On the Water
3–4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 97% of travelers
97% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$80
per adult
Discovery Whale Watch
Discovery Whale Watch
5
Full view
About
Welcome to our daily whale watching trips departing from Monterey Fisherman’s Wharf! Monterey Bay offers some of the best whale watching in the world, thanks to the nearby deep submarine canyon . Whales are spotted year-round, making this a prime location for all marine wildlife enthusiasts! Our passionate crew is eager to share their knowledge with you, ensuring a memorable adventure.
Monterey, California
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Improve this listingTours and Tickets by Discovery Whale Watch
Wildlife Watching
3 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 95% of travelers
95% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$70
per adult
On the Water
3–4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 94% of travelers
94% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
$70
per adult
Travelers talk about
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
2,538 reviews
Excellent
2,276
Very good
166
Average
47
Poor
22
Terrible
27
liuandneil
Pittsburgh, PA1 contribution
Jun 2020 • Family
Such a cool experience! We went as family of three - parents with a 7 year old child. Saw many whales and dolphins, with some coming very close to the boat. Our naturalist/guide Alfredo and the captain were great. Many other younger kids on our trip. A few kids became seasick and one kid puked. Might be rough with more than one kiddo if you have to tend to a sick one. May want to be prepared with supplies/extra clothes ahead of time. One thing I wish we'd known is how cold it can be once you get out to sea. We wore layers as recommended on their website, but were still freezing. Definitely recommend a light bubble coat with waterproof layer on top if you want to sit outside the whole time. It might also be helpful to have some sort of wrist or neck loop to tether your phone while taking pictures in bumpy waves. Our kid is noise sensitive and it was definitely the right move to bring his ear muffs.
Written June 22, 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.
SeanRW25
Pacific Grove, CA1 contribution
Apr 2021
I cannot say enough kind things about Discovery Whale Watch. My mom was in town for a couple months to visit, and she has always wanted to go whale watching. My husband offered to watch the kids (on his birthday weekend no less, what a champ) so she and I could go by ourselves not once but twice (April 23 and May 9th for Mother's Day!). We had a blast both times. We were so lucky to get to see the first gray whale calf predation by a pod of orcas - for our very first ever trip out with Discovery it was an epic journey that day (I was a little sad for the gray whale calf but it's just nature right). Alfredo and Andrew were so amazing working on the boat that day and huge shout out to Alfredo for sharing his own pictures with us after the trip and to Andrew for being so sweet and accommodating throughout the entire trip! The smaller boat (compared to some other companies) is just so personal and intimate, it makes you feel like the whole boat is just going out for fun together as friends. I also loved how knowledgeable all of the crew were. Some companies kind of just take you out and "show" you stuff but Discovery goes out, shows you something, and then TEACHES you about what you are seeing at the same time.
Our second time on Mother's Day was equally incredible but the water was horrifically choppy and most of us got sick. But to their absolute credit they offer motion sickness pills and ginger chews before the boat goes out (for a nominal cost) which helped and they take care of anyone feeling under the weather so kindly onboard during the trip.
I really could go on and on - but all I really need to say is that Discovery is amazing. Just across the board in every way I can see. They are friendly, knowledgeable, experienced, and fairly priced. Trips of a lifetime and something my mother and I will never forget!
Thank you!
Our second time on Mother's Day was equally incredible but the water was horrifically choppy and most of us got sick. But to their absolute credit they offer motion sickness pills and ginger chews before the boat goes out (for a nominal cost) which helped and they take care of anyone feeling under the weather so kindly onboard during the trip.
I really could go on and on - but all I really need to say is that Discovery is amazing. Just across the board in every way I can see. They are friendly, knowledgeable, experienced, and fairly priced. Trips of a lifetime and something my mother and I will never forget!
Thank you!
Written May 15, 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.
Dominic E
8 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
I read about Discovery whale watch in a Sunday times review so booked it in advance for our trip to California. From start to finish these guys were very professional and let us know what was happening every step of the way. We saw 3 humpback whales, some common dolphins and Risso dolphins as well as an albatross so it was well worth going. Our guide, Isaiah was great - friendly, knowledgeable and very passionate about his job. I would highly recommend it - one word of warning which is obvious I suppose - this is not for people with motion sickness as I think we went out about 12 miles from Monterey harbour so it gets choppy……they do recommend taking some sort of medication (which you can book with your tickets so they couldn’t be clearer!) the night before you go.
Very humbling experience and to think some countries still whale is inexplicable…….
You must go!
Very humbling experience and to think some countries still whale is inexplicable…….
You must go!
Written September 1, 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.
Michael C
Denver, CO2 contributions
May 2021
We arrived 2 minutes late but fortunately had done all the waivers already. There were two employees in the shop and one younger girl with dark hair gave us this aggressive posture and death glare, saying with a raised voice "ok well the ship is boarding this is a 9:00 departure!!" while her male colleague, a tall younger man was very cordial and polite to us. The female employee shoved the waivers across the counter at us and we told her that we already did them online. The male employee grabbed our ship tickets and wished us a good voyage.
The trip itself was outstanding and the captain and wildlife guide provided an incredible experience. They gave lots of biological information about the species we saw and their behaviors. The guide was walking around the ship throughout the voyage, ensuring every guest was comfortable and seeing if they had questions about the animals. Unfortunately many guests became sea sick because they may not have been on a boat before and weren't sure what to expect. They were well-tended to by the ship crew and the captain made the decision to turn the boat around about 45 min early due to the intense weather and waves which was an appropriate safety call. Would love to do it again next time we are in Monterey!!
The trip itself was outstanding and the captain and wildlife guide provided an incredible experience. They gave lots of biological information about the species we saw and their behaviors. The guide was walking around the ship throughout the voyage, ensuring every guest was comfortable and seeing if they had questions about the animals. Unfortunately many guests became sea sick because they may not have been on a boat before and weren't sure what to expect. They were well-tended to by the ship crew and the captain made the decision to turn the boat around about 45 min early due to the intense weather and waves which was an appropriate safety call. Would love to do it again next time we are in Monterey!!
Written June 1, 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.
Samuel W
Monterey, CA1 contribution
Jul 2021
I went out on the Chubasco with J&M Sportfishing on July 4th and had a great days fishing. My original trip had been cancelled due to poor weather and throughout the process the staff were extremely helpful in finding an alternative date for my trip. I have been on several trips over the last couple of years and each time the staff are friendly, patient and encouraging. The captains know where to go for the fish and while every trip is different and sometimes fishing is hard, you are confident that they are doing everything to get you on the fish. The crew are all really knowledgeable about the local wildlife and can point out interesting marine mammals and seabirds that you may come across during the trip. The whole day is a great experience and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking to get out on the bay for a day of fishing, with the added bonus of usually being able to see a wide variety of the natural history that makes this area so unique.
Written July 14, 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.
Christina B
San Francisco, CA3 contributions
Oct 2020
Let's just say these guys know their whale watching. We spent about an hour heading south from the pier and at that spot we got to watch 3-4 humpbacks feeding next to a TON of seals and birds. But our captains, Isaiah and Kevin, just parked the boat there and let us watch, it was amazing. On the way there and then even heading back, we had seen several groups of dolphins (risso's, pacific white tailed, and porpoises) that they pointed out to us. They even managed to get the boat close enough to them so they would ride our tail waves. Lastly, we were lucky to spot a blue whale, thanks to our captains! They saw one in the distance and had been keeping their eye one it so on the way back we lingered about 10-15 mins waiting for it to breech again and it did!
The entire time, we were the only boat in our watching area which made me believe that these guys kind of stray from the pack of the other tours. This boat was smaller, one level only, so it was nice to not have to move around too much to get a great view. There was a good number of people on the boat but we were all able to distance appropriately.
The only tip I would give is to NOT park in the lot right next to Fisherman's wharf (as it will say in the directions). It was quite a nightmare trying to leave with everyone else from ours and other boat rides.
The entire time, we were the only boat in our watching area which made me believe that these guys kind of stray from the pack of the other tours. This boat was smaller, one level only, so it was nice to not have to move around too much to get a great view. There was a good number of people on the boat but we were all able to distance appropriately.
The only tip I would give is to NOT park in the lot right next to Fisherman's wharf (as it will say in the directions). It was quite a nightmare trying to leave with everyone else from ours and other boat rides.
Written October 26, 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.
lawh04
Irving, TX33 contributions
Mar 2021 • Family
I found DWW on Groupon & so glad I did! I took my 16 yr. old son out on Spring break & it was such a positive experience. We saw gray whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals, jelly fish & a humpback breach! Fredo was an amazing guide & made it such a more personal experience than a big impersonal boat which we've done before. He walked around talking to us & made sure everyone was having a great time & that our questions were answered. I highly recommend Discovery Whale Watch 100%!!!
Written April 9, 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.
Rosemary B
Alameda, CA1 contribution
Oct 2020 • Family
Discovery Whale Watch in Monterey was the perfect trip for my family with a 12, 11, and 4 year old. The boat was just big enough for us to have space and feel safe. The crew was very informative and attentive. And they guarantee a good trip! Our first time out with them, it was unusually foggy which made it very hard to spot and follow any whales. And although we spotted a few at the end of the trip, they still wanted us to remember their experience differently. They gave us all vouchers to come back. We went back about a month later and had the most amazing whale sightings where one of them breached several times and another waved good bye with its tail. I highly recommend their company!
Written December 18, 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.
jackson0155
Modesto, CA1 contribution
Jun 2020
Great trip. I am a bit of a pessimist and went out thinking I might see a whale or maybe a couple off dolphins. Boy was I wrong. I saw many dolphins. The Naturalist on the boat was telling us all about the different dolphins. There must have been 30 or more we saw on the trip. Farther out we spotted whales and before long the Captain had carefully maneuvered the boat into the center of around 20 whales. Fantastic experience! Crew and Captain very knowledgeable! During our trip they went out of the way to recover a helium balloon adrift on the water and then taught us all about why the balloons are so dangerous to the animals. Great crew great people.
Written June 30, 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.
Mamboslim
Weston, FL8 contributions
Sep 2021
We enjoyed our whale watch trip very much. We did see 15 or so Humpback Whales as well as many Seals and Dolphins. One Humpback actually came up right along side the boat. Very exciting to experience! Most of the Whale watch boats are all following the same route but what we enjoyed about Discovery is that it was a smaller boat and not jam packed with people trying to out maneuver each other. Discovery broke our group into 2 separate boats and the smaller group makes all the difference in the world. We saw double decker boats loaded with people and were glad we didn't have to deal with all of that. The Naturalist on board gives you plenty of information but then shuts up periodically to give you some time to quietly take it all in and enjoy. Discovery was a first rate operation from the girl who checks you in to the ship and its crew. We were delighted with our morning at sea with Discovery Whale Watch
Written September 11, 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.
hello, is reservation required for an afternoon excursion?
Written July 7, 2023
There’s a small store/lobby with an ATM, snacks, and other odds and ends. The boat is located at the end of Fishermans Wharf which is a great shopping area with plenty of stores (clothing and souvenir) along with plenty of snack/lunch/dinner options.
Written May 1, 2023
Hi, are pets allowed during your whale tours?
Written September 1, 2021
Great question. They were pretty chill. Probably should ask. Service dog I would say yes, Ask.
Written September 3, 2021
What’s the best time of year to go whale watching?
Written March 20, 2021
It depends what you want to see - Monterey bay has year round whales. I like the spring or fall to catch the migrating whales.
Written April 27, 2021
Can anyone tell me if there are advantages to going at different times (increased chance if sightings) earlier or later in the day. Or does it make no difference at all. Thank you.
Written February 17, 2020
I think the morning cruises are longer. Typically if you're having a good day they might stay out a little longer. You do get back in time to do another activity, possibly kayaking.
Written February 17, 2020
How long is the whale watching trip, we are driving down from San Francisco so just deciding whether to do a morning or afternoon trip. Thank you
Written December 26, 2019
The total time is closer to 3 hours. Amazing experience.
Written December 26, 2019
mattali
Los Angeles, California
We’d like to visit Monterey bay in late December. Is there a better type of boat or cruise for whale watching from Monterey bay for people who have motion sickness, that is, are there better types of whale watching boats that have a smoother ride that would prevent motion sickness? Does your company offer that? If not, do you know a company has it? Thank you.
Written September 15, 2019
My experience was on a fishing boat operated by this company. The water roughness varied throughout the trip, from mild to moderately rough. Two passengers were sick the whole trip. The boat was small. The weather was perfect. Fishing boats go a long way from shore.
Written September 17, 2019
My goal is to see blue whales. I've read that late summer is the best time to see them in Monterey. Can you please confirm that and are we talking August or September? Also, do your boats specifically seek out blue whales?
Written June 10, 2019
September is better they are closer to shore they seek out any whale off the coast
Written June 10, 2019
Hi, I’m considering doing a whale watching tour. when are the chances of seeing them close up the best? thx in advance
Written February 1, 2019
We have guidelines to maintain a distance of 100 yards at all times. Sometimes the whales choose to come closer to us, but usually we maintain a 100 yard distance during the tour. The morning trip typically has the calmest sea conditions and is our most recommended departure for that reason.
Written March 6, 2019
Yes there are two restrooms on every vessel we operate.
Written March 6, 2019
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