San Diego: 3 Hour Whale Watch Cruise with Legacy Whale Watch
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
San Diego, USA
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
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Overview
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.
- Go on a boat tour with a special focus—to spot whales
- Comfortable vessel with onboard restrooms
- Learn from experts: Hear commentary from naturalist guides
- Enjoy time for questions and answers during the trip
What's Included
- 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour
- Wildlife Spotting Opportunities
- Restroom on board
- Free Parking
- San Diego Natural History Museum Certified Naturalists
- Food and Beverages (available to purchase)
- Binoculars (available to rent)
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1717 Quivira Rd, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
We depart from Seaforth Sportfishing. Please check-in inside Seaforth Tackle Shop at the top of the dock and then we will all walk down to the boat after a brief introduction. Please do not park in Seaforth Boat Rentals, Seaforth Marina, Marina Village parking lots, as you do risk being towed.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Ticket Redemption Point
1717 Quivira Rd, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
Itinerary
San Diego (Pass By)
Mission Bay Park (Pass By)
Dog Beach (Pass By)
San Diego River (Pass By)
Ocean Beach (Pass By)
Ocean Beach Municipal Pier (Pass By)
Mission Beach (Pass By)
Belmont Park (Pass By)
Pacific Beach (Pass By)
Crystal Pier San Diego (Pass By)
La Jolla (Pass By)
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park (Pass By)
Point Loma (Pass By)
Old Point Loma Lighthouse (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 130 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Robin_R
This was such an awesome experience. We have decided this will be a regular activity when we visit once a year. The cruise it's self was wonderful but it is the staff is what made it a 5 star rating. The staff is super nice and friendly. I cannot say enough nice things about them. The staff in the store and on the boat were fantastic. The staff on the boat were genuinely excited when we came across sea life. You could hear the excited in their voices. It really made all the difference to me. There are all kinds of whale watching adventures to choose from. Some are more expensive some are not. This one is very reasonable. However, you cannot get that kind of staff on every cruise. If you are undecided, pick this one. You will not regret it.
Reviews
4.7
based on 161 reviews
Heather_D, Mar 2026
We had a great time! The staff on board were awesome, the guide was very knowledgeable and we got very lucky on our trip. We got to see 7 whales, one of which was a juvenile, still huge, that was playing in the kelp!! Came right next to the boat! It was breathtaking!
Kristi_Q, Mar 2026
Be alert, and ready to move around to see best. It was easy to book and worth the ticket price. Our whole family (13 of us) enjoyed this!!
Samantha_L, Mar 2026
Legacy crew was awesome! Had a really memorable time on booard. We got to see seals, dolphins, big birds, and a fin whales. We followed one for a while and got to see them blwo their spouts and roll around in the water. Had a submarine come up during the tour which was a bonus.
William_S, Mar 2026
It was magical, sea lions, 100 dolphins, fin whales, a humpback whale! We've been on a few and this was the best, better than the Juneau trip
Lisa_S, Mar 2026
Honestly, it was a good experience for the most part because we did have whale sightings, but there are a few downsides…it was difficult to get a good view because the boat was too crowded. We got there early but people cram ahead when showing tickets to get the best seats. This should be done differently. It was not fair for those who arrived at the 1:00 suggested time only to not get an ideal seat. The driver did do his best to afford an opportunity for all sides of the boat to view, but it was often too late and the whales did not resurface. For a three hour excursion, the seating was also not comfortable. I also thought we would see more dolphins. We only saw one pod so we did not get any good pictures. Perhaps we should have gone with a more expensive company. For the money this trip was well worth it which is why I rated it a 4. There were several fin whale sightings-we just didn’t have a great view of them.
Camilla_B, Mar 2026
Awesome experience! We saw many dolphins, sea lions, and lots of whales today and one even surfaced right near the boat. It was magical. The staff is super friendly and the boat was really cool and comfortable!
I definitely would go again next time we are in San Diego,
Susmita_S, Mar 2026
It was a beautiful afternoon and we were lucky to have graywhale sighting 8 or 9 times at short intervals, multiple pods of dolphins racing our boat and riding on its wake, sea lions, large brown pelicans. Kai, Joanna, Savannah and our pilot were wonderful and very knowledgeable. It was an experience of a lifetime for us.
Thomas_G, Mar 2026
Great, knowledgeable crew. Friendly and eager to serve. Saw a gray whale multiple times plus dozens of dolphins. If you're going to whale watch go with this outfit.
Brittany_C, Mar 2026
Excellent boat. Lovely connection to and representation from the National History Museum (volunteers on board w lovely knowledge). Very kid friendly (of all ages).
LORI_G, Mar 2026
The weather was perfect, the crew was great, the passengers were all excited and happy to be there, great vibe. We had a few good sightings, lots of pretty beach views pulling out. It was great fun, and don't forget your sunscreen!
Gary_B, Mar 2026
Great time, friendly staff and very knowledgeable on the whale, dolphins and other species, it was a great time
Margo_J, Mar 2026
A very experienced crew that were successful in finding Fin whales and Common dolphins. Knowledgeable guides that always engaged with the passengers. They seemed to really love their job!
Carrie_G, Mar 2026
We got lucky and experienced whales and dolphins it was amazing
The boat was comfortable with no bad places to sit and enjoy the ride
Leslie_P, Mar 2026
I booked this because of their reviews and it didn’t disappoint!
Great time and saw whales, dolphins and lots of other sea life!
Robert_S, Mar 2026
If traveling with kids bring something for keeping from bored for first hour after that kids get entertained
Manny_C, Mar 2026
This trip was amazing and so relaxing. The captain was truly involved in the whole trip. They described all the birds, seals and whales we were seeing. They had popcorn, drinks and beers. We will be using Legacy tours again. It was great to spend our 34th anniversary on this 80ft vessel.
David_A, Mar 2026
Excellent Crew and we did get t ok see dolphins and 2 whales. Aiwkskakakakakakkakakakakakakakakkakaka
Kathryn_B, Mar 2026
So much fun. We saw so many animals. They had Biologists on board to answer questions. Weather was perfect.
Colton_J, Mar 2026
Honestly best time ever. Captain Shawn is great. The whole crew is great. My son was wanted the windmill that wasn’t for sale and the deckhand just gave it to him
Susan_O, Mar 2026
This was a great trip. The water was smooth and we saw whales and dolphins. The guide was informative.
Meredith_A, Mar 2026
Fantastic whale watch experience! Boat was just the right size and plenty of space for everyone. Many spots to also stand in shade or be inside the cabin. We saw four grey whales, many dolphins, and sea lions. Definitely memorable! Thank you for a great tour!
Matti_T, Mar 2026
We had whales on the left side of us and dolphins on the right traveling with us under the boat. Was the best experience I’ve had whale watching
Greta_T, Mar 2026
Whether you see whales, which type, and for how long is quite variable so temper expectations. We only saw one Minke whale.
Also definitely take motion sickness medication before leaving as even rolling “calm” swells made some people sick.
Linda_M, Mar 2026
We went a long way out and was able to see several Minke whales and dolphins. The crew was very professional and friendly and we had a great time.
Karissa_B, Mar 2026
Fun for a group of people you enjoy that way whether or not you see a whale the time together is great.
Susan_S, Mar 2026
Guide was very knowledgeable…she was great!. Only saw one whale! Popcorn was good. Beer was tasty! I would go again!
Ashley_F, Mar 2026
We saw probably hundreds of dolphins and they played around the boat for awhile it was so cool! Unfortunately we didn’t see any whales but because of that they gave us a 50% off voucher for next time! Overall great experience!
Robin_R, Feb 2026
This was such an awesome experience. We have decided this will be a regular activity when we visit once a year. The cruise it's self was wonderful but it is the staff is what made it a 5 star rating. The staff is super nice and friendly. I cannot say enough nice things about them. The staff in the store and on the boat were fantastic. The staff on the boat were genuinely excited when we came across sea life. You could hear the excited in their voices. It really made all the difference to me. There are all kinds of whale watching adventures to choose from. Some are more expensive some are not. This one is very reasonable. However, you cannot get that kind of staff on every cruise. If you are undecided, pick this one. You will not regret it.
Maggie_L, Feb 2026
It was so wonderful, the crew was very knowledgeable and the excursion was long enough to just relax and enjoy the ride. Would definitely do again
Jesann_G, Feb 2026
We purchased same day tickets and managed to see one whale, two sea lions and what felt like thirty dolphins! The crew was amazing, the weather was beautiful, and the ride smooth. Overall, wonderful! Highly recommend!
From $34.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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