Epic San Diego Whale Watching: Unforgettable Ocean Journey
Set sail from scenic Mission Bay and encounter some of the ocean’s most awe-inspiring creatures on a 2–3 hour whale-watching adventure in San Diego. Time can vary based on the season and locations of sightings. In just 10 minutes, you’ll leave the bay behind and be out in the open Pacific, scanning for whales, dolphins, and other fascinating marine life. Led by an expert guide and naturalist alongside a skilled captain, every moment is an opportunity for an extraordinary encounter.
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
5 stars
Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
Victor_C, 10/21/2025 1:27:39 PM
This was a wonderful experience. Memories forever. We came from AZ an was so very smitten with our whole experience. Our grandchildren enjoyed this trip.
Silviu_R, 10/21/2025 1:27:04 PM
We left bay around noon and as soon as we’ve left we had the amazing luck to see whales and for the next 2 hours we watched them swimming next to us . It was breathtaking. Thank you team !
David_K, 10/21/2025 12:39:56 PM
When the wales cooperate you can get really close to them. It will be windy even in sunny San Diego so pack accordingly
Diane_B, 10/20/2025 8:18:16 PM
We went this past weekend and saw a large pod of dolphins that let us follow them! Saw a whales tail couple times going up and down. Had a blast!
Voyage25487944431, 10/20/2025 6:15:17 PM
We had a great time seeing humpback whales and dolphins! The crew were friendly and gave us a great tour with lots of information. Having drinks and snacks available at a reasonable price was helpful too!
Linda_M, 10/20/2025 1:21:49 AM
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. The naturalist on board was great with providing information about various sea life and pointing out things to see. The captain did a great job of steering the boat and changing course to give us the best viewing opportunities. Some other companies offer longer cruises but this one was right at 3 hours and it was a perfect length.
WeichertNJ, 10/19/2025 8:12:39 PM
An excellent experience, saw dolphins, humpback whales, coronado islands mexico, military ships, seals, sea lions, birds. Super biologist speaker, full of information. Eat a seafood restaurant before you go, they close early. Also buy souveniers before you go at ticket stand, as it's closed upon return. A ++++ would do it again for sure, cost about $50-60 bucks. You can buy pics of the whole trip for like 30 bucks, well worth it.
Alan_S, 10/19/2025 6:20:12 PM
Absolutely perfect experience. The boat was amazing and the crew was incredible and friendly. Thank you
JB_D, 10/19/2025 1:41:57 PM
From morning check-in to disembarking of the Privateer our experience was no less than Amazing. Check-In process was swift and professional. Our wait in line to board was short but came with a view of some beautiful fish swimming around the dock. Once aboard and up on the upper deck the view of the marina was also beautiful. That view was complemented by the playful antics of seals/sea lions at the marina bait pier. Our crew insured that everyone was aboard and given the required safety brief and we pulled away from the pier at 0859 for what would turn out to be 3 hours of Awe! Departure from the pier provided a closer look at the playful seals/sea lions and off we went into a beautiful calm adventure. I believe we were about 30 minutes out. When we spotted the first of what would turn out to be hundreds of common dolphin. By the 1 hour mark we were in the midst of dolphin and 4 Humpback Whales. For the next 1.5 hours we were treated to the Amazing sights and sounds of some of nature's most graceful creatures. There was even a "mugging"! 2 maybe 3 adult and 1 juvenile Humpback passed under the Privateer and were so close that the Captain cut the engine. I was able to literally look a Humpback Whale in the eye! I could go on but words cannot express the excitement and joy that San Diego Whale Watching provided. It was an all around Amazing Experience! I have over 200 pictures and video to relive and share this experience. Thank You
Lisa_M, 10/19/2025 12:59:30 PM
It was absolutely amazing. Seeing as many whales as we did was unbelievable. Would recommend to everyone.
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Departure point
Ticket booth / Check-in: Look for a grey shed with a blue awning facing the water. Located between H2o Jet Ski rentals and the Fish & Chips Restaurant. https://maps.app.goo.gl/1P1Qt8Uea5m8ZpM56Return details
Set sail from scenic Mission Bay and encounter some of the ocean’s most awe-inspiring creatures on a 2–3 hour whale-watching adventure in San Diego. Time can vary based on the season and locations of sightings. In just 10 minutes, you’ll leave the bay behind and be out in the open Pacific, scanning for whales, dolphins, and other fascinating marine life. Led by an expert guide and naturalist alongside a skilled captain, every moment is an opportunity for an extraordinary encounter.Redemption
During the summer months, holidays and weekends there is a lot of traffic in Mission Bay so please plan to arrive early to find a parking spot. Please follow the timeline below to ensure a smooth and on-time departure: 45 minutes before departure – Check-In Opens Arrive and proceed to the Ticketbooth to check in and receive your physical boarding pass. We’ll confirm that you’ve completed the electronic waiver. A link was sent via messaging. We can also send it to you in a text message if you let us know in advance. 20–30 minutes before departure – Priority Boarding Begins One of our crew members will make an announcement for priority boarding, and those who upgraded to priority boarding may begin boarding. You can still upgrade to this at any time. Just let us know in advance. You must still check in at the Ticketbooth to receive your boarding pass. 10–15 minutes before departure – General Boarding Begins General ticket holders will begin boarding. Be sure to check in at the Ticketbooth beforehand and have your boarding pass ready. 5 minutes before departure – Check-In Closes We cannot hold the boat for tardy parties, however, we can rebook to a later time or date if applicable. A $2.50 rebooking fee per person applies.24 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund