Where to See Humpback Whales: The 11 Best Tours Worldwide

1.Humpback Whales in Cabo San Lucas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,005 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99Our pick

Review of Cabo San Lucas whale watching with a marine biologist, small boats, El Arco, sea lions, timing tips, price, and practical advice.

“This was an awesome tour. We saw so many whales it was incredible. Full breach, saw 3. Whale tales, saw dozens. Although our captain kept our boat at a safe distance, 3 whales approached us and came within a few feet of our boat. Our crew of Vanu and Adrien were amazing and so respectful of the wildlife. As a marine biologist, Vanu was so knowledgeable and we learned so much. This was truly one of the best excursions we have ever taken.”

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2.Swim with humpback whales

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 224 reviews · from $264

Swim with humpback whales in Moorea, then meet rays and black-tip sharks on a small-group ocean tour with bilingual guides.

“amazing tour!! Once you’re out there you will see a lot of whales but they moving very fast and it’s hard to do snorkel. If everything went well and you have the chance of snorkeling with the whales in the water you will remember for life!!”

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3.Humpback whale watching and marine life in Moorea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 199 reviews · from $327

See humpback whales, dolphins, turtles, rays, and reef sharks on a respectful three-hour Moorea ocean tour with Pacifik Attitude.

“I am still in awe... what an amazing experience. Our guide and captain were great and knowledgeable. The boat was only for 8 pax which is perfect. We got lucky enough to be the only boat on the 2 sites where we stopped. At the first stop we heard a singing male and you could literally feel the sound, it was crazy. He was deep so we could barely see him. Then we saw a mom and her baby sleeping and it was the most incredible event. Visibility was good. The baby whale was curious and playful. The mom was huge, probably about 15m. After they were done sleeping, they…”

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4.Humpback Whale Encounter Tour from Newcastle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 157 reviews · from $89

Review of CoastXP’s two-hour Newcastle whale watching cruise, with practical tips on whales, wildlife, value, weather, families, and booking.

“Highly recommend this to families . Everything was well organised and the tour guide was very informative and helpful”

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5.Hervey Bay: Humpback Whale-Watching Half-Day Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 153 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $84

Review of Hervey Bay Whale Watch’s half-day cruise, with whale encounters, hydrophone songs, Fraser Island views, prices, tips, and practical details.

“The boat was excellent. It was the 5th trip after the start of whale season. We saw some beautiful species. The crew took all the time we needed to have.”

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6.Noosa Whale Watching Cruise – Humpback Whale Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 144 reviews · from $71

Review of Noosa’s small-group whale cruise, with humpbacks, dolphins, a fast boat ride, practical tips, price, and booking advice.

“Highly recommend this. Fortunate to see a mother and calf whales. Mike, the skipper was very informative. First time on a boat for the kids. They absolutely loved it. Highlight of their holiday.”

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7.Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews · from $1,640

Review of Moorea’s private whale-swimming tour, with rays, sharks, turtles, expert guides, small groups, pricing, and practical tips.

“Pick up was on time, the boat was exactly as pictured and our guides were so knowledgeable and accommodating. Would definitely recommend.”

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8.Humpback Whale Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $466

Swim near migrating humpback whales at Ningaloo Reef on an eight-hour Coral Bay safari with lunch, photos, and sparkling wine.

“We would put down 6 stars if we could! A lot of the tour is up to the animals but the staff/ crew do their best to give you a wonderful experience! The humpbacks were so active on the day we went, so swimming with them was difficult but the crew did their best and wRead more”

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9.Swim in Moorea with Humpback Whales and More

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · from $412

Swim near Moorea’s humpback whales, dolphins, and sharks on a small-group tour with a biologist, gear, drinks, and hotel pickup.

“Incredible experience with Robert and Mareva. Mareva is very experienced and we had an exceptional show, it was a dream for us. Thanks to them, I highly recommend.Auto-translated”

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10.Newcastle: Small Group Humpback Whale Encounter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 41 reviews · 2 hours · from $88

Review of Newcastle’s two-hour CoastXP whale tour, with small groups, 360-degree views, local guides, dolphins, seals, and free return trips.

“Absolutely fantastic day. We were travelling with a pod of 50 - 70 dolphins all around the boat.”

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11.Newcastle: Humpback Whale Watching Cruise and Harbor Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 30 reviews · 2h 30m · from $60Best value

Review of Newcastle’s 2.5-hour whale-watching cruise, with harbor views, humpback sightings, catamaran comfort, pricing, and practical tips.

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