We start at the Tamar Project (Sea turtles area) in the village of Praia do Forte. Here we meet biologists from the project and the boat crew. They will first inform about the Tamar Project, whales and possible whale behaviors that we later may observe in the ocean. This lecture takes about 30min. The guide talks Portuguese and English. After this we prepare for boarding and we recommend you to take non-nausea pills.

Well, boarding the schooner (boat), the captain will give information (Portuguese and English) about safety instructions. The navigation can start. During the trip that takes about 4-5hours, a tropical fruit buffet and mineral water are provided and included in the price. The tour distance is about 25miles and will not go further than 12 miles from the coast. We also recommend taking clothes that give wind protection.

NOTE: It is not allowed to leave the boat (for swimming) during the whole tour. If the tour is cancelled because of bad weather conditions, a new date will be scheduled for another departure or a total reimbursement. If NO whales were found during the tour, there will not be any reimbursement, but a discount of 15% is provided of a new tour.

GENERAL INFORMATION:
The Humpback Whale (Megaptera Novaeangliae) is one of the biggest animals on Earth and can be as long as 48 feet and a weight of over 40 tons. In Brazil the Humpback Whales are found along the Coast of Bahia and Abrolhos banks. The Humpbacks make an extensive migration from the cold waters around the South Pole until the warm tropical waters in Brazil, where they stay from July to November in order to breed.

The Brazilian Humpback Whale Project was created in 1988, aimed to research and to preserve this particular specie in Brazil. Nowadays the activities are maintained by the Humpback Whale Institute, a non governmental organization with no profitable purposes, which run the project and has two bases. One located at the city of Caravelas and the other in the village of Praia do Forte. This organization has been developing a rather important study on behaviors, habitats and preservation needs as well as to run a steady education and consciousness campaign directed to the communities along the coast, to preserve the whales and the marine environment.