San Diego
Whale Watching

San Diego whale watching tours like this from Hornblower Cruises let visitors get up close to see gray whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, and other wildlife.

San Diego Whale Watching Boat

This is roughly from December to March/April, when about 22,000 or so gray whales head south to the warmer waters of Baja California. They stay long enough to give birth to the next generation, then head back again with their young calves to the Arctic in time for the summer.

We were lucky enough to be in San Diego in early March, and although we only had two days there, we definitely wanted to go whale watching. We booked a cruise in advance with Hornblower Cruises, partly because they have volunteers from the San Diego Natural History Museum. They join the cruise to provide free information, which was interesting and helpful as well as passing the time while you wait for the boat to set sail.

San Diego Whale Watching Boat

The Eastern Pacific Gray Whale

We're looking for the Eastern Pacific Gray Whale, they tell us, and in its lifetime one whale will travel an average of 600,000 miles, going back and forth each year. It's the longest migration undertaken by any mammal on earth. They spend the summers in the Arctic waters of Alaska, but when the waters turn cold and winter sets in, the whales swim south to the warmer seas and lagoons of Baja California. Then before these waters get too warm for them in the summer, they turn tail and head back to Alaska.

"And right now they're all headed north?" one whale watcher asks.

"If they've read the Gray Whale Manual, yes," the docent jokes.

Before you know it we're sailing, and the Captain tells us we're heading for the 9-Mile Bank. This is the point in the Pacific Ocean where the sea bed suddenly drops away from about 150-200 feet deep to over 3000 feet. On their northbound migration the whales follow this bank, though when they're going southbound they swim closer in to the shore.

Dolphins seen on a San Diego Whale Watching CruiseDolphins Seen on a San Diego Whale Watching Cruise

Dolphins

Within a few minutes we're seeing seals in the water, a pelican skimming over the waves, and flocks of cormorants. Soon after leaving the harbor, we're surrounded by a huge pod of dolphins, which the Captain estimates to be about 1,000 strong. It's an exciting moment, but will we be lucky enough to find any whales? Nothing in nature is Guaranteed – although Hornblower Cruises do offer their guests another free cruise if no whales are spotted.

Our Pick of San Diego Guides

Fodor-San-Diego-Travel-Guide-2023.png

After a while, though, it's beginning to look like we're all going to qualify for the free cruise ticket. We've sailed around, and up and down, and the Captain's been talking to fishing boats. One tells us that there's now a whale right back near San Diego Harbor, where we've just come from - darn!

San Diego Whale Watching Boat

Thar She Blows!

The Captain apologizes and explains that that's the way it goes. He says we've run out of time and he just has to start heading back to the harbor. We're now eleven miles from shore. But then someone spots it – the water-spout that reveals a whale just beneath the surface. Thar she blows! We can see the ripples of the whale's massive body breaking the surface. From time to time we see the tail of a diving whale, and in the end there seem to be at least three whales out there – a typical number for whales traveling together.

The Captain delays our return so we can all watch the whales, which disappear and reappear, spout and dive, and have everyone glued to their binoculars and snapping their cameras like crazy. It's a thrilling few minutes, as we come close to these magnificent creatures, and join them for a while on their annual journey. We feel privileged to have been able to do so, and have no doubt that of all the city's many highlights, San Diego whale watching is something not to be missed. Those few minutes will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

San Diego Whale Watching Boat

San Diego Whale Watching Tip!
According to our Captain and the docents, the best time to go whale watching in San Diego is usually around the second or third week of January, when numbers are at their peak.

Other California Cruises

Hornblower Cruises also operate San Diego whale watching cruises daily from about December through April, depending on conditions. They also offer other tours from Newport Beach, Marina del Rey, Berkeley, and San Francisco. There are special holiday cruises throughout the year, from New Year's Day to New Year's Eve, wedding cruises, and special dinner cruises including winemaker dinners and moonlight cruises.

Contact Details
To find out more about San Diego whale watching tours
and other cruises, and to book online, visit the
Hornblower Cruises website.

Horblower Cruises
1066 N. Harbor Dr. 
San Diego

Other San Diego pages

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends some of the top wildlife spots along the California coast.

    Top Wildlife Spots on the California Coast

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends some of the top wildlife spots along the California coast.

  • Whale watching coupons offering a big discount are available now in Newport Beach for cheap whale watching cruises with Newport Landing Whale Watching.

    Whale Watching Coupons in Newport Beach

    Whale watching coupons offering a big discount are available now in Newport Beach for cheap whale watching cruises with Newport Landing Whale Watching.

  • San Diego Zoo is in Balboa Park, San Diego, California has been called the best zoo in the world and is the most visited zoo in the United States.

    San Diego Zoo

    San Diego Zoo is in Balboa Park, San Diego, California has been called the best zoo in the world and is the most visited zoo in the United States.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel explains where to watch salmon spawning along the Pacific coast of California, Oregon, and Washington.

    Salmon Spawning along the Pacific Coast

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel explains where to watch salmon spawning along the Pacific coast of California, Oregon, and Washington.

  • Whale watching trips and tours in San Diego are one of the California city's best activities but you can watch the whales from the San Diego shoreline too.

    Whale Watching from the San Diego Shoreline

    Whale watching trips and tours in San Diego are one of the California city's best activities but you can watch the whales from the San Diego shoreline too.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel brings you a travel guide to Coronado, near San Diego, the perfect place to relax for a few days either before or after your drive.

    Travel Guide to Coronado

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel brings you a travel guide to Coronado, near San Diego, the perfect place to relax for a few days either before or after your drive.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends the best time to visit San Diego, giving the city’s weather and climate month by month and season by season.

    Best Time to Visit San Diego

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends the best time to visit San Diego, giving the city’s weather and climate month by month and season by season.

  • Seeing a humpback whale in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California,Washington or Oregon is often the highlight of a whale-watching tour.

    Humpback Whale

    Seeing a humpback whale in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California,Washington or Oregon is often the highlight of a whale-watching tour.

  • Cheap flights to San Diego with Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, WestJet and other airlines from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.

    Cheap Flights to San Diego

    Cheap flights to San Diego with Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, WestJet and other airlines from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.

  • SeaWorld in San Diego is the original marine theme park, featuring killer whales, dolphins, shark encounters, manatee rescue, and Journey to Atlantis.

    SeaWorld San Diego

    SeaWorld in San Diego is the original marine theme park, featuring killer whales, dolphins, shark encounters, manatee rescue, and Journey to Atlantis.

  • Whale watching in California is one of the most popular things to do along the Pacific Coast Highway, in places like San Diego, San Francisco and many more.

    Whale Watching in California

    Whale watching in California is one of the most popular things to do along the Pacific Coast Highway, in places like San Diego, San Francisco and many more.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel guide to where to eat in San Diego from fresh local seafood to Mexican, Italian, fine dining and the best fried chicken in the US.

    Where to Eat in San Diego

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel guide to where to eat in San Diego from fresh local seafood to Mexican, Italian, fine dining and the best fried chicken in the US.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends the best museums in San Diego, including art museums, science centers, historical museums, and motor museums.

    Best Museums in San Diego

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends the best museums in San Diego, including art museums, science centers, historical museums, and motor museums.

  • Visiting Balboa Park is one of the best things to do in San Diego, California, as the park is home to San Diego Zoo, several museums, and beautiful gardens.

    Visiting Balboa Park

    Visiting Balboa Park is one of the best things to do in San Diego, California, as the park is home to San Diego Zoo, several museums, and beautiful gardens.

  • The San Diego Museum of Art is in Balboa Park, San Diego, and is the oldest and biggest art museum in the city with a fine collection of Spanish art.

    San Diego Museum of Art

    The San Diego Museum of Art is in Balboa Park, San Diego, and is the oldest and biggest art museum in the city with a fine collection of Spanish art.

  • Santa Barbara whale watching cruises in southern California can be booked through Condor Express, with whale watching trips leaving from the harbor.

    Santa Barbara Whale Watching

    Santa Barbara whale watching cruises in southern California can be booked through Condor Express, with whale watching trips leaving from the harbor.

  • A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.

    Point Lobos State Reserve near Carmel and Monterey, with photos

    A walk around the Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey and Carmel provides lots of photo opportunities, especially of the Harbor Seal Birthing Area.

  • San Diego in Southern California is a major travel destination and this page from Pacific Coast Highway Travel has visitor information and best things to do.

    San Diego

    San Diego in Southern California is a major travel destination and this page from Pacific Coast Highway Travel has visitor information and best things to do.

  • Things to do in San Diego include visiting the world famous San Diego Zoo, touring the city's outstanding Wild Animal Park, whale-watching and visiting museums.

    San Diego Things to Do

    Things to do in San Diego include visiting the world famous San Diego Zoo, touring the city's outstanding Wild Animal Park, whale-watching and visiting museums.

  • The Monterey Bay Aquarium on Cannery Row is one of the top sights in Monterey and along the whole Pacific Coast Highway.

    Monterey Bay Aquarium

    The Monterey Bay Aquarium on Cannery Row is one of the top sights in Monterey and along the whole Pacific Coast Highway.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel's website recommendations on Where to Stay in San Diego include reviews of budget and luxury hotels in downtown San Diego.

    Where to Stay in San Diego

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel's website recommendations on Where to Stay in San Diego include reviews of budget and luxury hotels in downtown San Diego.

  • Check our report of Dana Point Whale Watching with a sunset cruise from Dana Wharf Sportsfishing and Whale Watching, looking for wildlife in California.

    Dana Point Whale Watching

    Check our report of Dana Point Whale Watching with a sunset cruise from Dana Wharf Sportsfishing and Whale Watching, looking for wildlife in California.

  • The La Jolla Aquarium, officially known as the Birch Aquarium at Scripps overlooks the Pacific Ocean, with sea creatures from seahorses to sharks.

    La Jolla Aquarium

    The La Jolla Aquarium, officially known as the Birch Aquarium at Scripps overlooks the Pacific Ocean, with sea creatures from seahorses to sharks.

  • The Florence Sea Lion Caves are one of the best wildlife attractions along the Pacific Coast Highway, north of Florence and south of Yachats.

    Florence Sea Lion Caves

    The Florence Sea Lion Caves are one of the best wildlife attractions along the Pacific Coast Highway, north of Florence and south of Yachats.

  • Piedras Blancas Elephant Seals Beach is near Hearst Castle, San Simeon and Cambria and is one of the best things to do when driving the Pacific Coast Highway.

    Piedras Blancas Elephant Seals Beach

    Piedras Blancas Elephant Seals Beach is near Hearst Castle, San Simeon and Cambria and is one of the best things to do when driving the Pacific Coast Highway.



Recent Articles

  1. An Insider’s Guide to Malibu

    Mar 16, 24 12:19 PM

    Here’s how to plan a perfect Malibu getaway

    Read More

  2. Cleanup Continues After Malibu And Topanga Landslides

    Mar 14, 24 12:49 PM

    Travel continues to be impacted Tuesday by landslides on Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

    Read More

  3. 1 PCH Lane Reopens After Landslide Monday Morning

    Mar 12, 24 11:17 AM

    A landslide shut down a portion of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu Monday morning.

    Read More