Pacific

Pitcairn Islands

A tiny island community of about 40 people beside a huge marine park, where humpbacks come to breed.

Humpback whale, found in the waters of the wider region · Photo: Chinh Le Duc on Unsplash

Story only

Story only, for now. We love learning about this place and its ocean, so we share its story here and do not sell trips yet. Checked by Ocean Calling on 6 Oct 2026. Sources: Whale watching training in the Pitcairn Islands, UK Government Blue Belt blog; Humpback whales of the Pitcairn Islands, King's College London; Pitcairn Island travel advice, UK FCDO.

Why: Pitcairn sits inside one of the largest fully protected marine areas on Earth, about 830,000 square kilometres designated in 2016, and humpback whales visit its shores from June to November. A whale watching code was written with the Pitcairn Government, and boat trips must be led by trained local people so the whales are not disturbed. That matches our own way of doing things: watch quietly from a respectful distance and never swim with or touch a whale.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 5 Oct 2026. The UK FCDO has no specific warning for Pitcairn but says no travel can be guaranteed safe. There is no British Embassy and no hospital, and evacuation can take days. Comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical evacuation is required. Sources: Pitcairn Island travel advice, UK FCDO · Pitcairn Island health, UK FCDO Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

WhalesTurtles

Why Pitcairn Islands

Pitcairn is one of the most remote places on Earth, reached by a supply ship from Mangareva, and about 40 people live here. Its marine protected area covers about 842,000 square km and is 99.5 percent no-take. Humpback whales come to breed from May to October, and green turtles nest in small numbers on Henderson from about January to March. Whale watching follows a written code, and only islanders may swim with whales, so guests watch from the boat. We are only researching it and there is no trip.

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

When to go

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

We share this place as a story so you can learn. There is no Ocean Calling trip.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Story only

We tell the story. We do not sell a trip here.

Checked 6 Oct 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check

The story

Where in Pitcairn Islands

We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.

Adamstown

Story only

The only settlement, where the supply ship arrives and the community decides who may visit.

Also seen: Humpback whales (from a local boat, at 50 m, or 100 m with a calf)

When: May-Oct. Humpbacks are present from May to October. Sightings are never certain.

Henderson Island

Story only

A raised coral island where a few green turtles nest, and landing needs its own permit.

Also seen: Green turtle nesting (protected, landing is a separate permit)

When: Jan-Mar. Green turtles nest in small numbers on the east beach from about January to March.

Animals

Animals recorded in Pitcairn Islands

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

Humpback whale swimming close with long pectoral fin

Humpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeSeen in 87 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Green turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detail

Green turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Hawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically Endangered

False catsharkPseudotriakis microdonSeen in 4 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Leatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the sea

Leatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerable

Masked boobySula dactylatraSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Grey noddy in Northland Region, New Zealand, iNaturalist research-grade observation

Grey noddyAnous albivittaSeen in 5 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Red-tailed tropicbird in Glendowie, Auckland, New Zealand, iNaturalist research-grade observation

Red-tailed tropicbirdPhaethon rubricaudaSeen in 28 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Black noddyAnous minutusSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Adult brown booby standing on a rock with its bill open against blue sky, Principe

Brown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Close view of a red-footed booby head with blue, pink and red bill and throat skin among green leaves

Red-footed boobySula sulaSeen in 91 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Great frigatebird in flight, with long angled wings and a forked tail

Great frigatebirdFregata minorSeen in 44 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Lesser frigatebird soaring against a blue sky with its wings spread and tail forked

Lesser frigatebirdFregata arielSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern

Curious?

Why this is a story, not a trip

Read our ethics check above. If you would like to talk about it, Rocío is happy to explain.

Ask Rocío Back to the Ocean Atlas

For partners

Based in Pitcairn Islands?

We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Pitcairn Islands. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.

Partner with Ocean Calling

Gili Trawangan in 5 days

from CHF 790

See the trip →