Whale Watching Season 2011

Posted by bayinn on January 1, 2011

January 1 - March 15, 2011

From December through March, visitors to San Diego have the unique opportunity to glimpse one of nature’s most extraordinary events—the migration of California gray whales from the chilly Alaskan seas to the warm water lagoons of Baja California where they birth and rear their young.

Each winter, tens of thousands of these “peaceful giants of the sea” come within a few miles of the San Diego coast on their 5,000-mile southern journey, the longest known distance any mammal migrates on an annual basis. With 70 miles of coastline, San Diego makes an ideal location for viewing this impressive parade. During the peak migration season in mid-January, as many as 200 whales per day have been counted off of San Diego’s shores.

Whale Watching for Land-Lubbers

Cabrillo National Monument Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego's picturesque national park, is situated on the panoramic Point Loma peninsula and offers a glass enclosed observatory overlook from which to spot whales from late December until early March. Visitors can explore whale exhibits and listen to a taped narration describing characteristics of these popular animals. Cabrillo's Whale Watch Weekend and Intertidal Life Festival on January 27-28, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. features presentations, exhibits and films. Rangers are on hand throughout the weekend to assist visitors in spotting the whales and exploring the park’s magnificent tidepools. Admission is $5 per private vehicle. www.nps.gov/cabr

From December 26, 2006 through March 31, 2007, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps celebrates the gray whale season with educational activities and whale exhibits. The aquarium's outdoor tide-pool plaza, overlooking La Jolla's shoreline and the Pacific Ocean, offers an excellent vantage point for viewing the gray whale's epic journey. www.aquarium.ucsd.edu

Whale Watching by Sea - Day Excursions

OEX Dive & Kayak Centers offers visitors a close encounter with nature with its 2 ½ hour Whale Watching Kayak Tour, available December 15, 2006 through March 4, 2007. The roughly one-mile paddle tour launches daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. from La Jolla Shores. The tour cost $60 for a single kayak and $110 for a double kayak. Prices include transportation of the kayak to and from the beach, kayak rental, a guided tour, life vest, paddle, wetsuit, and a certificate to the neighboring Shores Restaurant for 15% off of lunch or dinner. www.oexcalifornia.com.

San Diego visitors can experience a thrilling whale watching excursion aboard an authentic 30’ Navy SEAL Rigid Inflatable Boat (R.I.B.) with Adventure RIB Rides. Passengers will enjoy a fast ride to the ocean, allowing more time for whale spotting, as they learn about the natural and migration habits of the whales from the U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain, who also serves as the on-board naturalist. Groups up to six passengers can charter the entire boat for $299 for 2 hours. Public tours are offered on Fridays at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. for an adult ticket price of $62.50 and a children ticket price of $40 (children aged 5-12). www.adventureribrides.com

From December 26, 2006 to March 31, 2007, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps and San Diego Harbor Excursion team up for narrated, 3 ½-hour whale watching cruises out of San Diego Bay; two cruises depart daily, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Birch Aquarium naturalists narrate the tours and guests receive gray whale fact sheets. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, with a full galley onboard. Reservations are recommended. Birch Aquarium also offers three- and five-night excursions to Baja California where guests can experience a guided boat ride in lagoons among the gray whales and their calves. www.sdhe.com, www.aquarium.ucsd.edu

Classic Sailing Adventures features two exhilarating trips daily aboard its quiet sailing yacht, beginning in mid-December and continuing until the end of March. The 4-hour excursions depart at 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; tickets are $65 per person and include beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Reservations are required. www.classicsailingadventures.com

H&M Landing offers 3-hour whale watching cruises from mid-December 2006 through mid-March 2007, and 5-hour cruises from December 2006 through March 2007. All cruises include informative narrations on the whales, outdoor seating and a galley with hot food and beverages. Daily departure times for 3-hour tours are 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for juniors (13-17 years old) and $17.50 for children (2-12 years old). The 5-hour tours depart daily at 10 a.m. and take sightseers into Mexican waters and the wildlife sanctuary of the Coronado Islands. Ticket prices are $50 for adults and $40 for juniors and children. Special group rates are available upon request. H&M guarantees to take guests out to sea again for free if no whales are spotted. www.hmlanding.com

Hornblower Cruises and Events offers 3 ½-hour deluxe whale watching adventure cruises in partnership with the San Diego Natural History Museum from December 16, 2006 through April 1, 2007. Passengers receive a professional narration on the whales’ migration and other marine life. The boat features snack bars, binocular rentals, climate-controlled indoor seating, and a museum-curated whale exhibit with fossils and video. Expeditions depart daily at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; ticket prices are $30 for adults and $15 for children (4-12 years old). Discounts are available for seniors, groups and military personnel. Hornblower guarantees that if guests do not spot gray whales, they can cruise again for free. www.hornblower.com

In January and February 2007, Next Level Sailing will offer a unique whale watching experience aboard the America, a historic replica of the world’s first America’s Cup winner. The 139-foot long sailing yacht can accommodate up to 80 guests and is perfectly suited for whale watching because of its low sleek lines, deep keel for stability and the ability to quietly approach the whales under sail without using noisy engine power. The yacht’s low sweeping deck also gives guests a great vantage point for photographing the whales up close. The 4-hour whale watching excursions will depart every Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. from the San Diego Marriott Marina behind Seaport Village. Excursions cost $75 for adults and $35 for children aged 12 and under. The trip includes soft beverages, snacks, narration about whale migration habits, history on the America, and an update on the current America’s Cup race. This is the first time the general public in San Diego is invited to experience the America; normally the yacht is only available for private charter. www.americayacht.com

Whale Watching by Air

For a bird’s eye view of the gray whale migration, Biplane, Air Combat & Warbird Adventures offers picturesque flights along the coast. Flying at least 1,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, passengers have a unique opportunity to view the whales at full length, swimming in pods. Flights depart from McClellan-Palomar Airport in the North County city of Carlsbad. www.barnstorming.com

Special Expeditions

Birch Aquarium at Scripps is hosting an exciting Weekend Whale Adventure in Baja on February 16-19 and March 15-18, 2007. This motorcoach tour along the Baja California coast includes an overnight stay in Ensenada, guided boat ride in Ojo de Liebre — also known as Scammon's Lagoon, the famed breeding and calving grounds for the gray whales — and short visits to pristine salt marshes, the Vizcaino Desert and prehistoric cave paintings. On March 7-11 and March 21-25, 2006, guests can join the Birch Aquarium at Scripps on another wet and wild adventure to Mexico with its five-day Whale Watching Safari, which features the sites included in the Weekend Whale Adventure plus the secluded Bahia de San Ignacio, where exhilarating guided boat rides offer close encounters with the gray whales. www.aquarium.ucsd.edu

On February 22-25, 2006, visitors can join the San Diego Natural History Museum on a trip to Mexico called A Taste of Baja—Seasoned with Whales and Rock Art Highlights include an overnight stay in Ensenada and an unforgettable boat ride among whales in Scammon's Lagoon, one of Baja California's most pristine locales. Side excursions to a pristine bird-filled marsh in Guerrrero Negro and the Vizcaino Desert to view ancient cave paintings round out the trip. Ticket price is $550 for non-members of the museum, which includes transportation, accommodations, travel insurance, breakfasts, some lunches, snacks, drinks, and activities. Minimum age requirement is 6 years old. www.sdnhm.org

Pacific Sea Fari Tours, in conjunction with H&M Landing, offers seagoing expeditions to Baja California's beautiful and remote islands and coastal areas, including breeding lagoons of the gray whale. Trips run from nine to 11 days in February and March 2007. Guests enjoy naturalist-led nature walks, including beach combing, dune and marsh explorations, slide and film presentations, and up-close encounters with whales. Prices start at $2,100; all shipboard accommodations, meals and snacks are included. www.hmlanding.com