SAN DIEGO
San Diego’s best days out.
A short guide to the 14 best dolphin watching, with what each one costs, how long it runs and who you book it through.
2–3 hours from Mission Bay to the open Pacific for whales and dolphins, guided by naturalists, with onboard restrooms and paid snacks.
Most Popular“It was beautiful! Super excited that we were able to see THE BLUE WHALES!! Allison was GREAT the only thing I would suggest is maybe a better sound system because it was really hard to hear her! Other than that it was a great experience!”
Sunset whale and dolphin cruise from Mission Bay, San Diego. Spot marine mammals with a certified guide, then watch the coastline glow.
“It was amazing! Breathless sunset and many dolphins, pelicans and whales swimming near the boat! We really enjoyed it!”
A 3.5–4 hour San Diego whale and dolphin cruise with museum naturalists, year-round spotting chances, and a whale-or-dolphin voucher.
“I enjoyed the tour just didnt see any whales today”
San Diego whale and dolphin cruise with expert captains, natural history volunteers, indoor/outdoor comfort, and a whale-check rebooking option.
“We has a few hiccups during the trip but the good help from the staff got us thru and were able to give us options and very good results at the end like nothing had happened !! Thank you Viator for being there for us !! And making our vacation a good memory for life”
Small 22-ft whale and dolphin cruise from Mission Bay with USCG life jackets, waterproof windbreakers, and close-up pods in about 3 hours.
“This was an amazing experience! The boat ride was so much fun! We did not see any whales, out of season, but we had an amazing time thanks to Ray. Our Captain was incredibly knowledgeable about all the marine life as he’s studied and lived it for 30yrs. That to me, was just as amazing…”
A private 3-hour whale and dolphin boat charter from San Diego, with an enclosed cabin, observation tower, and a USCG-certified captain.
“The experience was amazing. We were able to see blue whales. We didn’t get great pictures, but it was breathtaking.”
Up close dolphin and whale watching from Oceanside on a small boat with a guide, short cruise, and $85 all-in pricing.
“We had the best time on this whale & dolphin watching excursion. Our group was small so we were aboard a large raft type boat which made this even more exciting and amazing!!! Up close and personal experience with all the beautiful common dolphins!! The whales were shy this day but we did see one…”
San Diego sunset cruise with a naturalist guide spotting dolphins, whale breaches, sea lions, and birds on a smooth 2.5–3 hour ride.
“Great! Saw over 1000 common dolphins! Great team and caring service!”
Cruise on the Peregrine from San Diego Bay to Pacific waters for a narrated whale and dolphin hunt with smooth, comfortable decks.
“The boat was clean and comfortable and the two captains and the naturalist were all very friendly, informative, and professional. Although we did not see any whales, we saw two incredibly beautiful large pods of dolphins, one each of two different species. They swam all around our boat, racing alongside it, leaping and jumping acrobatically…”
A small-group San Diego Zodiac whale and dolphin watch from Harbor Island with expert captains, included life jackets, and cold-water drama.
“It didn’t really last 3 hours as advertised. The Captain was nice, but was hard to hear as sometimes surrounding noise is loud and he didn’t have a voice that projects. We sat in the back of a six person boat and missed out on his explanation of why whales weren’t around. He did an…”
San Diego whale watching from the Peregrine in Point Loma with marine biologists, A/C comfort, snacks, and a whale sighting guarantee.
“Excellent had the best day 🤩 staff were very informative & friendly”
Sail a 45-foot yacht off Oceanside to spot whales, dolphins, and sea birds, with a hands-on option and add-on champagne aboard.
“We booked this for my birthday! And we had an amazing time! The captain received us in his Sail boat and make sure we had everything to celebrate. This is a experience that would last a lifetime in a memory. The Boay has something very especial the name of the boat is Song of David!…”
A 3-hour San Diego speedboat whale and dolphin tour from Seaforth Marina with a small Zodiac RIB ride and expert marine guidance.
“Gids Bogart was heel vriendelijk en had lekkere jazzmuziek aan op het water. Van drie walvissen een stukje van de rug gezien maar dat was niet spectaculair. Wat helemaal te gek was was de drie kwartier dat we tussen honderden dolfijnen aan het varen waren terwijl zij speels en vrolijk om ons heen uit het…”
Small-group Zodiac speedboat out of Mission Bay for year-round dolphin watching and seasonal whale sightings up to 12 miles offshore.
“I called the booking company the morning of excursion. I ended up having an open day with a work trip unexpectedly and wanted to book a whale watching tour and was hoping for smaller group size. Called booker at 6am directly to state tRead more”
Every neighborhood, every stretch of coast, and every way to get out on the water.
