Summary
Whale-watching in the San Francisco area centers on the region around the Gulf of the Farallons about 25 miles offshore, where whales cruise through a 20-mile wide ocean “highway.”
While an occasional curious cetacean (that’s science-speak for whale) may venture into San Francisco Bay for a bit of sightseeing, they generally stay further offshore around San Francisco than they do in other parts of California. For you, that means whale watching cruises can take up most of a day. Moreover, it can be cold and windy, and rough water can provoke motion sickness.
Best Time for Whale Watching in San Francisco
The kinds of whales you’re most likely to see depend on the season:
- May through November: humpback whales
- December through May: gray whales and killer whales
- July through October: blue whales
Whale Watching Cruises From San Francisco
If you check online ratings of San Francisco whale watching tours, you’ll find some surprisingly low average ratings. Consequently, ratings are often mixed. If reviewers see lots of whales and other sea animals, the rating is high; conversely, if they don’t, it’s low. Many reviewers also express dissatisfaction with the cost of tours, regardless of their enjoyment levels.
Our advice: Be realistic about your expectations for whale sightings and consider if you would prefer spending the cost of a tour on alternative experiences. Some tour operators offer free returns if you don’t see any whales, but it’s worth asking yourself whether you’d really want to spend another day on the boat.
Very young children may not be allowed for safety reasons. Unless otherwise noted, all of these tours typically include a whale sighting guarantee, allowing you to try again at no additional charge.
- San Francisco Whale Tours: Naturalist experts are on board. Use the code FMSA when making your reservation, and the tour operator will make a donation to the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association.
- San Francisco Bay Whale Watching: Naturalists are on board. They offer a 5-hour coastal and a 6-hour Farallons tour.
- Oceanic Society Cruises: This non-profit group offers limited sailing schedules but has the best-trained naturalists. Their trips are longer than others and depart from Sausalito or San Francisco. Online reviewers who take their tours seem generally more satisfied with the experience than with other providers. They do not offer a sighting guarantee.
- California Whale Adventures: This tour is operated by Captain Jacqueline Douglas, who has over 30 years of experience. Their website does not mention a sighting guarantee.
Whale Watching From the Shore Around San Francisco
The best places for whale watching in the San Francisco area from land are along the coast south of the city.
Whale Watching North of San Francisco
- Marin Headlands is just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Try Rodeo Beach.
- Point Reyes National Seashore provides a shuttle on weekends and holidays, which runs from Drake’s Beach to whale observation areas at the Lighthouse and Chimney Rock.
Whale Watching South of San Francisco
South of town along CA Hwy 1, you’ll find several places to watch from land, listed from north to south:
- Point Montara Lighthouse
- Look for places to stop along Highway 1 just south of Pescadero.
- Pigeon Point Lighthouse south of Half Moon Bay.
- Ano Nuevo State Reserve is best known for the elephant seals who have their pups on the beach every winter, but many of its overlooks are also excellent spots for whale watching.
- A few whale watching cruises depart from Half Moon Bay, but they typically do not venture as far north as the more interesting Farallons.
How to Enjoy San Francisco Whale Watching
No matter where you observe the whales, the essentials remain the same. Choose the best cruise and read about how to have the most enjoyable experience in the comprehensive California Whale Watching Guide.
