San Diego Whale Watching: Breathtaking Marine Life Encounter
Whale watching season is all year long in San Diego! Our team at Next Level Sailing provides the optimal experience with guides so experienced we received a 100 percent success rate during winter whale watching when spotting the King of the Deep. We are one of the best outdoor activities to do in San Diego. Gray whale watching season spans from mid-December through April. Blue whales and fin whales are seen feeding in San Diego from April - August. Humpback whales and minke whales are seen throughout the year, particularly in the spring, summer, and fall. Aboard our 141-foot sailing yacht, the Yacht America, you will see a plethora of whales firsthand in their natural habitat. In addition to whales, we also see dolphins and sea lions, and an abundance of naval activity. Don't be surprised if you see an F-18 fly overhead! Bring your own picnic, friends, and family for a wonderful day out on the water
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
5 stars
Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
Carlos_d, 12/7/2025 9:04:10 PM
Friendly and knowledgeable crew that keep you entertained. Seeing the animals is not guaranteed for a single trip.
Paul_K, 12/6/2025 8:06:14 PM
It was a great experience with a great crew. Could not have been better. We enjoyed it tremendously.
Jim_P, 12/5/2025 4:35:50 PM
My wife rated this as her favorite experience on our honeymoon and I have to agree. We got lucky and saw 2 different specials of whale. Besides that, being on the boat felt very relaxing. The staff here are incredibly patient and very knowledgeable. You can tell they really care about all the animals.
Rahul_R, 12/3/2025 8:36:27 PM
We went on thanksgiving weekend and it was an awesome experience. Staff was very very friendly and was careful of comfort and safety. Restroom on board was very clean, they even had blankets for folks who were unprepared for cold weather. We were able to see two species of whales in one trip but no dolphins. Overall an excellent experience.
Tse Shao C, 12/1/2025 12:14:00 PM
Highlight of my San Diego trip! Nice crews. Fun sailing. We saw both humpback whales and gray whales! Can even have our dog on board with us! Love it. Will be back again to see other types of whales.
Amy_H, 12/1/2025 12:12:43 PM
The crew was very accommodating and helpful. They were informative and openly communicative. We had a great time, the crew was respective of both the passengers and whales.
F1069MSmelaniep, 11/27/2025 2:10:31 PM
This tour was amazing. The tour guides were great and the humpback whale that decided to surprise us was so cool. The playful dolphins were a joy to see.
F6143EZjoannep, 11/19/2025 8:02:47 PM
It was a perfect experiance for my sons 21st Birthday!!! The staff was great, it was a small group and the boat was beautiful. Definatly worth the price. A beautiful day on the water.
Ronald_D, 11/14/2025 12:21:36 PM
It was a wonderful excursion and the ship was wonderful and the crew was outstanding and very friendly v
Christopher_S, 11/9/2025 7:45:03 PM
Dress in layers for sure, it gets cold and windy out on the water. We had the best time on this adventure! We seen so many dolphins and we were able to see 3 different humpback whales! Backs and drinks are provided. The crew is so knowledgeable about the whales and friendly! And Marie, the dog is so smart at alerting you that whales are dolphins are close by! Book the trip, you won’t regret it, was absolutely amazing start to finish! Best day ever!
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please call if you have a wheelchair so we can discuss the boarding options as we have had guests with wheelchairs enjoy this experience. We do have 5 steps in order to board the vessel. There is a single step in the deck. Please call Thank you!
Departure point
Check in opens an hour before departure time and closes 30 minutes before departure. If you arrive after check in, you will miss the boat. Check in flag located across street from the Best Western Island Palms Hotel and Blue Wave Bar & Grill. Check Inclusions/Exclusions for specific check in times.Return details
Whale watching season is all year long in San Diego! Our team at Next Level Sailing provides the optimal experience with guides so experienced we received a 100 percent success rate during winter whale watching when spotting the King of the Deep. We are one of the best outdoor activities to do in San Diego. Gray whale watching season spans from mid-December through April. Blue whales and fin whales are seen feeding in San Diego from April - August. Humpback whales and minke whales are seen throughout the year, particularly in the spring, summer, and fall. Aboard our 141-foot sailing yacht, the Yacht America, you will see a plethora of whales firsthand in their natural habitat. In addition to whales, we also see dolphins and sea lions, and an abundance of naval activity. Don't be surprised if you see an F-18 fly overhead! Bring your own picnic, friends, and family for a wonderful day out on the waterRedemption
• We suggest you dress in layers as conditions can change hour to hour. Blankets are available on board. • Check in starts an hour before departure and ends 30 minutes before the departure time listed on your ticket. If you arrive after the check in period, you will miss the boat. Please check exclusions/inclusions for details. • In case of emergency, please call: 619-922-621524 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund