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Dana Point Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Eco-Safari

Dana Point Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Eco-Safari

Overview

Gather the family, kids, and friends to join Orange County's highest rated whale watching activity, featuring exclusive Underwater Viewing Pods. For over 20 years we have provided the most unique and eco-friendly dolphin and whale watching trips to view magnificent Blue Whales, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, and occasionally Orcas (Killer Whales), Pilot Whales, False Killer Whales, and more. Five species of wild dolphins are also seen throughout the year, including mega-pods with up to 10,000 dolphins! Plus sea lions, marine birds, and even sharks. You'll depart from Dana Point, home to one of the most diverse marine eco-systems in the world. Aboard our uncrowded high-tech catamaran you will enjoy up close and personal dolphin and whale watching with expert narration, complimentary triple fudge brownies, and more.

City: Dana Point

Tue 24 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $100.00

Make a reservation

Tue 24 Dec

Starting at $100.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Licensed Captain and professional crew

U.S. Coast Guard inspected and certified vessel

Cetacean Declaration - Join us again for free within one calendar year if you don't see any dolphins or whales

Live commentary on board

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Entry into the Underwater Viewing Pods requires the use of ladder-like steps. Persons with a disability or limited mobility may have difficulty.
Trip times may vary by date.
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (376)

Y8457TQmarkb

Jul 2016

The place really deserves its 5 star rating. My wife and I booked a Saturday afternoon cruise. We ran into a pod of 500 dolphins about 15 minutes out of Dana Point Harbor. Truly awesome to view them in the wild. We spent a lot of time with the pod that absolutely made the trip worthwhile. Unfortunately we did not see any whales but the trip was definitely worth it. The cruise lasts about 2 1/2 hours and is limited to 49 people. The catamaran is big enough for everyone to move around and sit down. Much better than the cheaper whale watching cruises where you are shoulder to shoulder with everyone and have to stand for the entire time. The crew was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend getting to the location very early. There is limited parking in the two free public lots near the location. It is very crowded during the summer and especially on the weekends. Overall a great time and we will definitely be back.

Response from Host

Aug 2016

Hi, Thank you very much for your review. We appreciate the kind words about our company – and I am so pleased that you and your wife had a wonderful time on your recent dolphin and whale watching safari. It’s definitely fun to be surrounded by a large, active pod of beautiful wild dolphins! I’m sorry we were unable to share with you the experience of viewing a whale up-close, because there are several kinds that we usually see on our trips, such as Blue Whales, Minke Whales, Gray Whales, and more. But nature can be unpredictable and so every trip is different. As you mentioned, parking can be a challenge sometimes, and we always recommend for our guests to arrive at least 45 minutes early to find parking and check in. I’m glad you liked our crew and were comfortable on the boat. We definitely look forward to seeing you on another safari soon!

scrappyhsu

Apr 2016

I have never seen that many wild dolphins before- hundreds!!! On other dolphin watching excursions I've been on previously in Florida, I only saw 3-4 dolphins. On Captain Dave's tour, I saw HUNDREDS in megapods. I didn't realize until this tour that Dana Point is such a hot-spot for dolphins- otherwise I would have come here first! It was awesome. They like to ride the stream coming off the front-sides of the boat and play- I couldn't get enough. We also saw a mother gray whale with her baby fairly close to shore. Went on the 8am tour April 2. I will definitely go again, I only wish I lived closer!!

Response from Host

May 2016

Hi, Thank you very much for your review and beautiful photos. I’m so glad you were able to enjoy the multitude of playful wild dolphins that we are blessed to see here in Southern California. You are right that it is a hot-spot for them, and in fact there are more wild dolphins here than anywhere else in the world! It’s wonderful that you also spent time with a Gray Whale mother and calf. We are fortunate to be on the Gray Whales’ migration route between Baja and Alaska. I’m happy you had a great time on your dolphin and whale watching safari. I hope you can join us again soon.

Michael G

Feb 2016

Went out of Dana Point on the catamaran Manutc'a with 2 grand kids ages 11 and 9. The 3 man crew knew where the whales and dolphins were being spotted and wasted no time finding them. Their spotting and explanations of the whale and dolphin behaviors were terrific and they positioned the boat so everyone had great viewing. The crew was very knowledgeable of the local waters, the migration patterns and behavior patterns of the animals. It was a great morning cruise that watched 8 gray whales, 1 which breached twice, and 3 pods of dolphins, 1 estimated to have upwards of 500 dolphins..

Response from Host

Feb 2016

Hi, Thanks for taking the time to write us a review. It’s great to read that our crew was successful in showing you several amazing Gray Whales and hundreds of beautiful wild dolphins. I’m so glad you enjoyed the narration about the animals too. We love to make sure our trips are educational as well as fun. Thank you for joining us! I hope we’ll see you again soon.