Well not strictly speaking in Marbella, but whale watching out from Tarifa, an hour’s drive west of Marbella. Not many people realise that you can go out and see Killer Whales, in their natural habitat, from here on the Costa del Sol. In Tarifa, just up the coast past Gibraltar, you can take a 3 hour trip out into the straits of Gibraltar to watch a unique group of Orcas (Killer Whales), which arrive here off the coast of northern Africa each summer to feed on the Red Tuna.
The unique thing about this group of killer whales, is how they have learnt that at this time of year the line fishermen in the area are catching huge red tuna and slowly reeling them up to the surface. This makes an easy meal for the Killer Whales, who dive down and steal the fishermen's catch as it is the tuna are being bought up to the surface. A skill they pass on to each new generation of orcas. It’s a stunning sight to behold.
In the area between Spain and Morocco there are around 40 killer whales, living in about 5 pods consisting of about 8 animals in each group.
There are several companies offering killer whale watching trips in Tarifa. I have been out three times with Tumares and have been impressed on each occasion - on the trips I have been out on, there has been a 100% success rate in viewing killer whales. On one occasion when I enquired early on in the season, too early as it transpired, about going out with them I was told they were not running the trips as the killer whales had not yet arrived, so Tumares are not the type of company to take your money, and simply take you out for a boat ride! Last week I travelled out with them again, and as well as seeing the killer whales, the captain stopped twice on the way in, taking extra time, to allow passengers to observe a pod of pilot whales, and a pod of common dolphins we came accross on our way back to port.
It’s a truly magnificent privilege to see Killer Whales in the wild - Whale Watching from Tarifa I'd highly recommend it.
Tarifa is a great place for a day trip, with stunning beaches. Here's a few other links which may be of interest to those looking to visit Tarifa:
Things to do in tarifa
Kitesurfing in Tarifa - due to is position at the entrance to the Straits of Gibraltar, Tarifa has a unique comination of sun, sand and wind! It's a mecca for kitesurfing and windsurfing.