One of the best things to do in Monterey is to join one of the whale watching trips offered year-round by Monterey Bay Whale Watch. These trips allow you to observe the spectacular diversity and abundance of whales and dolphins inhabiting the Bay. Monterey is the best place in the nation to view a variety of marine mammals and seabirds. The Monterey Submarine Canyon approaches close to the shore at Moss Landing, allowing deep water species of whales, dolphins, and seabirds to occur near the coast. Shallow water species, such as the Gray Whale, are found very close to shore in the narrow shelf region. Depending on the season, whales and dolphins that are frequently observed include Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Risso's Dolphins, Northern Right Whale Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Killer Whales, and Dall's Porpoise. We occasionally spot Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Harbor Porpoise, Bottlenose Dolphins, and Beaked Whales. The captains have over 20 years of experience with nature trips and offer excellent views of marine wildlife. All the trips are led by marine biologists, most with 10+ years experience, who fully narrate and answer questions during trips. Their whale watching trips are educationally oriented and their biologists collect valuable data on the marine mammals sighted during these trips, including distribution, relative abundance, and behavior of whales and dolphins. They also photo-identify individual whales and dolphins, contributing to assessments of population, residency patterns, and migration or movement patterns.
Monterey Bay Whale Watch is unique in that they are the only whale watching group that has marine biologists on all trips, offers trips in Monterey Bay on a regular basis, schedules trip lengths depending on the season to allow enough time to watch whales and other marine life, and has extremely skilled captains who know where to find whales and how to approach them.
Included in your purchase is educational material specific to whale watching, fun and interesting facts about whales and interactive project ideas.
Tickets are non-refundable. Once tickets are purchased for you, they will have expiration dates or “valid only on” dates set by the location and we are unable to change those dates. Please make sure your information for dates/times are correct prior to submitting this form.
Planning your trip 1-2 weeks before your trip date is generally best unless you are trying to secure a tour or event that requires advanced planning.
All plans are final and tickets cannot be changed once purchased.
Please be sure to check your spam if you do not receive a reply within a few days of submitting the form.
*This activity is not supported by IEM Charter (South Sutter, Ocean Grove, Sky Mountain)
Educator Package: Includes educational resources, interactive project ideas, trip organization, direct experiential opportunities to help better connect the experience with your students and complimentary chaperone ticket. Does not include student ticket.
Student Package: Includes engaging pre and post educational visit activities, trip organization and student ticket.
Monterey Bay Whale Watch
Check in 30 minutes before the trip.
Please bring your Confirmation with you when you check in.
To Wear:
Dress warm, layers are best. Dress warmly regardless of the time of year, since it is always cooler on the ocean than it is on land. Long pants with jacket and closed soft-sole shoes are best.
To Bring:
Bring along anything you will want to eat or drink during the trip. Snacks and sodas are available on the vessel or on the wharf. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats are helpful. Bring binoculars, cameras, and video cameras if you have them.
Seasickness: We do not go out if the seas are extreme or there is a storm. However, we will be on the ocean and there is often a swell and or wind chop. Seasick medication is recommended as a precaution if you have little boating experience. You can pick up an over-the-counter medicine at any drug store or purchase a packet of two tablets (Meclizine) at the shop as you check in. It is best to take the medicine the night before the trip and the 2nd tablet one half to one hour before the trip.
Cancellation: We have a 24-hour cancellation policy. If your plans change you need to call 24 hrs. in advance to cancel for full refund. We may cancel a trip at any time due to weather, under-subscription, or unforeseen circumstances. If unsure about weather, please call and we will advise you on the trip status.
Restrictions: Due to the nature of pregnancy and the motion of the ocean we strongly discourage pregnant women.
DIRECTIONS IMPORTANT: GPS mapping for 84 Fisherman’s Wharf - 245 Washington, Monterey, CA 93940 to reach the Wharf’s main entrance to the waterfront parking lot.
PARKING DIRECTIONS
The closest parking lot to MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH is Wharf Lot #1 accessed off Del Monte- Washington (nearest Wharf #1)t. When you enter the parking area, drive as far left as possible until you arrive at the booth to enter the gated lot. Take a ticket to enter the gated lot and drive across the parking lot to the waterfront.
Park near Wharf #1 with all the colorful shops and restaurants.
(You will pay for your parking when you EXIT at the attendant booth.
PARKING IS ON AVERAGE $2. PER HOUR).
-Walk from your car towards Wharf #1 with all the colorful shops & restaurants (there is a pink building at the beginning of our wharf).
-Walk down Fisherman's Wharf, near the end turn right at CRAB HOUSE Restaurant & you will see our building with a large red sign on top that reads "MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH CENTER". We are # 84.
Directions:
From San Francisco/San Jose, CA:
- Take US-101 towards Los Angeles
- Exit CA-156 West towards Monterey Peninsula
- Continue on CA 1 South towards Monterey
- Exit 402B 'Pacific Grove' - Del Monte Avenue
-Turn right into Fisherman's Wharf at 245 Figueroa, Monterey, CA 93940 turn left into the parking lot, take a ticket and drive through the lot to Wharf #1 park near the wharf with all the colorful buildings.
From Sacramento, CA:
- Starting in Sacramento take CA-99 South/I-5 South
- Exit I-80 West towards San Francisco
- Exit I-680 exit towards Benicia/San Jose
- Exit US-101 towards Los Angeles
- Exit CA-156 West towards Monterey Peninsula
- Continue on CA-1 South towards Monterey
- Exit 402B 'Pacific Grove' - Del Monte Avenue
- Turn right into Fisherman's Wharf at 245 Figueroa St Monterey, CA 93940 turn left into the parking lot, take a ticket and drive through the lot to Wharf #1 park near the waterfront near the wharf with all the colorful buildings.
From Los Angeles, CA:
- Take US-101 towards San Francisco
- Exit CA-68 towards Monterey Peninsula
- CA-1 South towards Monterey
- Exit immediately off first exit for Monterey Fremont St.
- At the light turn right on Camino Aguajito then left on Del Monte
- Turn right into Fisherman's Wharf at 245 Figueroa St Monterey, CA 93940 turn left into the parking lot, take a ticket and drive through the lot to Wharf #1 park near the waterfront near the wharf with all the colorful buildings.
From Carmel, Ca:
- CA-1 towards San Francisco
- Exit #399 (Munras Avenue)
- Head down the hill towards the Bay
- Street name changes to: Abrego, then changes to Washington
- At the end of Washington, head straight across Del Monte Ave intersection into the parking lot at the gate take a ticket and park near the waterfront.
(You will pay for your parking when you EXIT at the attendant booth.
PARKING IS ON AVERAGE $2. PER HOUR).
-Walk from your car towards Wharf #1 with all the colorful shops & restaurants (there is a pink building at the beginning of our wharf).
-Walk down Fisherman's Wharf, near the end turn right at CRAB HOUSE Restaurant & you will see our building with a large red sign on top that reads "MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH CENTER".