Whale Watching Tours

Wondering where to watch the whales?

California whale watching tours are offered year-round along the Pacific coast. The season for humpback and blue whales falls between April and December, while December through April are best for viewing the gray whales. Occasionally, you might spot killer whales in Monterey between April and May, when they arrive to hunt gray whale calves.

If you're going to join a whale watching tour, here's what to bring with you:

• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunblock
• Comfortable rubber-soled shoes
• Light jacket or sweat shirt
• Camera with zoom lens
• Binoculars
• Sea Bands or Dramamine (for sea sickness remedy)

Dana Point Whale Watching Tours :

• Dana Wharf Sportfishing, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. This whale watching tour features a guarantee that you'll see a whale or you'll get another cruise for free. (949) 496-5794. www.danawharf.com
• Dana Island Yacht Charters offers whale watch tours during the season. 34551 Casitas Place, Dana Point. (949) 248-7400. www.danaislandyachts.com
• Ocean Institute offers a variety of whale watch cruises and marine mammal cruises throughout the year, including Blue Whale Watching Tours, Marine Mammal Cruise, Marine Wildlife Cruise and the Catalina Snorkeling Cruise. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr., Dana Point. (949) 496-2274; www.ocean-institute.org
• Adventura Sailing Association, 24707 Dana Drive, Dana Point. (949) 493-9493. www.aventurasailing.com

Newport Beach Whale Watching Tours:

• Davey's Locker Sportfishing offers a daily whale watch tour. 400 Main St., Balboa. (949) 673-1434; www.daveyslocker.com
• Newport Landing Sportfishing also offers whale watching boat tours, 309 Palm St., Suite A, Balboa. www.newportwhales.com (949) 675-0551.

Los Angeles Whale Watching Tours:

• American Cetacean Society Whale Watching Cruises, P.O. Box 1391, San Pedro, CA 90733-1391; (310) 548-7821. http://www.acsonline.org/whalewatchtrips/index.html
• Belmont Pier Sportfishing, 2939 Ocean Ave., Long Beach. (562) 434-6781.
• Cabrillo Marine Aquarium offers whale watching tours out of San Pedro. Check their online calendar for upcoming cruises. 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro; www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org
• Catalina Cruises in Long Beach, 1046 Queens Highway, Long Beach. (562) 495-3565. http://www.catalinaclassiccruises.com/
• Marina del Rey Sportfishing offers dolphin and whale watching trips. Dock 52, Fiji Way Marina del Rey. (310) 822-3625. http://marinadelreysportfishing.com/whalewatching
• Los Angeles Harbor Sportfishing offers ecology trips following the California gray whale. 79 Berth, San Pedro. (310) 547-9916; www.laharborsportfishing.com
• Redondo Sportfishing offers whale watching and nature cruises between December 26 – mid April. You will also be able to view various marine life such as playful porpoises, sea lions harbor seals, and a variety of birds such as sea gulls, terns and pelicans.233 North Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach. 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily. (310) 372-2111; www.redondosportfishing.com
• Harbor Breeze Cruises follows both the blue and gray whales throughout the year on their whale watching trips. The trip includes commentary by experienced staff and a biologist from the Aquarium of the Pacific. 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. (562) 432-4900. http://www.2seewhales.com/
• Pierpoint Landing offers whale watching between January and April.  200 Aquarium Road, Long Beach. (562) 983-9300. www.pierpoint.net
• Skipper's 22nd Street Landing offers daily seasonal whale watch trips at $15 adults and $12 children. (310) 832-8304. http://www.22ndstreet.com
• Spirit Cruises offers whale watching tours January through March. 429 Shoreline Village Dr #100, Long Beach; (562) 495-5884. http://www.spiritmarine.com/

San Diego Whale Watching Tours:

• Birch Aquarium at Scripps offers naturalist-guided whale watching tours during the gray whale season between late December and late March. The twice-daily cruises are offered through San Diego Harbor Excursions. Extended 3- and 5-day whale watching expeditions are also offered down to Baja California to the Scammons Lagoon Sanctuary with Andiamo Tour Mexico. 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, California. Call (619) 234-4111 or visit http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/Education/Public_Programs/Outdoor_Adventures/Whale_Watching/ or www.sdhe.com/san-diego-whale-watching.html
• Sail Jada Charters offers whale watching sails out of San Diego between November and March. The tours are offered twice daily, Thursday through Sundays. 4318 Montalvo Street, San Diego, CA 92107. 619-794-2813. http://www.sailjada.com
• Helgren's Sportfishing offers a variety of whale watching adventures throughout the year. 315 Harbor Dr S, Oceanside, CA 92054. Call (760) 722-2133 or visit www.helgrensportfishing.com/
• San Diego Maritime Museum offers daily whale watching tours aboard the historic yacht, America, between December and April. 1492 North Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101. Visit http://www.sdmaritime.org/contentpage.asp?ContentID=740
• Adventure Rib Rides offer Whale/Dolphin Watching throughout the year. 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego. (619) 808-2822 or visit www.adventureribrides.com
• Hornblower Whale Watching, 1066 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA‎ - (619) 686-8700‎ or visit www.hornblower.com/whales/
• Dennis Conner's America's Cup Experience‎ offers a whale watching yacht tour.  1050 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA‎ - (800) 644-3454‎ or visit www.stars-stripes.com
• San Diego Boat Tours, Shelter Cove Marina, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego. (619) 987-0663‎
• Blue Horizon Sporfishing, 2803 Emerson St, San Diego‎. (760) 729-5034‎
• San Diego Whale Watching Excursions‎, 1050 North Harbor Drive, San Diego. (800) 442-7847‎

Baja Whale Watching Tours

• Baja Expeditions offers whale watching eco-expeditions to Baja, including a San Ignacio Lagoon Cabañas tours, Sea of Cortez Wildlife Voyage, Turtle Monitoring & Whale Watching Expedition in beautiful Magdalena Bay, and other amazing kayak-and-camp trips. Magdalena Bay trips run through mid March; San Ignacio trips are conducted from late January until early April. Call (800) 843-6967. www.bajaex.com
• Baja Discovery offers 5-day whale watching programs into San Ignacio Lagoon. P.O. Box 152527, San Diego. (800) 829-2252. http://www.bajadiscovery.com/
• Lindblad Expeditions offers amazing whale watching expeditions aboard a National Geographic Cruise Ship through Baja California and the Sea of Cortez. 96 Morton Street, 9th Floor, New York, New York. (212) 765-7740; http://www.expeditions.com
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps offers 3- , 5- and 6-day gray whale watching expeditions to Baja California and the Scammons Lagoon Sanctuary with Andiamo Tour Mexico. Call (800) 661-1325 or visit www.andiamo-travel.com
  
• American Cetacean Society Whale Watching Cruises, P.O. Box 1391, San Pedro, CA 90733-1391; (310) 548-7821. http://www.acsonline.org/whalewatchtrips/index.html

Monterey whale watching tours:

• Monterey Whale Watching: 96 Fishermans Wharf, Monterey. Call (800) 979-3370or visit www.princessmontereywhalewatching.com
• Monterey Bay Whale Watch: 84 Fishermans Wharf, Monterey. Call (831) 375-4658.‎
• Randy's Fishing & Whale Watching Trips‎: 66 Fishermans Wharf, Monterey. (831) 372-7440‎ or visit http://www.randysfishingtrips.com/
• Chris's Fishing Trips: 48 Fishermans Wharf, Monterey, CA‎ - (831) 375-5951‎ http://www.chrissfishing.com/
• Monterey Bay Whale Watch: PO Box 52001, Pacific Grove. (831) 375-4658‎ http://www.montereybaywhalewatch.com/