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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Americas

Americas

Uruguay

A calm Atlantic coast where southern right whales are watched from the cape and sea lions rest on an island.

Southern right whale
Southern right whale, found in the waters of the wider region · Photo: Cristian Tarzi 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: Avistamiento de ballenas, Ministerio de Turismo de Uruguay; Uruguay apunta a fortalecer el turismo de avistaje de fauna marina, Ministerio de Turismo; Inscripcion prestador turistico de observacion de cetaceos, gub.uy.

Why: Uruguay's waters are a Sanctuary of Whales and Dolphins under Law 19.128, which bans hunting, harassing or capturing any whale or dolphin. From July to October southern right whales come to the coasts of Rocha and Maldonado to mate, nurse their calves and rest, and the government's rules (Decrees 261/002 and 238/998) ask for a respectful distance of 300 metres. The best part is that many places let you watch from land, including Cabo Polonio, La Paloma, La Pedrera, Punta Negra and Santa Teresa, so the whales never have to notice us. We watch from shore, and we never swim with, touch or feed them.

WhalesWildlife watching

Why Uruguay

Uruguay is known for beaches, Punta del Este and the car free village of Cabo Polonio. Southern right whales pass along the Rocha and Maldonado coast from about July to October or November and can be watched from shore. Isla de Lobos has a large sea lion and fur seal colony. The whole Uruguayan sea is a whale and dolphin sanctuary, and swimming with them is not allowed.

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

ArgentinaChileUruguayBrazilBoliviaParaguayCabo Polonio, UruguayIsla de Lobos, Uruguay

When to go

Jul-Nov. 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 Uruguay

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

Cabo Polonio

Story only

A remote village with no cars, sea lion rocks and a lighthouse cape for whale watching.

Also seen: Southern right whales (from shore, about Jul to Nov), Sea lions on the rocks (from land)

When: Jul-Nov. Southern right whales are seen from about July to October or November. A 2026 notice bans recreational swimming and diving in the sea lion zones.

Isla de Lobos

Story only

A small island near Punta del Este with a large sea lion and fur seal colony.

Also seen: Sea lions and fur seals (from the boat only, never in the water)

Animals

Animals recorded in Uruguay

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

Southern right whale surfacing with V-shaped blow and pale callosities, ArgentinaSouthern right whaleEubalaena australisSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose-up of a sleeping maned male South American sea lion on rocksSouth American sea lionOtaria byroniaSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernFranciscana dolphinPontoporia blainvilleiSeen in 3 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 ConcernHumpback 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 ConcernSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLoggerhead turtle at the surface feeding on Portuguese man o' warLoggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePod of common dolphins surfacing in calm blue seaCommon dolphinDelphinus delphisSeen in 53 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 AtlasEndangeredLeatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the seaLeatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePortuguese man o' war floating with purple crest off Pico, AzoresPortuguese man o' warPhysalia physalisSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedSmooth hammerhead swimming in clear blue open water off SpainSmooth hammerheadSphyrna zygaenaSeen in 26 countries in the AtlasVulnerableTwo 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 ConcernLarge southern elephant seal resting on a wet beach, face turned to the cameraSouthern elephant sealMirounga leoninaSeen in 11 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 ConcernHuge flock of sooty shearwaters flying low over the sea beside a rocky coastSooty shearwaterArdenna griseaSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedWilson'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 ConcernAnhinga holding a fish in its long, pointed billAnhinga (American darter)Anhinga anhingaSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWhite-chinned petrel floating on blue water with its white chin patch showingWhite-chinned petrelProcellaria aequinoctialisSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasVulnerableAntarctic fur seal rising upright out of the water with wet fur and closed eyesAntarctic fur sealArctocephalus gazellaSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasEndangeredImperial 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 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 RocíoBack to the Ocean Atlas

Also in Americas
AntarcticaArgentinaBermudaBrazilCanadaChileColombiaCosta RicaEcuadorEl SalvadorFalkland IslandsFrench GuianaGuatemalaGuyanaMexicoNicaraguaPanamaPeruSurinameUnited States

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