Whale watching is one of those things that a lot of people might dismiss—either for fear of not having their sea legs or because they think they might not even see anything! These fears, I can assure you, are unfounded. The crews on the professional tour companies such as Princess Monterey Whale Watching go out of their way to create a comfortable, informative, and whale-filled experience.

Whale watching tours are depart from the Monterey fisherman’s wharf throughout the morning and day, and are about two and a half to three hours in length.

Once you reserve your trip and leave the harbor on one of the 100 foot vessels, you’ll be taken out anywhere from 2-16 miles off the coast in the search for whales. Just being out on the beautiful Pacific Ocean, looking back on the coastline is well worth the ticket price, but to see whales and other large marine mammals on top of that is incredible.

Depending on the time of year you attend, you might see a “mega pod” of bottlenose dolphins, stretching as far as the eye can see, or even catch a glimpse of that legendary behemoth, the blue whale (the largest animal on the planet, if you needed reminding). In addition, there is plenty of other wildlife in these waters: seals, sea lions, porpoises, sea otters, albatross, pelicans, sharks(!), and much more.

Experiencing these beautiful creatures is unforgettable and feels once-in-a-lifetime, even if you decide to come back year after year, as many of the visitors decide to do.

And, should you run the rare instance of not seeing any whales, the company will give you a voucher for a free trip in the future.

Pack List

• Dress in layers
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Close-toed shoes