The Ultimate Guide to Southern California Whale Watching

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The gray whale season usually begins in December and lasts until April. The best time to watch gray whales in Southern California is between February and March, while the ideal time to view Blue Whales is during the summer. You can take a whale-watching tour boat from most ports, such as San Diego, Oceanside, Dana Point, Newport Beach, and Long Beach. Besides, there are many spots along the coast where you can watch whales from the shore. While you won’t get as close as a boat tour, you won’t have to worry about getting seasick. Bring some binoculars for the best view, although you can view whales with the naked eye.

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Whale Watching From Shore

Dana Point Headlands Whale Watching

Located in south Orange County, Dana Point is an excellent location for sighting passing whales. The Dana Point Headlands are undeveloped and offer a public trail on top of the headlands that leads to the peninsula. There are five overlooks available with comfortable bench seating for visitors. Another viewing area is the Ken Sampson Overview, located at the end of Blue Lantern Street. The headland trail is a half-mile long and has several lookout points from which to enjoy the view. On a clear day, you can see Oceanside to the South, Laguna Beach to the north, and northwest of Catalina Island. The views from the headlands are fantastic. Visit website.

Palos Verde’s Point Vicente Interpretive Center

Palos Verdes Nature Preserve is a beautiful location 22 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. It is one of the prime locations for whale watching along the coast. The Vicente Interpretive Center is located next to the lighthouse. From December to May, volunteers gather daily at the center to count whales passing through the Catalina Channel. Palos Verdes Reserve, Abalone Cove Ecological Reserve, Agua Amarga Reserve, Alta Vicente Reserve, Portuguese Bend Reserve, Forrestal Reserve, Three Sisters Reserve, San Ramon Reserve, Vicente Bluffs Reserve, and Vista Del Norte Reserve offer their unique blend of beauty and adventure and are accessible to the public—Point Vicente Interpretive Center website.

Point Dume Nature Preserve Malibu Beach

Just south of Zuma Beach, there is a beach lot where you can park your car. If you’re lucky, you may find a free spot at the point nearby. From there, a trail leads up to the summit of Point Dume. At the top are several viewing points with comfortable bench seating where you can watch for passing whales. The preserve covers an area of 32 acres and has several fenced trails. One trail leads to the summit of Point Dume, and the other leads to the beach below. Staying on the path is important because this is a protected area—Nature Preserve website.

Point Fermin Angels Gate Park

Another excellent place to spot whales from land is the Point Fermin Lighthouse. This area of San Pedro offers fantastic vantage points overlooking the Pacific. The Point Fermin Lighthouse, Fort MacArthur San Pedro, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula are nearby.  Perched on a bluff, the bell offers fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Los Angeles Harbor. On a clear day, you can see Catalina Channel 26 miles away—Park website.

Birch Aquarium La Jolla Whale Watching

Birch Aquarium, part of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, is an ideal place to glimpse passing whales. You don’t need binoculars to see them, as the aquarium has telescopes on the outdoor tide pool plaza. The aquarium offers several special events and programs specifically designed for children. For instance, they have an exhibit called “Little Blue Penguins,” where children can learn about these delightful birds and observe them during feeding. Visit the Birch Aquarium website.

Torrey Pines State Park San Diego, California

One of the wildest stretches of land on the Southern California coast offers numerous ocean vantage points. Many trails parallel the bluff edge and are excellent sites for observing the Gray Whales’ yearly migration and the dolphins that swim the shores year-round. Many visitors have observed leopard sharks swimming beneath the sea surface. The Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is between La Jolla and Del Mar, California, just north of San Diego. The Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is between La Jolla and Del Mar, California, just north of San Diego.

Cabrillo National Monument Whale- Watching

This park spans 160 acres and is at the end of Point Loma, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay. Cabrillo hosts annual whale watch weekends during January, featuring presentations, exhibits, and films about whales. The Whaler’s Overlook, located on the bluffs, offers a picturesque viewpoint and is an ideal spot to observe pods of dolphins passing by. With the help of a telescope that requires quarters, you can even spot migrating gray whales. Moreover, there’s a small museum on the premises exhibiting models and explanatory images of ships similar to those commanded by Cabrillo in the early 1500s. Visit website.

Whale Watching From Tour Boats

Dana Wharf  Sports Fishing: Dana Point, California

Dana Wharf operates out of Dana Point Harbor in South Orange County. They guarantee you will see whales or dolphins. Of course, you will always see some dolphins, so the guarantee is more marketing than anything else. Most days, you will spot whales, but even if you don’t, you will always view plenty of sea life, including dolphins, sea lions, and maybe even a shark. Plus, visitors enjoy a  2-hour voyage out of Dana Point Harbor along the Southern California coast.

Along with whale watching, Dana Wharf offers sports fishing for half-day, full-day, and overnight trips. The address is 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, California. Visit the Dana Wharf website.

Captain Dave’s Dana Point Harbor

Captain Dave’s is the leading provider of Southern California Whale Watching tours. With a maximum of only 49 passengers, you can be sure that the boats are never crowded. Knowledgeable marine naturalists will accompany you on the tour and explain how these magnificent creatures live while you can see and touch our whale and dolphin artifacts collection. Captain Dave’s is the place to be if you’re looking for a unique whale-watching trip. No other whale-watching ship offers an underwater viewing pod. Address: 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, California. Captain Dave’s website.

Davey’s Locker Newport Beach, California

Davey’s Locker offers whale-watching tours departing from Newport Harbor. The tours are a little over two hours long. One of the advantages of these tours is that they cover the Orange County Coast Marine Sanctuary section, which increases the likelihood of spotting whales. The whale-watching ship is 65 feet long and has a large upstairs sundeck, wrap-around outside seating, and warm indoor seating with large windows. The captains and crews have a background in marine biology. They are extremely knowledgeable, providing information about marine creatures, the environment, and ecosystems during the tour—Davey’s Locker Whale Watching-Newport Beach 400 Main Street Balboa, California. Visit Davey’s Locker website.

Newport Landing Newport Beach, California

Newport Landing offers daily whale-watching trips during peak season in Southern California. Visitors can expect to see whales, dolphins, and sea lions. This fun activity is perfect for the whole family, as kids will love watching playful dolphins chasing the whale-watching boat. And, of course, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of spotting your first whale! The trips last around two and a half hours and depart from Newport Beach Harbor. Newport Landing website.

Harbor Breeze Long Beach, California

Gray Whale watching season runs from December through mid-April, and Blue Whale from May through November. Dolphins, Sea Lions, and Harbor Seals can be spotted year-round. There is a chance for Fin Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, and even pods of Orcas.  Comfortable accommodations aboard ships include lounge areas for a snack or drink from the galley. Whale-watching ships have restrooms and expansive deck areas for viewing and photography. Address 100 Aquarium Way, Dock #2, Long Beach, CA 90802. First, dock to the left of the Aquarium of the Pacific—Harbor Breeze website.

Helgren’s Whale-Watching Trips Oceanside

Helgren’s Sports Fishing whale-watching cruises are available from December through April and typically last about two hours. The captain provides a full narration during each tour. Helgren’s Sports Fishing operates five ships, ranging from a 6-passenger Sportfisher for private charters to 95-foot long-range vessels. They also offer year-round deep-sea fishing trips, including Half, Three Quarter, and Full Day Trips. Additionally, they provide long-range trips along the coast of Southern California and Mexico. Helgren’s Sports Fishing is at 315 Harbor Drive in South Oceanside, California—Helgren’s Sports Fishing website.

Seaforth Sportfishing San Diego, California

Seaforth Sportfishing operates out of San Diego. Whale watching and sport fishing trips are offered year-round. Exciting whale-watching tours typically last for three hours. The captain and crew will provide insightful narration during the trip. In addition to spotting whales, you may also catch a glimpse of dolphins, sea lions, blue whales, or even an orca. Seaforth Sportfishing offers year-round sports fishing day trips. Half-day fishing trips are popular with beginners and casual anglers. Fishing ranges from La Jolla south to Imperial Beach, giving you a good view of the California coastline and good fishing. Address: 1717 Quivira Rd, San Diego, California. Visit the Seaforth Sportfishing website.

H &M Landing San Diego, California

H&M Landing is the oldest sportfishing company in San Diego. They offer half-day, full-day, and multi-day fishing trips from San Diego Harbor for most of the year. During the yearly migration of gray whales, they also offer whale-watching trips popular with families and groups. Additionally, H&M Landing provides Baja California adventure expeditions. All whale-watching trips include informative narration about the whales and their migration along the California coast. The friendly and helpful crew are experts at spotting whales, and there’s a high chance that you will see whales, sea otters, and dolphins swimming alongside the boat. H and M Landing 2803 Emerson Street San Diego, California. H&H Landing website.

Island Packers Cruises Ventura – Oxnard

Island Packers Cruises offers whale-watching trips from Ventura Harbor and Oxnard Harbor. From December to mid-April, you can spot gray whales, Humpback and Minke whales, and the earth’s biggest mammal, the Giant Blue whale. Island Packers Cruises has two catamarans and one monohull vessel, all equipped with a galley, restrooms, and indoor seating areas. The twin-hulled catamarans ensure a smoother ride, minimizing the chances of seasickness. Their most popular trips are the half- and full-day excursions to the Channel Islands—Island Packers website.

Condor Express Santa Barbara

Condor Express is the only whale-watching tour in Santa Barbara, California, that travels to the Channel Islands, where the probability of spotting whales is much higher than the boats that stay close to the coast. The price may be slightly higher, but the chances of seeing whales are much greater. Condor Express is designed for comfort with a top observation deck and ample indoor seating. A gallery offers drinks and snacks, or you can bring your own. The address is 301 W. Cabrillo Blvd. in Santa Barbara, California—Condor Express website.

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