Whale Watching Worldwide

Acknowledgements:
Evasion Tropicale and Heures Saines.
Guatemala
Year Number of
whale
watchers
AAGR Number of
operators
Direct
expenditure
Indirect
expenditure
Total
expenditure
1991 None N/A None None None None
1994 None N/A None None None None
1998 None N/A None None None None
2006 800 15.6% 1 $104,000 $48,000 $152,000
Capital City: Guatemala City
Whale Watch Locations:
01: Pacific Coast
Despite having some good opportunities for whale watching, a
whale watching industry has been slow to develop in Guatemala.
In late 2005, operators began offering whale and dolphin watching
on its Pacific coast. Following considerable support from NGOs, one
whale watch operator is now offering boat‐based whale and
dolphin watching trips. The trips last up to six hours and target
bottlenose, spinner and pantropical spotted dolphins year round,
along with humpback whales in the high season (December to April).
Main species: Large cetaceans:
humpback whale
Small cetaceans:
bottlenose dolphin, pantropical spotted
dolphin, spinner dolphin
Tourists:
International 20%
Domestic 80%
Types of tours: Mainly boat‐based, two land‐based sites
under development
Average adult ticket price: $130
Estimated employment
15
numbers:
Main whale watch season: December to April
References:
Hoyt, E & Iñíguez, M 2008, ‘The State of Whale Watching in Latin America’, WDCS, Chippenham, UK; IFAW, Yarmouth
Port, USA; and Global Ocean, London, 60 pp..
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