, propel half their bodies out of the water. And for an animal that’s 12 to 16 meters long and weighs between 30 and 40 tons, that’s no mean feat!
The gestation period for this species is around 11 months, so some whales arrive already heavy with calves, seeking shallower, warmer water without any strong currents so they can give birth as comfortably as possible.
Humpback calves tend to be very playful and love to leap out of the water, happy to be alive and in the Riviera Nayarit. The mother waits until the baby feeds and is strong enough to travel before heading back to the frigid north.
These friendly animals are a must-see during your visit this winter and are one more example of the luxurious nature that surrounds the Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit.