Dolphin & Whale Watching Sunset Cruise

Badge of ExcellenceSan Diego, USA

2 to 3 hours
Offered in: English

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Overview

Enjoy a classic San Diego sunset while spotting whales and dolphins during this wildlife cruise in Mission Bay Park. Travel comfortably on a well-equipped boat with a dedicated and knowledgeable crew. Learn about San Diego's coastal marine mammals as you scan the harbor. Watch the sun set while sailing the shore.

A sunset whale and dolphin watching tour in San Diego
Ideal for couples and families, tours include a panoramic sunset experience
Listen to facts and stories about whales and dolphins while you sail
Get a chance to see coastal California's marine mammals in person

What's Included

Certified Guide

Alcoholic Beverages
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

1617 Quivira Rd, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
Our ticket / check-in booth address is 1617 Quivira Road, San Diego, CA 92109. It is a small grey booth between H2O rentals and the Fish & Chips shop facing the marina.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Ticket Redemption Point

1617 Quivira Rd, San Diego, CA 92109, USA

What To Expect

Mission Bay Park (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions

Most travelers can participate
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Minimum Drinking age is 21 Years
Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your departure time
Kids Go Free October: If you have more than one child traveling per adult, please pay operator directly for additional children at time of travel
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 140 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Sami_S

Had an amazing time searching for dolphins and whales! We saw the tail of a grey whale at the end lol but saw about 200 dolphins throughout the entire tour. It was a little chilly but the crew made it fun and had a ton of knowledge to share. Would highly recommend!

Reviews

4.5

131 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 131 reviews

Great time! Worth the money!

Sami_S, Apr 2024

A beautiful experience

Sarah_F, Apr 2024

Loved this tour. Definitely one for the memory books. Having a marine biologist narrate and explain things was excellent. Seeing all the nature from a different perspective was a beautiful experience. Of course the best part was actually seeing the dolphins and whales on the journey.

Fun adventure

Daniel_M, Apr 2024

Searching for signs of whale and dolphins and identifying them was fun. Great service and support from the team. Amazing views with the sunset.

dissapointing

Juan_V, Mar 2024

Only a few dolphins were seen, froma a distance. The ship departed half an hour after the scheduled hour and the trip was boring and tather uncomfortable. Not a comment during the sailing excepting when the dolphins were seen. I understand it is not the best season to see whales but the crew could have done more to compensate that.

Dolphins

Gail_L, Mar 2024

Seeing the dolphins dance. The crew and guide we good. The guide was very knowledgeable. Saw a nice sunset. Met folks from our home town in Maine.

The entire trip was...

Danielle_N, Jan 2024

The entire trip was phenomenal. We unfortunately did not get to see any whales or dolphins but the crew was amazing. Very informative and led the trip great. It was a beautiful trip on the sea

Killer whales oh my!

Kim_T, Dec 2023

We had a marvelous experience! We watched five killer whales (cub, juveniles, mama, and adult males) frolicking for an hour outside of the harbour. What beautiful creatures! We didn’t see much else since killer whales are referred to as “killer” for a reason. The other sea life steered clear except for a single sea lion hiding close to our boat. We were told this was a rare siting which was confirmed on the local, nightly news who had helicopter coverage of the whales. .

Dolphin stampede!

Karen_W, Dec 2023

There were so many dolphins, we couldn't believe it! They were having so much fun! Amazing tour all around. Great staff.

Lovely sunset

Mayme_N, Dec 2023

Beautiful sunset to behold. No whales seen on our excursion , but such is nature. We did enjoy seeing many dolphins in the wild. Very cold and choppy on the sea so be prepared. Nice boat.

Great Experience

RENEE_B, Nov 2023

For my 85 year old mother, visiting brother, and myself, it was a WONDERFUL experience! The staff was friendly and informative. We were especially blessed to see 5-6 whales which we were told is unusual and happens about once per season. The dolphins provided great hosptality, keeping us amused with their 1/2 moon jumps. Highly recommend this adventure.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

I'm delighted to hear that you, your 85-year-old mother, and visiting brother had a wonderful experience! Spotting 5-6 whales, especially during a rare occurrence, must have made the trip truly special. It's great that the dolphins added to the hospitality and amusement with their 1/2 moon jumps. Thank you for highlighting the friendliness and informativeness of the staff. Your recommendation is much appreciated, and here's to more memorable adventures in the future!

No whales

Laurids_S, Nov 2023

Went there without sporting anything. No whales, no dolphins. So unfortunately, that was nothing special.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

I'm sorry to hear that your experience didn't meet your expectations, and you didn't get to see any whales or dolphins. Wildlife sightings can be unpredictable, and I understand how it can be disappointing when the expected encounters don't occur. Your feedback is valuable, and I hope if you decide to try a similar experience in the future, it turns out to be more fulfilling. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Be sure it’s a season before to pay for it

iuliia_K, Nov 2023

Disappointment . Half the people vomited. It would be good to warn that it will be so painful. We spent three hours searching through the waves and we didn’t see any whales or dolphins. Local people said that this was not the season and there was a suspicion that they were simply doing business with us, knowing that it was unlikely to see the declared animals in November. disappointment . it was my birthday Friendly people work on the boat .

Great experience

Tbs_I, Oct 2023

Awesome experience. Make sure you are not sea sick. Saw some dolphins but no whales this time. Hope you enjoy it

Loved seeing so many...

Marcia_B, Oct 2023

Loved seeing so many dolphins and 3 whales, followed by a beautiful sunset. The crew did a great job of making us welcome and providing good information.

A great time!

Kelli_D, Oct 2023

We did the sunset whale and dolphin cruise. We saw breaching humpback! Dolphins racing with us! Pelican feeding frenzy! AND a beautiful sunset.

Must see!

Joseph_S, Sep 2023

My partner and I booked this tour for our trip and we are so happy we did! The crew was friendly and informative, the captain was great and the tour guide did an amazing job explaining everything and getting everyone engaged. I can’t recommend this tour enough! Thank yall again for a lovely experience for a great price!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

We're delighted to hear that you and your partner had such a wonderful experience on our tour! Our friendly crew, knowledgeable captain, and engaging tour guide are dedicated to making each trip memorable. Thank you for your kind words and for choosing us for your adventure. We look forward to hosting you both again in the future!

Not fair

Silvia_E, Sep 2023

I paid a lot for only se a cuplé of dolphins and only there tail not gods experience May be tell people they might not see dolphins

Response from Host, Oct 2023

We're sorry to hear that your dolphin-watching experience didn't meet your expectations. While we always strive to provide the best possible sightings, marine wildlife can be unpredictable, and we understand that it can be disappointing at times. We appreciate your feedback and we hope you'll consider giving us another chance in the future for a more fulfilling experience.

Amazing

Renee_S, Sep 2023

The courtesy and kindness of the to a guides welcoming us, and making us feel at home also preparing us of a wonderful experience ahead

Response from Host, Oct 2023

We're delighted to hear that our tour guides extended such courtesy, kindness, and a warm welcome to you, making you feel at home and preparing you for a wonderful experience ahead. Providing a friendly and informative atmosphere is something we value, and we're glad it enhanced your overall experience. Thank you for sharing your kind words, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for more memorable adventures in the future! 😊🌊🐬

Awesome

Rana_M, Aug 2023

Great experience! Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Online booking experience was fairly easy. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

We're delighted to hear that you had a great experience with our friendly and knowledgeable staff and that the online booking process was convenient. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we appreciate your kind words. We look forward to welcoming you back for more wonderful adventures in the future! 😊🌊🐬

Beautiful scenery.

Tom_L, Aug 2023

Very calm and relaxing cruise. No whales and no dolphins, but as long time San Diego residents, we didn't expect to see any this time of year.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

I'm glad to hear that you had a calm and relaxing cruise! While it's unfortunate that you didn't spot any whales or dolphins, it's understandable as they may not be as commonly seen during this time of year in San Diego. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed your time on the cruise and found it to be a peaceful experience.

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