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)
4 stars
5 stars
Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
FellowTraveler115727, 10/31/2025 4:43:12 PM
This was a fun trip! Did not see any whales but many dolphins which was very cool. Note you cannot hear the speakers at the back of the boat so we missed out on the narration and couldn’t move since the boat was full. Also, many people were experiencing nausea as we were right by the bathrooms. This is a 3 hour ride and the crew advised folks upfront to take medication.
Jenny_W, 10/31/2025 12:45:05 PM
We encountered hundreds of dolphins and a humpback whale, it was amazing. Friendly and helpful crew. All together a fantastic experience.
P8868ZPmargaretc, 10/31/2025 12:13:51 PM
It was my son's birthday. The weather was perfect. Captain & crew were very cordial and informative. Highly recommend.
JenniferP286, 10/30/2025 6:41:36 PM
This was a beautiful boat - just the right size boat for everyone to get a great seat. You could sit inside or outside. The crew was very informative and nice. We saw an incredible amount of dolphins. We were there at the end of whale season, so we only saw one whale, but the birds and dolphins were incredible!
Jeff_G, 10/30/2025 12:35:20 PM
There is no guarantee to see whales in the wild on the trip do to nature’s unpredictably and animal movement etc
stinez8221, 10/30/2025 12:10:52 PM
Easy to get there and on board. It was good just remember whales not guaranteed to see but tons of dolphins. Plus got to see a number of navy ships and some rare birds. I’m not really that much a bird guy so not sure about those.
Haley_A, 10/29/2025 5:19:29 PM
no whales but still an epic experience and we saw hundreds of dolphins. special shout out to Brandon behind the bar!
Shannon_P, 10/28/2025 11:03:36 PM
Absolutely amazing! Didn’t see any whales however we saw a couple schools of dolphins and got to watch them swimming with the boat. This was the best experience I have ever had! Great people running the show, so friendly and nice! Thanks for the unforgettable experience that I have not stopped talking about!
R8297ZTvickyl, 10/27/2025 3:49:39 PM
This was a very good trip, the crew were very helpful and we were able to see sea lions, dolphins, minke whale and humpbackback whale.
Molly_C, 10/27/2025 12:16:34 PM
This was a magical experience! The weather was perfect (late October) the crew was so nice and so knowledgeable. We saw a huge pod of dolphins all swimming along the side of the boat and a humpback whale flipping its tail in the sun. Amazing! Go for it, you won’t be disappointed!
- 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