Whale watching in the Basque Country, an unforgettable adventure.

Whale watching in Euskadi, one of the most enriching experiences of the Basque coast.

Whale watching in Euskadi has become one of the most important experiences of the Basque coast. One of the great events of the summer. No wonder. And the fact is that, after enjoying first-hand this incredible adventure in the waters of the Bay of Biscay, after seeing dozens of cetaceans just a few meters from our boat, we have been left speechless. We were astonished, excited. Seeing whales on our own coast has been one of the most beautiful and enriching experiences we have had over the years. A unique opportunity to contemplate these impressive living beings in their natural habitat, in freedom. Although many people ignore it, the Basque coast is home to one of the best places to see whales: the “Cap Breton” trench. A submarine canyon of more than 3,000 meters deep, which offers these animals everything they need to get strength for the harsh winter. According to the naturalist and cetacean expert Gorka Ocio, the whales, dolphins and other species that visit the Basque coast enjoy the successful gastronomic tourism of Euskadi. And the fact is that these cetaceans travel thousands of kilometers attracted by the abundant and varied food they find on our coast. Whale watching in Euskadi is an authentic, enriching and environmentally friendly experience. An activity that the company VerBallenas.com offers us to do during our stay in the Basque Country. In this sense, we wanted to accompany one of the groups that ventured to see whales in Euskadi to check the quality of this initiative. We were thrilled by the result. It is gratifying to see how people’s faces light up with each sighting. A fact, which is usually accompanied by a loud and acoustic “ohhh”. A reaction that any marketing expert would define as the “wow effect”, a sensation that only those experiences that are different and of great emotional value manage to create. Do you want to see whales in Euskadi? Pay attention, because it does not have any waste.

The waters of the Bay of Biscay are full of life. A fact that makes the trips to the high seas give us unique moments. To see dolphins, whales and other marine species swimming alongside us is a sensation difficult to describe. In our case, we had the opportunity to see a fin whale, the second largest whale on earth. It was amazing. Of course, we must point out that, although in all the trips we have made to the high seas we have managed to see and enjoy countless species, whale watching is not a certain science, so no company guarantees the fact of seeing whales or any other cetacean. In this sense, VerBallenas.com is no exception.

VerBallenas.com

VerBallenas.com is a Basque company created more than 10 years ago in Santurtzi. A fishing town that, due to the decline of the primary sector, wanted to promote activities related to the sea by supporting the whale watching trips that Gorka and his family had designed. Thus, with the help of the Tourism Department of the Town Council of Santurtzi, his hometown, Gorka Ocio and his group of marine naturalists began this exciting adventure on the Basque coast. A small group of specialists in cetaceans and seabirds, who transmit authentic love for the work they do. Authentic “crazy” of the sea. Since then, Gorka, responsible for VerBallenas.com, has led hundreds of trips to the sea. Experiences that he combines with his work as a scientific observer on fishing boats. A charismatic and genuine guy that leads us to live with great passion each of the sightings we make.

Common species of the Basque coast.

The following are some of the species commonly sighted along the Basque coast. A list, in which you will find from birds to whales through the cheerful and playful dolphins. A nice range of possibilities that we hope you will be lucky enough to contemplate. Of course, among all of them, the second largest whale in the world, the fin whale is our greatest treasure. It is impressive to see one of these specimens in the open sea.

We must say that although all these species can make an appearance from the first hour of navigation, there are always exceptions in which they approach our own ports. Nature in its purest state.

Price of whale watching in Euskadi.

The rates that the company VerBallenas.com has established for this experience are 69€ for adults and 65€ for children under 14 years old (children under 10 years old are not allowed). When assessing the prices of any maritime activity, it is essential to take into account the boat in which it is performed, the duration of the activity, the services included in it and the market price. Once all these data are gathered, it is easy to evaluate the quality-price ratio. We enclose the mentioned data so that you can give your own opinion about it:

That said, although at first glance it may seem a somewhat high price, it is clear that it is not. Moreover, if you compare it with the experiences of this type that are offered in different parts of the peninsula, you will see that it is a very competitive rate. After comparing dozens of trips to the high seas, after consulting with several companies specialized in whale watching, we have found that most of them offer trips with very similar rates: 2 hours of whale watching for 35€ or 3 hours of whale watching for 50€/person. Therefore, we can conclude that this experience has a more than correct value for money. A rate in line with the market price.

Dates for whale watching in the Basque Country.

The dates and times available for whale watching boat trips in the Basque Country are available on the VerBallenas.com website. We recommend that you take a look at this calendar well in advance of the date you want to enjoy this experience. Unfortunately, these trips to the high seas are often sold out. If you have any questions, you can use the comment system that you will find at the end of this article, we will try to answer as soon as possible.

Where to see whales in the Basque Country.

The seabed of the Basque coast can be divided into two clearly differentiated areas: the narrow continental shelf and the well-known “Cap Breton” canyon. A submarine trench, which, located practically parallel to the coast, reaches a depth of more than 3,000 meters. You should know that this canyon is catalogued by the Technological Center expert in marine and food innovation “Azti-Tecnalia” as a “habitat of high ecological value”. During this route for whale watching on the Basque coast, both spaces are crossed, covering several marine ecosystems. Spaces where whales, dolphins and the rest of the cetaceans that we present in this article live and feed.

Talk about whale watching in Euskadi.

Before going out to sea, before venturing out to see whales, dolphins and other species, Gorka Ocio and his team propose us to get in touch with this impressive natural world through a brief talk. This activity, given the day before our departure to the high seas, helps us to familiarize ourselves with the environment. During this seminar, we are shown the species that can be sighted, the rules of behavior to be taken into account during the sightings or the actions that are carried out to clean the CO2 footprint emitted by these whale watching trips. All this with special emphasis on environmental education. These talks are given in different places depending on the port from which the whale watching trip takes place. In case the port from which the departure is made belongs to Santurtzi, the talk will take place in the Tower House of the town or in the Auction Room of the Fishermen’s Guild, otherwise, if the departure is made from the port of Bermeo, the seminar will take place in the Maritime Museum of Bilbao, Itsasmuseum. The details of this talk and the recommendations for the trip will be sent to you via email 10 days before the departure. You should know that these talks are completely voluntary, and although we recommend you to attend them, you can choose not to do so. The decision is yours.

Whale watching boat in Euskadi.

VerBallenas.com counts for this experience with the star vessel of Hegaluze, a leading company in maritime routes in Urdaibai. A spacious and comfortable boat, in which we can enjoy all kinds of sightings. The boat is divided into 4 sections, bow, starboard, port and stern. Both in bow and stern we find 2 large benches where we can sit, while on the sides, we find a large bench run. It is also worth mentioning that this boat is adapted for people with reduced mobility. On the other hand, they use a very simple mechanism so that the lookouts can transmit to the users the exact position of the specimen they have just sighted. Attentive. Taking the bow as a reference, we will imagine a huge clock around the ship, so that when the whale is in front of us, in the bow, we will know that it is at our 12 o’clock. Simple, isn’t it?

VerBallenas.com Team

Captained by the charismatic Gorka Ocio, the whale watching team is formed by professionals with extensive experience in whale and bird watching at sea. People who love nature and who want to contribute their small grain of sand to promote whale watching in the wild. During our adventure we could count up to 6 people looking for cetaceans on top of the boat. A deployment to be reckoned with. A united family in search of the great whales of Euskadi. Eskerrik asko!

Frequently asked questions about whale watching in the Basque Country.

Environmentally friendly.

VerBallenas.com has created an experience that allows us to enjoy cetaceans in their natural habitat, far from dolphinariums, zoos or aquariums. An experience, in which the Royal Decree of December 21st is respected to the maximum, a text, in which the measures for the protection of cetaceans are established. You can read the complete text here. We have loved the effort that the company VerBallenas.com makes to respect the environment. In addition to erasing its carbon footprint by reforesting native species in Urdaibai, this company also takes an active part in campaigns such as #ZeroPlastiko. In this sense, we have been able to see firsthand how they collect large plastics on their regular trips along the Basque coast. All our actions have an impact on the environment, being aware of this and doing our part to be able to make amends for the damage caused is essential. A big round of applause for Gorka and his team. Thanks to these initiatives, people who enjoy this experience are collaborating in protecting nature, another reason to get on board with Verballenas.com!

Our experience.

The fact of finding ourselves in a natural place of great value with these extraordinary creatures is a great emotional gift. Here is our little adventure: “It was a Sunday in August and the weather threatened rain, but the great illusion with which we embarked left this aspect in the background. It took a long time, but at the end of the route, we had 9 sightings of 5 different species: beaked whales (Cuvier’s beaked whale), fin whales of more than 20 meters, common dolphins, blue sharks and sunfish among others. Although more distant, we also had the opportunity to enjoy the company of birds such as Wilson’s Storm-petrels, Black-capped Shearwaters, a gannet and the occasional swift. A great day of sightings, in which we had a great time”.

Opinion about VerBallenas.com

We have had the good fortune to go on several whale watching trips in the Basque Country, and after this last one, we can say that the experiences offered by VerBallenas.com are one of the most complete in the Basque Country. An activity, in which their responsible do everything possible for us to enjoy these impressive cetaceans at the same time that they make us aware to be more respectful with the environment. During the activity, Gorka and his team emphasize the importance of preserving the oceans so that we can continue to enjoy the company of these impressive living beings. As for the possibility of seeing cetaceans in Euskadi, we must say that VerBallenas.com offers the most extensive experience of the current offer. Statistically speaking, this is one of the trips in which we are most likely to see cetaceans. 100% recommended.

Whales in Euskadi.

The whale is the animal that appears most often in the coats of arms of the towns and cities of Euskadi. A fact that makes clear the importance that the whale has had in the history of the Basque people. In the past, more than 5 centuries ago, whales were fished in our own coast in order to obtain their meat and oil. Two very important elements in order to face the harsh winters of the north. If you are interested in history, we recommend you to visit Albaola, one of the best cultural and historical projects in the Basque Country. Highly recommended. Nowadays, whales give us the gift of their company. Now, the only shot we take is with our camera to immortalize this incredible moment. Taking care of the whales is now our duty.

What to see in Euskadi.

We recommend you to complement these whale watching trips with other attractions of Euskadi. In addition to enjoying the towns from which these whale watching trips depart, you can take advantage of your stay to visit some of the most beautiful places in the Basque Country.

A perfect opportunity to get to know Euskadi while enjoying its famous gastronomic culture. Are you up for it?

Video about whale watching in Euskadi.

Once again, we wanted to accompany the words and photographs in this article with a short video in which you can appreciate our own experiences during one of these trips to the high seas. A relaxing and pleasant landscape, which surprises us with the appearance of countless marine species. A great experience. If you like to enjoy this kind of experiences, we recommend you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, we are sure you will find dozens of videos that you will love.

As you have been able to see, whale watching in Euskadi is one of those activities that are really worth doing. An experience of great value, which, personally, we recommend you with eyes closed. A very motivating experience that you will love. Ondo pasa!