Whale Watching Tours from Fisherman's Wharf
1 Miles | 3 Minutes Drive
Monterey Bay is one of the most reliable places in California to see whales, because the deep Monterey Submarine Canyon brings nutrient-rich water close to shore. Humpback whales are commonly seen from spring through fall, gray whales pass through on their migration in winter and spring, and dolphins, sea lions, and seabirds are frequent company.
Most tours leave from Old Fisherman's Wharf, about a mile from Cannery Row Inn. That is a three minute drive, or a 20 minute walk along the Coastal Recreation Trail, so you can be on the dock for a morning departure without worrying about traffic. What you see changes by season and by day, so ask the operator what has been sighted recently.
Tips
- Book with a licensed operator and check their weather and cancellation policy.
- Dress in layers. It is usually much colder on the water than on shore.
- Take seasickness precautions before you board, not after. Morning trips are often calmer.
Photo: Humpback whales in Monterey Bay by Cynthia Yock, via Wikimedia Commons. Original photograph and this image adaptation licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized; website renditions may be cropped and converted to WebP for display. This license applies only to the photograph.
