Best places to spot humpbacks

One of the most exciting things about travelling is getting the chance to get up close and personal with some local wildlife. Around the world there are animal sanctuaries, wilderness reserves and orphanages that offer tours and the chance to see some amazing animals up close. For the chance to see the world's largest mammal, you'll have to hit the seas. We've rounded up the best times and places to see some humpback whales in person.

Humpbacks are a favourite for whale watchers because they're very curious! They like to follow boats and often come up very close to see who is watching them. They have long migrations that make it easy to track where the pods are and they also swim relatively close to shore, making it easy to reach for a day tour.

To see whales feeding, head to the North Atlantic

In the USA, this means the coasts off Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire. Eastern Canada also offers some amazing opportunities to see the whales as they feed. Mingan Island, Tadoussac, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are the top picks. On the opposite side of the country, you can often find humpacks near Alaska in summer.

To see whales breeding, head to Hawaii

Pair this wildlife trip with some time on the beaches! Hawaii and the Dominican Republic are favourite spots for humpbacks to breed (not unlike us!). Can you say romantic getaway?! If you go the Dominican Republic route there is even the chance to take a cruise and swim with the whales.

Whale watching in the Southern Hemisphere

For a trip Down Under, you'll be able to catch the whales off the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland when they're breeding. They also have breeding grounds off teh coasts of Peru, Brazil, Mozambique and Madagascar.

See such a gentle giant up close is an incredible experience, one you won't soon forget. Where would you choose to go whale watching?

Image: flickkerphotos / Flickr cc.