Guide · Safety

Is whale watching dangerous? Staying safe, warm and well

Whales are huge, but the risks on a day out from Punta Arenas come mostly from cold water, wind and a rolling boat. Here is how the rules keep boats at a distance, and how to dress and prepare.

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Editorial team, puntaarenaswhalewatching.comUpdated October 22, 20267 min read23 sources

On this topic: the tour Whales and Glaciers Full Day from Punta Arenas 4.8 (394 reviews) 12 hoursWhales, glaciers, Cabo FrowardBreakfast, lunch and a snack from$365per person Check availabilityCancel free of charge up to 24 hrs ahead

Quick answer

01The whales: Boats must keep at least 100 m from large whales.¹
02The law: Chile bans hunting or harassing whales in its waters.²
03The water: Cold shock can strike in water of 10 to 15 °C.³
04Seasickness: Tablets work best taken before you sail.⁴
05Clothing: The booked tour asks for warm clothing and comfortable shoes.

The whales are not the danger

Humpbacks are among the largest animals you will ever see from a boat. The US National Marine Fisheries Service gives their size as up to about 40 tons and about 60 feet long.⁵ It is natural to wonder whether being close to an animal that size is safe, and the honest answer is that the rules exist precisely so that you are never that close. Watching a tail rise and slide under the surface from that distance is thrilling enough on its own.

Chile's observation regulation, Decree 38 of 2011, requires recreational watching boats to keep at least 100 meters from large whales and 50 meters from dolphins and porpoises, measured to the nearest animal.¹ Approaches must come from behind and parallel to the animals, and if they show signs of stress the boat must move at least 200 meters away from large whales.⁶

With a mother and calf, the boat approaches on the mother's side and never comes between the two.⁷ Those rules protect the whales first, but they also keep a large, unpredictable animal at a comfortable distance from your boat. A whale may still surface nearer than the boat would approach, and that is a moment to stay still and enjoy.

Before and during

Staying well from the night before to the return

The night before

Sleep and pack

Lay out your layers, passport and tablets.
Before boarding

Take your tablet

Medication works best before exposure.⁴
On board

Find the calm spot

Avoid the bow, the place of most motion.⁸
Near the whales

Stay still

The boat keeps at least 100 m away.¹
On the way back

Warm up inside

Watch for shivering and drowsiness.⁹

Chile protects its whales by law

Whale watching here takes place inside a legal sanctuary. Chile's Law 20.293 declares the country's waters a zone free of cetacean hunting and prohibits killing, hunting, capturing, harassing, possessing, transporting or trading any whale or dolphin.² One of its stated goals is that whale watching be carried out in a responsible, regulated and sustainable way.¹⁰

The feeding ground itself is protected too. Supreme Decree 276 of 2003 created the Francisco Coloane marine and coastal protected area next to Isla Carlos III, with a marine park inside it.¹¹ The park's purpose is to preserve the humpback feeding area and the breeding areas of Magellanic penguins and sea lions.¹²

The regulation also governs the boats. Watching vessels must have protected propellers, and motorized one-person craft such as jet-skis are banned.¹³ The maritime authority may limit how many boats watch at once and how long they stay.¹⁴ For you as a passenger, this means a calmer encounter and less engine noise around the animals. Ask your guide about the rules on board; most crews are happy to explain how they approach a feeding group.

Keeping clear

Minimum boat distances, in meters

Distances from Chile's wildlife observation regulation, Decree 38 of 2011.¹ ¹⁵ ¹⁶

The distance rules

How far watching boats must stay in Chile

Animals	Normal distance	If they show stress
Large whales	100 m	200 m
Dolphins and porpoises	50 m	100 m
Blue whales	300 m	500 m
Penguins	50 m	Avoid disturbing them

Minimum distances for recreational watching boats under Chile's Decree 38 of 2011, measured to the nearest animal.¹ ⁶ ¹⁵ ¹⁶

Three layers

Dress like a deckhand

Warmth

Base layer

Next to the skin

Fabric: Wool or synthetic
Why: Keeps you dry
Avoid: Cotton

Check the tour

Insulation

Mid layer

Fleece or wool

Fabric: Fleece or wool
Why: Traps heat
Tip: Easy to open

Check the tour

Protection

Shell

Wind and spray

Fabric: Waterproof
Why: Blocks wind
Add: Hat and gloves

Check the tour

Decision helper

Is this trip right for you?

A quick check before you book

I get seasick easily I feel the cold I want to paddle near whales I travel with young children I worry about the whales

Take medication early

The CDC says it works best before the trip.⁴

Pack an extra layer

January highs average only 15.3 °C.¹⁷

Kayak trip, adults only

Guests must be at least 18 years old.

Ask the operator first

Susceptibility to motion sickness peaks between 7 and 12.¹⁸

Book with confidence

Chilean law bans harassing cetaceans.²

For example, when in a ship or other vehicle with limited outside visibility, the vestibular system reports motion to the central nervous system, but information from the visual system suggests the individual is not moving.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Yellow Book)Source 19

Cold water is the real risk

The serious danger on any boat in these latitudes is falling into cold water. The US National Weather Service says cold shock can be as severe in water of 10 to 15 °C as in water of 2 °C, and that gasping from sudden immersion can be triggered by water as warm as 25 °C.³ Hypothermia begins when core body temperature drops to 35 °C.²⁰

The first minutes matter most. The US National Park Service teaches a 1-10-1 principle: about 1 minute to get your breathing under control, then about 10 minutes of meaningful movement to try to get yourself out.²¹ That is why every crew briefs passengers on life jackets and on where to stand when the boat is moving.

In practice the risk is small if you follow the crew. Hold a handrail when you move around, keep to the areas the crew allows, wear your life jacket whenever you are told to, and never sit on a railing for a photograph. A good picture is never worth a slip on a wet deck. Keep small children within reach on deck at all times, and agree with them in advance where they may stand.

Checklist

Pack for the strait

Wear

Thermal base layer and a warm mid-layer
Windproof, waterproof jacket
Comfortable shoes with grip

Bring

Passport or ID card
Sunglasses, hat and gloves
Motion sickness tablets, taken early

Video

whale watching tips & essentials from a deckhand photographer

The video stays switched off until you hit play.

Seasickness, and how to beat it

For most visitors the main discomfort is not danger but nausea. The CDC Yellow Book explains motion sickness as sensory conflict: on a ship with little outside view, the balance organs report motion while the eyes suggest you are still.¹⁹ The Strait of Magellan can be choppy, and a long day gives the stomach plenty of chances to complain. It usually passes once you are back on land.

Prevention works better than cure. The CDC says anti-motion-sickness medication is most effective when taken before you set off, not after symptoms start.⁴ For adults on trips of 6 hours or less it suggests meclizine or dimenhydrinate for mild to moderate motion, and for longer exposure a scopolamine patch for moderate to intense motion; ask a pharmacist or doctor which suits you.²²

Simple habits help too. The CDC lists avoiding the places of greatest motion, such as the bow of a ship, as a countermeasure.⁸ Watch the horizon, stay in the fresh air if you feel queasy, eat lightly and sleep well the night before. Children under 2 do not usually get motion sickness, while susceptibility peaks between ages 7 and 12.¹⁸

What to wear on a whale watching tour

The question of what to wear on a whale watching tour has one answer here: layers. The booked tour asks you to bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes, plus a passport or ID card, and it does not allow luggage or large bags. Another listing on the same waters suggests trekking shoes or boots, a jacket or sweater, a scarf, a hat, sunglasses and water.

Start with a thermal base layer, add a fleece or wool mid-layer and finish with a windproof, waterproof shell. Gloves and a warm hat earn their place even in January, when the average high in Punta Arenas is 15.3 °C.¹⁷ On deck, wind and spray make it feel colder, and you will spend a lot of time standing still while you watch. Choose quick-drying fabrics where you can, because spray finds its way into every gap on a windy day.

If you choose the kayak trip into the marine park, the gear changes: you wear thermal clothing under a dry suit, plus a hat, gloves and sunscreen. That trip also requires you to be at least 18 years old and recommends a moderate level of fitness.

Whale watching tips for a long day on the water

A few whale watching tips make the difference between a good day and a great one. Bring binoculars, a spare battery and a small dry bag for your phone. Find a spot on deck early, and when the guides point, look low on the water for a blow before you look for the whale itself. Charge your camera the night before and switch your phone to airplane mode if you want the battery to last the whole day.

Pace yourself. The booked day lasts 12 hours, with an hour by bus at each end and long stretches of sailing between sightings. Its listing includes coffee, breakfast, lunch and a snack, so you do not need to pack a full meal, but a bar of chocolate and a bottle of water are welcome during the colder hours.

Know the signs of getting too cold. The CDC lists shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness as warning signs of hypothermia in adults.⁹ If you or a companion start to shiver hard, go inside, add a layer and drink something warm before heading back out.

Being a good guest near the animals

Safety runs both ways. The rules that keep the boat clear of the whales are there to protect the animals, and passengers can help. Keep your voice down when the engine idles near a group, avoid sudden runs across the deck that unsettle everyone, and never throw food or rubbish over the side.

Sea lions and penguins deserve the same care. Boats must stay at least 50 meters from the nearest penguin and avoid disturbing birds that are feeding, resting or breeding.¹⁶ If you take a separate penguin trip to Isla Magdalena, the CONAF rule on land is no closer than 2 meters.²³

Finally, trust the crew's judgment about the weather. If the captain turns back early or keeps the boat in a sheltered channel, it is because conditions on the open strait are worse than they look from the cabin. A shorter day with everyone well is better than a longer one with half the passengers seasick.

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