Tickets & tours
Tour tickets are sold by individual operators at Old Fisherman's Wharf and Moss Landing. Most half-day trips range from $60 to $80 for adults.
Most bookedEmbark 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....
Best valueThe longest running whale watching company on Monterey Bay. We have 3 boats ranging in size from 53’ to 70’. All boats are USCG inspected and approved with indoor...
Top ratedWe are honored to be the #1 Whale Watching Company in Monterey Bay with a 99% success rate and offer: Two of the largest and most comfortable boats operating in...
Monterey Bay is one of the greatest places in the world to find whales and with the added bonus of a sunset viewing in the summer/fall months, you can't go wrong! Each...
When in Monterey, kayaking on the bay is a must. Most renters describe this activity as the highlight of their visit to the area. There are so many mammals and birds to...
Small groupThe El Cat, built right here in Moss Landing, is a fully electric, 32 passenger, Coast Guard-certified vessel. This is a custom 37’ catamaran built and designed...
Prices change based on platform and season. Check exact costs before booking.
Enter your group and compare totals on both platforms. From-prices; children are priced as adults unless the listing gives a child rate.
Compare our top tour picks.
| Option | Duration | Viator from | GetYourGuide from | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| classic whale watching | 3 h 30 min | $75 | Compare | 4.7 (1,655) | First-time visitors and families |
| budget whale watch | 3 h | $62 | Compare | 4.7 (2,937) | Travelers on a budget |
| large boat tour | 2 h to 3 h | $70 | Compare | 4.8 (3,453) | Those prone to seasickness |
| sunset whale watch | 3 h | $75 | Compare | 4.8 (88) | Romantic evening wildlife viewing |
| kayak rental | 2 h | $40 | Compare | 4.7 (90) | Active and independent explorers |
| elkhorn slough wildlife | 1 h 30 min | $45 | Compare | 4.9 (503) | Seeing sea otters and birds |
Standard half-day tours typically range from $60 to $80 for adults. Children's tickets average $40 to $55. Specialty full-day tours cost $150 to $200 or more.
Standard daily tours usually last between 2.5 and 4 hours. Extended specialty tours, like killer whale searches, can last 8 to 12 hours.
Most major operators depart from Old Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey. A few alternative tours depart from Moss Landing Harbor, located midway around the bay.
From Viator
1,655 reviews of the classic whale watching on Viator & GetYourGuide
Small boats but that means you’re close to the action. Went miles out looking for whales, saw 2 pods of humpbacks and 2 groups of dolphin
Maddie, Ryan and Capt JJ knew their stuff! From finding 5 different humpback whales and hundreds of dolphins, to helping us understand why Monterey is such a hub for whales to making sure hot chocolate was available to all that asked, they made our 4 hour trip fly by and left us wanting more.!
Very nice experience but it’s 50/50 chance to see whales or dolphins. We had the unforgettable experience to watch hundreds of dolphins swimming along the boat ! It was surreal 💙🐬🌊
