Hualien Whale Watching: Turumoan Whale Watching Tour

Very fun sightseeing activity, though sightings are more likely to be dolphins than whales. Transfers are highly recommended (if not mandatory) unless you’re driving, as the location isn’t very accessible. There’s a 15 to 30 minute educational briefing on commonly seen whale and dolphin species at their visitor area before being driven to the dock. The boat is clean and well-maintained. I strongly recommend queuing early once you reach the dock to access the boat’s second floor, which offers clearer views and is less crowded (limited to 10 people). Time spent at sea depends on conditions and may be around 1 hour or less, which is understandable. Highly recommended!

We booked a pickup service, and the driver arrived early at the hotel to pick us up. Upon arrival, he guided us to collect our boat tickets and then to a small classroom for a briefing. After the briefing, we set off. On the boat, the guide continuously shared information and taught us methods to alleviate seasickness. Seeing the dolphins was truly breathtaking; we marveled at the wonders of nature. The dolphins swimming around the boat were incredibly impressive. The entire experience, from boarding to disembarking, lasted about 1.5 hours and was absolutely worthwhile.

The interpreters at the Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation are very professional and experienced. Before heading out to sea, they first provide indoor explanations about the whales and dolphins you might encounter. After setting sail, we found a whole pod of dolphins less than 10 minutes after leaving the harbor. The boat ride lasted about 2 hours, and we saw 2 kinds of dolphins and flying fish in total.

Excellent! The driver was on time for pick-up and drop-off, and the car was very spacious. I asked to be dropped off at the train station at the end, and they took me there accurately, and even proactively pointed out good places to eat. As for the whale watching tour guide, she was really patient, and the staff were also very good, leading us to chase whales. The sea was also particularly beautiful. Highly recommend, highly recommend!

It was a nice tour! We managed to see dolphins and the tour guide was very knowledgeable. Would recommend to friends!

The weather was great and the sea conditions were excellent for the 2025/09/11 afternoon cruise. We saw 3 types of dolphins swimming freely in the sea, a truly healing experience.

Absolutely loved this experience! After boarding, the captain sailed north in search of dolphins. The waves were big, but the boat was very stable. It was incredibly romantic to see so many spinner dolphins in the sunset. We were very lucky and got really close! I will definitely come back if I have the chance ✨

The ocean is super beautiful, and we saw a lot of dolphins. It's a shame we didn't see any whales. I'd like to go out to sea again next time I'm in Hualien.

This was my first time participating in a whale watching tour in Hualien, led by Micky, a guide from the Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation. Micky shared many stories about dolphins and Hualien, helping us better understand local life. The weather was partly cloudy with a gentle sea breeze. We sailed north, riding the wind in search of dolphins. After nearly an hour of sailing, we finally spotted spinner dolphins near the mouth of the Liwu River—what a joyful moment! I highly recommend the bow deck on the first floor of the boat. You can enjoy the thrill of riding the waves, you're closest to the sea, and it's an excellent spot for whale and dolphin watching.

So lucky to have seen three or four sperm whales 🐋 and many cute spinner dolphins. Great value for the experience! The explanation was excellent, and the captain was very professional.