San Diego Whale Watching Tours

See Whales & Dolphins Year-Round

Right now, we’re seeing Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales and Dolphins!!!

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SEE RECENT SIGHTINGS

Google Reviews

4.8

4,300+ verified reviews

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!

When you book a trip with us, prepare for the best whale watching in San Diego!

Trip Highlights

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!

Buy Tickets

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 Whale 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!

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Free Parking · Sightings Guarantee · Year-Round Tours

Whale Watching Season In San Diego

A gray whale surfacing and spouting in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego with the city's coastline low-rise buildings and distant mountains clearly visible on the horizon

December through April

Join us as we observe part of the longest migration of any mammal on earth! Reaching up to 45 ft. in length and weighing up to 40 tons, Gray Whales depart from their summer feeding grounds in Alaska and migrate south along the west coast to the isolated lagoons of Baja California, Mexico to mate and give birth. We are lucky enough to see both the south and northbound migraters up until the end of April. Although we are just one passing point along their route, Gray Whales travel up to 12,000 miles, roundtrip, on an annual basis! Because they hug the coast during their migration, we can spot these gentle giants within only a few miles from the coast!

May through November

San Diego is equipped with a cold-water up-welling system that brings especially nutrient-rich water up to the surface, drawing in hungry Blue Whales and Fin Whales. Although the production of food could attract them to our coast at any time, recent years have shown a spike in Blue whale and Fin whale encounters throughout the summer and fall. Blue Whales are the largest animals to have ever existed on the planet and we are lucky enough to see the healthiest population around the world. Only 1% of the human population will ever be able to say that they’ve seen a Blue Whale. That means that we can drastically increase your chances of becoming part of that small percent! Runner-up in size and well-known for being the fastest of the baleen whales is the mighty Fin Whale! They can also be spotted at any time, feeding along our deep-water banks.

A humpback whale breaching dramatically out of the ocean, showing its dark body and white pectoral fin against a calm blue-gray sky.

Throughout the year

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

500+ 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!

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 4316 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Angelica Rangel 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This experience was great! Positive and knowledgeable crew, amazing views, drinks and snacks on board, etc. the only thing I would say is that if you are prone to sea sickness like I was, to take motion sickness pills beforehand! I don’t want my personal experience to take away or limit how amazing this little excursion was, however, I got very sick on board alongside others so be aware. Other than that, great experience.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Debbie Roberts 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This trip was amazing. The crew was super friendly and very knowledgeable! The views were stunning. We were able to see a large fin whale, some dolphins, and the sea lions!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Tracie Shellhart 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was amazing. We saw dolphins and a humpback whale. The boat is very comfortable, and the crew is the best. Sara was wonderful and very informative.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Aleisha Petri 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Such an amazing experience! Allison was a fantastic narrator and the whole crew was very attentive. We were fortunate to get to see a humpback whale plus a great pod of dolphins on our trip. The sunset cruise was the way to go for sure!!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sean Sheldrake 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've been on other whale watching excursions out of Dana Point and Newport, but San Diego Whale Watchers is the by far the best. The crew is amazing and engaging. We have never struck out. Great tour!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sonja Bjorkman 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. While visiting San Diego for my birthday, my friend and I went on the sunset cruise. We could not have had a better experience. Allison’s narration was so insightful making the trip top tier. Captain Austin and crew were also excellent by being helpful in answering any questions. Will be talking about trip and recommending your company. Thank you for a great trip!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jayme Kretchmer 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I love it! The speaker was sooo knowledgeable and she was great at spotting the whale and dolphins and everything we got to see… I also enjoyed her calming tone and demeanor
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Adrian (Jigsaw) 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Staff was the best
  
 
  
  
 
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