Whale Watching Worldwide

Honduras
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 Minimal N/A N/A Minimal Minimal Minimal
2006 Minimal N/A 2 Minimal Minimal Minimal
Capital City: Tegucigalpa
Whale Watch Locations:
01: Utila
Honduras has only minimal whale watching activities. With the
consistent sightings of dolphins, however, some activities do make
the most of opportunities to observe these animals. Dolphin
sightings are a regular feature of dive operations and some marine
boat operators (non‐dive) market the possibility of seeing dolphins
as part of their cruises.
Some university research‐based trips have also been undertaken to
observe and monitor the dolphins. As with the tourist cruises, this
is based predominantly in the Bay of Islands. The research trips were offered around the island of Utila. The
2008 report by Hoyt and Iñíguez stated that in 2006, 12 students paid approximately $2,400 in direct and
$15,600 in indirect expenditure to work with the wild dolphins.
Main species:
Tourists:
Small cetaceans:
bottlenose dolphin, tucuxi (marine), various
tropical dolphins
International 90%
Domestic 10%
Types of tours: Boat‐based
Average adult ticket price: N/A
Estimated employment
numbers:
2
Main whale watch season: Year round
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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