The deep water close to Hualien's coast makes it Taiwan's best-known place to watch whales and dolphins. Trips leave from Hualien Harbour (花蓮港), a short taxi ride from the city. Spinner dolphins are the most common sighting; sperm whales are the prize.
What you might see
CNA reported the July 2026 figures from Turumoan and the Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation: 163 sailings, sightings on about 95% of them, 260 groups seen (about 1.6 per trip), and sperm whales on 24 trips. Spinner dolphins were the most common. Those are summer numbers; sightings are a matter of luck, and no operator can promise them.
Choosing a trip
- Turumoan (多羅滿) checks in at Xiangri Plaza (向日廣場), 35-1 Gangbin Road, at the harbour. Its listed trips include a 3.5-hour sunrise trip and a 5-hour sperm whale trip. The standard shorter trip is sold through booking platforms.
- Other operators run from the same harbour. Compare a few on the booking platforms and read recent reviews.
Good to know: the sea can be rough even on sunny days. If you get seasick, take something before you board, sit low and in the middle of the boat, and keep your eyes on the horizon. Trips are cancelled in bad weather, so keep a spare day if this matters to you.
When to go
Trips run mainly in the warmer months. We could not find an official season, so check the operator's dates for your trip.
→ More things to do · Qingshui Cliffs from the sea
Sources: CNA, August 5, 2026; Turumoan. Checked October 2026.