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San Diego's Original
15+ Years
of whale watching expertise
Our Promise
Sightings Guarantee
or come back free
Year-Round Tours
Daily Departures
from Mission Bay
Best Whale Watching in San Diego!
Our guests voted us Best Whale Watching Tour in San Diego in 2026, and we have to humbly agree! We are one of the last places in San Diego where you can actually park for free just yards from the harbor. When we depart from Mission Bay, you will get to the open ocean faster than any other tour in San Diego on our spacious vessel, The Privateer. And throughout the tours, our expert Naturalists will share details about the local wildlife to make your experience one you’ll never forget!
What to Expect on Your Trip
- Dive into a 2 – 3-hour whale-watching cruise.
- Enjoy live commentary from our certified marine naturalists.
- Experience a tour filled with whales, dolphins, sea lions, and birds.
- Choose from cozy indoor or refreshing outdoor seating.
- Snack bar and beverages available to keep you fueled.
This whale watching tour that never goes out of season! Our on-staff naturalists have endless wildlife facts to share with passengers of all ages. We share a love for educating adults and children about the beautiful marine ecosystem San Diego has to offer.
*We strongly recommend, and encourage, wearing non-slip/secure footwear for the cruises.
Tour Tickets
Monday – Thursday
$63
Adults
$58
Military, Senior Citizens & Kids (3-17)
Friday – Sunday
$73
Adults
$66
Military, Senior Citizens & Kids (3-17)
Discount Tickets:
Military 50% off Monday - Thursday.
Kids 50% off on Wednesdays!
Whale Watching Booking Calendar
*Trip times are subject to change. Please check your ticket for your departure time.
Terms & Conditions
Please check our schedule for accurate trip times. Approximate length of cruise: 2-3 hours depending on trip type. Check in 45 minutes prior to departure. Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to departure. We recommend treating an offshore outing no differently than a plane flight.
Please note:
All cruises must meet a minimum passenger requirement to operate. You will be notified if your trip cannot run and we will re-schedule you for another excursion at your convenience.
Our Wildlife Sighting Guarantee
We were the first company in San Diego to offer whale watching year around and we stand behind our promise… if you don’t see a whale or dolphin YOUR NEXT TRIP IS FREE!
Free Parking · Sightings Guarantee · Year-Round Tours
Whale Watching Season In San Diego
What is the best time of year to see whales?
Gray Whale Season: December–April
The 2025-2026 Gray Whale season in San Diego saw the population return closer to shore in greater numbers than the previous season with 234 confirmed sightings compared to 171. Our team of Naturalists was ecstatic to educate our guests about these gentle giants who travel from Alaska down to the warm waters of Baja California to mate and give birth. Each year, gray whales make the 12,000-mile round-trip journey and we are lucky enough to see them on their south-bound and north-bound journeys. This year with a strong El Nińo and Kelvin Wave heading to Southern California, we will be closely tracking how these unusual weather patterns impact the wildlife patterns. Learn more about the gray whale migration.
Blue & Fin Whale Season: May–November
Did you know: only 1% of the human population will ever see a Blue Whale in real life! It’s pretty incredible that the largest animal on Earth swims right off the coast of San Diego, close enough to our coastline for us to share with you. Their cousins and second-largest animals on Earth, the Fin Whale, can also be spotted during the summer months and can be difficult to tell apart. Here’s the secret though: Fin whales have a lower lip that is white on the right side, but dark on the left side. There are other subtle differences between these massive baleen whales that you can learn about on one of our tours during the summer months. The cold waters of San Diego create a cold water up-welling system bringing nutrient-rich water to the surface thus attracting these beauties to our coastline. Learn more about each of these species.
Year-Round: Humpbacks, Minke Whales & Dolphins
Fin Whales, Humpback Whales and Minke Whale can be spotted off the coast of San Diego at any time. Although this makes them a little less predictable, it also means that we have a chance of seeing them on every trip! Various types of toothed whales (includes all dolphin species) also visit our coast throughout the year. Common Dolphins (both Short-Beaked and Long-Beaked), Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins and Risso’s Dolphins can be seen year-round. Pacific White-Sided Dolphins are a seasonal visitor that we get to observe during the winter, typically between the months of December-April. In addition to cetaceans, California Sea Lions, Sharks, Bony Fishes and a wide variety of sea birds will also be pointed out for your enjoyment!
What Guests Are Saying
4k+ Five-Star Reviews
Located in San Diego’s Mission Bay, we’re closer to the ocean than other whale
watching companies, which means you spend more time searching for whales and dolphins!
Ready to Meet the Whales?
Book your tour today and experience San Diego’s most spectacular wildlife adventure.
Departing daily from Mission Bay.
Free Parking · Sightings Guarantee · Year-Round Tours