Half-Day Whale Watching Tour From Monterey
5
Half-Day Whale Watching Tour From Monterey
By Discovery Whale Watch
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About
Take an exciting ocean adventure on this whale-watching cruise from Monterey. You might see gray (most common), humpback, and blue whales as they migrate along the Pacific coast, along with sea lions and dolphins. Hear commentary from your naturalist guide, and get photo ops of the scenery at one of California's premier whale-watching destinations. And because the tour lasts just half a day, you have time left for sightseeing.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 30 per group
Duration: 3h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Go whale watching from Monterey, a top whale-sighting locale in California
- Learn about whale behavior and conservation from the naturalist guide
- Get tips from the crew on taking photos of the marine life
- Experience a cruise on the Pacific Ocean and the California coast
- Live commentary on board
- Professional guide
What's not included- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Food and drinks
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Make your own way to Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey to board the boat and meet your guide, a marine biologist or naturalist. Hear commentary about whale behavior and the natural history of the California coast, as you look for gray whales, which are the most frequently sighted species. If you’re lucky you may see blue whales or humpbacks as well. Any whale-sighting data collected is used to help track the health of the species’ population. Learn how to spot whales and dolphins, and get advice on making your best photos and videos of the wildlife. Your cruise returns to shore in early afternoon, leaving you ample time for other activities later in the day.
- Start:
- 66 Fishermans Wharf, Monterey, CA 93940, USAYOU MUST PARK FIRST!! PARKING ADDRESS 245 Washington St, Monterey, CA 93940 After parking, head to Wharf 1. Look for The Harbor House (pink building) to guide you. Continue towards The Crab House (yellow building), then turn right. Discovery Whale Watch is the blue building at 66 Fisherman’s Wharf
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 53254P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Minimum drinking age is 21 years
- Warm layers are recommended
- Sun protection, camera, binoculars, water, and snacks are recommended
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- If prone to motionsickness, please take precautionary measures and we also sell motion sickness remedies in the shop
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 53254P1
From
$80.00
per adult
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- mikecornwelluk0 contributionsLots of Humpback Whales seen up closeA well organised trip with kind and helpful staff who were always on hand with insightful knowledge. Many Humpback Whales seen up close.Written September 11, 2024
- rsgreene20240 contributionsIncredible day on Monterey Bay!Whales and dolphins were everywhere! The crew went out of its way finding whales for us. Great staff!Written September 11, 2024
- Ximena F0 contributionsAmazing experienceThis was such a fun activity to do with my in laws. We were fortunate to see so much marine life- not just humpback whales, but several orcas, sea lions, birds, etc. This was an amazing experience!Written September 10, 2024
- haplee0 contributionsWonderful Experience!!!This was our third time to go on our whale watching adventure. Your crew are AMAZING! I recommend you to everyone I know who is heading to Monterey.Written September 10, 2024
- jessj9390 contributionsWhale watchingAmazing! We saw humpbacks, Risso’s dolphins, dall’s porpoise and even caught a glimpse of a blue whale! Awesome trip.Written September 8, 2024
- 857dmitrik0 contributionsGreat boat tripWe booked online our tickets, people on board are great entertainment and good welcome. We have seen lots of whales, was worth bookingWritten September 7, 2024
- sallyacliff0 contributionsLots of humpbacks to watchExcellent trip. Knowledgeable ‘deckhand’ who was welcoming and friendly. Great driver who ensured we saw as much ‘whale action’ as possible. Lucky to have over 10 whale encounters including groups lunge feeding and breaching. Singles and pairs and juveniles. Comfortable boat- felt very safe and captain and crew def knew the waters and how to find humpbacks to watch.Written September 5, 2024
- denise m0 contributionsLoved this excursion.My adult son and I LOVED this whale watching trip. Not only did we see many whales, we found the crew compassionate (to those who got sick on the unusually rough morning waters) and helpful, they were well-spoken and educated us on the whales, dolphins, sea lions, and more. It was better than expected.Written September 4, 2024
- 352renes0 contributionsA Wonderful Day on the Bay!Captain JJ expertly took us to where the whales were feeding. The onboard naturalist, Andrew, did a great job teaching us all about whales, and he kept it fun and entertaining!Written September 4, 2024
- GrandTour420878713080 contributionsGreat trip, saw plenty of Whales. Friendly teamGreat trip, saw plenty of Whales. Friendly team and the lady who did the talk was great! Highly recommend. Boat goes straight from the pier.Written September 4, 2024
- btmiron0 contributionsAmazing adventure!My fiance and I had so much fun! He has never been whale watching, so it was such a treat to be able to get so close. We got great videos and learned a lot.Written September 4, 2024
- BoardingPass6307890 contributionsHighly RecommendThey use two smaller boats instead of a large one so that they can take you farther out to see more. We were able to see 11 whales! It was an amazing experience. We also saw a lot of other wildlife including two types of dolphins. The crew was fantastic. They were very informative and they checked on people who were getting seasick. We spoke with a few people who did other tours and they didn’t get to see any whales. For reference we did the 9am, four hour tour.Written September 4, 2024
- zackpeterson19850 contributionsRockfish/LingcodWas a great trip. Captain and deckhand were great. Boat limited out by 10am. Only complaint from me is we were supposed to fish till 2pm. I was hoping to shoot for some halibut after we got limits of rockfish but that’s just me being selfish lol. Other than that was a great trip.Written September 4, 2024
- Navigate193953956920 contributionsA brilliant whale-watching experienceWe had a fantastic trip! It far exceeded our expectations. We saw lots of humpback whales (as well as sea-lions). The small-ish boat meant we could get very close to the whales, and the guides gave loads of useful information as well as being very friendly. Though the trip was just 3 hours, they knew exactly where to go and were able to make really good use of the time to see lots of whales. It was all very well organised. They even sent us photos afterwards from the whales we saw on our trip. We were probably lucky with the weather - the sea was calm and I don't think anybody on the boat felt at all sea sick. A fantastic trip all round.Written August 18, 2024
- deborahsJ6202AI0 contributionsGreat guides and a fantastic experience!Our guides were very educational and entertaining. We saw about 20 whales all lunge-feeding and took so many pictures! There were lots of sea lions and birds with the whales as well. Completely worth it, we had a great time!Written August 8, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Home-in-TX
Asheville, NC21 contributions
Jun 2021
This was our first whale watching tour and we could not have asked for a better experience. The Pacifica is a great boat as it is smaller and provides a much more personal experience with the crew; while being large enough for all on board to have easy access to excellent viewing. The crew is what really makes the experience special. Captain Tommy does a great job keeping the boat in the right place for the best viewing. Eric is a marine biologist with a great deal of passion and knowledge. He provided so much helpful information about the different wildlife we viewed during the trip. Andrew is a yacht captain that serves as first mate on this tour. He is focused on safety, but also knows how to keep all passengers engaged and entertained. Be sure to request a shanty sing-a-long to find out what you do with a drunken sailor.
Written June 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura K
Cambridge, UK36 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Wow!! What an absolutely incredible trip. We couldn’t have wished for more from discovery or the viewing. Andrew was a fantastic guide. We came across around 10 humpback whales very early into the trip and spent time watching them feeding. They did not seem bothered by us and came up lots. A young girl had requested dolphins so we headed off in search. A few mins later we found a pod of 40 risso dolphins! I then joked and requested a blue whale (knew this was a possibility but sightings not as common) 15 mins later, the call came to say a boat had spotted 2 blue whales. We made our way over to the boat and jacket pot! We saw them! They came up about 4 times, diving for 6 mins or so each time. Incredible. A large male, as big as Andrew had seen. The boats were very respectful, didn’t follow or stay too long, allowing other boats to have a chance and not to crowd the whales.
I researched this trip before leaving the UK and generally found better reviews for a smaller boat like this, more personal and also the 9am tour as you have longer. Thank you discovery for an unforgettable experience!!
I researched this trip before leaving the UK and generally found better reviews for a smaller boat like this, more personal and also the 9am tour as you have longer. Thank you discovery for an unforgettable experience!!
Written August 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrea H
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Family
If you like Orcas (Killer Whales) and you would enjoy watching them terrorize and kill sea lions then this trip would have been for you. I was hoping to see Humpback whales but after getting out to sea and sighting two humpbacks, the boat sped on by to an area where all the other whale watching boats were gathering (they radio to one another and all go to the same places if they spot whales) to watch a group of Orcas who were swimming and diving in anticipation of eating a sea lion who was hiding against the side of one of the tour boats. Apparently the whales could not pick the sea lion off of the side of the boat and so they were diving and swimming and thrashing about near by. This went on for close to two hours, the boats all watching the Orcas terrorize the sea lion. Orcas come out of the water more on dives than whales as they are actually a type of dolphin, so they show themselves off and a lot of people are excited to see them and the boat had a drone to photograph them to likely use for their advertising. After about an hour of this I asked if we could return to the Humpback whales which are spectacular and specifically what I paid $80 to come to see. The answer was a resounding no. The naturalist on board was excited to see "Nature" , Orcas in their natural environment going after prey, and the captain of the boat said that Orcas always take priority, and so I just continued to look out to shore on the other side of the boat to avoid watching the terrorized sea lion and the Orcas sloshing and diving around near by. This went on for about two hours and then it takes about a half hour to get back to the dock. The tour is three hours and it takes about a half hour just to get out to sea and then another half hour to get back. So there is more like just two hours of actual whale watching unless you see some closer to shore. So almost the entire whale watching portion of this trip was taken up by the Orca scene. On the way back we came upon two Humpback whales, maybe the same two, and they were repeatedly diving and showing their backs and flukes and came very close to the boat, so that was wonderful. The ride was extended by about a half hour in order to watch them and so I appreciate that. If we had spent more time with the Humpbacks there would have more time to possibly see them breach, which is spectacular when they do that. Anyway, it looks like all of the whale watching boats were doing the same thing, watching the Orcas for almost the entire duration of their trip. As soon as that one boat pulled away the sea lion could no longer hide next to it and it was immediately eaten by the Orcas. I suppose that's nature but I don't want to have to sit and watch this kind of thing at length and pay $80 to do it. If you have to see the Orcas then fine, go on by for a bit of a view, but then it would be a better trip to spend more time with the Humpbacks. I will likely never go whale watching in Monterey ever again.
Written July 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
We are extremely sorry to hear that you were disappointed in your experience. Orcas are a rarer sighting here and so when they do show up we try and get our passengers amazing looks at them as it is likely they might not ever see them again in the wild. Killer whales are incredible hunters and there is an abundance of food here in Monterey for them and unfortunately for other wildlife, they are usually very successful in their hunts. We try to the best of our ability to still get our people whale sightings on these types of days as well. Our goal is to view as many types of whales/dolphins as possible as we are in an incredible area for marine mammals.
We appreciate your feedback and for taking the time to write about your experience.
Written July 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Thexprt7
Placentia, CA494 contributions
Greeted with a friendly hello and check in and staff was super friendly throughout the entire 4 hour journey.
Masks are required by all who board during Covid guidelines. Be sure and wear a mask.
We launched right at 9 AM and were back at the port by around 12:45. There were about 18 passengers and three crew. If you are prone to motion sickness take something for it. We had a very calm day and 2-3 ft seas and one person did get sick. You cannot social distance on the boat so, wear a mask.
You will go about 8-10 miles off shore, no land in sight for a while.
We saw a number of humpback whales, dolphins and porpoises. Lots of seals and other wildlife along the trip.
Great trip and crew, would definitely recommend.
Masks are required by all who board during Covid guidelines. Be sure and wear a mask.
We launched right at 9 AM and were back at the port by around 12:45. There were about 18 passengers and three crew. If you are prone to motion sickness take something for it. We had a very calm day and 2-3 ft seas and one person did get sick. You cannot social distance on the boat so, wear a mask.
You will go about 8-10 miles off shore, no land in sight for a while.
We saw a number of humpback whales, dolphins and porpoises. Lots of seals and other wildlife along the trip.
Great trip and crew, would definitely recommend.
Written September 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annell
1 contribution
Oct 2021 • Family
Wow!!! Beyond excellent day!! I highly recommend this whale watching company. Less crowded and fulfilled every point on what was expected. Danny was an excellent captain, turning some choppy water and swells into a pleasure ride, as well as, finding the hot spots for seeing all types of marine life. He found the dolphins and whales before other more popular boats, got us there quickly, and respectfully navigated their movements to avoid stressing them out. It was incredible! Amanda, our “marine life guru,” kept us informed on everything we saw, encouraging the younger crowd to join in on this educational experience. We were so lucky to have this amazing twosome, along with Marissa, to make this an unforgettable experience! As one of our young whale watchers called it, we had the best “whale Wednesday” ever, thanks to Discovery Whalewatch! Skip the lines and choose this company. They are family friendly, for young and elderly, and know how to make your day special.
Wouldn’t let me leave a picture of one of many tail flukes, but they were incredible!
Wouldn’t let me leave a picture of one of many tail flukes, but they were incredible!
Written October 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pina C
3 contributions
Aug 2021
The trip was easy to book, ran on time, and the crew on board were very knowledgeable, happy to share, and really made an effort to make the trip worthwhile. We saw several types of dolphins, some porpoises and eventually some humpback whales. I would go on this trip again.
Written August 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DrDisneydude
Farmington, UT30 contributions
We spent an amazing morning with this tour group!! We loved the atmosphere and the people on the ship were amazing to us!! Isaiah was very knowledgeable and fun and energetic. He really made sure everyone was enjoying themselves and really went out of his way. Kevin also was awesome on the ship and Captain Danny was super cool and fun to be with. He got us in perfect range to see dolphins including the elusive Casper white Risso dolphin and we saw so many humpbacks - incredible and we were even able to catch up to a pod of killer whales. What a fabulous day!! Highly recommend! Also, not as crowded as the other boats which was super nice.
Written May 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cruiser740965
5 contributions
Sep 2022
This was a wonderful experience and by far much better than we had expected. We scheduled the morning tour because we thought the sea would be calmer. We experienced some swells and one person got little sick. The crew went above and beyond for our experience to be a unique one. They were all very enthusiastic about the outing - guiding us to look out for sightings and moving the boat to get a closer or better view. We were very fortunate as we got to see more that 20 whales, some 5 killer whales , sea lions and a pod of dolphins! As we waited for the sightings, the crew went to explain details about each species, they made sure to answer everyone’s questions and went around and spoke to all around the boat. The trip was not only beautiful but also a learning experience. Highly recommended! Do layer up as it can be cold out on the bay.
Written September 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M00F
London, UK5 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
We had an amazing experience. We were on a small boat and because of Coronavirus the boat only had 14 passengers. The crew were very friendly, constantly checking everyone was enjoying themselves. Very informative on the whales and marine life. We saw grey humpback whales and dolphins. The crew showed lots of respect to the sea life, the whales even came to us!! Would highly recommend if you want an up close view of the whales with a company that understand the marine life.
Written July 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PAUL O
3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
I cannot recommend these guys enough. This was our first ever whale watching trip in the USA and Captain Danny and Andrew the naturalist made it a day to remember for my wife's birthday. We saw sea lions, 6 humpback whales a pod of 300 dolphins and a sunfish. However, the icing on the cake was a 45 minute "checking out" of us on the boat by a 6 month old humpback calf - awesome. Andrew said we were so lucky to experience this as it was his 1st "friendly" whale encounter this year. We were truly privileged to experience it, so thank you to you both. These guys know their stuff - don't bother with other whale watching "package tours" go with these. You will not be disappointed. Paul, Carolyn and Josh from Wolverhampton, England.
Written August 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate
Eynsham, United Kingdom
What time does the whale watching head off each day? We are travelling from Santa Cruz in July and only have that first day to go.
Written May 12, 2022
There’s paid parking on the dock. You’ll see it. Really easy. They’ll send you the address to the boardwalk area.
Written April 6, 2022
gracy723
Idaho Falls, Idaho
What are your vaccination/mask requirements for passengers?
Written January 14, 2022
I want to schedule for mid Nov. when I will be in the area. I also want to buy a pair of bincoulars or a monocular. I am looking at a monocular with a 20x50 strength. Is that too much? Do you have suggestions?
Written September 17, 2021
Dream202828
Kapaa, Hawaii
Are you seeing blue whales now? Space for 2adults and 5 children on Monday 6/22 call me 650-851-1437. Thanks, Judy
Written June 20, 2020
Dream202828
Kapaa, Hawaii
Are you seeing blue whales today (June 20)? What are the possibilities in the next 3 days for 5 or 6 persons? How big the boat and number of pax?
Written June 20, 2020
Getaway765999
Las Vegas, Nevada
Id like to bring my grandchildren and their kids with me. 3 adults and 2 small children. Is it ok to bring on board a 4 year old and a baby in a stroller ??? End of March is when id like to come visit Monterey from Las Vegas. Are you really busy then?
Written March 1, 2020
The stroller should be okay. It's not a huge boat though. I would just call the company.
Written March 2, 2020
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