California > San Diego > Water Activities > Scenic & Sunset Cruises Experiences

Private Whale Watching & Sightseeing Tour

La Jolla, CA

From: $450

Item #: WAT-SDI-0015

(3 Reviews)

Whale Watching & Sightseeing in San Diego

Private Whale Watching Experience near San Diego

Experience the ultimate excitement of whale watching from a perspective unlike any other on your own private boat!

Featured in National Geographic, your Coast Guard Certified captain has lead tours for over 30 years
Speed across the ocean water in a custom-built, Navy SEAL-style boat
Once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with a variety of whales and dolphins
Private and customized experience that is tuned to your interests and seasonal wildlife cycles
Enjoy the best seat on the ocean with your friends or family to be immersed in San Diego's coastal ecosystem!

From: $450

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Overview

Experience the ultimate excitement of whale watching from a perspective unlike any other on your own private boat!

Featured in National Geographic, your Coast Guard Certified captain has lead tours for over 30 years
Speed across the ocean water in a custom-built, Navy SEAL-style boat
Once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with a variety of whales and dolphins
Private and customized experience that is tuned to your interests and seasonal wildlife cycles
Enjoy the best seat on the ocean with your friends or family to be immersed in San Diego's coastal ecosystem!

Full Description

Availability

When Do I Choose A Date?

If giving as a gift, your recipient can choose a date at their convenience; otherwise, you can choose one after checkout.

Year-Round:
Daily - recommended during peak summer months

Important Details

Essential Information

All ages are welcome
The guide encourages input so that your experience is customized to your liking
It is highly recommended to plan this trip in the summer months
You may bring along your own snacks and beverages

Duration

3 hours

Experience Provider Info

Complete information for your Experience Provider, including contact information, will be included on your booking confirmation email once you or your gift recipient have scheduled the experience. Our Product Management team handpicks top-rated experience providers, removing the guesswork for you and ensuring your peace of mind.

Maximum Participants

This private tour is for 1-12 participants, depending on the option selected.

Spectators

This experience is for booked participants only.

Weather Dependent

This experience is weather dependent. Always contact the experience provider with any questions regarding weather conditions.

What To Wear

Bring warm clothes, a windbreaker, a hat, sunglasses and a towel. Even in the summer months, the breeze off the water is cool.

COVID-19 Safety

For this experience, our partners are taking extra measures to prevent any potential spread of COVID-19. These measures include disinfecting the boat before and after every trip and providing hand sanitizer throughout the experience. Masks will be required at check in but will not be required once the boat leaves the dock. Our partners kindly request that all participants who are feeling symptomatic or have traveled to a high-risk area to reschedule your experience.
These Covid-19 safety measures are subject to change.

FAQs

What are the best months to go?

For this experience it is highly recommended to go during the summer. The best months are July through September. During these months you will have the best chance to see Blue Whales. Blue Whales are much bigger than Gray Whales. Gray Whales are more common during the winter.

Are there any age restrictions?

All ages are welcome!

Is there a bathroom onboard?

Yes, there is a clean restroom on the boat.

Do you have life jackets for adults and for kids?

Yes, there will be life jackets available for adults and kids.

Returns, Exchanges & Cancellations

Returns
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be returned hassle-free within 30 days. All refunds will be made to the original purchaser.
Exchanges
Experience Vouchers that have not been redeemed can be exchanged for anything else in our marketplace at any time. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs more, you'll simply have to pay the difference. If you choose to exchange for an experience that costs less, you'll have a credit towards your next booking with Virgin Experience Gifts.

Cancellation Policy

Once you have received a booking confirmation, cancellations and rescheduling are allowed up to 14 days prior to the experience. Failure to appear on your booked date or to cancel and reschedule at least 14 days prior to your booked date will result in the loss of the value of your experience.

Other San Diego Experiences

Customer Reviews

This experience has a customer rating of 5
based on 3 reviews.

View More Reviews:

Absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! Captain Russel is the man! He is very accommodating and makes you feel right at home on his one-of-a-kind RIB. He tailored the trip to us and knows the waters like the back of his hand. His excitement only made us that more pumped! We had absolutely perfect weather and calm waters. Perfect conditions for seeing an assortment of extraordinary marine life: common and bottle nose dolphins, sunfish, sea lions and a whale! Hanging over the bow of the boat, watching dolphins swim directly underneath within an arm's reach jumping and playing, is truly an unforgettable experience! Highly highly recommend! No other San Diego water adventure can even compare!

— Brooke B | Aug 13, 2019

Response from Virgin Experience Gifts

Hi Brooke! Wow! Talk about an incredible experience, and a stellar review to match! I will be sure to pass this along to our partners, and Captain Russell. They will be so thrilled to hear that you had such an awesome time! Ideal weather, smooth waters, and playful sea-life? Your adventure sounds like something out of a movie! It is so wonderful to hear that you were able to really engage with nature, and observe so many cool creatures. We cannot wait to get you out on your next experience of a lifetime! Best, Sophia

Russell was absolutely incredible! We had the experience of a lifetime. The boat was top of the line. We could not have asked for a better skipper and blue whale "whisperer." If you are looking for someone who not only understands the biggest mammal on earth but also, respects the blue whales and the ocean, Russell is your man. He will give you an intimate experience with the big blue! We were fortunate enough to see 6 different blues on our trip. 2 deep dives with tail fins and some 300 common dolphin! A trip we'll never forget! We'll be back Russell!!!

— Lindsay H | Sep 23, 2013

We had a great time. The day was fun and the captain was very knowledgeable and helpful to make the excursion our own.

— Wendel B | Apr 10, 2012

Private Whale Watching & Sightseeing Tour