Cetaceans in Guadeloupe all year round: What can you see outside whale season?
When people think about cetaceans in Guadeloupe, one image often immediately comes to mind: a majestic humpback whale emerging from the ocean.
And yet, humpback whales represent only a small part of the incredible marine life found around our archipelago.
One question regularly comes up on board Soleil Excursions:
“Is it still worth going on a cetacean-watching excursion in Guadeloupe outside whale season?”
The answer is yes!
While humpback whales are seasonal visitors, many other species of cetaceans can be encountered in Guadeloupe's waters throughout the year.
Dolphins, sperm whales, pilot whales and sometimes much more elusive species can turn a simple trip out to sea into a completely unexpected encounter.
And that is precisely what we love so much about our work: we never know exactly what the ocean has in store for us.
Observing cetaceans in Guadeloupe is about more than just whales
There is sometimes confusion between a “whale-watching trip” and a cetacean-watching excursion.
Whales are indeed part of the cetacean family, but they are far from the only ones.
Many species of marine mammals can be found in the waters around Guadeloupe. Some are encountered more regularly, while others are much rarer.
That is why, at Soleil Excursions, we prefer to talk about cetacean watching in Guadeloupe.
When we leave the port of Baillargent in Pointe-Noire, we are not setting out to find a specific species as though choosing an animal from a catalogue.
We set out to explore.
To observe.
To listen.
To look for the clues the ocean gives us.
And above all, to let nature decide what we will encounter.
Dolphins in Guadeloupe: Encounters throughout the year
Dolphins are among the most iconic encounters during our trips at sea.
Depending on the day, we may encounter different groups and different species. Some sightings are brief, while others offer truly extraordinary moments.
Sometimes a group appears in the distance and quietly continues on its way.
At other times, dozens of dolphins may be travelling together.
And occasionally, when the animals choose to do so themselves, some approach the boat or play in its wake.
These are the moments when you realise just how different observing dolphins in Guadeloupe in their natural environment is from watching a scheduled performance.
For a few precious moments, we are simply entering their world.
Sperm whales in Guadeloupe : Giants of the deep
The sperm whale is undoubtedly one of the most impressive cetaceans we are fortunate enough to encounter.
Unlike humpback whales, whose presence in our waters is seasonal, sperm whales in Guadeloupe can be encountered at different times throughout the year.
Seeing one is always a special experience.
Sometimes, all we see at first is a blow in the distance.
Sometimes, a sperm whale remains at the surface for several minutes before lifting its magnificent tail fluke and disappearing into the depths.
And occasionally, the encounter is even more surprising.
We have been fortunate enough to observe sperm whales resting almost motionless beneath the surface in a vertical position. On another excursion, footage captured with a GoPro revealed several individuals beneath our boat, some of them appearing to rest vertically in the water.
Rare moments like these remind us that a trip at sea can always hold an unexpected surprise.
And Sometimes… A species nobody expected
This is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating aspects of observing cetaceans in Guadeloupe.
Even after years spent at sea, some encounters remain completely unexpected.
Pilot whales, melon-headed whales, beaked whales and other more elusive species may occasionally cross our path.
Some days begin with absolutely no certainty about what we might find and end with an encounter that nobody on board could have imagined just a few hours earlier.
That is also why it is so difficult to answer when someone asks us:
“What are we going to see tomorrow?”
We can tell you about the species found around Guadeloupe, our recent sightings and what our experience at sea has taught us.
But we can never write the script in advance.
And thankfully so!
How do we find Cetaceans at Sea?
When stepping aboard, you might imagine that all we need to do is navigate to a particular location to find the animals.
The reality is very different.
A large part of our work involves reading the ocean.
From the boat, our captains carefully scan the horizon for a blow, a dorsal fin, an unusual movement at the surface or any other clue that might reveal the presence of a cetacean.
Experience plays an essential role.
After years and countless trips at sea, the eye gradually learns to notice details that may seem almost invisible to someone discovering this world for the first time.
We also use a hydrophone, an underwater microphone designed to listen to sounds beneath the surface.
It can allow us to hear some of the sounds produced by cetaceans and gives our passengers another way to discover this fascinating underwater world: not only by watching the ocean, but also by listening to it.
What is the best time of year to see Cetaceans in Guadeloupe?
Ultimately, it depends on what you are hoping to encounter.
If your absolute dream is to see a humpback whale in Guadeloupe, you will naturally need to visit during the period when these whales are present in the waters around the archipelago. ( December to May)
But if your wish is more broadly to discover cetaceans in Guadeloupe, the experience is certainly not limited to humpback whale season.
Other times of the year can also offer wonderful encounters with dolphins, sperm whales and occasionally much rarer species.
There is therefore no single “best season”.
Instead, there are different seasons offering different possibilities for encounters.
Because cetaceans can be observed in Guadeloupe all year round.
Every excursion tells a different story
At Soleil Excursions, there is something essential we like to remind our guests before every departure: we are observing wild and free animals.
No encounter can ever be guaranteed.
Some days are incredibly generous, with one sighting following another.
Others require much more patience.
And sometimes, despite all our searching and experience, the cetaceans simply decide to remain out of sight.
Of course, this can be disappointing when you have dreamed about such an encounter for a long time, and we completely understand that feeling.
But this is also what makes the moment when a blow suddenly appears on the horizon so meaningful.
Because nothing was planned.
Because nothing was guaranteed.
Because the animal is there simply because nature decided it would be.
Observe cetaceans in Guadeloupe with Soleil Excursions
Departing from the port of Baillargent in Pointe-Noire, Soleil Excursions takes you out to discover the cetaceans of Guadeloupe's Côte Sous-le-Vent in small groups.
Our captains use their experience and knowledge of the ocean during every excursion, with one priority: observing these animals in their natural environment while respecting their space and tranquillity.
Dolphins, sperm whales, whales or a completely unexpected encounter…
Every departure is different.
Every sighting is unique.
And perhaps that is ultimately what makes the experience so special:
we know when we leave the harbour, but we never know what story the ocean is going to tell us.
Book your excursion with us : Here!
Photos taken with a zoom lens in accordance with the AGOA sanctuary's protocols and minimum approach distances
Photo credits: Valérie Gueit.
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