El único Panamá - Week 28

Welcome to our weekly series about the uniqueness of Panama!

Panama is actually a mecca for Humpback whales!

Along with Costa Rica, Panama is the only place in the world where Humpback whales migrate from both the Southern and Northern hemispheres to breed and give birth! During the months of July-October there are several thousand Humpback whales who travel over 5,000 miles, (the longest migration known by a mammal) from Antarctica to the warm, shallow and safe calving grounds on the Pacific side of Panama. From December-March Panama receives a few hundred Humpback whales from North America for the same reason, which gives Panama seven months of Humpback whale activity in its waters.

Over 30 species of cetaceans, (whales and dolphins) can be found in Panama waters. The most common are the year round populations of Pantropical Spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, and the Humpback whales during their breeding seasons. The dolphins and Humpback whales are so prevalent that they can even be seen among all the ships at anchor waiting to transit the world famous Panama Canal in front of Panama City.