Cetacean watching calendar

Which species to watch, when and where? This cross-referenced calendar gives you, for each major French area, the best watching months species by species. The colour of the cells indicates the probability of an encounter.

Where and when to watch cetaceans in France: the guide area by area

France, through its mainland and its overseas territories, offers some of the most varied cetacean watching conditions in the world. The ideal period depends above all on the area and on the species sought. The table below summarises the best seasons by major region; the interactive map above details the probability of an encounter month by month.

Area	Best period	Flagship species
Mediterranean (Pelagos Sanctuary)	June to September	Fin whale, sperm whale, striped dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, long-finned pilot whale, common bottlenose dolphin
Bay of Biscay (Atlantic)	Spring to autumn (summer peak)	Common dolphin, common bottlenose dolphin, pilot whale, fin whale, sperm whale, beaked whales
Brittany & the Iroise Sea	All year round (resident populations)	Common bottlenose dolphin (Molène, Sein), harbour porpoise, common dolphin
English Channel & North Sea	All year round, more elusive	Harbour porpoise (increasing), occasional common bottlenose dolphin
The French Antilles (Guadeloupe, Martinique)	January to May (breeding)	Humpback whale, sperm whale, common bottlenose dolphin, pilot whale
Réunion & Mayotte	July to October	Humpback whale, common bottlenose dolphin, spinner dolphin
French Polynesia	August to October	Humpback whale, dolphins
New Caledonia	July to September	Humpback whale, dolphins

Best cetacean watching periods by French area. The dates vary from year to year and with sea conditions.

Mediterranean: the Pelagos Sanctuary

The Pelagos Sanctuary, a vast marine protected area between France, Monaco and Italy, concentrates an exceptional diversity of cetaceans. The fin whale, the second largest animal on the planet, and the sperm whale are both seen there, present all year round but more easily approached in calm seas, from June to September. The striped dolphin is the most abundant species there. To prepare a responsible trip, see our guide on how to prepare for your whale watching trip and the whale watching labels.

Atlantic: the Bay of Biscay

The Bay of Biscay is one of the richest areas in Europe for cetaceans. The common dolphin dominates there, alongside the common bottlenose dolphin, the pilot whale, the fin whale and, over the continental slope, the sperm whale and the elusive beaked whales. The best sightings take place from spring to autumn, often from the cross-Channel ferries or during dedicated surveys. See also the map of cetacean sightings in the bay.

Overseas: the realm of the humpback whale

French tropical waters receive the humpback whale each year for its breeding season: from January to May in the French Antilles (northern hemisphere), and from July to October at Réunion, in French Polynesia and in New Caledonia (southern hemisphere). These seasonal gatherings are among the most spectacular in the world, with songs, breaches and calves escorted by their mothers.

To go further: where to watch cetaceans in France, when to watch them, the watching hotspots and our guide to identifying a cetacean.