Private Whale Watching Tour: Witness the Majestic Humpback Migration at Pearl Islands, Panama
5.0
23 Ratings
Panamá
Experience the awe-inspiring humpback whale migration on a private boat tour in Panama's Pearl Islands. Witness these majestic creatures up close while enjoying fishing, snorkeling, and island hopping in this tropical paradise.
Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Pearl Islands - Our whale watching tour takes us to the Pearl Islands archipelago, the main nesting area for the humpback whales that visit the Panamanian Pacific. We will respectfully follow the whales we encounter, having care of not disturbing them. As the vessel is quite maneuverable, we can approach them a lot while still maintaining the correct distance. As this is a private charter, your group gets to decide how long would you like to see the wales. There’s also the possibility of doing snorkeling, fishing (all equipment onboard) and of course some island hopping (the archipelago offers beautiful white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters).
What's Included
  • Passenger’s insurance
  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • Beverages (bottled water, juices, Gatorade, beers)
  • Use of snorkeling and professional fishing gear
  • On-board restrooms
  • Certified and bilingual captain/guide and deckhand
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and dropoff
  • Lunch
Additional Information

From June to November, the Pacific Coast of Panama serves as a backdrop for a remarkable spectacle of nature: the migration of humpback whales. Covering over 5,000 miles (roughly 8,000 km) from both the Arctic and Antarctica, these whales seek warmer waters for mating, birthing, and raising their offspring.

Embark on a private boat tour leaving from Panama City to the Pearl Islands archipelago, a one-and-a-half-hour journey. This excursion enables you not only to observe these giant mammals but also to indulge in recreational fishing, snorkeling, and hitting various beaches for some island hopping in this breathtaking locale. You will travel onboard our Proline 27’, an equipped powerboat featuring a private enclosed restroom, shade, comfortable seating with cushions at the bow complemented by a secondary convertible shade, a freshwater rinse tank, and high-quality marine stereo among other amenities. Given its size and agility, this boat enhances your chances of getting sufficiently close to these magnificent whales.

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Dress code is smart casual
  • May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
  • A minimum of 4 people per booking is required
  • Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Location
Panama Sign
Flamenco Marina, at the Panama sign
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(23 Ratings)
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Paradise03105026598
Sep 11, 2023
Amazing Time and Service - This is our second time using Gem Charters and we could not be happier. They are very organized and communicative. The captain and first made were professional, friendly, and genuinely wanted us to have a great time. We will definitely use them again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jodi
Oct 27, 2022
Do not think twice - just book and go! The best day of our whole trip! - This was an experience like no other we have ever had! Gem Charters was easy to deal with and had our best wishes in mind every step of the way. We had originally booked a date early in our holiday. That particular date ended up being very very windy. We were picked up at our hotel and taken to the marina to chat with Eddie and Miguel were supposed to be our guide and captain that day. They explained that due to a storm that had come through the previous day, that the ocean was very rough, and even though it was still within safety limits, they recommended for our experience to reschedule. We took their advice and rescheduled for later in the week. We were shuttled back to our hotel. On the day of our rescheduled tour, Eddie was not able to join us and Miguel. A lovely young man named Jose did instead. We were once again picked up and taken to the marina. We had arranged for a light breakfast to be served as part of our charter. We were able to make use of the stereo and enjoy the ride over to the Pearl Islands. Miguel shared some information about the ocean, the canal and his experiences along the way. He stopped at a drift line and dropped a couple of lines in the water while we made our way to the Pearl Islands. We didn't catch anything at the first stop, but at our second fishing stop, we most certainly did! We caught a 50lb Crevally Jack. Jose and Miguel both stated that it was very rare to see one that big and were also posing for pictures with the fish. Jose filleted it for us and we had some fresh sashimi as part of our bbq lunch. It was delicious! We stopped at several sandbars/islands that were only visible at that time of day due to the tide being out. We were able to snorkel and walk on the sand bars. While snorkeling, we saw blue starfish, octupus, a sting ray, and tons of reef fish. The water was so warm and clear. We stopped at another island where we were able to explore while Miguel and Jose bbq'd lunch for us. While we were having lunch, we were commenting that we hadn't yet seen a whale. We knew it was late in the migration, so it was a possibility that we wouldn't see one. At the same time we were commenting about the whales, Jose called out 'WHALE!!!' just in time for us all to see a juvenile humpback breach not far from where we were anchored. We watched the whale move off through the channel. The food served was fantastic and plentiful. The sashimi was spectacular! The remaining of the fish was taken home by our captain and mate making sure that the whole fish was going to be enjoyed. (50lbs is a lot of fish to eat!!) On our traverse back, Miguel had to navigate between 2 different storm systems and choppy waters to make it back safely. I was super impressed with his skills and confidence. He communicated with us and warned us about our ride back being a little 'bouncy'. He was so good at knowing the waters and the skies that we managed to make our way through some scary looking skies without getting wet from the rain, and the ride was a lot of fun. We did choose to skip snorkel number 2 in order to get back before getting caught in the storms. I always felt safe and never doubted Miguel at all. This was the highlight of our trip for sure! The scenery, the fun, the relaxation, the fishing and the tour was perfect! There were 3 of us on this charter... and worth every single penny!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robertat207fm
Aug 22, 2022
Super! Fun! Trip! - What a great day! We saw whales and more whales, beautiful islands and had an amazing time. Captain Miguel was knowledgeable and easy going. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen. I did. It hurts.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Noelkt
Aug 17, 2022
Worth every penny - It was beyond anything we ever expected from this tour. The islands, the whales , the food was an amazing experience- we would never forget.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grandtour04965309323
Aug 9, 2022
Outstanding Experience - Miguel and Oscar were outstanding. They were great with the kids. Extremely knowledgeable and conversations were interesting and educational. Experienced hours of humpback whale watching & caught a tuna on the return. Would recommend this charter to anyone!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Voyage19915095563
Jul 5, 2022
The Tour of a Lifetime - This was the tour of a lifetime. Captain Miguel got us within a stone's throw of humpback whales and we spent nearly two hours watching them surface, play, even breach! Miguel was terrific and we opted for the cooked-on-board lunch. My son and I enjoyed every morsel. It was one of the most fun days of my life.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michellejfs
Jun 22, 2022
A MUST in your to-do-list in Panama City - It was an unforgettable experience, the whales put on a show for us waving and jumping. Our captain was so knowledgeable and nice, that it made the trip even more memorable. The food was delicious and the crew was super professional. Fully recomended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Moncho
Jun 17, 2022
An amazing experience! - This is amazing! Thanks to the GEM team for making this day special! Beautiful day and outstanding crew. Congratulations and keep up the good work.
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Fabriciiofs
Jan 25, 2022
Best trip ever! - Amazing tour and very professional captain. The Pearl Islands is a place that you must visit. I really recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fredinpanama
Sep 10, 2021
Awesome - It was an amazing experience, from the front office to the photos sent after the trip, I can not say enough. Miquel and Pedro are consummate professionals that looked after my family as if it was their own and worked to exceed our expectations at every turn. My only problem now is when to book again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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May 2024
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