21,000 humpback whales live in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, and every year they travel kilometers in search of warm water to mate and reproduce. Lucky for us, you can witness these gentle giants here every winter in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. Come and experience the whale songs, which is the loudest and strongest of any animal. This underwater symphony is to attract the females. Once the female is close, the male will swim near her, brushing against her, which will sometimes make her jump out of the water—a truly spectacular show of strength and power. Make sure to bring a camera to document this sighting.

Commercial whaling severely reduced the population of Humpback whales, threatening their existence. After the 1985 ban on commercial whaling, the number in many population groups started to improve. Today the biggest threats to these creatures are collisions with ships and entanglement from fishing gear.

In 2014, the Guerrero Whale Research Project began a photo-identification process in Barra de Potosí to create an identification catalogue.

Today they have identified more than 300 whales, differentiating them through their tails and fins. The different coloration, shape and healing patterns of the lower part of the flukes are like fingerprints, unique and specific to each humpback whale.

The whale watching season starts on December 15 and goes till March 20, during which marine fauna observation tours are offered. You can observe more than whales. Other great species of the sea like turtles, dolphins and stingrays can be found.

Working with a trained guide increases the chances of finding whales and dolphins at a safe distance to make sure the animals are not stressed by your presence. These guides ensure and uphold the culture of respect we have for nature, along with preserving the population of the whales and dolphins in our region.