A Sea Giant: The Marina Whale

While you walk through the entrance of Marina Vallarta it is impossible to ignore their presence. It is almost 9 meters high that impose and make you notice the magnitude of this magnificent being. When you raise your eyes, you can admire “La Ballena y su Cría”, or “The Whale and her Calf.” The blue sky plays with the imagination to become the wide sea giving you a wonderful panorama that is difficult not to appreciate. People commonly call it “the Marina whale.”

What a great work by author Octavio González Gutiérrez. What a satisfaction that his 4 years of work give as a result the more than 12 tons, the 8.9 meters in height and the 13 meters in length. It has become one of the most beautiful sculptures of the Bay and the largest in Puerto Vallarta! It is incredible how its structure is designed. Its fin holds the rest of the sculpture, which rests on a square meter.

This “ballerina whale” was unveiled on March 14, 2001. Since then, it has called the attention of tourists and locals. It gives the impression that both the calf and its mother greet all those who pass through the area. The inspiration of the author came from families. He sought to represent how important mothers are, those women who become central pillars and the anchors of the family nucleus. They are always devoted and dedicated with unconditional love to their children.

This work has two replicas on a smaller scale. Each one is located in a sister city of Puerto Vallarta. The first one is in Highland Park, which established ties of friendship with the city since 17 years ago. The second is in Mission-Texas, which in 2020 celebrated 16 years of bonding with our port.

You may also like: Los Milenios rises at the Malecon

About the artist Octavio González, we can tell you that he was born in Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, although part of his life has been in Vallarta. Throughout his career he has completed an approximate of 60 bronze sculptures. You will find them spread between Vallarta and other cities in the country and the world. They are divided between collaborations and his independent works.
Although he does not have formal studies in arts, he has demonstrated the ability and talent to create beautiful pieces. Finally, as a curious fact, the artist does not sign his sculptures and most are inspired by marine life. Other of his works of marine animals are “La Fuente de la Amistad” and “Las Orcas”, the latter also located in the marina.

Finally, we want you to know something more about this beautiful species the sculpture honors. The humpback whale, also known by the names Yubarta and Gubarte, lives in waters of the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific Oceans, as well as in the Bering Sea and the frosty waters of Antarctica. These magnificent animals can adapt to live in both tropical and polar waters and group into isolated populations.

During the 20th century this species was cruelly massacred, capturing the attention of many who sought to reduce the number of lost species. Even so, it is estimated that there are around 6,000 humpback whales around the world. It is important to remember that we must take care of the wide sea, as it is home of this and other beautiful species that abound in The Blue Planet.