Watch orcas chasing bluefin tuna in the Strait of Gibraltar off Tarifa, where a small, critically endangered pod of Iberian killer whales follows the summer tuna migration. Around fifty orcas from a handful of families patrol the strait, spotted on responsible 3-hour boat trips run under Spanish cetacean-watching law alongside pilot whales and dolphins. They appear from July to August as the tuna run through the strait, though sightings are never guaranteed with such a small, fragile population.
Watch orcas chasing bluefin tuna in the Strait of Gibraltar off Tarifa, where a small, critically endangered pod of Iberian killer whales follows the summer tuna migration. Around fifty orcas from a handful of families patrol the strait, spotted on responsible 3-hour boat trips run under Spanish cetacean-watching law alongside pilot whales and dolphins. They appear from July to August as the tuna run through the strait, though sightings are never guaranteed with such a small, fragile population.
Up to 65% sighting chance in Strait of Gibraltar / Tarifa (Spain). Best months: August, July.
Mainly in July and August, when bluefin tuna migrate through the Strait of Gibraltar and the Iberian orcas follow them to feed.
No. Only around fifty Iberian orcas remain, they are critically endangered, and in some years they pass through for just a few weeks, so sightings vary.
Responsible orca and whale watching trips from Tarifa last about 3 hours and cost around EUR 45 to EUR 55 per person (2026 prices).
The interactions reported in recent years involve small sailboats, not the licensed watching boats, which observe the orcas at a legal, respectful distance under Spanish regulations.
