Whale watching in California
6 towns and 20 operators, with the months each species is around. Listed trips run from $30 to $320 per person.
When to go, town by town
Dark squares are peak months for at least one species, light squares are the rest of the season.
| Town | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Trips from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dana PointGray whale, Blue whale, Humpback whale, Fin whale | January: in season | February: in season | March: in season | April: in season | May: peak | June: peak | July: peak | August: peak | September: peak | October: peak | November: peak | December: in season | $40 |
| MontereyGray whale, Humpback whale, Blue whale, Killer whale (orca) | January: peak | February: in season | March: in season | April: peak | May: peak | June: in season | July: in season | August: in season | September: in season | October: peak | November: in season | December: in season | $60 |
| Newport BeachGray whale, Blue whale, Fin whale, Humpback whale | January: in season | February: in season | March: in season | April: in season | May: in season | June: in season | July: in season | August: in season | September: in season | October: in season | November: in season | December: in season | $38.75 |
| San DiegoGray whale, Blue whale | January: in season | February: in season | March: in season | April: quiet | May: quiet | June: in season | July: in season | August: in season | September: in season | October: quiet | November: quiet | December: in season | $30 |
| San Francisco and Half Moon BayHumpback whale, Blue whale, Gray whale | January: peak | February: in season | March: in season | April: quiet | May: in season | June: in season | July: in season | August: in season | September: in season | October: in season | November: in season | December: quiet | $72 |
| Santa BarbaraGray whale, Blue whale, Humpback whale | January: in season | February: in season | March: in season | April: in season | May: in season | June: in season | July: in season | August: in season | September: in season | October: in season | November: quiet | December: in season | $80 |
Every operator in California, cheapest trip first
| Operator | What you get | Town | From | Length | Group | If no whales | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whale Watching Adventure |
$30 per adult |
3 hours |
No guarantee you will see whales | Check dates | |||
Newport Beach Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise |
$38.75 per adult |
About 120 minutes |
Not stated | Check dates | |||
Whale and Marine Life Tour |
$40 per person |
About 2.5 hours (9:30 am to 12:30 pm) |
Not stated | Check dates | |||
San Diego Whale Watching Cruise |
$54 per adult |
3 to 3.5 hours |
See whales or your next trip is free, no expiration | Check dates | |||
Whale Watching Tours |
$60 per adult |
3 hours |
Not stated | Check dates | |||
Whale & Dolphin Watching Adventure |
$60 per person |
About 3.5 or 4 hours including boarding and disembarking |
Not stated | Check dates | |||
Golden Gate Whale Watch |
$72 per adult |
2 hours 30 minutes |
Not stated | Check dates | |||
Whale & Dolphin Watching Tour |
$72.08 per adult |
2 hours |
Free return ticket (Whale Check, never expires) if the captain judges no satisfactory showing | Check dates | |||
Daily Whale Watching Tours |
$75 per adult |
9:00 AM trip 3.5 to 4 hours (mid-March to October) or 2.5 to 3 hours (November to early March); 1:30 PM trip 2.5 to 3 hours |
Minimum 10 passengers for a trip to depart |
Not stated | Check dates | ||
Daily Monterey Bay Whale Watch Tour |
$76.32 per adult |
AM trips 3.5 to 4 hours, PM trips 3 hours |
Capacity 49 to 117 |
Not stated | Check dates | ||
Whale Watching Tour |
$79.50 per adult |
2.5 to 3 hours, fully narrated |
Not stated | Check dates | |||
Whale Watching |
$80 per adult |
2.5 hours (Jan 3 to early May) or 4.5 hours (early May to Dec 31) |
up to 127 passengers (U.S. Coast Guard certification) |
Whale check for a free trip of equal value if no whales are seen; never expires; captain's discretion | Check dates | ||
Whale Watching |
$80 per adult |
up to 2.5 hours |
Maximum 16 passengers |
None; operator cites an expected 65% sighting ratio in season | Check dates | ||
Ultimate Whale Watching: Intimate, Fast, More Sightings |
$84.50 per adult |
120 minutes (approx.) |
Limited passenger count, each with own seat; minimum 7 per trip |
Not stated | Check dates | ||
San Diego Whale Watching |
$85 per adult |
3.5 to 4 hours; check in 10:00 to 10:30 AM, depart 11:00 AM, back by 3:00 PM |
Capacity 77 people |
Come back free on any future trip if no whales or dolphins are seen; no expiration | Check dates | ||
Signature Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari |
$86.92 per adult |
2.5 hours |
20 to 65 passengers depending on boat |
Free return Signature Safari within one year if no whales and no dolphins are seen | Check dates | ||
Farallon Islands Whale Watching |
$320 per person |
8 hours (check-in 8:00am, departs 8:30am, back about 4:30pm) |
up to 48 passengers, typically about 33 |
Not stated | Check dates | ||
Private 2-hour charter |
$375 per group |
2 hours |
up to 6 |
Free next tour if no whales are seen, with no expiration | Check dates | ||
Santa Barbara Whale Watching (Double Dolphin) |
Not listed |
About 2.5 hours |
49 passengers maximum, not counting captain and crew |
Not stated | Check dates | ||
Whale Watching |
Not listed |
3 hours |
Not stated | Check dates |
Each operator's cheapest listed trip, from its own website on October 21, 2026. How we compare.
Other countries and states
- Alaska 2 towns
- Australia 3 towns
- Canada 3 towns
- Hawaii 2 towns
- Iceland 2 towns
- Massachusetts 2 towns
- Mexico 3 towns
- Portugal 2 towns
- South Africa 2 towns