The waters around Bahia de Caraquez are reliably productive for marine wildlife. Bottlenose dolphins are present year-round and regularly seen in the bay and estuary. From June to October, humpback whales migrate through these waters — they travel from Antarctic feeding grounds to breed in the warm Pacific waters off Ecuador, and the coast around Bahia is one of the better places to see them.
Several operators in town and in San Vicente offer boat trips into the bay. A good operator will maintain a respectful distance from the animals and time trips around the tides. The bay is also a good place to see brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies (seasonally), and frigatebirds, especially near the estuary mouth. A half-day on the water is one of the better ways to spend time in Bahia if the conditions are right.