WHALES AND DOLPHINS
Ilhabela is already well known for its paradisiacal beaches, exuberance of the Atlantic Forest and beautiful waterfalls. Recently, the attention of visitors and residents has turned to the coast and the open sea in search of spray, splashes and acrobatics performed by whales and dolphins.
With a coastline made up of islands, islets and parcels, the Ilhabela Archipelago is home to 12 species of cetaceans that frequent the region throughout the year. The species that stands out the most is the humpback whale, famous for its jumps and songs. It is a migratory whale, which travels around 5000 km every year from the sub-Antarctic region of the South Georgia Islands and the South Sandwich Islands, where they feed, to the Abrolhos region in Bahia, seeking warmer waters for reproduction. In Ilhabela they are passing through and are usually seen between the months of June and August.
Other species that are present in Ilhabela are the tropical whale (Bryde), which can be considered a resident, the right whale and the dwarf minke whale. In addition to whales, dolphins put on a show at sea, the archipelago is privileged by the presence of 8 different species. The ones that most enchant you with their acrobatics and friendliness are the Atlantic spotted dolphin and the bottlenose dolphin.Porpoises are illustrious residents, although difficult to spot, they can be considered local residents. Orcas visit us sporadically and can be seen at different times of the year. The false killer whale, the rough-toothed dolphin, the gray dolphin and the common dolphin can also be found in the archipelago.
The sea of Ilhabela is full of life, there is a lot to see and hear: its crystal clear waters have been the scene of dozens of shipwrecks that are now used for diving, it also holds fascinating stories of adventures of pirates and corsairs and reveals landscapes charming in its encounter with rocky shores and the Atlantic Forest, a biome preserved in 85% of the archipelago by the Ilhabela State Park. Come to the island, book your tour and discover that sailing through the archipelago and enjoying all this beauty is an unforgettable experience.
Find out more about the 12 species of whales and dolphins that can be seen in Ilhabela and their areas of occurrence:
