DEEP DIVE
Travel+Leisure US|October 2024
Go for a swim with sperm whales, and you may find yourself hooked. Maggie Shipstead journeys to the Caribbean island of Dominica, where these giants of the deep are making a big splash.
Maggie Shipstead
DEEP DIVE

IN MY EXPERIENCE, the central danger of swimming with whales in the open ocean is not that you will get smushed or chomped by a multi-ton marine mammal or somehow vanish into the deep but, rather, that you may contract a scorching case of whale-swimming fever. This is a condition for which there is no known cure: those afflicted live in a state of perpetual longing, always dreaming of returning to the water and the whales. I should know. I'm one of them.

For chronic sufferers, one of the world's most alluring destinations is Dominica (doh-min-nee-kah), a mountainous dollop of a nation in the Lesser Antilles, the Caribbean's southeasternmost arc of islands. There, a population of around 200 sperm whales resides year-round in warm and sheltered waters. Historically, a strict permit system has kept commercial whale swimming to a minimum-a good thing for both the whales and their human guests, since fewer swimmers mean less disruption and higher-quality, more ethical encounters. And in 2023, the Dominican government announced plans to establish the world's first marine protected area for sperm whales, a 300-square-mile reserve that could help secure a brighter future for these remarkable animals.

Esta historia es de la edición October 2024 de Travel+Leisure US.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición October 2024 de Travel+Leisure US.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE TRAVEL+LEISURE USVer todo
EARTHLY DELIGHTS
Travel+Leisure US

EARTHLY DELIGHTS

Come fall, the Italian region of Umbria is a lush, fertile inland oasis. Peter Terzian reaps a bounty of culinary and cultural pleasures.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
November 2024
RUNNER'S HIGH
Travel+Leisure US

RUNNER'S HIGH

Some travelers like to move at a faster clip. Alexandra Kleeman crosses the peaks and pastures of Ireland with a group of women who take life in stride.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
November 2024
THE WILDEST ISLE
Travel+Leisure US

THE WILDEST ISLE

Compared with its neighbors, the island of Hawaii is bigger, more untamed-and, at times, unpredictable. With her family in tow, Flora Stubbs finds the perfect balance between relaxation and rugged adventure.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
November 2024
A ticket to the top of the world
Travel+Leisure US

A ticket to the top of the world

On a luxurious train tour of Peru, Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu are the headline acts. But, as Monisha Rajesh discovers, witnessing everyday life from the rails can be every bit as memorable.

time-read
9 minutos  |
November 2024
Bonjour la France
Travel+Leisure US

Bonjour la France

When an American writer retires in Brittany, she learns how to belong again.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 2024
Chills and Thrills
Travel+Leisure US

Chills and Thrills

On an Alaskan wilderness adventure, Sarah Manguso and her son learn the elements of survival.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 2024
Wheels on Fire
Travel+Leisure US

Wheels on Fire

With its blazing fall colors and picturesque villages, the Japanese island of Kyushu was made for cycling.

time-read
5 minutos  |
November 2024
Down to Earth
Travel+Leisure US

Down to Earth

Pottery runs deep in Santa Fe, from hallowed Pueblo collections to clay-throwing pubs.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 2024
Steel City Shining
Travel+Leisure US

Steel City Shining

A tech boom; a thriving cultural scene; destination dining. Can this be... Pittsburgh?

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 2024
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL
Travel+Leisure US

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

This cute Pennsylvania town is brimming with artistic and cultural energy.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 2024