Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The local environmental group, Ecology and Conservation of Whales A.C. (ECOBAC), recently announced that the first Ballenarte Whale Festival will be held January 8-11 in Puerto Vallarta and our beautiful Banderas Bay, which is visited every year by humpback whales and other marine mammals.

The objective of this event is to contribute to the protection and conservation of natural resources in Mexico, and especially the humpback whale in Banderas Bay. It also seeks to encourage the exchange of knowledge and information to benefit the conservation and protection of species among the general population.

In this first Ballenarte Conservation Festival, attendees will enjoy a boat parade, photo exhibition, conferences, documentaries, bike rally, fundraising dinner and much more.

Ballenarte Festival Schedule of Events
Download the Program and Map in PDF

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014

5:00 pm: Boat parade of Jalisco and Nayarit state authorized vessels for whale watching and opening ceremony at Los Muertos Pier, sponsored by Ecotours de México and Zaragoza Marine.

6:30 pm: Tour Operator Awards for best behavior and navigation practices during whale watching, involving conservation and protection of the humpback whale, followed by the unfurling of the human blue whale painting (32 x 12 mts) by internationally famous photographer, Patricio Robles Gil, at the Juarez parking area facing the sea.

Dinner with a Cause at Restaurante NU and Café Des Artistes

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

20% Ballenarte discount on morning whale watching tours

6:30 pm: Conference on the Humpback Whale and the Banderas Bay Projects, given by Biologist Astrid Frisch Jordán at Hotel Secrets Resorts & Spas. Event sponsored by Timon Tours.

7:30 pm: Photographic and Artistic Exhibition on Whales

6:30 pm: Showing of the Oasis Marino (Marine Oasis) documentary about the Gulf of California at Jardín del Pulpo (Octopus Garden Café) in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit.

Dinner with a Cause at Restaurante NU and Café Des Artistes

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2014

20% Ballenarte discount on whale watching tours with participating tour operators from the boat parade.

6:30 pm: Showing of the Oasis Marino (Marine Oasis) documentary about the Sea of Cortez at Mantamar Beach Club Bar & Grill. Introduction by Dr. Luis Medrano, Director of the Marine Mammals Program at UNAM University.

6:30 pm: Humpback Whale Conference at Los Arroyos Verdes in Bucerías, Nayarit, led by Biologist Roberto Moncada, ITBB, Marine Mammals Investigative Group.

Dinner with a Cause at Restaurante NU and Café Des Artistes

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2014

8:00 am: Bicycle Rally starting at the whale sculpture in Marina Vallarta, sponsored by Golozo's Bike

11:00 am: At the end of the race, children will use their bodies to make the shape of a life-sized humpback whale, and a picture will be taken of the human humpback whale from El Faro (The Lighthouse) at Marina Vallarta.

7:00-11:00 pm: Benefit Dinner Fiesta Mexicana at Lázaro Cárdenas Park, sponsored by Asociación Vallarta Centro

9:00 pm: Raffle for all those who attend the closing ceremony

Closure of the Festival with dignitaries from conservation circles

About ECOBAC

Ecología y Conservación de Ballenas, Ecology and Conservation of Whales (ECOBAC), is a Mexican non-profit organization, devoted mainly to research, conservation, protection and conservation of Mexico's natural resources, specially the Humpback Whales in Banderas Bay. For more information, visit whalephoto.org.