As migratory humpback whales return to Panama’s Gulf of Chiriquí, Islas Secas will launch Whale Weeks this August: a month-long programme centred around this annual spectacle and Islas Secas’ exclusive partnership with Panama’s marine mammal research organisation, Panacetacea.

Whale Weeks coincide with peak humpback whale season in the Gulf of Chiriquí, where migratory humpback whale sightings have almost quadrupled over the past 20 years. The programme forms part of Islas Secas’ wider Marine Safari offering, transforming whale watching from a sightseeing experience into a deeper engagement with marine science, conservation and the biodiverse waters of the Gulf of Chiriquí, which support more than 250 marine species.

From 7-17 August 2026, Panacetacea marine mammal scientists will be in residence on property, hosting talks, sharing fieldwork insight and bringing active whale research into the guest experience. Guests can join expert-led whale-watching expeditions, take part in Whale Songs & Science sessions exploring humpback behaviour and acoustic monitoring, and listen to live and recorded humpback whale song through hydrophones.

Panacetacea operates the first long-term marine soundscape monitoring network in Central America, with underwater hydrophones deployed across the Gulf to study whale song, behaviour, movement and wider marine soundscapes. The programme will also spotlight wider marine mammal research in the Gulf of Chiriquí, including Panacetacea’s recent confirmation of a resident population of Bryde’s whales near Islas Contreras.

Following time on the water, guests will be encouraged to upload whale photographs to Happywhale, contributing to a global database that helps researchers and citizen scientists identify individual whales and track migration patterns. Islas Secas Foundation’s support of Panacetacea forms part of a wider commitment to marine and avian conservation, habitat protection and environmental education throughout the Gulf of Chiriquí.

The initiative reflects Islas Secas’ ongoing commitment to marine conservation in Panama.