Whale watching Tarifa in the Strait of Gibraltar is an exciting adventure for the lovers of the sea and the nature. Embark on one of the 2 boats the Jackelin and the dolphin and sail the waters between two continents observing its unique living marine ecosystem.

The area between the South of Europe and the North of Africa represents an important amount of marine mammals for either part or the entire year.

Within the area of the Strait there are clearly defined areas where to localize the different cetacean species.

Whale watching Tarifa - Which Whales and Dolphins will you see?

Whale watching Tarifa - Bottlenose Dolphin

The bottlenose dolphin is the largest of the beaked dolphins weighing up to 200 kg. They can be up to 4 meters long. The males are larger then the females. The Bottlenose Dolphin’s brain is larger than most human beings and is very intelligent.

The beloved bottlenose dolphin is very social and you can see them travelling in groups of around 12 individuals, though sometimes they are seen in groups of several hundreds. Most of the population does not migrate, but they do travel widely to find food. They are also known to locate waters of preferred temperature and swim at speeds of approximately 19 kph.

Whale Watching Tarifa - Common dolphins

Common dolphins are normally around 2.5 m in length and weigh somewhere between 70 and 135 kg. They are brownish black, with varying coloration and markings. The ventral side is off-white or white.
These dolphins are very social and often travel in enormous groups of more than a thousand. They're known for their high leaps out of the water, sometimes simultaneously in groups, and they enjoy riding the bow waves of boats for long periods of time. They are a very energetic and highly vocal species that produce a variety of whistles, pulses, and clicks that are easily heard by divers.

Whale watching Tarifa - Pilot whales

Pilot whales are large dolphin species second only to orca (killer whales) in size. Adult males can measure up to 6 m in length and weigh up to 2.700 kg. Adult females can be up to 5 m in length and weigh up to 1.400 kg. They have a round head with a small beak.

Pilot whales are often found in captivity as they survive there and are easily trained. The US Navy has trained them to locate military equipment from deep ocean depths which could then be retrieved. The pilot whale is a gregarious species often found in groups of 20-90, in which there are often small families of females and their calves. Although males are found in these groups as well, they are not necessarily fathers of the calves.

Pilot whales are often stranded with several hundred animals. The cause is unknown, although several theories exist such as sonar problems or parasitic infections that interfere with the central nervous system causing neurological disorders.

Whale watching Tarifa - The Orca (killer whales)

The orca is formerly known as the killer whale. It is actually a dolphin and is the largest of the dolphin family. The Orca can have a length of maximum 9 m and can weigh up to 7300 kgs. The orca are sometimes called the Ballena asesina ("assassin whale") by the Spanish. This because they were referred to as "whale killers" by sailors who witnessed their attacks on larger cetaceans and over time this name was changed to "killer whales." They are called this not because they harm humans but because they do sometimes kill other whales, hunting them in packs thereby earning the title "Wolves of the Sea."

Orca are normally travelling in groups of between 3-25 individuals, usually including at least one large male.

Whale watching Tarifa - 95 % sucess rate - or free second trip

Due to the years of scientific work the marine biologists know that on 95% of the trips you will see the whales and dolphins. In the rare case of not finding them, you can go on another boat trip for free.

Whale watching Tarifa - Non instrusive approach

The skippers are well trained and follow a code of conduct to minimize the minimize any disturbance to the whales and dolphins.

Whale watching Tarifa - Prices

Individual guests on regular trips on The Jackelin or the Dolphin:

Per Adult: 27 euros (VAT included)

Per Child between 4 and 14 years old: 18 euros

Children up to 3 years old: Free

Book online

Book your Whale watching Tarifa trip online. Your booking will be confirmed after checking availability. Booking your Whale watching Tarifa trip online means that your place is secured and it means no queing up to get your ticket