Whale Watching at Bahía Málaga: Day Trip from Cali

From $315 USD per person

Humpback whales swim roughly 8,000 kilometres from Antarctica to the warm shallow water of Bahía Málaga to give birth. They arrive in July, they leave in October, and while they are here the Colombian Pacific is one of the best places in the world to watch them. This day trip takes you from Cali to see it.

The season runs 15 July to 15 October. August and September are the strongest months. Outside those dates the tour does not run, because the whales are not there.

Check live availability and prices — or read on for how the day is built.

How the day works

Twelve to fourteen hours, door to door. It is a long day and it is worth being honest about that before you book.

• Cali to Buenaventura by road (about 3.5 hours). Shared transport, leaving early. Your guide contacts you the day before to fix the meeting point at the Cali transportation terminal.
• Speed boat across the bay (about 55 minutes). From Buenaventura through mangrove channels and out into Uramba National Park.
• On the water (about 2.5 hours). A small boat with a local guide, not a commercial vessel. Spouts, breaches, tail slaps, and sometimes a mother with a calf.
• Lunch and the beach (about 2 hours). Pacific coast cooking at a local restaurant: fresh fish, coconut rice, plantain.
• Boat and road back to Cali (about 3.5 hours). Drop-off at your hotel.

What’s included

• An English-speaking guide
• Shared transport, Cali to Buenaventura and back
• Entry to Uramba National Park
• The speed boat ticket
• A traditional Pacific coast lunch

Not included

• Breakfast
• Extra purchases

Good to know

• Seasonal, strictly. 15 July to 15 October only. How many whales you see depends on where in the season you go; August and September are peak.
• You will get wet. The speed boat and the open water both see to that. Bring a change of clothes for the drive home.
• You start at the terminal, not your hotel. Transport on this tour is shared, and the meeting point is the Cali transportation terminal. Your guide confirms the time the day before.
• No vegan option. The included lunch is traditional Pacific cooking. Tell us about dietary needs before you book rather than on the day.
• Rain or shine. This is the wettest coast in the Americas. A shower is not a cancellation.
• Whales are wild animals. In season, sightings are very likely. Nobody can promise them.

Frequently asked questions

When is whale season on the Colombian Pacific?

15 July to 15 October. Humpbacks come up from Antarctica to mate and calve in the warm water, then head south again. Outside those dates this tour does not operate.

Where does the boat actually go?

From Buenaventura across the bay to Bahía Málaga, inside Uramba National Park, which is a protected marine area and one of the most important calving grounds on this coast.

Is the park entry a separate ticket?

No. Park entry and the speed boat are both in the tour price.

How long is the day, honestly?

Twelve to fourteen hours. Seven of those are travelling. If that sounds like a lot, it is, and the whales are the reason people do it anyway.

What should I bring?

A change of clothes, a waterproof layer, sun protection, and a camera you do not mind getting spray on. Binoculars help.

How do I get to Cali to start with?

Fly in and we handle the ground. For the arrival, book a Cali airport transfer. To travel the same road privately on another day, see Cali to Buenaventura.

Ready? Check your date and lock it in