Whale Watching Worldwide
Whale Watching Worldwide
Whale Watching Worldwide
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Puerto Rico<br />
Year Number of<br />
whale<br />
watchers<br />
AAGR Number of<br />
operators<br />
Direct<br />
expenditure<br />
Indirect<br />
expenditure<br />
Total<br />
expenditure<br />
1991 None N/A None None None None<br />
1994 Minimal N/A N/A Minimal Minimal Minimal<br />
1998 55,000‐<br />
130,000<br />
N/A N/A Minimal Minimal Minimal<br />
2008 51,135 ‐0.7% 2 $56,750 $920,250 $977,000<br />
Capital City: San Juan<br />
<strong>Whale</strong> Watch Locations:<br />
01: Rincón<br />
Puerto Rico is in the fortunate position of being an important<br />
highway for migrating humpback whales that pass through the<br />
Mona Passage at the western end of the country each year between<br />
January and April, coinciding with the peak tourism season.<br />
Making the most of this good fortune, many of the guesthouses<br />
located along the coast in this region, particularly around Rincón,<br />
advertise that fact that they can see whales from their front<br />
doorsteps. In this region, a small number of boat‐based operators include whale watching in their cruises at<br />
this time of year, particularly on sunset cruises. These operators took an estimated 1,135 tourists on whale<br />
watching cruises in 2008 with an average ticket price of $50.<br />
The larger numbers of whale watchers for Puerto Rico come to watch these marine mammals from the<br />
various land‐based locations where whales are easily seen, in particular, the Rincón Lighthouse and<br />
Observation Park (Parque El Faro de Rincón). Situated at an ideal location, overlooking the Mona Passage,<br />
the vantage point is perfect for watching the passing humpbacks in the winter months. Earlier reports on<br />
this region’s whale watching industry indicated up to 500,000 people visit this lighthouse each year, with<br />
land‐based whale watchers over the four key months being estimated at 50,000 to 125,000. Research<br />
undertaken for 2008 finds the lighthouse still a popular whale watching location for locals and tourists alike,<br />
and, combined with some numbers for other locations near Rincón, we maintain estimates of 50,000 land‐<br />
based whale watchers in 2008.<br />
Main species: Large cetaceans:<br />
humpback whale<br />
Tourists:<br />
International 50%<br />
Domestic 50%<br />
Types of tours: Boat‐based and land‐based<br />
Average adult ticket price: $50 (for boat‐based)<br />
Estimated employment<br />
numbers:<br />
2<br />
Main whale watch season: January to April<br />
Acknowledgements:<br />
Steve Lantz, President of the Tourism Association of Rincón, Katarina Charters and Coconut Palms Inn<br />
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