Temporada de ballenas jorobadas en Rincón
From mid December through March, with the best sightings between January and March
Approximate window. The organisers publish the exact days a few months ahead.
What it is
Humpback whales spend the winter off western Puerto Rico to mate and give birth, and Rincón is the balcony. The municipality calls it el Paso de las Ballenas (the whale passage) and you do not need a boat, because on a good day you can see blows and breaches with the naked eye from the El Faro park at Punta Higüera. The window runs from mid December through March or April, and the peak falls between January and March.
What to expect
This is nature, not a show with a schedule, so there are days with plenty and days with nothing. What raises your odds is going first thing in the morning with a calm sea, bringing binoculars and staying at least an hour scanning the horizon. From the lighthouse you can also spot sea turtles and, when there is swell, the surfers at Domes and Maria's.
Getting there
Rincón is about two and a half hours from San Juan on the PR-22 and the PR-2, and less than an hour from the Aguadilla airport, which is the logical gateway if you are coming only for the west coast. The El Faro park has its own parking lot and it fills up on weekends in season. Without a car there is no comfortable way to move around this area.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see whales in Puerto Rico?
Do you need to book a boat?
Where else can you see them?
Is there a whale festival?
Sources: rincon.gov.pr, primerahora.com, elvocero.com
