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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Americas

Americas

Chile

Remote islands and cold protected seas, where blue and humpback whales feed, with penguins and sea lions.

Green topped sea cliffs and rock stacks on the coast of Chiloe, Chile
Coast of Chiloe Island, Chile · Photo: Jaume Galofré on Unsplash
Exploring

Ethics pass, with care. We found a way to visit this country that meets our animal-welfare standard, as long as we work with the right local operator. Checked by Ocean Calling on 26 Sep 2026. Sources: Ley 20.293 protects cetaceans (2008), ECOLEX; Distancias de avistamiento, SERNAPESCA; Tourism effects on dolphins of Punta de Choros and Chanaral de Aceituno, Ladera Sur (on Frontiers in Marine Science study).

🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. The UK FCDO does not advise against travel to Chile as a whole. It notes general crime and demonstration risks, and a state of emergency in Tocopilla after severe weather. Sources: UK FCDO travel advice, Chile Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

ScubaWhalesTurtlesDolphinsCoral reefs

Why Chile

Chile reaches from remote Pacific islands to the Strait of Magellan. Rapa Nui combines diving and culture, with endemic reef fish and green turtles, and on Robinson Crusoe Island fur seals and seabirds are watched from the boat or shore. At Punta de Choros and the Humboldt Archipelago, cold-water reef and kelp diving sits beside penguins, sea lions and dolphins. Blue whales feed in Chiloé and the Gulf of Corcovado, and humpbacks near Francisco Coloane, both watched from a distance.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

FijiArgentinaChileFalkland Is.UruguayBrazilBoliviaPeruParaguayChiloé and the Gulf of Corcovado, ChileFrancisco Coloane, Strait of Magellan, ChilePunta de Choros and the Humboldt Archipelago, ChileRapa Nui, ChileRobinson Crusoe Island (Juan Fernández), Chile

When to go

Oct-Apr. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We have researched this place and keep learning about it. There is no trip here yet.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Ethics pass, with care

Good with the right operator. Here is how we choose.

Since 2008 Chile bans all whale hunting in its waters, and the law sets clear distances for boats around whales, dolphins, penguins and sea lions. At Punta de Choros, a study links heavy boat traffic to fewer resident dolphins, so we keep dolphin time short and quiet, with one small boat. We watch all whales and dolphins from the boat and dive the reefs and kelp without touching.

Checked 26 Sep 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
Places we are exploring

Where in Chile

Short notes from our research. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Chiloé and the Gulf of Corcovado

Exploring

A quiet protected sea where blue whales come to feed and care for calves, watched from a distance.

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Blue whales

When: Jan-Jun. Blue whales feed here seasonally. Studies recorded them from Jan to Jun.

Francisco Coloane, Strait of Magellan

Exploring

A remote protected area in the Strait of Magellan where humpback whales feed, with penguins and sea lions.

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Humpback whales, Magellanic penguins, Sea lions, Peale's dolphins (resident, from the boat), Chilean dolphins (occasional)

When: Oct-Mar. Humpback sightings are most frequent from late October to early March.

Punta de Choros and the Humboldt Archipelago

Exploring

Protected islands with cold-water reef diving, plus Humboldt penguins, sea lions and resident dolphins.

🤿 In the water: Cold-water rocky reef, Kelp

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Bottlenose dolphins (resident, from the boat), Dusky dolphins (occasional), Risso's dolphins (occasional), Humboldt penguins, Sea lions

When: Oct-Apr. October to April usually has the best weather. Wildlife timing depends on the species.

Rapa Nui

Exploring

Scuba diving and culture on a remote island, with endemic-rich reef fish and green turtles.

🤿 In the water: Endemic reef fish, Green turtles

When: Year-round. Diving runs year-round. December to March has the warmest water.

Rules and fees: A national park ticket is required and is bought before you visit the park sites. Please stay on marked trails, leave natural and archaeological sites untouched, and do not fly drones.

Robinson Crusoe Island (Juan Fernández)

Exploring

A remote, quiet island with endemic-rich marine life, seabirds and fur seals seen from the boat or shore.

🤿 In the water: Endemic marine fauna

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Juan Fernández fur seals, Seabirds

When: Nov-Mar. November to March is the warmer, drier season.

Animals

Animals recorded in Chile

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Humpback whale swimming close with long pectoral finHumpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeSeen in 87 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCommon bottlenose dolphin swimming over a seagrass bedCommon bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBlue whale blowing a tall spout off San DiegoBlue whaleBalaenoptera musculusSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasEndangeredJuan Fernandez fur seal swimming just below the surfaceJuan Fernández fur sealArctocephalus philippiiSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableClose-up of a sleeping maned male South American sea lion on rocksSouth American sea lionOtaria byroniaSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScarred Risso's dolphin spyhopping out of the waterRisso's dolphinGrampus griseusSeen in 56 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPod of common dolphins surfacing in calm blue seaCommon dolphinDelphinus delphisSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBasking shark swimming underwater in green water off Argyll, ScotlandBasking sharkCetorhinus maximusSeen in 23 countries in the AtlasEndangeredTwo Humboldt penguins on a rocky ledge, one with its head tipped backHumboldt penguinSpheniscus humboldtiSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasVulnerableTwo marine otters on kelp-covered rocks at the shoreMarine otterLontra felinaSeen in 2 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBryde’s whale surfacing and exhaling in deep blue open oceanBryde's whaleBalaenoptera edeniSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLoggerhead turtle at the surface feeding on Portuguese man o' warLoggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerableOrcas surfacing close together in calm Arctic Norwegian watersOrca (killer whale)Orcinus orcaSeen in 55 countries in the AtlasData DeficientShort-finned pilot whale surfacing off Tenerife with the island behindShort-finned pilot whaleGlobicephala macrorhynchusSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernFin whale surfacing, showing its white right lower jawFin whaleBalaenoptera physalusSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBump-head sunfish swimming in blue water off Nusa PenidaOcean sunfish (mola)Mola molaSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePair of blue-footed boobies on lava rock, Isla Isabela, GalápagosBlue-footed boobySula nebouxiiSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBronze whaler shark swimming in green-blue waterBronze whaler (copper shark)Carcharhinus brachyurusSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasVulnerableMinke whale surfacing and exhaling, seen from aboveCommon minke whale (North Atlantic)Balaenoptera acutorostrataSeen in 30 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo long-finned pilot whales surfacing side by sideLong-finned pilot whaleGlobicephala melasSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMale magnificent frigatebird perched on a mangrove branchMagnificent frigatebirdFregata magnificensSeen in 52 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSei whale's tall dorsal fin breaking a calm sea surfaceSei whaleBalaenoptera borealisSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasEndangeredAntarctic minke whale surfacing among sea ice in AntarcticaAntarctic minke whaleBalaenoptera bonaerensisSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedDwarf minke whaleBalaenoptera acutorostrata (dwarf form)Seen in 30 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernFalse killer whale surging through blue water off Rota, Mariana IslandsFalse killer whalePseudorca crassidensSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedCuvier's beaked whale surfacing, pale scarred head and small dorsal finCuvier's beaked whaleZiphius cavirostrisSeen in 42 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLeatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the seaLeatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerableOlive ridley turtles nesting on Playa Ostional, Costa RicaOlive ridley turtleLepidochelys olivaceaSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasVulnerableGalápagos shark swimming low over a rocky seabedGalápagos sharkCarcharhinus galapagensisSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernDwarf sperm whale leaping clear of the open seaDwarf sperm whaleKogia simaSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPortuguese man o' war floating with purple crest off Pico, AzoresPortuguese man o' warPhysalia physalisSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedCommon octopus crawling over a rocky seabed in FranceCommon octopusOctopus vulgarisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSmooth hammerhead swimming in clear blue open water off SpainSmooth hammerheadSphyrna zygaenaSeen in 26 countries in the AtlasVulnerableShortfin mako shark at Condor Bank in the North Atlantic, AzoresShortfin makoIsurus oxyrinchusSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBlue shark swimming in open blue water off the Azores with a diver in the backgroundBlue sharkPrionace glaucaSeen in 50 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedTwo dusky dolphins leaping above the water off Kaikōura, New Zealand, with mountains behindDusky dolphinLagenorhynchus obscurusSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGroup of Magellanic penguins standing on a pebble beach beside the waterMagellanic penguinSpheniscus magellanicusSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCommerson's dolphin at the surface of green water, with a black head and a white bodyCommerson's dolphinCephalorhynchus commersoniiSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLarge southern elephant seal resting on a wet beach, face turned to the cameraSouthern elephant sealMirounga leoninaSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasVulnerableTwo pygmy sperm whales at the sea surface off the Azores, low backs and small hooked dorsal fins showingPygmy sperm whaleKogia brevicepsSeen in 23 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSpiny dogfish resting on the seabed at the Josephine Marie shipwreck, Stellwagen Bank National Marine SanctuarySpiny dogfishSqualus acanthiasSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSouth American fur seal sitting upright on a seaweed-covered rock by the shoreSouth American fur sealArctocephalus australisSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMasked booby on Ascension IslandMasked boobySula dactylatraSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGrey noddy in Northland Region, New Zealand, iNaturalist research-grade observationGrey noddyAnous albivittaSeen in 5 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernRed-tailed tropicbird in Glendowie, Auckland, New Zealand, iNaturalist research-grade observationRed-tailed tropicbirdPhaethon rubricaudaSeen in 28 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLeopard seal resting on rocks at the water's edge with its mouth wide openLeopard sealHydrurga leptonyxSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGuanay cormorant perched on a rock at the Ballestas Islands, with a red face patch and white underpartsGuanay cormorantLeucocarbo bougainvilliorumSeen in 4 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedTwo Peruvian boobies with white heads perched facing each other on a rock ledgePeruvian boobySula variegataSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAdult king penguin standing on short grass beside a large brown downy chickKing penguinAptenodytes patagonicusSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGentoo penguins in shallow turquoise water at the shore, one leaping out of the sea, photographed in the Falkland IslandsGentoo penguinPygoscelis papuaSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a rockhopper penguin with yellow crest feathers, red eye and orange-red bill, standing in tussock grassSouthern rockhopper penguinEudyptes chrysocomeSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasVulnerableThree black-browed albatrosses with their bills together at a Steeple Jason Island colony, against blue skyBlack-browed albatrossThalassarche melanophrisSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a red-footed booby head with blue, pink and red bill and throat skin among green leavesRed-footed boobySula sulaSeen in 91 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBroadnose sevengill shark close to the camera in a kelp forest, La Jolla Cove, CaliforniaBroadnose sevengill sharkNotorynchus cepedianusSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasVulnerableCalifornia sheephead with a dark head and tail and a pink band across the middle, swimming over sandCalifornia sheepheadSemicossyphus pulcherSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasVulnerableCommon dolphins feeding on a dense shoal of sardines off the east coast of South Africa during the sardine runSouthern African sardine (sardine run)Sardinops sagaxSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCrowd of brown pelicans packed together on a coastal roost, one adult with a pale head and coloured bill facing the cameraBrown pelicanPelecanus occidentalisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHuge flock of sooty shearwaters flying low over the sea beside a rocky coastSooty shearwaterArdenna griseaSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedGreat frigatebird in flight, with long angled wings and a forked tailGreat frigatebirdFregata minorSeen in 44 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWilson's storm-petrel resting on calm water with its wings raised above its backWilson's storm-petrelOceanites oceanicusSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernManx shearwater banking just above the sea, white underparts and dark upperparts visibleManx shearwaterPuffinus puffinusSeen in 34 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat shearwater flying low over calm water, its reflection belowGreat shearwaterArdenna gravisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernNeotropic cormorant perched among willow branches beside the waterNeotropic cormorantNannopterum brasilianumSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTope shark swimming in clear shallow water, seen from the sideTope shark (school shark)Galeorhinus galeusSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredBluntnose sixgill shark swimming over the seabed at depth in the Gulf of MexicoBluntnose sixgill sharkHexanchus griseusSeen in 18 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedCommon thresher shark leaping clear of the water, its long upper tail lobe trailing belowCommon thresherAlopias vulpinusSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasVulnerableWhite-chinned petrel floating on blue water with its white chin patch showingWhite-chinned petrelProcellaria aequinoctialisSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBigeye thresherAlopias superciliosusSeen in 13 countries in the AtlasVulnerableClose view of an adult Nazca booby with a pale orange bill and dark face mask, perched on a rock on EspañolaNazca boobySula grantiSeen in 12 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo dark dorsal fins of porbeagle sharks cutting the sea surfacePorbeagleLamna nasusSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLongnose velvet dogfishCentroselachus crepidaterSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedPelagic stingray seen from above, swimming over the seabed in clear blue waterPelagic stingrayPteroplatytrygon violaceaSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAntarctic fur seal rising upright out of the water with wet fur and closed eyesAntarctic fur sealArctocephalus gazellaSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBirdbeak dogfishDeania calceaSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedImperial shag perched on a rock at the water's edge, with an orange knob at the base of the billImperial shagLeucocarbo atricepsSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernThree macaroni penguins on a rocky slope, golden crest feathers over the eyesMacaroni penguinEudyptes chrysolophusSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBroadnose skateBathyraja brachyuropsSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedThree hourglass dolphins swimming beside a ship in dark blue waterHourglass dolphinLagenorhynchus crucigerSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernChilean dolphin surfacing in blue water, showing its rounded dorsal fin and grey backChilean dolphinCephalorhynchus eutropiaSeen in 1 country in the AtlasNear ThreatenedLarge group of southern right whale dolphins leaping together low across the ocean surfaceSouthern right whale dolphinLissodelphis peroniiSeen in 1 country in the AtlasLeast Concern
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