Humans trace their ancestry to animals that left the sea and moved onto land. Whales trace their ancestry to a group of mammals that left the land 60 million years ago and returned to the sea. In relatively more recent times, Cape Cod, Nantucket, and New Bedford were East Coast centers for the harvesting of whales. Today, the Cape is a major center for the watching of whales. Commercial sightseeing boats conduct whale-watching tours of 3 to 8 hours from piers in Provincetown, Barnstable, and Plymouth from April to November. In the spring whales can be seen off the Cape migrating from the south, and in the fall they can be seen migrating from the north. Whales commonly seen off the Cape include the humpback, minke, and finback. Right whales are sometimes seen in the fall and spring. Whales may often be seen from land at Province Lands Visitor Center and from Race Point Beach. But you will see the whales up closer from a boat—and they will get a chance to watch you.
Minke whale
Spouts rarely seen; sleek, like finback, but much smaller; body gray above, light underside; white band on flippers; narrow, pointed head; 15 to 35 feet long; seen in spring and fall.
Right whale
V-shaped double spout; white callosities on head; short, rounded flippers; body black above and below, with white patches by chin and navel; no dorsal fin; shows black tail flukes when diving; 35 to 56 feet long; seen most often in spring.
Humpback whale
Mushroom-shaped spout; long, white flippers; barnacles on snout; body black above, splotches of white on belly; very acrobatic, jumping, spinning, slapping tail; shows white patches on flukes when diving; 30 to 56 feet long; seen in spring and early summer.
Finback whale
Tall, slender spout; flat, wedge-shaped head; dark gray above white belly; left side dark gray, right side including lower jaw white like belly; gray stripes behind eyes forming V’s on back; prominent dorsal fin; rarely shows tail when diving; 40 to 85 feet long; seen in spring, summer, and fall.