Pelagos Sanctuary Whale Watching Cruise from Genoa

Porto Antico and Calata Mandraccio

Porto Antico is the old harbour of Genoa, the city that grew rich as a maritime republic trading across the Mediterranean. Once a tangle of warehouses and docks, it was transformed in the early 1990s into a waterfront of promenades, museums and piers, with the medieval lanes of the historic centre rising just behind. Calata Mandraccio, the quay where this cruise departs, sits in the heart of it, a short stroll from Piazza Caricamento and the arcades of Via di Sottoripa.

Boarding starts shortly before the 11:00 departure, so plan to arrive early and enjoy the harbour. If you are wondering how to get to Porto Antico, it is about ten minutes on foot from Genova Piazza Principe station or one stop on the metro to San Giorgio. The quay is flat and easy to reach, with cafes nearby for a coffee before sailing.

The Lanterna and the harbour of Genoa

Leaving Porto Antico, the boat crosses the busy commercial port, among ferries, cargo ships and cruise liners, and passes the Lanterna, the great lighthouse of Genoa. Standing on a rocky spur on the western side of the port, it was rebuilt in its present form in 1543 and rises about 76 metres from its base, more than 110 metres above the sea, which makes it among the tallest historic lighthouses in the world.

From the water you appreciate how Genoa climbs up the hills in tiers of palaces, churches and pastel apartment blocks, ringed by old forts on the ridges. Our biologist uses this first part of the cruise to introduce the sanctuary and explain what to look for once the boat reaches deeper water. Keep your camera ready: the view back to the city as you leave the breakwater is one of the finest in Liguria.

The Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean marine mammals

The Pelagos Sanctuary is a protected marine area created by an agreement between Italy, France and Monaco, signed in 1999 and in force since 2002. It covers about 87,500 square kilometres of sea between Liguria, Tuscany, the French Riviera, Corsica and northern Sardinia. Here deep currents rise against the steep seabed and bring nutrients to the surface, feeding huge swarms of krill and small fish that attract whales and dolphins every year.

Only a few miles off Genoa the seabed drops to great depths, so a Genoa whale watching tour does not need to travel far to reach the animals' feeding grounds. The best time for whale watching in the Pelagos Sanctuary is from late spring to early autumn, when the sea is calmer and fin whales gather to feed. Sightings vary from day to day, and your guide follows reports and sea conditions to choose the route.

Whales and dolphins of the Ligurian Sea

The star of the sanctuary is the fin whale, the second-largest animal on Earth, which can reach about 20 metres in the Mediterranean and blows a tall, narrow spout visible from far away. Sperm whales, which dive deep for squid, Risso's dolphins, long-finned pilot whales and the shy Cuvier's beaked whale also live here. The most common sightings are striped dolphins, which often leap clear of the water, and bottlenose dolphins closer to the coast.

On board, the biologist explains how to recognise each species from its fin, its spout or the way it breathes, and shares the research carried out in the sanctuary. Boats follow a code of conduct: slow approach, no chasing and a respectful distance. Bring binoculars if you have them, and be patient: some of the most exciting moments come after long minutes of scanning a calm, blue sea.