Top San Diego Whale Watching

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

San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

(319)

from USD 34

4 hoursFree Cancellation

San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

(2,491)

from USD 85

2 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation

4.6

(1,725)

from USD 71

Whale and Dolphin Watching in San Diego

(159)

from USD 149

San Diego Harbor Cruise

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

(3,244)

from USD 37

Likely to Sell Out

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.

(49)

from USD 169

1 hour 45 minutesFree Cancellation

San Diego Seal Tour

4.7

(1,333)

from USD 56

Likely to Sell Out

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.

Sunset Sail Along the San Diego Skyline

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.

4.9

(639)

from USD 109

City Cruises San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching Adventure

City Cruises San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching Adventure

4 hoursFree Cancellation

4.2

(144)

from USD 63

San Diego Dolphin Watch Sunset Cruise on Legacy Whale Watch

2 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

4.0

(10)

from USD 34

San Diego Shore Excursion: San Diego Seal Tour

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.

San Diego Shore Excursion: San Diego Seal Tour

1 hour 45 minutesFree Cancellation

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.

(187)

from USD 56

San Diego Bay Jet Boat Ride

30 minutesFree Cancellation

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.

(437)

from USD 45

San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

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

4.7

(2,775)

from USD 57

Private Whale Watching in San Diego on a Premium Zodiac

Private Whale Watching in San Diego on a Premium Zodiac

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.

from USD 894

Per group

San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket

San Diego Zoo 1-Day Pass: Any Day Ticket

1 to 4 hoursFree Cancellation

4.7

(4,615)

from USD 78

San Diego Harbor Dinner Cruise

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

4.1

(1,307)

from USD 126

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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.

(547)

from USD 35

Likely to Sell Out

San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure

Explore the rich marine life of San Diego on a thrilling 3-hour open-water adventure. This tour invites you to encounter majestic whales, playful dolphins, and curious seals in their natural habitat aboard a state-of-the-art Zodiac. With a capacity for small groups of 1 to 6 guests, enjoy a personalized experience while cruising through the stunning views of San Diego Bay. Perfect for both first-timers and seasoned ocean enthusiasts, this tour promises an unforgettable connection with nature. - 3-hour whale and marine life adventure in San Diego - Small group sizes for an intimate experience (1-6 guests) - Comfortable fast ride on a brand new 2026 Zodiac with premium seating - Depart from Fisherman’s Landing with scenic views of the bay

(752)

from USD 89

Special Offer

Experience San Diego Dolphin Watching Shared Tour

Experience San Diego Dolphin Watching Shared Tour

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!

from

USD 145

USD 116

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

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

San Diego Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruise

5.0

from USD 1,200

Per group

Top Attractions in San Diego

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Attractions

What are people saying about San Diego

Catharine_C, July 2026

Great day on the water!

Great day on the water! We saw 3 species of dolphin. Two of the pods were 100+ in size. And the highlight was a Mother and baby humpback who came up so close to the boat. We were very lucky however the captain knew where to look and took us out a bit farther just so we could see them.

San Diego Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour

SueAnn_F, July 2026

Vacation

All the stops/ sites are amazing. If you come during Comic-Con you do miss out on a few stops . But otherwise it’s worth it. The food in little Italy is delicious, balboa park is beautiful just do your research on which museums are free and which you have to pay for

San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

Candace_P, July 2026

Perfect Experience

The one thing I truly wanted out of our first-ever trip to San Diego was to see a whale and sea lions, and this tour made those dreams come true! We didn’t just see one whale—we saw two! We also saw literally hundreds of dolphins. I’ve never seen so many dolphins in one place in my life! On our way back into the marina, we were greeted by dozens of sea lions, which was the perfect ending to an incredible trip. The crew was fantastic—very knowledgeable, informative, and attentive. Our daughter wasn’t feeling the best once we got farther out into the ocean, and the crew checked on her (and all of the passengers) multiple times to make sure everyone was okay and to offer anything that might help with nausea. They even offered blankets to anyone who was cold. Pro tip: Bring a jacket! It was 82°F outside, but once we got out on the open water, it was surprisingly chilly. The captain was great too. He was funny, knowledgeable, and made sure everyone understood the safety rules before we left. As an added bonus, we even got to see a submarine coming into the harbor on our way out to sea—that was really cool! Overall, this was an absolutely amazing experience and one of the highlights of our San Diego vacation. I would definitely recommend this whale watching cruise to anyone visiting the area!

San Diego Harbor Speed Boat Adventure

Jessica_H, July 2026

If your scared of speed don’t take speed boat tour

This was so much fun but in our group there where 2 boats with people who were a little scared to be in a speed boat I would say if this is your first time on a boat try something slower before trying speed boats they messed up the tour for everyone else but the tour guide was amazing and everyone had a good time 5 stars for the experience and the guide

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

william_w, July 2026

Great Company

Took my kids and wife. They were very informative throughout the whole trip. Quick to point out wildlife and very friendly. We didn't see any whales this time but that's how it goes. We did see lots of Dolphins. We will definitely use them again and recommend them to anyone we know!

Sunset Sail Along the San Diego Skyline

Rebecca_B, July 2026

Sunset skies, balmy breeze and new friends

Our Captain, Derick, was a great host. Introduced us to all and offered plentiful wine. Had an excellent tour and learned some new SD bay facts, even though we’re familiar with the area. The most fun was the banter with new friends. Thanks Derek for a professional sail and best wishes in the future. .

San Diego Harbor Cruise

Kendra_G, June 2026

We did the 2-hr cruise of...

We did the 2-hr cruise of the harbor and it was so interesting. We especially liked hearing facts about the Navy base. JJ was the narrator and she was wonderful with a clear voice and a good sense of humor. This might not be the most interesting for young children. Some folks on the tour had kids who were 8-10 yrs old and they were all about the snacks 😊

Whale and Dolphin Watching in San Diego

Susan_M, May 2026

Bucket list for dolphins completed

Fantastic tour with a brilliant captain. We really enjoyed getting up close to dolphins and also a humpback whale feeding. Would highly recommend this tour. My life long dream was to see dolphins up close in their natural environment. I wasn’t disappointed as we got to see to loads of pods of the Pacific dolphin and siso the bottle nose dolphin. 🐬🐬

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

AzureDee_I, Apr 2026

Highest recommendation

We had such an amazing experience with Rick! The ride felt adventurous but safe and we saw 25 whales! We even went into Mexican waters which was cool. Highly recommend paying the few extra bucks for this very small group (6) and the small boat. Such a unique and special experience!!

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

Katie_P, Apr 2026

Great trip with kids!

Great boat ride! I went with my 2 & 6 year old, and this was the perfect boat trip. Good length, interesting things to look at (my son loved all the navy boats) and a safe boat fo my 2 year old to explore. The captan provided interesting information and the boarding process was easy.