Humpback whale watching

For two months each spring, humpbacks swing past Bermuda on the way from their Caribbean breeding grounds to feeding waters off Canada, Greenland and Iceland, many with calves. From shore, West Whale Bay Park on the southwest coast is a good spot with binoculars, but a boat gets you close.

These are long trips, about six hours to most of a day, so bring food, water and sun cover if the boat does not supply them. Some boats leave from Flatts Village, some set a minimum age of 10 or 12, and some carry a naturalist who photographs tail flukes for local whale research. Seats sell out quickly in season.