Whalesound

What Whalesound does

Whalesound is a privately-held Chilean tourism and scientific research operator headquartered in Punta Arenas, Chile, founded circa 2003 with founding support from CORFO (Chile's Government Innovation Fund). The company runs multi-day wildlife expeditions through the Patagonian fjords and channels of Western Patagonia and the Strait of Magellan, centered on the Francisco Coloane Marine Park — Chile's first Marine Protected Area, the creation of which was informed by Whalesound's own cetacean research. Operations combine tourism with ongoing scientific study of humpback whales, having conducted research in the region for nearly 30 years.

The core product offering is a portfolio of small-group, guide-led expedition packages ranging from half-day naturalist tours (USD 220–290 per person) to 7-day premium itineraries priced up to USD 5,355 per person. Multi-day trips depart from Punta Arenas and use either the Carlos III Island eco-camp (capacity 10 in shared domes) or the company's vessels for overnight stays. The fleet consists of the Tanu (14.45m) and the newly added Estoa (19.35m, launched 2025, 30 day/12 overnight capacity), available individually for charter at USD 5,000–6,000/day. Whalesound also operates the San Isidro Lighthouse Museum in partnership with the Rio Seco Natural History Museum and the on-site Café del Cabo, broadening the offering to cultural heritage tourism.

The business operates exclusively direct-to-consumer via its website (Spanish and English), supplemented by phone/email reservation, social media presence on Instagram and Facebook, and TripAdvisor. Research collaborations with the Instituto de la Patagonia at the University of Magallanes (UMAG) and the Happywhale citizen science platform underpin the company's scientific credibility and data flywheel. Headcount is reported at 1–10, consistent with a small owner-operator enterprise whose revenues are unseasonally concentrated in the Patagonian spring–summer window.

Name

Whalesound

Legal name

Whalesound

Website

https://whalesound.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Whalesound is a Punta Arenas-based Chilean tour operator that runs small-group whale watching and wildlife expeditions in the Strait of Magellan and Western Patagonia, combining tourism with nearly 30 years of marine biology research and operating its own eco-camp and vessel fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Tourism / Adventure Expedition Tours

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours (THAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Wildlife Watching & Encounters (Birding, Whale Watching, Primates) (THAJAIAC), Sailing, Catamaran & Day-Cruise Excursions (nature-focused) (THAAAIAG)

Keywords

• Wildlife expedition tours
• Whale watching tours
• Eco-tourism Patagonia
• Marine wildlife observation
• Expedition cruises

Headquarters

HQ city

Punta Arenas

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Expedition Tours: Whalesound generates revenue through multi-day expedition tours in Patagonia, including whale watching, wildlife observation, and cultural heritage experiences. Tours range from day trips to 7-day expeditions, priced per person with various accommodation options including dome camping and vessel overnight stays.
2. Charter Services: Private charter services using their two vessels (Tanu and Estoa) are available for customized trips, charged at daily rates.
3. Day Tours: Shorter day-long navigation experiences around Cabo San Isidro available at fixed per-person pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Whalesound operates multi-day wildlife expedition tours in Chilean Patagonia, focused on whale watching and marine wildlife observation in the Strait of Magellan. The company combines tourism with scientific research, offering 3-7 day expeditions from an eco-camp on Carlos III Island (inside Francisco Coloane Marine Park) and aboard two expedition vessels (Tanu and Estoa), serving individual nature travelers and small groups with bilingual naturalist/marine biologist guides.

Product overview

Whalesound operates a portfolio of wildlife expedition tours and charter services centered on whale watching and marine biodiversity observation in Chilean Patagonia. The core offering consists of multi-day expedition packages (3-7 days) aboard the Estoa vessel and/or at the Carlos III Island eco-camp, complemented by day tours at Cape San Isidro. Key products include: Francisco Coloane Marine Park expeditions (3d/2n), Parque Marino y Andes Fueguinos (4d/3n), specialized Fuegian Snipe expeditions (5d/4n), Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego explorations (7d/6n), and Western Islands birding expeditions (7d/6n). Additional offerings include customized charter services using the Tanu and Estoa vessels, full-day and half-day naturalist tours at Cape San Isidro, plus on-site hospitality at Café del Cabo and the San Isidro Lighthouse Museum. All expeditions include naturalist guides (Spanish/English), with the eco-camp offering dome accommodations and the charter service providing bilingual marine biologist guides.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Francisco Coloane Expedition A 3-day/2-night whale watching expedition to the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, including whale observation, Magellanic penguin colonies, sea lion colonies, and visits to the Santa Inés glaciers. Accommodations in shared domes on Carlos III Island or aboard the Estoa vessel. Priced USD 1,840-2,050 per person for 6-18 passengers.
• Parque Marino y Andes Fueguinos A 4-day/3-night expedition exploring Alberto D'Agostini National Park and Francisco Coloane Marine Park, combining naturalist observations with cultural heritage interpretation of the Strait of Magellan region. Priced USD 2,770-3,090 per person for 8-12 passengers, overnight on vessel Estoa.
• Becacina Grande (Fuegian Snipe) Expedition A 5-day/4-night specialized expedition focused on observing the elusive Fuegian Snipe (Gallinago stricklandii) on Carlos III Island, with additional wildlife viewing including whales, sea lions, penguins, and glaciers. Priced USD 3,050 per person for 6-10 passengers, camping on Carlos III Island.
• Estrecho de Magallanes y la Tierra de los Fuegos A 7-day/6-night comprehensive expedition through the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego, visiting Kawesqar and D'Agostini National Parks, Karukinka Natural Park, the King Penguin Reserve, and including cultural experiences at Estancia Fagnano. Includes lodge accommodation at Deseado. Priced USD 5,040-5,355 per person.
• Islas Occidentales A 7-day/6-night expedition exploring remote islands of the Patagonian Fuegian archipelago, ideal for bird and nature enthusiasts. Includes observation of seabirds, marine mammals, and visits to Pacific-exposed islands including potential Noir Island expeditions. Priced USD 4,270 per person for 7-12 passengers, overnight on vessel Estoa.
• Viaje Personalizado (Customized Charter) Tailored charter trips using the two Whalesound vessels (Tanu and Estoa) with customizable itineraries based on passenger numbers, experience type, and destinations. Includes all meals and bilingual marine biologist guide. Charter rates: Tanu USD 5,000/day (12 daytime/5 overnight passengers) and Estoa USD 6,000/day (30 daytime/12 overnight passengers).
• Día Naturalista en el Cabo San Isidro A full-day naturalist tour (6 hours) exploring Cape San Isidro area, including interpretive navigation through the Strait of Magellan, visit to San Isidro Lighthouse Museum, and lunch at Café del Cabo. Minimum 6 passengers, USD 290 per person. Includes Spanish/English naturalist guides.
• Tarde Naturalista en el Sur An afternoon naturalist tour (5 hours) combining sailing along the Brunswick Peninsula coast, guided museum visit, and snack at Café del Cabo. USD 220 per person.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 years of continuous scientific monitoring of humpback whales in the Strait of Magellan
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Museo de Historia Natural Rio SecominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Rio Seco Natural History Museum which enables the San Isidro Lighthouse Museum, presenting exhibitions about the region's whaling history and local heritage.
• Happywhale PlatformminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the Happywhale citizen science platform for photo-identification of humpback whales, contributing to global whale migration research databases.
• Instituto de la Patagonia, UMAGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration with the Patagonian Institute of the University of Magallanes (UMAG) for scientific research on cetaceans and marine mammals in the Strait of Magellan region.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IslaCarlosIII
• Instagraminstagram.com/whalesoundpatagonia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whalesound

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Whalesound