San Diego Whale Watching – Best Tours, Season & Tips [2025]

by Maria Haase

I have lived in San Diego for over a decade and still don’t get tired of going whale watching. Luckily, I get a lot of out-of-town visitors each year and they all seem to be happy to go on a San Diego whale watching trip with me.

Over the years, I have gone numerous times with various whale watching tours and have some great recommendations on my favorite San Diego whale watching tours and tips for your excursion.

When Is San Diego Whale Watching Season?

San Diego whale watching season is year-round, but the best time is between December and April when 20,000+ grey whales migrate along the San Diego coast. Other species, such as blue whales or fin whales can be spotted throughout the whole year.

2 Humpback whales breaching the surface — Humpback Whales

Grey Whale Watching Season San Diego

20,000 Grey whales pass San Diego on their southward journey between December and January on their way to Baja California, Mexico. The highest concentration of Grey whales in the San Diego area is usually in Mid-January, where up to 8 animals pass through the area per hour.

On their way back north to their arctic home, the Grey whales pass San Diego in March and April heading north.

Blue Whale Watching Season in San Diego

If you missed the great grey whale migration in San Diego in the winter/spring, don’t fret. San Diego blue whale season is from Mid-June to September.

The waters around San Diego are a popular feeding spot. A few miles out from shore, there is a steep cliff in the ocean floor, where plankton is flourishing. Supposedly, the pod that feeds off the coast of San Diego is about 2-3000 animals strong.

Blue whale photographed underwater — Blue Whale

Whale Watching Season in San Diego – Other Whales

Most Humpback whales spend their winters in the tropical paradise of Hawaii. However, there is a pod of about 2-3000 animals that flock from Alaska to Southern California instead.

Minke whales are small, stocky whales with a pointy snout. The pods in California are considered residential whales as they live here permanently, while their cousins in Alaska migrate south.

Fin whales, the second largest whale, also like to hang around the San Diego waters. They are huge AND fast, reaching up to 23 miles per hour. Fin whales do migrate, but there is a large population present in the waters of California, Oregon and Washington.

Tail of a humpback whale breaching out of the water — Humpback Whale

Cheap Whale Watching Tour Tickets

I usually check Groupon, Viator, or GetYourGuide for the best deals on San Diego whale watching tours. Depending on the season, duration, type, and tour, you can find tickets as cheap as 20-30$ per person. As usual, the smaller the boat, and the deeper you are in the high season, the more expensive it gets. The sailboat whale-watching tours and private tours are of course the most expensive, but they are also a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

If you are willing to drive a bit further north, like Dana Point or Newport Beach, you can find even cheaper deals, starting at 8-12$ per person. It is quite a drive though, especially with traffic and I personally have never done that. But our contributor Noreen recently went on a Whale Watching Tour in Dana Point.

Common dolphins jumping in the waves — Wild common Dolphins – You’ll most like see some of those

What are the Best San Diego Whale Watching Tours

Flagship Cruises Whale Watching Tour

I really like this tour by Flagship Cruises, because it is run by the Birch Aquarium, which is part of the world-renowned Scripps Institute of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego.

This tour is on a pretty big ship, so it is great if you are prone to seasickness. They have restrooms, a little snack bar, and indoor/outdoor seating. They are also wheelchair accessible (I would recommend to contact them beforehand to make sure they have everything you need).

They have a naturalist on board who will tell you a lot about the various whales, and interesting facts about their breeds and behavior. The tour is fun, but also extremely educational and I highly recommend it.

Check Groupon for Flagship Cruise Deals>>
Check Viator for Flagship Whale Watching Tours

Sail San Diego Whale Watching

This is a sailboat whale watching tour for small groups of 6 people max. While it is not cheap, you are guaranteed a great time out on the water, whether you see whales or not.

Check Groupon for Sail San Diego Deals>>
Check Viator for Sail San Diego Whale Watching

back end of a sailboat next to a tail of a whale in the ocean — Sail San Diego Whale Watching

La Jolla Kayak & Whale Watching Tour

This tour gets you up close and personal with the whales, as you will be in a kayak, not a boat. You will feel the size of these majestic animals as you paddle on the coast of La Jolla. I would recommend this tour only to people who are reasonably fit and people who have kayaked before, as you will be pretty far out from shore.

Check Viator for Whale Watching Kayak Tours

Whale Watching Tips

Dress warm and in layers. The temperature out at sea can be significantly colder than on the coast (up to 20-30 F). Add a little breeze or some mist and you can be uncomfortably cold during the 2-3 hour trip. Add a rain jacket, just in case you catch some rain while out there. You don’t want to be stuck inside, when the whales show up.

Take motion sickness medication early. It can take quite a while to show effect, so you don’t have to suffer while you wait for your medication to kick in. Also, bring some dried ginger to chew on and keep your eyes on the horizon. I also recommend taking an early morning whale watching tour and don’t eat until after.

Protect yourself from the sun. The rays reflect from the water and can lead to a nasty sunburn, if you are not careful. As it is usually much cooler and you always feel a breeze out on the water, you probably won’t realize until it is too late. Put on your sunscreen and pack your sunglasses and a hat and protect yourself.

grey whale blowing air and water through nose travelling pacific ocean — Grey whale blowing air

Take the morning tour. From what I have heard during various tours, the morning tours have higher success rates of seeing whales.

If you are visiting from out of town, schedule your whale watching tour early during your stay. Most companies will give you a free voucher if you don’t see whales. If you go whale watching on your last day, you probably won’t have another chance to take advantage of your free voucher. On the other hand, that might lead to another trip back to San Diego, which is never a bad idea.

What To Pack

Motion sickness medication
Dried ginger
A thick jacket or thick sweater
A raincoat
Sunglasses
A hat (make sure it fits tightly, or it could be blown off)
Sunscreen
A camera (preferably with a zoom lens)
A waterproof bag, to protect your camera, phone and valuables in case it rains

People looking over the reeling of a boat, photographed from above - Whale Watching San Diego — Whale Watching San Diego

Best Spots To Go Whale Watching in San Diego From The Coast

Birch Sea Aquarium

The Birch Sea Aquarium is part of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography at UCSD in La Jolla. They have a conservation project going on and showcase the local wildlife to visitors. From the Birch Aquarium Terrace, you will have a splendid view over the La Jolla coastline and it is easy to spot whales from there.

Get your City Pass tickets for the Birch Sea Aquarium here>>

Whale Watching from Birch Sea Aquarium La Jolla

Cabrillo National Monument

Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma is also a great spot to go whale watching in San Diego from land. You are pretty high up and when the weather is right, you can see for miles and miles. As this is a National Monument, you have to pay an entrance fee of ~10 per person (walk-ins) or ~$30 per car.

Plan your visit to Cabrillo National Monument here>>

Torrey Pines State Park

Torrey Pines is not only famous for its gorgeous golf course, but also for the stunning Torrey Pines State Park. It is one of my favorite hiking spots in San Diego and you can enjoy sweeping views over the coast. It is a great spot to go whale watching from land in San Diego.

Admission runs about 12-15$ per car, depending on demand. It is a favorite spot for locals and tourists, so if you can avoid visiting on the weekend, I’d recommend it.