California’s long stretch of coastline along the Pacific Ocean makes it one of the world’s top destinations for whale watching. The state is located on the migration route of multiple species, including humpbacks and grey whales.

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This unique vantage point is credited with the emergence of whale watching as a tourist activity. It gained popularity after San Diego’s Cabrillo National Monument opened as a public viewing site for grey whales in 1950.
Now, it’s a popular experience up and down the West Coast with some of our destination clients leading the way in responsible marine tours. So, take a deep dive into whale watching in California with a spotlight on ethical marine experiences in Monterey, Morro Bay and Oceanside.
What whales can you see in California?
The California coast is a hotspot for migrating and resident species and there’s a chance to see whales all year round in Monterey, Morro Bay and Oceanside. Common species include minke, fin and grey whales. The world’s biggest animal, the blue whale, often makes an appearance, alongside humpback whales and the occasional pilot whale and sperm whale.

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Around 11 dolphin species also enjoy the West Coast’s food-rich waters. Orcas make an appearance on occasion but they are a rare sight. Although they go by the name ‘killer whales’ they are the largest species in the dolphin family!
When is whale watching season in California?
Whale sightings are possible year-round on the Central and Southern California coast with a 90% chance of seeing one at any given month in places like Monterey Bay. That being said, whale-watching season differs depending on the species you want to see as many of them migrate.

Credit: Blue Ocean Whale Watch
The best time of year to see blue whales is May to October with sightings peaking around July and August. The season for humpback whales is November to April, with the highest numbers in November and December, and again in March and April. Grey whales can be seen from December to May but January and March are the peak months.
Orcas make an appearance all year round. Your best chance of seeing them is in Monterey Bay between mid-April to mid-May and late August to October. As apex predators, their presence drives other marine life away, so you might not see much else.
Why is it important to book ethical whale watching tours?
Witnessing a humpback whale breach is an exhilarating and memorable experience but it isn’t always ethical. Irresponsible tour operators chasing and getting too close to whales can stress them and cause them to behave unnaturally. They face a higher risk of injury from boat strikes or separation from their calves. Prolonged harassment will also lead them to abandon feeding grounds.

Credit: Princess Monterey Whale Watching
Ethical whale-watching tours prioritise education and conservation over guaranteed close-up encounters. They have experienced marine biologists or naturalists onboard who educate passengers on ocean conservancy and contribute to scientific research.
In the United States, responsible tours should follow whale-watching guidelines set out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the American Cetacean Society. In practice, this looks like stopping boats and turning off engines within 100 yards of a whale, staying parallel to them and allowing them to control how close they get.
The best whale watching tours in Monterey, Morro Bay and Oceanside we’ve featured interact with whales responsibly. They’re led by experienced marine educators who report distressed or entangled animals to wildlife rescues and remove ocean litter whenever they see it.
Where to go whale watching in California
Monterey County
A 2.5-mile deep canyon just offshore makes Monterey Bay one of the premier whale-watching spots in California and the rest of the United States. As the deepest submarine canyon on North America’s Pacific Coast, it’s an optimal nutrient-rich habitat for marine life. It’s also home to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, known as the “Serengeti of the Sea” for its extraordinary biodiversity. From tide pools to towering kelp forests, this dynamic ecosystem supports an incredible variety of species.

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Along the Pacific Coast Highway clifftops, there’s a high chance of spotting whales feeding close to shore all year round so you don’t necessarily need to do a boat tour. For those wanting to get out on the water, there are also some top-notch whale-watching trips in Monterey.
Many tours depart from Moss Landing, an authentic fishing village at the edge of the Monterey Bay submarine canyon. This central location provides direct access to the canyon’s nutrient-rich waters, drawing abundant marine life year-round.
Princess Monterey Whale Watching
Departing from Monterey’s historic Fisherman’s Wharf, Princess Monterey Whale Watching is one of the region’s most established operators, with a 99% success rate for sightings. Their stable vessels are two of the largest of their kind in Monterey at over 100 feet in length, perfect for families and groups, offering spacious seating and expansive decks for breathtaking views of the bay.

Credit: Princess Monterey Whale Watching
With year-round tours, passengers are diligently led by expert naturalists who share insights into the natural history and biology of the bay’s marine life, including the ongoing conservation efforts of the Monterey Bay area.
Sanctuary Cruises
Recommended by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Sanctuary Cruises offers whale-watching excursions, marine life photography tours, and custom charters in the bay.
There’s a chance to see humpback whales, blue whales, grey whales, orcas and dolphins.

Credit: Sanctuary Cruises
Tours average around three to four hours to provide ample time for whale sightings accompanied by a marine biologist. The small boat holds a maximum of 22 passengers and its decks are close to the water for the best possible view of the action.
As a responsible operator, Sanctuary Cruises has a vessel fuelled by 99% clean-burning biodiesel made from recycled vegetable oil from local restaurants. Boats stop before getting within 100 yards of a whale (a requirement by law). They give the animal space to choose how much interaction it wants and they clear up ocean litter whenever they see it.
Discovery Whale Watch
Discovery Whale Watch offers daily morning and afternoon whale-watching tours within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, including a sunset trip in summer and a six-hour extended excursion during prime orca season.

Credit: Discovery Whale Watch (via Facebook)
All tours are narrated by a marine biologist or naturalist who educates passengers about marine conservation and they collect sighting data to support scientific research. A photographer is often part of the crew to take the pressure off catching that breaching humpback whale on camera.
Discovery Whale Watch interacts with whales responsibly. Boats stay 100 yards away and parallel with the whale so it doesn’t get cut off and impact its natural behaviour. All interactions are on the animals’ terms.
Monterey Bay Whale Watch
Monterey Bay Whale Watch runs year-round whale-watching tours led by marine biologist Nancy Black and her expert team. The tours focus on education and conservation, giving passengers a unique chance to observe scientific research firsthand.

Credit: Daniel Bianchetta
Running one of the top orca-watching tours in Monterey, Nancy Black has been studying them for 30 years and her work has been featured on BBC Blue Planet, National Geographic and Animal Planet. Her marine biologist crew members are affiliated with the American Cetacean Society or Oceanic Society and are involved in marine mammal research.
The tour operator’s boats accommodate 49-117 passengers, including children and well-behaved dogs. They run a four-hour morning trip and a three-hour afternoon trip to maximise whale sightings. Full-day tours and seabird tours are also available.
Morro Bay
Morro Bay is a coastal city in a prime location for spotting whales both from land and on the water. It’s on the grey whale migration route and other visitors like humpbacks and blue whales make an appearance thanks to the kelp forests and abundant marine life offshore.

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The diverse ecosystems around Morro Bay make it an all-round fantastic wildlife hotspot. Its estuary and surrounding wetlands are home to more than 250 bird species while the sheltered bay is a habitat for sea otters, sea lions and seals. The Embercado is the place to find Morro Bay whale-watching tours, boat trips and guided kayaking excursions.
The Whale Trail
You don’t need to jump onboard a boat to go whale watching in Morro Bay. The Whale Trail is an interactive map of more than 100 sites along the West Coast where it’s possible to see whales from land for free. 19 of them are in California, including Morro Bay.

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Whales don’t venture inside the bay so the best vantage points are from Morro Strand State Beach. The bluffs overlooking Estero Bay are another good spot to catch sight of feeding whales offshore.
There are benches to sit and watch them, so observers can bring a good pair of binoculars and a picnic to eat while they enjoy the show. If they’re lucky, they might see orcas, common dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins and harbour porpoises alongside humpbacks and grey whales.
Morro Bay Whale Watching
Morro Bay Whale Watching is a family-owned business offering ocean excursions for over 20 years. Suitable for all ages, their whale-watching tours spend about three hours on the water in common whale hotspots. The crew maintain contact with other local boats and a naturalist accompanies the team to maximise the best chance of spotting whales.

Credit: Morro Bay Whale Watching
For the more adventurous, the 33-ft catamaran, the ‘Dos Osos’ accommodates up to 22 passengers on a whale-watching tour. Those who prefer bathrooms and a heated cabin can jump aboard ‘The Freedom,’ a 53-ft vessel for up to 45 passengers. The tour operator is careful not to disrupt natural whale behaviour by cutting the engine during whale encounters.
For a different perspective of the ocean, the operator also runs sub sea tours onboard ‘Sea View,’ a semi-submersible vessel with underwater windows allowing passengers to see fish and sea lions swimming in the bay’s calm waters.
Oceanside
Oceanside is one of the top places to go whale watching in Southern California. Located between Los Angeles and San Diego, the city’s climate is warmer than the central coast, and Oceanside Harbor is home to several whale watching tours

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Grey and humpback whale sightings start early in the year and you can catch them on their migration between Mexico and Alaska anytime from January to April. For fin and blue whales, May to September is best.
Dolphins are likely to make an appearance during whale-watching excursions. Common, bottlenose, Risso’s and Pacific white-sided dolphins are spotted year-round. Oceanside Harbour is a hub for boat tours and whale-watching trips.
Oceanside Adventures
Oceanside Adventures is a luxury operator specialising in whale and dolphin tours, private charters and sunset wine-tasting cruises. Their whale-watching tours are two hours long and led by American Cetacean Society Certified Naturalists.

Credit: Oceanside Adventures
The tour operator’s two vessels are equipped with Suzuki engines to reduce noise pollution and carbon emissions. This includes their newly launched 63-ft catamaran, NALA, which can accommodate up to 118 passengers on multiple viewing decks. Their signature 50-ft vessel is a one-level catamaran for up to 45 passengers and is wheelchair-friendly.
Oceanside Adventures is committed to responsible whale-watching. They contribute to Happywhale’s citizen science research and educate on the importance of respecting the ocean. Boats stay at a safe viewing distance and the crew report any distressed wildlife to rescue centres.
O'Side Whales
Those preferring more personalised whale-watching tours in Oceanside can book O’side Whales. The tour operator offers immersive encounters for up to six passengers onboard a 28-ft zodiac boat. Tours range from two and a half hours to four hours to maximise whale sightings. Private charters are also available.

Credit: Visit Oceanside
With a cruising speed of 25mph, the boat can reach whale hotspots in the open ocean faster than a catamaran. They’re recommended for adventurous passengers who don’t mind ocean spray but might not be suitable for people with neck or back pain.
Every captain is licensed by the US Coast Guard and is a certified marine naturalist. They maintain a responsible distance from the whales and let them control how close they want to get. Often, humpbacks are curious and will approach the boat, giving passengers memorable close-up encounters.
Whether whale watching in Monterey, Morro Bay or Oceanside, it’s guaranteed to be an exhilarating experience. There’s a chance to see these gentle giants of the deep year-round, accompanied by dolphins and other marine life.
Whale watching in California is sure to be a hit with your nature-loving clients. To ensure the best experience possible, it’s a good idea to wear layers to accommodate for warm or cold weather, waterproofs and sunscreen. Phones and cameras should be secured with lanyards and sea sickness medication may be necessary.
While whales and dolphins are a common sight, they are still wild animals so there’s no guarantee they’ll show up. Choosing an ethical and responsible tour operator is the best way to ensure whales continue to return to California’s waters.
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