The migration of whales from polar waters to the warm waters of French Polynesia

Whether you are a marine mammal enthusiast or a first time whalewatcher, French Polynesia is a sanctuary for encounters with dolphins, pilot whales and humpback whales.

From July to November each year, try a whale watching tour in Moorea: one of the last destinations that accepts these interactive encounters, when accompanied by professional guides approved by the Environment Department (DIREN). They are identifiable by their two-colored flags placed at the stern of their boat.

Humpback whales come up from the South Pole and stay in our warm waters of French Polynesia for a few months, allowing whale watching in Moorea with fins, masks and snorkels, during this famous whale season. Female humpback whales come to mate or give birth, nurse, and prepare their young for the great journey ahead, while the males come to breed. In November, the whales begin their long migration to feed in the cold waters of Antarctica, after several months of fasting.