A Guide to Whale Watching in San Diego
Whale Watching in San Diego Whale Watching Weekend at Cabrillo National Monument
Having a Whale of a Good Time in San Diego
From December through April, visitors to San Diego have the unique opportunity to glimpse one of nature’s most extraordinary events - the migration of California gray whales from the chilly Alaskan seas to the warm water lagoons of Baja California where they birth and rear their young. Each winter, tens of thousands of these “peaceful giants of the sea” come within a few miles of the San Diego coast on their 5,000-mile southern journey, the longest known distance any mammal migrates on an annual basis. With 70 miles of coastline, San Diego makes an ideal location for viewing this impressive parade. During the peak migration season in mid-January, as many as 200 whales per day have been counted off of San Diego’s shores. Whale Watching for "Landlubbers"- During late December through March, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps celebrates the gray whale season with educational activities and whale exhibits. The aquarium's outdoor tide-pool plaza, overlooking La Jolla's shoreline and the Pacific Ocean, offers an excellent vantage point for viewing the gray whale's epic journey.
- For the entire month of January, San Diego is celebrating the 4th annual Big Bay Whale Days with "Whale of a Deal" discounted opportunities to experience the Big Bay and witness firsthand the annual gray whale migration along our coast. On Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm the event will culminate with a free Whale Festival along the Embarcadero and feature free whale and dolphin watching cruises for kids 12 and under. During January the USS Midway Museum and the Maritime Museum of San Diego will have Big Bay Whale Days admission specials and money saving coupons will be available for select Embarcadero merchants including Anthony’s Fish Grotto and Seaport Village. In addition, discounted Big Bay Whale Days cruises will be featured all month at Hornblower Cruises and Flagship Cruises & Events.
- Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego's picturesque national park, is situated on the panoramic Point Loma peninsula and offers a newly renovated glass enclosed observatory from which to spot whales during migration season. Visitors can also explore whale exhibits and listen to a taped narration describing characteristics of these popular animals. Cabrillo's annual Whale Watch Weekend and Intertidal Life Festival on January 7-8, 2012 features presentations, exhibits and films. Rangers are also on hand throughout the weekend to assist visitors in spotting the whales and explore the park’s magnificent tide pools. Admission is $5 per private vehicle.
Whale Watching Day Excursions- During December 17, 2011 – April 15, 2012, Next Level Sailing and the Maritime Museum of San Diego are offering a unique whale watching experience aboard the America, a historic replica of the world’s first America’s Cup winner. The 139-ft. long sailing yacht is perfectly suited for whale watching because of its low sleek lines, deep keel for stability and the ability to quietly approach the whales under sail without using noisy engine power. The yacht’s low sweeping deck also gives guests a great vantage point for photographing the whales up-close. The 4-hour whale watching excursion departs daily at 11:00 am from the Maritime Museum of san Diego. Excursions cost $65 for adults and $34 for children (ages 12 years old and under) on weekdays and $85 for adults and $44 for children (ages 12 years and under) on weekends. The cost of the excursion includes complimentary admission into the Maritime Museum, soft beverages, snacks (Guests are welcome to bring their own lunch and beverages for a picnic at sea), a narration about whale migration habits and a history of the America.
- During December 26, 2011 – April 15, 2012, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps and Flagship Cruises & Events team up for narrated, 3.5-hour whale watching cruises out of San Diego Bay; two cruises depart daily, one at 9:45 am and another at 1:30pm. Birch Aquarium naturalists narrate the tours, and guests receive gray whale fact sheets. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, with a full galley onboard. Reservations are recommended. Ticket prices are $35 for adults, $30 for Seniors/Military and $17.50 for children (4-12) on Monday-Friday and $40 for adults, $35 for Seniors/Military and $20 for children (4-12) on weekends.
- Hornblower Cruises and Events offers 3.5-hour deluxe whale watching adventure cruises in partnership with the San Diego Natural History Museum from December 10, 2011 - April 15, 2012. Passengers receive a professional narration on the whales’ migration and other marine life, and the boat features snack bars, binocular rentals, climate-controlled indoor seating and a museum-curated whale exhibit with fossils and video. Expeditions depart daily at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm. Ticket prices are $35 for adults and $17 for children (4–12) on Monday–Friday, and $39 for adults and $19.50 for children (4–12 years old) on weekends. Discounts are available for seniors, groups and military personnel. Hornblower guarantees to take guests out to sea again for free if no whales are spotted.
- H&M Landing offers daily 3-hour whale watching cruises from mid-December through mid-March, and 6-hour cruises from late December through May. All cruises include informative narrations on the whales, outdoor seating and a galley with hot food and beverages. Daily departure time for the 3-hour tours is 10:00 am; ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for juniors (13–17 years old) and $17.50 for children (2–12 years old). The 6-hour tours depart at 10:00 am on Thursday – Sunday and take sightseers into Mexican waters and the wildlife sanctuary of the Coronado Islands. Ticket prices are $80 for adults, Seniors (62+)/Military for $75 and $70 for children (4-12 years old). Special group rates are available upon request. H&M guarantees to take guests out to sea again for free if no whales are spotted.
- OEX Dive & Kayak Centers offers visitors a 2.5-hour Whale Watching Kayak Tour from December 15, 2011 - March 1, 2012. The approximate one-mile paddle tour launches daily at 11:00 am from La Jolla Shores; the cost is $55 for a single kayak and $85 for a double kayak. Prices include transportation of the kayak to and from the beach, kayak rental, guided tour, life vest, paddle and wetsuit.
- From December 17, 2011 - April 15, 2012, San Diego visitors can experience a thrilling whale watching excursion aboard an authentic 30’ Navy SEAL Rigid Inflatable Boat (R.I.B.) through Adventure RIB Rides. Passengers enjoy a fast ride to the ocean, allowing more time for whale spotting, as they learn about the natural and migration habits of the whales from a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain, who also serves as the on-board naturalist. Groups up to six passengers can charter the entire boat for $175 per hour plus tax; public tours are offered daily from 9:00 am - noon and 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Ticket prices are $85 for adults and $70 for children (5–12 years old) plus tax.
- From mid-December through the end of the season, La Jolla Kayak provides close encounters with grey whales and other marine life including sea lions, garibaldi and leopard sharks. The 2.5-hour tours, led by experienced guides, take guests along the La Jolla coastline and through La Jolla’s incredible Sea Caves. Tours depart daily at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Single kayaks start at $49 and double kayaks start at $59; the cost of wetsuits is included.
Special Expeditions- Birch Aquarium at Scripps is hosting three exciting whale watching adventures in Baja California including a a five-day Weekend Whale Safari on February 2-6, 2012, a four-day Whale Watching Adventure on February 17-20, 2012 and a six-day Whale Watching Expedition on March 15-20, 2012. These motor coach tours along the Baja California coast include tours of the scenic coast of Baja California, guided boat rides in Ojo de Liebre (also known as Scammon's Lagoon, the famed breeding and calving grounds for the gray whales) and short visits to pristine salt marshes, the Vizcaino Desert and prehistoric cave paintings. The extended overnight options on the Whale Watching Safari and Expedition include a visit to Bahia de San Ignacio, where exhilarating guided boat rides offer close encounters with the gray whales. The costs of these trips vary per person, and a valid passport is mandatory for each guest.
- H&M Landing offers an 11-day seagoing expedition on February 24 - March 6, 2012, to some of Baja California's most remote islands and breathtaking coastal areas including San Benito Island, San Ignacio Lagoon, the Sea of Cortez and Magdalena Bay. At each location, guests enjoy naturalist-led nature walks, beach combing, snorkeling and dune and marsh explorations in addition to up-close encounters with gray whales, blue whales, humpback whales, elephant seals and dolphins. Costs and dates vary - call for more information. www.hmlanding.com
Published on December 13, 2011
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AOLANI.cc, Inc. CAT CRUISES
San Diego's Premier Luxury Sailing & Yacht Charter Company. Private charters: Weddings, Corporate, Holidays, Whale Watching, Harbor Cruises
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Flagship Cruises & Events
Harbor tours, Dinner Cruises, Sunday Brunch, Weddings, Holiday Parties, Private Events, Winter Whale Watching, Nature Cruises and the Coronado Ferry
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H&M Landing
H&M Landing is the West Coast's oldest, most experienced sportfishing, whale watching and sea going adventure company. Established in 1935.
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Hornblower Cruises & Events
Nightly Dinner Cruises, Sightseeing Harbor Tours, Whale Watching Cruises, Brunch, Happy hour, Sunset Cruises, Private Charters, Weddings, Receptions
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Next Level Sailing
Whale watching & Sunset Sails on famous yacht America and daily public sailing experiences aboard Dennis Conner's 2 America's Cup racing yachts
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Sail San Diego
6 trips daily! Whale Watching Trips 4 times daily, Ocean & Harbor Sails,
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