Top Monterey & Carmel activities
Top Monterey & Carmel landmarks
Beyond Monterey & Carmel
Monterey & Carmel trip ideas

Whale Watching Tour From Monterey

979 Reviews 4.91 out of 5 stars Based on 979 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 98% of reviewers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Monterey & Carmel, USA

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 21 (9.33) days in advance.

3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

Embark on a 4-hour whale watching tour. All trips are narrated by a naturalist or marine biologist guide, who will also spend one on one time with guests while on deck. Professional photographers are often sent to capture the spectacular sights seen from on board and are available to offer tips for your own photography.

What's Included

  • Tea and coffee Coffee and/or Tea
  • Time listed is when boat LEAVES! Check-in 30-45 minutes ahead
  • Marine Biologist/Naturalist & Deckhand
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks (Chips, Candy, Soda, and Water)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
See 3 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

66 Fishermans Wharf
Monterey, CA 93940, USA

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Meet at Fisherman's Wharf to begin your whale watching experience at 9am. Monterey Bay is considered to be a premier destination for whale watching year round as these animals are often spotted there. Your whale watching trip will be narrated by a marine biologist or naturalist, who will provide you educational and interesting information about marine wildlife.

In addition to teaching you about the wildlife, your marine biologists and naturalists will provide information about the natural history of the local area and talk about conservation. While out on the ocean your marine biologists and naturalists will also be collecting sighting data for scientific research. During your trip the crew will show you how to spot whales and dolphins as well as give you advice on how to best capture photos and videos of the wildlife. You will return back to the original departure point between 12:30pm and 1pm.

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Minimum drinking age is 21 years
  • Warm layers are recommended
  • Sun protection, camera, binoculars, water, and snacks are recommended

Frequently Asked Questions

(9)

Q: Do we get to swim with or touch the dolphins?

A: As an active member of the Dolphin SMART program, we do not have physical contact with the dolphins on Whale Watching Tour From Monterey. We watch them in their natural habitat from the boat. Read more Dec 2022

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-53254P1

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.91
979 reviews

Average 4.91 out of 5 stars based on 979 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
918
4 stars
46
3 stars
8
2 stars
5
1 star
2

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 21 (9.33) days in advance.

Similar Tours & Activities

Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Tour
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

The El Cat, built right here in Moss Landing, is a fully electric, 32 passenger, Coast Guard-certified vessel. This is a custom 37’ catamaran built...

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation
1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation
1 hour 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.9 (464)
from
$47

Sunset Whale Watch Tour in Monterey
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Monterey Bay is one of the greatest places in the world to find whales and with the added bonus of a sunset viewing in the...

3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hours • Free Cancellation
4.9 (78)
from
$80

Monterey Whale Watching Tour

We are honored to be the #1 Whale Watching Company in Monterey Bay with a 99% success rate and offer: Two of the largest and...

2 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation
2 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation
2 to 3 hours • Free Cancellation
4.7 (766)
from
$75

Private 3 hour Bird Watching Tour in Monterey Bay
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Enjoy a 3 hour cruise to search for and see local seabirds of the Monterey Bay. A vessel under sail is much quieter and therefore...

2 to 4 hoursFree Cancellation
2 to 4 hoursFree Cancellation
2 to 4 hours • Free Cancellation
5.0 (1)
from
$960

Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Monterey's 17 Mile Drive Guided Electric Bike Tour, 3 hr
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Keep an eye out for sea lions, deer, harbor seals, and tide pools along this immersive coastal adventure. Explore the world-famous 17-Mile Drive on an...

3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hoursFree Cancellation
3 hours • Free Cancellation
5.0 (911)
from
$64

Monterey Whale Watching Tour

We are honored to be the #1 Whale Watching Company in Monterey Bay with a 99% success rate and offer: Two of the largest and...

2 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation
2 to 3 hoursFree Cancellation
2 to 3 hours • Free Cancellation
4.7 (766)
from
$75

Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Tour
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

The El Cat, built right here in Moss Landing, is a fully electric, 32 passenger, Coast Guard-certified vessel. This is a custom 37’ catamaran built...

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation
1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation
1 hour 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.9 (464)
from
$47

Carmel-by-the-Sea 2.5-3 Hour Electric Bike Tour

From fairy-tale cottages nestled in the trees to millionaire mansions along the beach, the charm and beauty of Carmel-by-the-Sea is unparalleled. While we take in...

150 to 180 minutesFree Cancellation
150 to 180 minutesFree Cancellation
150 to 180 minutes • Free Cancellation
5.0 (125)
from
$84

What's Included

Activity name

  • Tea and coffeeCoffee and/or Tea
  • Time listed is when boat LEAVES! Check-in 30-45 minutes ahead
  • Marine Biologist/Naturalist & Deckhand
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks (Chips, Candy, Soda, and Water)
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Minimum drinking age is 21 years
  • Warm layers are recommended
  • Sun protection, camera, binoculars, water, and snacks are recommended
  • If prone to motionsickness, please take precautionary measures and we also sell motion sickness remedies in the shop
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
  • Operated by a business

Protecting you

Activity name

For your protection and stress-free bookings, use our secure platform to pay for bookings. Discovery Whale Watch

Report Product Issue

Activity name

Language
Currency

Site Settings

Activity name

Currency

Activity name

Activity name

Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT).
  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Sorting, ranking, and search results

Activity name

Cool Destinations wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool Destinations over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

Choose an option

Activity name

or

Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

Activity name

Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

Miscellaneous

  • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
  • We reserve the right to modify these Cool Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice, including the rules for earning and redeeming rewards. Any changes will be reflected in the updated Terms and Conditions.
  • We reserve the right to terminate the Cool Rewards program and cease issuing any further rewards on future bookings. All pending and available rewards balances will be honored.
  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.