Top California Whale Watching
37 results
Sort by: Featured
Must-Dos in California
1 / 2
What are people saying about California
Scott_B, Oct 2026
Great team and a great day!
Maddie, Ryan and Capt JJ knew their stuff! From finding 5 different humpback whales and hundreds of dolphins, to helping us understand why Monterey is such a hub for whales to making sure hot chocolate was available to all that asked, they made our 4 hour trip fly by and left us wanting more.!
Loretta_M, Oct 2026
Amazing & Exciting Experience!
Such a wonderful experience! Not only was the crew amazing, kind, & informative. But, the boat was spacious & well maintained. We had a beautiful day & saw multiple humpback whales & a pod of 1,000 dolphins! It was amazing! The Naturalist on board was so informative & energetic she kept you easily engaged & informed with what you were seeing & where. All in all it was amazing day & we walked away so excited & happy we went!! Absolutely recommend!! 10/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kitra_C, Oct 2026
Smooth Sailing
Hurricane Rachel had disrupted travel and the whales had taken off for somewhere else, but the tour itself was run smoothly. We did see dolphins, seals, and flying fish, and the captain was very knowledgeable. Because of no whales, we all received a discount card for next time.
Denise_J, Oct 2026
Awesome whale watching experience!
We had such an amazing time and saw sooooooo many whales. At one point 4 came up and were “mugging” near the boat! It was the most incredible experience and our captain and other biologists on the boat were amazing and so knowledgeable! We had a great time!
Vale_S, Sep 2026
A Wonderful Learning Experience
We had a great time. We appreciated that the boat’s captain deftly maneuvered to give everyone a good view of the sea life. The naturalists were informative and engaging, making it fun to learn about all the sea life we saw. Thank you to the whole crew who were all friendly and helpful.
Kathryn_C, Sep 2026
The check in was easy to...
The check in was easy to find and well marked. The crew were all very friendly and helpful. Comfortable sail even with the slightly rough seas. We were able to see dolphins, a humpback whale, lots of sea lions and sea birds. Perfectly comfortable traveling as a single female
Heather_B, Jul 2026
So many dolphins!!!
It was absolutely beautiful in the ocean. We saw four pods of dolphins that each had about 300 dolphins each. They were coming in and out of the water too fast for us to count. And they were showing off, done with their calves, doing dives and jumps and back flops.
Did not see any other animal life, but we were so impressed by the number of dolphins that the five of us all loved it!
Connie_R, Jul 2026
Wonderful experience
The crew were absolutely fantastic. We saw many dolphins swimming around the boat plus, we saw a very large whale many times. Matt the ship’s captain did a great job getting us close to the whale as it would pop up.
I had my 12 and 13 year-old grandson’s with me. They enjoyed the trip and have many stories to talk about from the boat ride.
I believe Hanna was our guide, she was full of information and made sure the boys were able to go down below and look through the glass under the ocean.
marlon_b, Jun 2026
Phenomenal Fun Boat Ride
My family and I have such an amazing time. The boat operator did an excellent job of showing us all the fun that we deserved and paid for. The crew was fun. The music was great and the overall value was perfect too. As a matter of fact, I think it was cheaper to go through you guys then it was through them directly because when we got there they had the prices for all activities offered and I noticed that they seemed higher. Overall the entire trip was a perfect 10 out of 10 and we would do it again in a flash!
Jacob_P, Apr 2026
Such a fantastic finale!
I went with my daughters on a family day and had a wonderful time. The catamaran was very comfortable and provided excellent 360 degree views. It was my first experience whale watching and I was not left wanting. We saw common and bottle nosed dolphins and finished the trip seeing a mother and calf gray whales.
Edward_J, Mar 2026
Whale Watch Trip
This was a nice trip...The staff on the boat were very nice...The trip was 3.5hrs long...We saw dolphins and sea lions...Unfortunately, we didn't see any whales, but that's always a possibility...Can't blame the tour operators for that...Since we didn't see any whales, as we got off the boat, we were given a voucher to come back another time, and the voucher has no expiration date...All in all, it was a very nice trip..
Melanie_K, Jan 2026
Lovely Saturday in Hollywood
Tommy our tour guide was an absolute joy. So nice, funny and very knowledgeable. We saw and learned so many new facts about Hollywood/Beverly Hills history. In addition to the stops listed, he took us all the way up and into the gorgeous Hollywood Hills to see celebrity homes and the Universal overlook. Would absolutely recommend!
Would suggest parking by the Hollywood and Hyland parking structure and walking to the meeting location to see more of the Chinese Theater, hand prints and boulevard sites.
en
4fb7366d-1e3c-4794-9153-86899748cefc
things_to_do_category

Not seeing something you are looking for?
California’s extensive coastline offers an opportunity to witness the majestic beauty of whales in their natural habitat. California whale-watching tours are a unique way to engage with nature and learn about whale behavior, conservation efforts, and the marine ecosystem from onboard naturalists and expert guides. Whether you catch the gray whale migration during the winter and spring months or have the chance to see blue whales, humpbacks, and even orcas in the summer and fall, these tours offer an unforgettable on-the-sea experience.
More Tours in California
Attractions in California, USA
Things to do near California
Popular on Viator
Day Trips from California
California Best Experiences






























