Right whales in Gamboa: when and where to see them
From July to November, southern right whales come close to the shore to give birth and nurse their calves. Gamboa Bay is one of their nurseries, and the Whale Viewpoint is 800 m from the Residencial.
Quick answer: the right whale season in Garopaba runs from July to November, with most sightings in August and September. In Gamboa, the best spot is the Whale Viewpoint, at the south end of the beach, about 800 m from the Residencial, around 11 minutes on foot. Seeing whales depends on nature and is never guaranteed.
When do the whales show up?
The southern right whale spends the summer in the cold waters near Antarctica, where it feeds. In winter it travels up to the southern coast of Brazil, where the sea is calmer, shallower and less cold, to mate, give birth and nurse its calves. Females usually come back every three years.
The season runs from July to November, with most sightings in August and September. In recent years they have arrived earlier: in 2026, the first calf was seen on June 16, in Itapirubá, Imbituba. October and November are still part of the season.
Why is Gamboa special?
Garopaba lies inside the Right Whale Environmental Protection Area (APA da Baleia Franca), and in 2006 Gamboa Bay was named one of the protected area's Refuge Areas. In a 2009 study by the Instituto Baleia Franca, watching from the top of the south end of the beach between August and October, researchers saw whales on 27 of 33 days, almost always mothers with calves.
In the aerial survey of September 10, 2025, between Torres and Florianópolis, the Instituto Australis counted 185 whales. One of the largest groups was in Siriú, the beach next to Gamboa, with 32 whales.
Where to see them near the Residencial?
- Whale Viewpoint, in Gamboa: built by the community at the south end of the beach, reached by a short, easy trail. Always open and free.
- Siriú headland and viewpoint: the rocky point at the north end of Siriú, looking out to the open sea.
- Praia do Silveira and the rocky points of Praia do Rosa, where the whales sometimes come within 100 meters.
- National Right Whale Conservation Center, in Itapirubá (Imbituba): the skeleton of a 14-meter right whale and a deck to watch the sea. Free visits, booked in advance.
Can I see them from a boat?
No. Since 2013, boat-based whale watching has been banned in the region to protect mothers and calves: watching is done from land. To go with a guide, see the Projeto Cetáceos tours in the Local guide.
Tips for watching
- Bring binoculars and patience, and choose mornings with a calm sea and little wind.
- Look for the V-shaped blow: the right whale lets out two jets when it breathes.
- Mothers usually stay close to the breaking waves, with the calf by their side.
- Watch from a distance and quietly. Do not go into the sea to get closer, not even on a board, kayak or paddleboard: Brazilian federal law 7,643 of 1987 forbids disturbing whales.
To follow the researchers' work, download the free ProFRANCA app from the Instituto Australis, for Android and iOS. And see the right whale season page, with every watching spot.
Sources: ICMBio (Right Whale APA), Instituto Australis (Projeto Franca Austral) and Instituto Baleia Franca.
