No one ever says 'I can't remember if I've seen a whale.' A close encounter with one of the most enigmatic and remarkable creatures on the planet is a life-changing experience.

Commercial whale-watching began in 1955 in California when a San Diego fisherman started taking people (for a dollar a time) to see Grey Whales migrating along the coast. Nowadays, 13 million people go whale-watching each year, in 119 different countries around the world. The undisputed hotspot – with more than half of all whale-watchers – is North America.

Mark Carwardine's Guide to Whale-Watching in North America is the second in a series aimed at the millions of cetacean addicts around the world. It includes some of the world's ultimate wildlife experiences; tickling friendly grey whales in Mexico's San Ignacio Lagoon, listening to a live concert of singing humpback whales in Hawaii, being surrounded by thousands of dolphins in Monterey Bay, kayaking with pods of Orca off Vancouver Island, snorkelling with Beluga in Hudson Bay, and many more. This book covers all of the main whale-watching locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico; rich with photography throughout, it also includes sections on how to watch whales (including everything from identification to interpreting behaviour), and a field-guide section covering all the species that can be seen in North American waters.

Mark Carwardine's guide is indispensable for all who loves whales in North America, and want to see them. Packed with useful information and top tips to help you get the most out of your trip, it includes a thorough account of whale-watching opportunities in some of the world's hotspots, from Hawai'i and Vancouver Island to the Gulf of Maine and Baja California, as well as detailed accounts of every cetacean species found in North America.

Whether you want to watch Blue Whales in Monterey Bay, Killer Whales in the San Juan Islands, Narwhals in the high Arctic or North Atlantic Right Whales in the Bay of Fundy, this is an ideal companion.