Top San Diego Whale Watching

Go whale watching from San Diego aboard a replica of a historic sailing schooner that won the world’s first America’s Cup sailing competition in 1851. Throughout your cruise, your expert guide shares informative commentary about gray whales, dolphins, and other marine animals, along with details about the US Navy sites you pass as you head out on the Pacific Ocean.

Spend a few hours relaxing, sunbathing and sightseeing in the placid waters just off San Diego during this 1 or 2 hour San Diego Harbor cruise. Sit back and relax as you take in a fully-narrated tour, offering top-notch sight lines of the San Diego skyline, a cruise under Coronado Bridge, a look at the bustling US Naval fleet and a chance to spot some of the harbor’s resident sea lions. Choose between 1 and 2 hour cruise options, offering you two trips to fit your schedule and interests.

Take in the highlights of San Diego Bay during a sightseeing tour by amphibious vehicle. Travel on both land and water, starting on the streets of Seaport Village and rolling down Harbor Drive alongside San Diego Bay. Transition into the water after departing Seaport Village. Cruise past the SeaWorld and Vacation Isle, experiencing the best of maritime San Diego on this fun and informative tour.

See San Diego from a marine vantage point on this 90min harbor cruise, including a look at the marina, seabirds and potential sea lion sightings. Listen to live narration from your captain and enjoy for-purchase snacks from the onboard snack bar.

Set sail at one of the best times of day—sunset—during this San Diego Bay cruise. Board a comfortable sailing yacht and cruise along San Diego's coastline, taking in views of the scenic waterfront, military vessels, and historical landmarks. Catch sight of marine life and enjoy spectacular photo ops. Gorgeous sunset views and comfortable bean bag seating makes this tour a great choice for travelers celebrating a special occasion.

Explore some of the top highlights of San Diego with your or or two day trolley pass (depending on option selected) for the city’s Hop-on, Hop-off Trolley Tour. Choose your own adventure as you get on and off the trolley at any of the 11 included stops, covering famous sights including the Gaslamp Quarter, the San Diego Zoo, USS Midway and the Cruise Ship Terminal, Little Italy, and many more. This San Diego trolley tour also features live commentary from the on-board guide during your ride.

Meet some of the world's most exotic animals with your admission ticket to the renowned San Diego Zoo, one of California's top family-friendly attractions. More than 4,000 animals representing 800 species live in this state-of-the-art zoo, including some that are rarely seen at other zoos. Admire the animals and go in-depth during daily keeper talks and guided bus tours. With mobile tickets, simply scan your phone for direct entry into the San Diego Zoo. Ticket must be redeemed on travel date selected. Tickets must be purchased at least one day prior to visit.

Get the best chance of seeing whales and dolphins on a private boat tour. Your party will have the run of the boat, including an enclosed cabin, an observation tower, and a restroom. Your experienced USCG-certified captain knows the best places to spot wildlife and will provide engaging commentary on the local marine ecosystem.

Zoom around the waters of San Diego Bay on a jet boat ride that provides speed, splashes, and spins. As you race through the scenic waterway, your captain points out landmarks including the USS Midway, Coronado Island, Seaport Village, the Embarcadero, and the city skyline. Hang on as your captain takes your boat into power slides, 360-degree spins and other thrilling maneuvers—a high-octane twist on sightseeing in San Diego.

Step aboard our 22' Zodiac expedition style boat and immerse yourself with wildlife all around you. Our Captains are fun loving, knowledgeable and respectful. We head out to see Blue & Grey whales, Fin whales and Humpback whales that put on an impressive show as they feed on krill and other small marine animals. Blue whales are the largest animals to ever live on earth and can reach up to 100’ and weigh in at 150 tons! The smaller fin whale averages about 88’ in length. In addition to whales, there are large pods of dolphins that call the San Diego coast home. Bottle nose, Pacific white sided, Risso’s and common dolphins can be seen year round as well. So step aboard and let the adventure begin!

San Diego provides the perfect launching point for a whale-watching tour in California. Cruise on the Pacific Ocean in a sturdy boat with a professional crew, looking for gray whales as they migrate along the coast of North America. Dolphins, seals and seabirds are often spotted during this whale-watching tour and the crew provides informative commentary about the marine animals and environment. Bonus: if the crew does not find any whales during your cruise, you receive a complimentary ticket for another trip.

Experience the stunning beauty of San Diego Bay at sunset! Our boat charter mono hull is the perfect vessel for a sunset sail, with space for up to 6 passengers. As we sail through the calm waters of the bay, keep your eyes peeled for the possibility of seeing playful dolphins, majestic sea lions, and colorful seabirds. The experienced crew will be on hand to point out these incredible creatures. You'll have the opportunity to witness the wonder of sea life against the backdrop of a breathtaking sunset. As we set sail towards Point Loma, greeting the rolling waves of the ocean or going towards the heart of the San Diego Bay, seeing the city towards the famous Coronado bridge, don’t miss out and anchor these memories for a lifetime. Book your sunset sailing excursion today and discover the magic of San Diego Bay!

Get arms-reach away from whales and dolphins on a year-round ocean safari! With fun, fast 6 - 10 passenger boats, these are the most exclusive and intimate guided tours in San Diego! Our former military boats are the fastest and safest boats on the water with the highest chances of finding wildlife, virtually no sea-sickness, and 360-degree views from every seat. We offer all types of boat excursions including whale & dolphin watching, tours of the San Diego Bay, island tours to Mexico, spectator & event support, and all types of custom private charters.

Set sail with San Diego Sailing Excursions and discover what sets us apart from the rest. Our personalized day sailing experiences on the San Diego Bay offer a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. With our passionate and knowledgeable crew, eco-friendly practices, and emphasis on creating memorable moments, we take your excursion to the next level. Come aboard for a truly unique and eco-conscious sailing adventure.

Take a private boat trip out into the sunset with this private, romantic cruise. Your skipper will take you out into Mission Bay in a private boat, complete with its own observation tower for 360-degree views of your surroundings. Cheese and crackers will be provided and you are welcome to bring a bottle of wine on board.

What makes our experience truly distinctive is our dedication to responsible wildlife encounters aboard our comfortable Zodiac boat. With a 100% success rate, we guarantee you the chance to snorkel alongside captivating pelagic fish, like the rare Mola Mola, in their ocean environment, all while adhering to California's wildlife regulations.

Our Whale Guarantee We’d love to be able to show you real whales on every trip but sometimes these big beautiful animals just don’t want to be seen. So our promise to you is this, if you don’t see a whale or dolphin then you’ll receive a free pass to join us again for another whale watching trip.

WE PROVIDE A True Sailing Experience Our goal is to give you, your family, friends, and loved ones an amazing experience that you’ve never had before. We do this by showing what it is like to truly sail. You’ll go underway to unforgettable sites, gain knowledge of our beautiful San Diego City, and gain inside tips with local knowledge to keep your trip unique and anchored in your memory for a lifetime.

Christened in 1934, Cloudia is a beautifully restored, rare example of a classic Norwegian double ended ketch. Inspired by the original designs of famed naval architect Colin Archer (1832-1921), from Larvik, Norway, the Cloudia is a Listerskøyte. The top-sail ketch is notable for durability and safety. Archer’s shipyard designed and constructed the famed Fram, which participated in a number of expeditions to the North Pole and later supported Roald Amundsen’s historic first expedition to the South Pole. The Cloudia is rigged as a topsail ketch in the British or American style, which means there are 2 two-piece masts which allow her to carry more sail than a traditional Norwegian rig with shorter single masts. Cloudia’s main mast is 85 feet high including the top-jack. Many different woods were used to craft the ship, including Norwegian white oak, sapele hardwood, Douglas fir, Alaskan yellow cedar, and Ipe Brazilian hardwood. Come experience History!