Whale Watching – Deshaies

There’s nothing more magical than watching marine animals in their natural habitat! Guadeloupe’s cetaceans are waiting for you: sperm whales and spotted dolphins can be seen all year round, along with many other species. The main attraction is the humpback whales, which come to the waters off Guadeloupe to breed and are seen swimming with their calves from December to May. Trips depart on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Deshaies. A range of observation equipment is provided.

Set sail on the ‘Planète bleue’ catamaran on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Deshaies for four exceptional hours of encountering nature and its aquatic treasures. Comfortably seated, with a maximum of 30 passengers (in a space designed for 40), the catamaran offers exceptional comfort much appreciated by passengers, with its spacious, shaded cabin, storage racks for personal belongings, toilets, a walkway and a wide outdoor bench from which to admire the scenery and the cetaceans. It is also equipped with a fresh water dispenser and a boarding ladder. Your passionate, bilingual eco-whale-watching guide will welcome you and provide information throughout the trip, offering an educational, entertaining and culturally enriching insight into the different species you encounter. In principle, you can spot up to 17 different species of cetaceans in Guadeloupe (Humpback whale, Sperm whale, Pantropical spotted dolphin, Common dolphin, Fraser’s dolphin, Beaked whale, Gervais’s beaked whale, Cuvier’s beaked whale, Orcas, false killer whales, pygmy orcas, round-headed dolphins, and spinner dolphins); however, throughout the year, it is mainly sperm whales and spotted dolphins that are commonly sighted. From December to May, a favourite attraction for everyone in Guadeloupe is watching the humpback whales that come to breed in our crystal-clear waters and swim majestically with their calves, offering an absolutely breathtaking spectacle for young and old alike. The trip unfolds as follows: we begin by locating the cetaceans using a hydrophone and binoculars, followed by a presentation and commentary from the whale-watching ecotourism guide. Of course, compliance with the whale-watching ecotourism charter established by AGOA (the management committee for the Guadeloupe Marine Mammal Sanctuary) is mandatory. A range of educational materials is made available to you, such as: a hydrophone for the acoustic detection of cetaceans, headphones to listen to the sounds they make, an amplifier and speakers so you can hear the sounds of cetaceans on board the vessel, as well as illustrated booklets on cetaceans and educational posters on the various species found in our region. You will also be able to listen to whale songs via a sound system. For your comfort, drinks will be provided free of charge, along with a snack for the children (water, juice and ‘planteur’ served on board). Our success rate across all our whale-watching trips is 95 per cent. Should we be unable to spot any whales, we will offer you another trip at half price.