California Whale Watching - California Vacation Travel Guide

Have a WHALE OF A GOOD TIME on a California Whale Watching Cruise

Numerous types of whales can be seen along the California coast, making an annual attraction and event, the whale watching tours a must see for locals and tourists. Whale watching is not limited to the ocean, however. A proponent for these mammals and advocate for sound ecology in the seas is Wyland. In California you'll see his Whaling Wall Murals that inspire and reflect the natural environment nearby.

Whale Watching Season Goes through March / April, though some Companies Offer Tours All Year

Note: These prices have changed! Check with the company you seek to book with.

DANA POINT - Whale Watching - Dana Wharf Whale Watching Time: 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. Cost: $29 adult; $25 senior, $20 child. Location: Dana Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA.

NEWPORT BEACH - Whale Watching - Newport Landing Whale Watching. Time: 10 a.m., 1 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 2:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday

2.5 hour cruise to whale watch off the Southern California coast. Location: Newport Harbor, 309 Palm St., Newport Beach, CA. (located on Balboa peninsula next to Balboa Pavilion)

OXNARD - Whale Watching. Captain Hooks goes at 9 a.m. & 1 p.m. Cost: $30, $26 senior, $21 child. Call: (805) 382-1612. Island Packers offers same times, same cost. Call: (805) 985-4852. Channel Islands Sportfishing is same cost. Goes at 11 a.m. Call: (805) 382-1612. 

SAN DIEGO - Whale Watching. San Diego Harbor Excursion is a fully narrated 3.5 hour trips in some of California's best waters to watch migrating whales. Goes at 9:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily. Weekday cost: $28 adult; $15 kid. Weekend: $33 adult; $15 kid. Location: 1050 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA. For the same price, you can also take the Hornblower Cruise Whale Watching Trip. Time: 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily.

 SAN FRANCISCO - Whale Watching. San Francisco Whale Tours is a 6 hour trip to Farallon Islands to watch whale migrations. It leaves on weekends at 8 a.m. Cost: $100 adult, $90 child.

Whale Celebrations:

Dana Point Festival of Whales is held two weekends in March.

Malibu Whale Festival is held annually at Leo Carrillo State Park.

Oxnard Celebration of the Whales Festival is held each year at Channel Islands Harbor.

About Whales:

The huge mammals have been of great interest to marine scientists, and to all who hold their journeys dear. Mysterious whale beachings have caused some to ponder if the the new types of military sonar are disturbing the whale's very own internal system used to navigate. A ruling to allow such sonar to be used off the California coast in San Diego region where military training occurs, has caused concern among environmentalists in a wait-and-see game of chance, with the hopes that these creatures will not be impacted. In fact, as we completed this article, a "breaking news" segment showed a dead whale washed ashore at Ventura beaches. There's no information on the nature of its death.

So, as we tourists head off shore on one of the 50 or so types of tours offered, mostly through private commercial ventures, whales are being seen abundantly and close to shore, no more than a mile or two off coast, even, in places such as Dana Point. Some tours guarantee a sighting. How do they do it? The captain and crew tells us that they keep in touch and get reports from a variety of oceanic sources, so they know exactly where to head once they hit open seas. Pretty slick!

While great whale watching exists from land on hilltop vantage points such as San Diego's Cabrillo National Monument (the second most visited National Monument in the country after Statue of Liberty,) San Pedro, and even the Big Sur Coast relaxing restaurants such as Nepenthe. From cottages and hotels in Little River and Gualala they whales can be viewed right from your hotel room. The views are simply stunning on the coast, including in your room at The Sea Ranch. 

We've taken numerous whale watching tours and have seen whales as a by-product of routine boat trips to Catalina Island on the Catalina Flyer or Catalina Express. In fact, the captain and crew on many of these high speed Catamarans that glide and skim along the top of the water so as to avoid ill feelings or ooziness and being sea-sick (rarely happens to even the most sensitive travelers), will stop for a few minutes when there's a whale sighting. It's just part of their mission to provide not just a trip to the Island, but an enjoyable journey and love for the sea, as well.

You actually experience a two-fer during the whale migrations when visiting the Channel Islands National Parks on daily boats that depart from Oxnard, Ventura and Santa Barbara. The trek does include rougher riding (take crackers for that oozy stomach), and while your reward is the opportunity to explore some of the most scenic offshore coast in the U.S. (Anacapa Island is called the Galapagos of the US,) you'll usually spot some whales during migratory season, and the boat will stop to look for a while. Be sure to check out Island Packers for this trip. 

On the scenic whale watching tours, there's almost always a snack bar on board your craft. Beers, sodas, cookies and snacks are sold for the hungry sojourners, and for those who prefer to sit back and wait for the mammals to appear. It's always wise to check with your boat operator or cruise company to find out policies for beverage and snacks.

Heading out through harbors ranging from the southernmost trips out of San Diego Harbor to the northern journeys in San Francisco Bay and northern California, you get to see the mysterious workings that include both commercial vessels and pleasure craft. The San Diego harbor is one of the most interesting for its military vessel and operations, while Los Angeles / Long Beach / San Pedro is interesting for its tankers that bring goods from around the globe, and especially China.

Some of the whale watching cruises departing San Pedro sponsored by the Cetacean Society and the San Diego Harbor Excursions half day nature excursions provide insights and information you may not receive on the average entertainment cruise. Facts and figures abound on these educations journeys, allowing you to not only be entertained and awed, but also come home with some facts and figures, and a new understanding of the depth and breadth of life in the sea which makes up of 75% of world.

When: December - April you can find whale watching cruises in California. Whales migrate around 10,000 miles from their summer feeding grounds in the arctic to the warmer oceans of Mexico

Note: the list below needs updating. Please send us or call with your corrections! Thanks