Summary
How to Watch Whales Around San Diego, California
San Diego is an excellent location to observe ocean-faring mammals at their finest. In fact, during whale watching season in San Diego, you’ll discover numerous opportunities to witness the migration.
With a vast kelp forest situated just offshore that attracts these magnificent creatures, whale watchers need not venture far. Most whale-watching trips around San Diego are reasonably short, and some companies promise you can rebook a trip for free if no whales are spotted.
Following these tips can significantly enhance your chances of witnessing whales displaying their tails—and much more.
Best Time for Whale Watching in San Diego
The whale watching season in San Diego spans from mid-December through April, with migrating gray whales being the most common species. To observe females with their calves, plan your outing for late in the season as they guide their young back north.
To understand what these wonderful creatures look like up close (and what you can expect from a whale watching boat), check out the California whale watching guide.
Whale Watching Cruises From San Diego
You’ll find a variety of options to enjoy the whale watching season in San Diego. Be cautious, as many cruises depart from downtown, but not all of them do.
Here are some recommended cruises based on reader reviews online:
- Flagship Cruises: With Birch Aquarium Naturalists on board, they guarantee a sighting, or you get to go again for free.
- Next Level Sailing: This whale watch cruise offers a bold guarantee: they will take you out again if you don’t see a whale, and their stable sailboat comes with the reassurance that you won’t get seasick. If motion sickness spoils your day, they provide a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
- OEX La Jolla: You will have to paddle yourself in a kayak for this tour, allowing guests to get close to gray whales, seals, and sea lions without upsetting the animals.
- Xplore Offshore: This company uses a specially designed “ocean raft” that is closer to the water and moves faster than traditional whale-watching boats, enabling you to venture farther from shore.
- Hornblower San Diego: Featuring naturalists from the Natural History Museum and stabilized boats that minimize seasickness, this option is among the most comfortable for whale watching.
- San Diego Natural History Museum: They offer the longest whale watching cruise from San Diego, a six-hour journey that heads south to the Coronado Islands Marine Sanctuary.
If you’re searching for a whale watching discount, online services like Groupon might have options. However, be cautious about sacrificing quality for savings. Many travelers have shared dissatisfaction due to hidden costs and subpar experiences. Generally, the lower the quality of the excursion, the more likely it is to be found at a discount.
Whale Watching From the Shore Around San Diego
If you’d prefer not to venture out in a bobbing boat to see the whales, you can also spot them from the shore.
Some of the best whale watching locations for land observers include La Jolla, particularly at Ellen Browning Scripps Park just above La Jolla Cove, the Birch Aquarium, and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
Other excellent locations to witness the migration are the heights at Whale Overlook and Old Point Loma Lighthouse at the Cabrillo National Monument.
Whales are easiest to see from shore between mid-December and mid-February during their northward migration as they swim closer to the shoreline. During other parts of the year, they are usually too far out to be seen, even with binoculars.
Regardless of where you choose to watch the whales, the fundamentals remain the same.
