Top San Diego Whale Watching

Whale Watching

19 results

Best Seller

4.8

(2,406)

San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

4 hoursFree Cancellation

from $85

4.6

(1,651)

San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

2 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation

from $71

Swap city sightseeing for some time on the water with this exciting whale-watching cruise. Avoid the guesswork when trying to figure out where to spot whales, and let the experienced crew take you directly to places known for sightings. As well as whales, you may spot sea lions, sea birds, and sometimes dolphins—with commentary from the naturalist guides who can share plenty of facts about marine life.

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4.7

(189)

San Diego: 3 Hour Whale Watch Cruise with Legacy Whale Watch

3 hoursFree Cancellation

from $34

Likely to Sell Out

4.8

(145)

Whale and Dolphin Watching in San Diego

3 hoursFree Cancellation

from $149

San Diego provides the perfect launching point for a whale-watching tour in California. Cruise on the Pacific Ocean in a sturdy boat with a professional crew, looking for gray whales as they migrate along the coast of North America. Dolphins, seals and seabirds are often spotted during this whale-watching tour and the crew provides informative commentary about the marine animals and environment. Bonus: if the crew does not find any whales during your cruise, you receive a complimentary ticket for another trip.

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4.2

(144)

City Cruises San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching Adventure

4 hoursFree Cancellation

from $77

4.5

(3,083)

San Diego Harbor Cruise

2 hoursFree Cancellation

from $37

Likely to Sell Out

4.7

(45)

3-Hour Guided Whale and Dolphin Watching Experience in San Diego

3 hoursFree Cancellation

from $169

4.1

(8)

San Diego Dolphin Watch Sunset Cruise on Legacy Whale Watch

2 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

from $34

Meet some of the world's most exotic animals with your admission ticket to the renowned San Diego Zoo, one of California's top family-friendly attractions. More than 4,000 animals representing 800 species live in this state-of-the-art zoo, including some that are rarely seen at other zoos. Admire the animals and go in-depth during daily keeper talks. With mobile tickets, simply scan your phone for direct entry into the San Diego Zoo. Ticket must be redeemed on travel date selected. Tickets must be purchased at least one day prior to visit.

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4.7

(4,492)

San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket

1 to 4 hoursFree Cancellation

from $78

4.5

(523)

City Cruises San Diego: Scenic 90-Minute Narrated Harbor Tour

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

from $37

Take in the highlights of San Diego Bay during a sightseeing tour by amphibious vehicle. Travel on both land and water, starting on the streets of Seaport Village and rolling down Harbor Drive alongside San Diego Bay. Transition into the water after departing Seaport Village. Cruise past the SeaWorld and Vacation Isle, experiencing the best of maritime San Diego on this fun and informative tour.

1 hour 45 minutesFree Cancellation

from $56

The renowned San Diego Zoo Safari Park presents more than 3,500 animals roaming in large enclosures that replicate their natural habitat. Go on a safari adventure unlike any other outside of Africa itself, with exhibits inspired by the African Serengeti and the Asian Savanna. With mobile tickets, simply scan your phone for direct entry into the Safari Park. Ticket must be redeemed on travel date selected. Tickets must be purchased at least one day prior to visit. After 3+ years of construction, Elephant Valley is now officially open! Come immerse yourself in this incredible conservation habitat and meet a multi-generational herd of eight African savanna elephants.

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4.0

(380)

San Diego Zoo Safari Park 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket

2 to 8 hoursFree Cancellation

from $78

Explore the stunning marine life off the coast of San Diego with premier whale watching tours. Witness majestic whales in their natural habitat while enjoying an eco-friendly experience that emphasizes sustainability. The knowledgeable guides provide insights into the local ecosystem and the species you encounter, making the tour both educational and captivating. Perfect for families, nature lovers, and adventure seekers alike, this tour ensures an unforgettable day on the water. All tours depart from Seaforth Marina, offering a comfortable and accessible starting point for your adventure. - Eco-friendly whale watching tours departing from Seaforth Marina - Expert guides share insights on marine life and ecology - Family-friendly activities suitable for all ages - Enjoy a memorable day at sea while supporting sustainable tourism

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Private Whale Watching in San Diego on a Premium Zodiac

3 hoursFree Cancellation

from $894

Per group

Set sail at one of the best times of day—sunset—during this San Diego Bay cruise. Board a comfortable sailing yacht and cruise along San Diego's coastline, taking in views of the scenic waterfront, military vessels, and historical landmarks. Catch sight of marine life and enjoy spectacular photo ops. Gorgeous sunset views and comfortable bean bag seating makes this tour a great choice for travelers celebrating a special occasion.

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4.9

(616)

Sunset Sail Along the San Diego Skyline

2 hoursFree Cancellation

from $99

Explore some of the top highlights of San Diego with your or or two day trolley pass (depending on option selected) for the city’s Hop-on, Hop-off Trolley Tour. Choose your own adventure as you get on and off the trolley at any of the 11 included stops, covering famous sights including the Gaslamp Quarter, the San Diego Zoo, USS Midway and the Cruise Ship Terminal, Little Italy, and many more. This San Diego trolley tour also features live commentary from the on-board guide during your ride.

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4.7

(2,629)

San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

2 hoursFree Cancellation

from $57

Enjoy a thrilling new way to explore San Diego Bay—and enjoy speed, splashes, and spins along the way—on this high-speed jet boat tour. As you race along the scenic waterway, spot landmarks including the USS Midway, Coronado Island, Seaport Village, the Embarcadero, and the city skyline. Then, hang on as your captain takes your boat into power slides, 360-degree spins, and other high-octane maneuvers.

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4.8

(410)

San Diego Bay Jet Boat Ride

30 minutesFree Cancellation

from $45

Special Offer

Experience the thrill of driving a speedboat—and enjoy a new way to sightsee—on this two-in-one San Diego Harbor tour. Learn the basics of boating from your guide before following their boat around the harbor, cruising past highlights such as the USS Midway, Coronado Bridge, the San Diego Maritime Museum, and more. Discover the stories behind the landmarks via the on-board, two-way communication system, and stop for photo ops.

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4.8

(734)

San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure

2 hoursFree Cancellation

from

$79

$89

Christened in 1934, Cloudia is a beautifully restored, rare example of a classic Norwegian double ended ketch. Inspired by the original designs of famed naval architect Colin Archer (1832-1921), from Larvik, Norway, the Cloudia is a Listerskøyte. The top-sail ketch is notable for durability and safety. Archer’s shipyard designed and constructed the famed Fram, which participated in a number of expeditions to the North Pole and later supported Roald Amundsen’s historic first expedition to the South Pole. The Cloudia is rigged as a topsail ketch in the British or American style, which means there are 2 two-piece masts which allow her to carry more sail than a traditional Norwegian rig with shorter single masts. Cloudia’s main mast is 85 feet high including the top-jack. Many different woods were used to craft the ship, including Norwegian white oak, sapele hardwood, Douglas fir, Alaskan yellow cedar, and Ipe Brazilian hardwood. Come experience History!

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Private Sailing Tour -2 Hour (Up to 12 Passengers)

2 hoursFree Cancellation

from $1,200

Per group

Put your sea legs to good use while in port and see San Diego’s sights by both land and water on a shore excursion by amphibious vehicle. Listen to stories that bring San Diego’s history to life as you travel along the water’s edge, then steer straight into San Diego Bay. Take in sweeping views of SeaWorld, watch for the seals and sea lions that play, eat and bask at Quivira Basin, and return to your ship along the scenic Harbor Drive.

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4.8

(184)

San Diego Shore Excursion: San Diego Seal Tour

1 hour 45 minutesFree Cancellation

from $56

Top Attractions in San Diego

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Attractions

What are people saying about San Diego

San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket

Lisa_G, Apr 2026

First trip to the SD Zoo did not disappoint!

First time visiting the zoo and it did not disappoint! The online tips said it probably takes 6-7 hours to see everything and they were not kidding. We stayed around 7 hours and still didn’t see it all. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous and unlike any zoo I’ve ever visited. The conservation abounds and shows how much the animals are cared for here. We took the bus tour first thing which was a great way to get our bearings. We then took the tram up to the top and walked down to see the sights. Would definitely recommend this approach to save energy as the zoo is basically uphill! We loved seeing all the animals but especially the giraffes, elephants, and meerkats! Enjoy!

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San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

Jacob_S, Apr 2026

A whale of an experience!

Great experience and crew on a beautiful boat. Enjoyed every minute. Crew shared a lot of information of all the surroundings and the whales while also allowing space and time to relax and enjoy the views. Very accommodating, kind, and helpful staff. My wife and kids loved it!

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San Diego: 3 Hour Whale Watch Cruise with Legacy Whale Watch

LaTrenda_P, Apr 2026

Best whale tour

The best tour of the ocean I ever been on, we actually seen whales, dolphins, and sea lions. I am so happy I did this for my kids and us. I will do it again and again, can’t wait to go back and book this same company because it was so worth it and it’s 3 hours so it’s worth the money and time. If you go to San Diego and want to have fun definitely book this tour

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San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

Nan_C, Apr 2026

Great Overview of Beautiful San Diego

San Diego has such diverse beautiful places to visit. We were tight on time before our cruise so we just went around and didn’t get off, it took about two hours. Our driver Tommy was great, very interesting and entertaining , gave us a good overview of the different neighborhoods and sites. Only problem we had was finding the shuttle stop. Tip: stops are marked on all the signs as the “old town trolley” Green and orange signs. Excellent and highly recommend.

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San Diego Harbor Cruise

Jim_P, Apr 2026

Bay Harbor Cruise

We took the 1 hour North tour and it was very relaxing and informative. Our tour guide provided knowledgeable and relevant information and we enjoyed seeing the naval sites and learning about San Diego Bay. Some reviewers on this site complained that they didn’t understand the process for the 2 hour tour but they explained it clearly multiple times. Yes it goes out for one hour then comes back in to drop off people and pick up other people. You just stay on the boat for the 15 minutes. Highly recommend this tour if you want to learn more about San Diego history, enjoy the bay, and just relax.

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San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

Alexa_H, Apr 2026

Whales spotted!

Bring layers, sunscreen. Snacks and beverages on the boat once you get beyond 3 miles offshore. Definitely choppy water so prepare if you’re prone to motion sickness. But the tour itself was amazing. Saw a mother and calf fin whale and a pod of common dolphins, amongst other sea life. Well worth it! Would go again.

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San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

Jack_H, Mar 2026

Great whale watching experience

We all had a great time. We really enjoed being out on the water and for my grandkids. It was the first time they had seen whales. The lady who did most of the talking was very informative and easy to follow. She made the trip very enjoyable by making sure we knew where to look and when to look.

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San Diego Seal Tour

Antonio_C, Feb 2026

Informative , fun, cold,...

Informative , fun, cold, and smooth ride. The staff was friendly , courteous and funny to be with. We had Reef and Jewels for our tour, amazing pair! Would go again and with a camera this time. Next time I’ll bring a heavier hoodie, we took the 11:30 tour and the weather was pleasant. Jewels helped with pictures and provided excellent customer service along with Reef and their driving made it a wonderful first time experience. Greatly appreciate them.

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Sunset Sail Along the San Diego Skyline

Alexandra_M, Jan 2026

5/5 - unforgettable experience!

5/5 - unforgettable experience! I ended up being the only guest on this sunset sail, so it felt like a private sailing tour. The views were gorgeous, but halfway through the sail we suddenly got intense fog and visibility dropped a lot. Captain Patrick handled it like a total pro: calm, knowledgeable, and very reassuring. He adjusted the route and still made sure I had an amazing time. I always felt safe and in great hands. If you book this tour, I truly hope you get Captain Patrick. He made the experience exceptional!

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San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure

Randi_N, Oct 2025

Excellent Experience!

We had such a great time on our tour! Our guide, Keoni, was fantastic - friendly, welcoming, and full of enthusiasm. He explained everything clearly, shared fantastic knowledge about the area, and kept the ride fun with his dad jokes. His energy and passion really made the experience memorable. We learned so much about the San Diego harbor and would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting or living in the area!

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Not seeing something you are looking for?

Southern California is a perfect place for spotting migrating gray whales, and a San Diego whale watching cruise gets you out in the Pacific Ocean to spot these creatures. Different cruises offer a range of vessels, from catamarans to schooners. No matter which tour you choose, you’ll most likely get the chance to see sea lions, seabirds, dolphins, and seals, along with the mighty gray whales. For the best chance at sightings, try January–April, but it's possible to see blue whales in summer.

Top San Diego Whale Watching

19 results

Top Attractions in San Diego

San Diego Zoo

Coronado

Cabrillo National Monument

Balboa Park

USS Midway Museum

Maritime Museum of San Diego

San Diego Zoo

Coronado

Cabrillo National Monument

Balboa Park

USS Midway Museum

Maritime Museum of San Diego

San Diego Zoo

Coronado

Cabrillo National Monument

Balboa Park

What are people saying about San Diego

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