4 Hour Whale Watching Tour From Monterey

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Embark on a 4-hour whale watching tour. All trips are narrated by a naturalist or marine biologist guide, who will also spend one on one time with guests while on deck. Professional photographers are often sent to capture the spectacular sights seen from on board and are available to offer tips for your own photography.

Additional Info

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Minimum drinking age is 21 years

Warm layers are recommended

Sun protection, camera, binoculars, water, and snacks are recommended

If prone to motionsickness, please take precautionary measures and we also sell motion sickness remedies in the shop

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Time listed is when boat LEAVES! Check-in 30-45 minutes ahead

Marine Biologist/Naturalist & Deckhand

Coffee and/or Tea

Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)

Food and drinks (Chips, Candy, Soda, and Water)

Hotel pickup and drop-off

What To Expect

Meet at Fisherman's Wharf to begin your whale watching experience at 9am. Monterey Bay is considered to be a premier destination for whale watching year round as these animals are often spotted there. Your whale watching trip will be narrated by a marine biologist or naturalist, who will provide you educational and interesting information about marine wildlife. In addition to teaching you about the wildlife, your marine biologists and naturalists will provide information about the natural history of the local area and talk about conservation. While out on the ocean your marine biologists and naturalists will also be collecting sighting data for scientific research. During your trip the crew will show you how to spot whales and dolphins as well as give you advice on how to best capture photos and videos of the wildlife. You will return back to the original departure point between 12:30pm and 1pm.

Options

4 Hour Whale Watching Tour From Monterey

Reviews

4.84

1,045 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

947

Fun whale watching event
gottemucci,
Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great trip. Space to move side to side. We were able to take many pictures of the whales. The oceanographer provided alot of knowledge about whales.
Whale watching
Janet J,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Seasickness even after taking dramamine may happen so be prepared. A stabilizer for your phone to take better pictures is recommended.
Oh, great. Would book again!!
Adriana K,
Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Don't hesitate, just book. Money worth 100%. Well maintained boats, hot drinks on board. There is a lot of talk about marine life during the cruise. Friendly staff, friendly staff. Do their utmost to make you enjoy the whales well. We were lucky enough to be ‘surrounded’ by 5 humpback whales so we could not sail away for a long time and therefore admire them for an extra long time. Staff care about nature, enjoy the speed themselves and even pick up floating plastic from the ocean. Super!! Would book again.
Lots to see, lots of fun.
geobarter,
Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was great. The crew was nice, excited about their subject, and fun. We got to see lots of wildlife including the promised whales. We had an excited experience with killer whales and running sea lions. We had areal good time.
Had such a great...
Mark D,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Had such a great experience on this tour. Spent around 1.5 hours watching humpback whales feed as well as some sea lions. The crew were mega helpful and informative. Explaining the geography of the bay and the reasons the whales were present. Apparently the sea can get a little choppy in October/when winter starts to set in which is what we experienced so take some travel sickness tablets before getting to the dock if you are prone to feeling motion sickness.
Great, not crowded like other boats. Clean. Nice crew.
JIA JUN L,
Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The boat experience was truly exceptional. Unlike many other vessels, this one was not overcrowded, allowing for a more relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. The cleanliness of the boat was impressive, with well-maintained facilities that contributed to a pleasant journey. The crew members were friendly and attentive, always ready to assist and ensure that every guest felt comfortable. Their professionalism and hospitality made the trip even more enjoyable. Overall, this boat ride provided a perfect blend of comfort, cleanliness, and excellent service, making it a highly recommended choice for anyone looking to explore the waters without the hassle of large crowds.
Discovery Whale Watch Tour
Craig C,
Oct 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Fantastic experience and one I will treasure for some time. Got to see humpback whales, orcas and seals up close on this tour. The crew were fantastic and very knowledgeable. Will definitely do this again!!
Just click book now..... GO you won't regret it!
M L,
Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
FANTASTIC tour! we got lucky and saw orca's and humpbacks not bad for near the end of Sept. The weather was PERFECT super sunny! I do wish I had something to put on my lap.... I wore a dryfit pullover and a heavy shacket. with leggings. The whole thing was GREAT and well worth it. kids had a blast! next time we are in Monterey I will be sure to book another trip!
Look elsewhere, especially if cancelled!!!
aprilt749,
Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
We are really disappointed with our booking with Discovery Whale Watching. We planned a road trip around California and one stop was Monterey. We planned a whale watching tour with this company and booked on the 15/06/2025 - 4 months in advanced. This trip was one of the most that we were looking forward too, especially seeing all the amazing reviews. The afternoon before the tour which was scheduled for the 3rd October 2025, we received an email stating that the trip was cancelled due to “forecasted poor ocean conditions” in which the captain had cancelled the trip. We were left understandably disappointed with such short notice but admittedly understood and would choose safety over money profiting. We made the last minute decision to see if any other companies were doing tours, just on the off chance as we had checked weather conditions and tides and could see no concerning weather. We managed to rebook a tour through Princess Monterey Whale Watching. We attended the harbour location to see the tour we had rebooked was going ahead and that the Discovery Whale Watching tour were not doing any tours. The reason for the negative review is in the email for the cancellation, it stated bad weather. However we have just returned from our trip with PMWWT and albeit the conditions were choppy, there seemed to be 0 weather concerns, infact, had glorious sun throughout! The misleading information of bad conditions meant we almost didn’t find elsewhere and potentially missed out on a once in a lifetime tour - which thankfully we didn’t. I would proceed with caution using this company and should any cancellations arise, definitely look elsewhere as other companies may still be going ahead. Overall - disappointed with the experience and would not recommend this company.
Go see whales!🐋
973barbarae,
Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We headed out in drizzle that quickly cleared and enjoyed seeing not only humpbacks but also orca! The trip was 4 hours, as advertised , and the on board staff were all pleasant. Plenty of seats for all and great crowd management when whales were sighted. Depending on a child’s temperament I think this trip would be best for those 7+.