Where to go · WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCHING TOURS IN THE USA
The 12 best whale and dolphin watching tours in the USA you can book today, with what each costs, how long it sails and who it suits. Number one is there for a reason, so start at the top.
Review of Maui Eco-Raft Tour from Lahaina, with whale and dolphin seasons, raft comfort, guide quality, pricing, and booking tips.
“We had a memorable time seeing the whales & some babies. The highlight was hearing the whale songs. Description of beverages on board is a little misleading; only water was offered upon request.”
See whales, dolphins, sea lions, and seabirds on a three-hour Monterey Bay cruise with an English-speaking guide and small-boat views.
“A fantastic 3 hours with an excellent guide (Kevin?). Boat felt safe, spent about 45 mins with a humpback cow and her calf, a few minutes with dolphin playing near boat and a great trip around to Carmel and back. Very informative on all things marine and bird related. Highly recommend.”
Review of San Diego’s 2 to 3 hour whale and dolphin cruise, with practical advice on sightings, parking, clothing, cost, and value.
“It was a beautiful tour. We saw tons of dolphins but no whales. Would recommend this tour to everyone.”
Review of Dana Point’s 2.5-hour dolphin and whale cruise, with naturalist commentary, underwater viewing, free parking, and a whale guarantee.
“Enjoyed lot ... great service and nice atmosphere. It would be my life time memory. Thanks capt Dave’s and his team.”
Review the Cape May whale and dolphin cruise, with practical tips on wildlife sightings, boat comfort, parking, price, and what to expect.
“Even though there were whale sightings in the area,we didn't get to see any.... However we did manage to see a good number of dolphins, Excellent experience would definitely recommend if visiting the area”
Review of Long Beach’s $45 whale and dolphin cruise, with wildlife odds, boat comfort, itinerary, value, tips, and practical details.
“We saw several whales but the pinnacle of our trip was the giant pod of dolphins who surrounded the boat and entertained us.”
Review the Newport Beach whale and dolphin cruise, with wildlife odds, route details, parking advice, seasonal tips, and honest value.
“It was awesome! Saw hundreds of dolphins following our boat for about 30 minutes straight. Did not see a whale but we saw a bunch of sea lions as well. Super fun.”
Ride a small Zodiac from Dana Point for close dolphin and whale sightings, marine commentary, free parking, and a one-year wildlife guarantee.
“Captain Marie was awesome as well as the young lady that was on board with her. Very informative and friendly. Trip was fun and being out in the water with the dolphins and whales was so beautiful. Highly recommend!!”
Ride a fast Zodiac from Poipu for winter whale and dolphin watching, with small groups, expert guides, snacks, and plenty of ocean action.
“The whole experience great!! Even if we weren’t able to see the whales the boat ride alone was worth it (but we finally saw them after an hour or so). Our captain was very knowledgeable, funny, and did an amazing job at making us feel safe. 10/10 recommend!!”
Review of Newport Beach’s private two-hour whale and dolphin tour, with Captain Nick, small-group comfort, pricing, tips, and practical details.
“Captain Nick pulled out all the stops for us and we had a breathtaking experience. The boat trip itself would have been reward enough (super fast and fun!) but it was truly awe-inspiring to see dolphins and whales feeding and plaRead more”
Review of San Diego’s private six-person whale and dolphin tour, with Captain Rich, boat details, wildlife odds, value, and practical tips.
“"Best birthday present ever! My mouth hurt from smiling so much, but I just couldn't stop. This was one of those core experiences for future marine biologists!" -- Mia, age 9. Captain Rich was super helpful and knowledgeable. We saw a blue whale, two fin whales, and a bazillion dolphins!”
Review of Dana Point’s 2.5-hour whale and dolphin cruise, with underwater viewing pods, marine experts, practical tips, price advice, and FAQs.
“The best Dolphin and whale watching tour I have ever been on. Fantastic experience. Not to be missed if you are in the area. Capt Marie, Andy and Hannah were superb hosts and extremely knowledgeable.”
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