The best dolphin monitoring sites worldwide

Ecotourism has become a popular part of the global approach to meeting the needs of curious and concerned people. Ecotourism has many forms. You can go on an animal safari in Africa that does not involve killing animals and it is about preserving and understanding how the world is connected; and you can also go whale watching to name just two.

They are becoming more and more popular, and sometimes combined with whale watching trips, they are dolphin safaris. To help you test them, we've compiled some of the best places to see dolphins. They appear in alphabetical order and are selected based on the different species of dolphins present as well as their popularity among tourists.

Azores

Between April and September is the best time to observe dolphins in the Azores. Here you can see two different types of dolphins: the striped dolphin and the spotted dolphin.

California

Sunny California is a popular place to see dolphins. Some tour operators use observation boards underwater so you can see dolphins up close. Stereophonic research hydrophones allow you to listen to them. In Dana Point you can sail in a catamaran and both the scenery and the dolphins are impressive.

The Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are located near the coast of Africa. If you are visiting Africa or Spain, take the time to see the dolphins here. Off the coast of La Palma you can take a catamaran trip along the coast. In addition to dolphins, you can see the rugged coastline that is home to many different types of marine and rural wildlife.

Caribbean

The Caribbean is an excellent and popular place to spend time watching dolphins. Saint Lucia, in the southern Caribbean, is home to several interesting species, such as the striped dolphin, the common dolphin and the spinning dolphin. Spinning dolphins are famous for going backwards into the water.

You can also visit the Turks and Caicos Islands. This region is home to the famous JoJo dolphin. This wild dolphin lives a lonely life, but it has become a national treasure.

Iceland

If you want to see a white-nose Jetski Dolphin tour, you might consider seeing dolphins in Iceland. Tours depart regularly from Reykjavik. The tours last about three hours.

Ireland

Ireland offers several places to enjoy dolphin watching. You can walk to the mouth of the Shannon River and also visit any number of places along the coast, including those in West Cork. Dingle is famous for its own lone dolphin: Fungie.

New Zealand

New Zealand is home to several types of dolphins. Moko, a bottlenose dophin became famous here in 2007 and 2008; and Pelorus Jack, a Risso dolphin, lived on the southern islands in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You can also look at the rare Hector dolphin when you see dolphins in New Zealand, and the country also hosts bottlenose and dark dolphins.

Scotland

Between mid-June and September is a good time to visit dolphins in Scotland. Consider visiting the famous dolphins in Moray Firth. This is a great place to see bottle-dolphins. Outside of Mull Island you can see Rissos dolphins as well as ordinary dolphins. Close to the coast of the Hebrides you can catch a small flock of common dolphins all year round.