Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Winter Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruises The Official Travel Resource for the San Diego Region

whale cruise san diego

During the tour, you will also learn about marine life from expert captains and whalers. A gray whale’s blow can spray up to 15 feet high, and each blow is visible for about five seconds. Blue whales, the most endangered of the great whales, are found off the coast of San Diego from mid-June through September. Guided by marine biologists, these tours are an excellent way to explore the beautiful marine ecosystem San Diego has to offer.

Small Boat Whale Watching Tour (no more than 6 people)!

Kelp Forest Overlook (otherwise known as Whale Watch Overlook) and Old Point Loma Lighthouse are the best spots. The weather in San Diego is warm and mild, and the sea off the coast tends to be calm for most of the year. However, temperatures on the water can be about degrees cooler than on land. It’s a good idea to carry a light jacket or sweatshirt even during the summer because the marine layer can make for cool mornings. Enjoy the best sightseeing on the San Diego Bay—with a professionally narrated tour of San Diego's whale-watching hot spots by naturalists from the Natural History Museum.

What is the best whale watching tour in San Diego?

The longest known distance any mammal migrates on an annual basis, it is truly an extraordinary spectacle to observe. With 70 miles of coastline directly in the migration path, San Diego is an ideal destination to see this impressive parade of gentle giants. According to the Birch Aquarium in San Diego, gray whales generally travel alone or in pods of two or three but more may be seen traveling together during peak migration season. Gray whales can grow to nearly 50 feet in length, or roughly the width of a basketball court, and cruise at an average speed of 5 knots (or about 6 mph). Expert captains and naturalists from the San Diego Natural History Museum narrate winter gray whale and summer blue whale watching cruises.

whale cruise san diego

Whale Watching Route

This article shares everything you must know about whale watching in San Diego. She's a multi-sport athlete and Gold Medalist in the Paralympic Games, training right here on the water in San Diego. When she's not training, you might find her kayaking, adaptive surfing, boating and being one of the destination's coolest beach bums.

Whale watching in a sailboat

It’s when they use their tails to propel nearly their entire bodies out of the water. There’s always a chance that it will get breezy, a bit chilly, or even drizzly when you’re out on the water — especially during the winter months. The tour operators below are operating with enhanced health and safety measures in place that include increase sanitation, reduced capacity, proper distancing, and mask requirements. I may be compensated if you purchase through some links in this post—our editorial guidelines. The Legacy is a modern, stable, well-equipped 80 ft. fiberglass boat with two decks and ample seating.

whale cruise san diego

San Diego ranks among the world's most incredible places for viewing marine wildlife. Between December and April, more than 20,000 gray whales migrate along our coast. For the thrill of a lifetime, cruise alongside these magnificent whales in their natural environment with Flagship Cruises, San Diego's most experienced whale watching company. During the summer and fall, marvel at pods of migrating blue whales, plus gray whales, dolphins and other sea life, as they pass by San Diego's coastline. One of the best things to do in La Jolla is head out on a kayak tour of the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park.

Plan a Whale Watching Excursion

Be outdoors, listen to the narration, and be ready to spot the below-given indicators of a whale’s presence. However, knowing what to expect from the tour helps you make the most out of your experience. Regular San Diego Harbor Cruises, where you get can the city’s skyline and numerous other attractions, are popular with tourists. This trip is the longest known distance any mammal migrates annually. More than twenty thousand Gray Whales travel a distance of km (10000 miles) from Alaska to Baja California’s lagoons every year.

Whale watching cruise by Hornblower

The one thing that can be guaranteed about whale watching is that every trip out into the ocean is different. We follow the whales' migration path to bring you up close for the best sighting spots, which change every day. The tours I am about to mention not only (hopefully) provide the opportunity for travelers to get up close and personal with a whale but will also take you by famous landmarks.

20 Best Water Activities in San Diego, CA in 2024 - LaJolla.com

20 Best Water Activities in San Diego, CA in 2024.

Posted: Mon, 04 Mar 2024 17:26:04 GMT [source]

Best time to whale watch in San Diego

San Diego is among the world's top destinations for viewing marine wildlife. During whale watching season, mid-December through April, more than 20,000 gray whales migrate along our coast. For the thrill of a lifetime, cruise alongside these magnificent whales in their natural environment guided by San Diego's most experienced whale watching fleet. However, the most popular time to go is between mid-December and April for gray whale sightings during their annual migration. Simply keep an eye out while you’re touring these spots, which are popular San Diego tourist attractions anyway.

With windows throughout both decks, the Legacy has great views with the convenience of covered indoor seating for over 100 passengers. The boat has outside seating on the bow and elevated upper deck seating. Legacy has a well stocked bar of snacks and beverages as well as 3 full-sized bathrooms. A knowledgeable captain and crew that can answer questions, point out wildlife, and identify other points of interest will be on every tour.

Once it submerges, you’ll see a calm area of water called a footprint. When whales dive, they sometimes lift their tails above the ocean’s surface. When whales exhale warm air from their lungs through their blowhole into cooler ocean air, it creates a white-looking spout that can reach up to 15′ high. This is the easiest thing to see from land and is often mistaken as water. Now that you know which tours to take and where to go to see whales from land, here’s what you actually need to look for. It’s also possible to spot whales from land at Cabrillo National Monument, thanks to its location atop cliffs with panoramic Pacific Ocean views.

Runner-up in size and well-known for being the fastest of the baleen whales is the mighty Fin Whale! They can also be spotted at any time, feeding along our deep-water banks. The best month for whale watching in California depends on where in the state you are. In San Diego, the best month is usually January because that is when most whales are spotted heading south to Baja California, Mexico. Also, pregnant females swim closer to shore when heading south and further offshore when heading north later in the season with their calves.

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