Whale Watching Adventure on Turtle Island – Free Trips for Names with “Turtle” or “Whale”

By MOOK Travel Life Network’s Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

 

The period from late April to September each year is the peak tourist season for Turtle Island. Riding the waves to explore Turtle Island and getting up close to watch whales and dolphins leaping in the sea has become a popular domestic sea voyage. From now until May 26, the “2013 Whale Spectacular Cruise” event, planned by the Northeast Coast & Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration of the Tourism Bureau, Yilan County Government, Yilan County Whale Watching Promotion Association, and Toucheng District Fishermen’s Association, not only offers a three-in-one package (whale watching, island circumnavigation, and island landing) at a discounted price of NT$1,200, and a two-in-one package (whale watching and circumnavigating Turtle Island) at NT$700, but also provides additional benefits during the event period. Tourists whose names contain any character from “Whale Spectacular Cruise” can enjoy the experience at half price, and those with the characters “turtle” or “whale” in their names can join the whale-watching journey for free.

In addition to enjoying the companionship of whales and dolphins, Turtle Island’s unique volcanic rock geology and turtle-like shape allow visitors to observe various landscapes during the approximately half-hour circumnavigation, including four of the famous Eight Views of Turtle Island: Turtle Rock Cliff, Divine Turtle Wagging Its Tail, Glasses Cave Stalactite Wonder, and Submarine Hot Spring Eruption.

For those planning to land on the island, after disembarking, you can walk along the 650-meter-long lakeside trail to admire Turtle Island’s rich natural ecology, such as Formosan lily, Hypericum formosanum, Diospyros philippensis, wild Livistona, and various birds and butterflies. The loop takes about 40 minutes, after which you can visit nearby military tunnels and the Human Ecology & Geological Exhibition Hall. At the end of the Diospyros philippensis Trail, which connects to the lakeside trail, there is an observation platform offering a panoramic view of Turtle Island’s tail.

In addition, this year’s event also features a series of themed guided tours and commentaries, including “Cultural Turtle Island,” “Conservation of Turtle Island,” and “Whales & Turtles of Turtle Island,” allowing visitors to expand their knowledge while whale watching. Liu Shih-ming, deputy director of the Northeast Coast & Yilan Scenic Area, further noted that the Northeast Coast offers a diverse range of tourism and recreational resources. Aside from whale and dolphin watching, visitors can also surf, sail, swim, snorkel, hike, cycle, and enjoy sand sculpture activities—all of which are perfect for both domestic and international tourists to experience.

 

 

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