Trip ideas while visiting Bar Harbor in Maine
When you visit Bar Harbor, not only will you be amazed by its beautiful surroundings, but you’ll also have the opportunity to witness the incredible wildlife in the area. The Gulf of Maine is home to various whale species, and you can easily spot them by joining a whale watching cruise. The best time for whale watching is from mid-April to September when the whales migrate to the gulf to feed on plankton, fish, sand eels, and other marine creatures. During this season, you can expect to see magnificent creatures such as humpback whales, orcas, sperm whales, sei whales, and pilot whales. Alongside these majestic whales, Bar Harbor’s East Coast is frequented by seals and dolphins, adding to the region’s vibrant marine life.
The top-rated tour operator in Bar Harbor is the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company. This company, situated downtown, offers whale watching tours from July to mid-October. They have an impressive success rate of 90% to 95% in spotting marine life on any given day. To enhance the experience, they utilize high-speed catamarans that can easily reach whales seen at a distance. The tours typically last around three to five hours and take you approximately 20 to 40 miles offshore into the gulf where whales tend to gather. According to the company, the best time for whale spotting is during the calm and clear months of June to August when the weather is sunny.