Travel

The Amakusa Islands in Kumamoto are known for their unique culture, interesting geological formations, beautiful green hills — and, most importantly, the wild dolphins that live just off the shore. Estimates put the number of Minami bottlenose dolphins (also called Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins) in the area at 200 to 300. On a trip, you can expect to see anywhere from 50 and 200 dolphins swimming together in a group called a pod. Taking a Dolphin Tour Numerous companies offer boat tours out to see the dolphins. Often, the dolphins swim right up to your boat, giving you the chance to see them up close. Tours typically last about one hour and are on a small boat manned by a local fisherman who knows the top spots to see dolphins and who will provide you with more information about the ecology of the area. The vast majority of visitors who take these tours do see dolphins. However, if you want to improve your chances, look for a boat tour with an encounter rate of 98% or more. Some tours even offer guests who are unlucky enough to not see any dolphins a free ticket to come back another day. You may…