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Whale and dolphin trips · Reunion Island

Whale and Dolphin Watching in Reunion Island: the complete guide

Humpback whale season (June-October), spinner dolphins year-round, the species you can see, trips departing from Saint-Gilles, the prefectural approach rules and prices. The complete guide to planning your trip.

Jun-Oct humpback whalesYear-round dolphins100m approach distance

Reunion Island is one of the best spots in the world for humpback whale watching between June and October, and the only place in France, overseas territories included, where supervised swimming with dolphins is permitted year-round. Trips mostly depart from Saint-Gilles, on the west coast, where calm waters and nearby sandbanks favour good sightings.

Here are the species you can see, the approach charter set by the prefectural order, prices and operators, and the best windows to maximise your chances of an encounter.

6 species

Which cetaceans do you see in Reunion Island?

Humpback whale

June-October (peak July-September)
West coast from Saint-Paul to Étang-Salé, up to 3km offshore

Megaptera novaeangliae. Expect pregnant females, mothers with calves and singing males. They migrate from Antarctica to give birth in warm waters. Spectacular breaches, songs audible underwater.

Spinner dolphin

Year-round
West coast, Saint-Paul bay, off Saint-Gilles and Saint-Leu

Stenella longirostris. The dominant species around the island, living in groups of 30-200. Spinners rest near the coast in the morning, so trips run at dawn or mid-morning.

Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin

Year-round
All around the island, rarer in the south-east

Tursiops aduncus. Larger than the spinner dolphin, with complex social behaviour, it's sometimes seen close to divers. The population is resident.

Sperm whale

Mainly October-May
Offshore drop-offs, ≥ 1,000m deep

Physeter macrocephalus. A deep diver (800m+) with a characteristic angled blow. It's rarely seen, usually on dedicated trips with hydrophones.

Short-finned pilot whale

Year-round
Offshore, deep zones

Globicephala macrorhynchus. A cousin of the orca that lives in tight-knit groups. Occasional sightings on longer boat trips.

False killer whale

Year-round
Offshore

Pseudorca crassidens. Marked social behaviour, sometimes seen interacting with dolphins.

A bird's-eye view of a freediver accompanying a group of spinner dolphins over a light sandy seabed
Supervised swimming trip

Swimming with spinner dolphins at Saint-Gilles

Saint-Gilles harbour is the hub for whale and dolphin trips. Boats (a RIB or catamaran) leave between 7 and 9am and return 2-3 hours later. Entry into the water happens if the dolphins are resting in the morning and the sea allows it. Snorkel, mask and fins are provided, or bring your own.

Outside whale season, the trip stays focused on spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) with ≈ 95% odds of a sighting. From June to October, it's always combined with a search for humpback whales (≈ 70-85% success in high season).

Book the Saint-Gilles tripThe watching-only variant
Approach charter

The prefectural watching rules

The 2009 prefectural order regulates every commercial or private approach to cetaceans. Every reputable operator respects these minimum thresholds. Offenders risk fines and losing their licence.

100m

A free approach zone, strictly slow speed

30m

Neutral gear, passive observation recommended

15m

No closer approach allowed (boat stationary)

9am-6pm

The permitted watching window

≤ 5 boats

Maximum at once near a group of cetaceans

≥ 8 years

Minimum age to get in the water (snorkelling gear)

The official Reunion Island Prefecture diagram (in French) on cetacean approach rules: 100m / 30m / 15m approach zones, prohibitions and required gear

Official source: the Reunion Island prefectural order on cetacean watching (a French-language document, shown above). Scientific monitoring of the populations by GLOBICE Réunion (globice.org) and the maritime gendarmerie's nautical brigade. The most committed operators also sign the Quiétude label's charter, which sets stricter approach thresholds than the regulations require.

Calendar

When to go out for which species

January-March

Cyclone season. Spinner dolphins are around but the sea can be rough. Head out early, before the wind picks up.

April-May

Calmer seas, dolphins daily and very clear visibility. A good window outside the busiest tourist period.

June

The first humpback whales arrive. Sightings are still irregular but exciting.

July-September

The peak of humpback whale season. Females with calves, singing males, spectacular breaches. Generally calm seas. Book 3-4 weeks ahead.

October

The last whales before they head back to Antarctica. Sightings are still possible, with an end-of-season feel.

November-December

The whales have gone, but dolphins are seen daily and the sea is calm. Often overlooked by tourists, yet excellent for trips.

Three spinner dolphins swimming just below the surface in shimmering light
My speciality

Book a cetacean trip at Saint-Gilles

Boats leave Saint-Gilles marina early in the morning, at ≈ €50-95 depending on the package, with a strict approach charter, snorkelling gear provided, and supervised watching and swimming with dolphins if conditions allow.

See cetacean trips
Frequently asked questions

Whale and dolphin trips in Reunion Island, in practice

What is whale season in Reunion Island?
Humpback whales are present from June to October, with a peak in sightings in July-August-September. They migrate up from Antarctica to give birth and nurse in the warm waters (≥ 22°C) of the Indian Ocean. Saint-Gilles is where most boat trips depart from, but they're seen all along the west coast, from off Saint-Paul to Étang-Salé. The best window is August-September, with calm seas and plenty of mothers with calves.
What is dolphin season in Reunion Island?
Year-round. The spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) is the dominant species around Reunion Island, seen on daily boat trips departing from Saint-Gilles. February-March is the quietest time for trips (cyclone season, with rougher seas). From June to October, the "cetacean" trip combines year-round dolphins with humpback whales in season.
How much does a whale watching trip cost in Reunion Island?
≈ €50-70 for a classic boat watching trip (2-3 hours, departing from Saint-Gilles). ≈ €75-95 for a "swimming with dolphins" trip with supervised entry into the water if conditions allow. ≈ €90-150 for a premium trip (catamaran, limited capacity, a biologist on board). Private and premium trips often combine dolphins plus whales in season.
Can you swim with whales in Reunion Island?
Yes, under strict conditions set by the prefectural order. You may only enter the water if the animal is calm (not breaching or swimming away), with no more than 10 people in the water at once and a certified guide. Snorkelling or freediving only: scuba diving is banned, as the bubbles disturb the cetaceans. No children under 8. Every serious operator follows these rules.
Where can you see whales from the coast without a boat?
The best free spots from the coast: Pointe au Sel (a southern Saint-Leu viewpoint), Pointe des Châteaux (Saint-Leu), Cap La Houssaye (between Saint-Paul and Saint-Gilles), Boucan Canot (at the top of the cliff). Bring binoculars and aim for early morning or late afternoon in season (June-October). You'll often see them breaching, blowing and slapping the surface with their tail.
What time is best to see whales?
Early morning (7-11am) for calm seas and the best chances of a sighting, or mid-afternoon (2-5pm) if the sea stays good. Avoid trips in strong wind, especially during the cool trade-wind season. Operators generally run two trips a day between June and October.
How can you improve your chances of seeing whales?
There's no 100% guarantee. Commercial trips advertise ≈ 70-85% success at the height of the season (July-September). Several operators offer a free second trip if nothing is seen on the first. Dawn trips (7am) and those with a hydrophone (to detect songs) improve the odds. For dolphins, the success rate is close to 95% year-round.
Who oversees watching trips?
The prefectural order regulates the activity, GLOBICE (the leading local association) scientifically monitors the populations and runs awareness campaigns, and the maritime gendarmerie's nautical brigade patrols offshore to check that distances are respected. Operators labelled "Quiétude" sign a charter that goes further than the law requires (speed, distance, approach duration, entry into the water).
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Article updated on 24 October 2026.