Afisha Life Homepage
Newport Beach
Explore
Walking Tours
Ultimate Whale and Dolphin Watching in Newport Beach, 6 person maximum

Ultimate Whale and Dolphin Watching in Newport Beach, 6 person maximum

Overview

Welcome to East Meets West Whale Watching with Capt. Nick - Enjoy the Ultimate Whale and Dolphin Watching tour in Newport Beach, CA.

Get ready for an intimate experience with some of nature’s most fantastic wildlife. Aboard Newport Beach's most advanced whale and dolphin watching vessel, we limit our trips to 6 passenger(s) per boat which allows us to provide the Personal Attention and Comfort you deserve. Our new boats are extremely quiet, enabling us to stealthily approach and bring you a front-row seat to these spectacular mammals without disturbing them in their natural habitat.

Departing from beautiful Balboa Island in Newport Beach, you will explore the wildlife-rich waters of Orange County, a superhighway for whales and dolphins year-round. See whales and dolphins in their natural migratory path. Creating lifetime memories, one trip at a time!

City: Newport Beach

Mon 23 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $99.00

Make a reservation

Mon 23 Dec

Starting at $99.00

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (103) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (113) Entry Tickets (47) Sporting Events (1) Good for Small Groups (6) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (41) Walking Tours (697) Outdoor Activities (20) Limitied Availability Tours (6) LGBT Friendly Tours (4) Family-friendly Activities (7) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (27) Travelers recommend (73) Good for Groups (8) Top Activities (18) Guided Audio Tours (3) Art, Culture & History (135) Attractions to explore (38)

What's Included

Professional guide

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Not recommended for pregnant travelers in their 3rd trimester
If you have any serious physical injuries/impairments/surgeries, please consult physician prior to making reservation
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
Our crew is fully vaccinated on all of our boats. We always have face coverings available out of consideration for our guests. Guests are welcome to request captain to wear a face covering.

What To Expect

Balboa Island

Balboa Island is a harborside community located in Newport Beach, California, accessible to the public via bridge, ferry and several public docks. The community is surrounded by a paved concrete boardwalk open to pedestrian traffic, designated as a public walking trail by the city.

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (24)

Kristen N

Sep 2017

Dolphin and whale watching with Capt. Nick was by far one of the most joy-filled afternoons I’ve had while living in Southern California the last 5 years. The boat ride alone – a comfortable, intimate experience of soaring out into the beautiful ocean – would have been an amazing and relaxing way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but when the mammals make an appearance, it’s pure magic. When our group first started to look for a tour to go on, we were looking at all the larger options but quickly realized we’d be high above the water, fighting with dozens of other passengers for the same views. So we decided to go riding with Capt. Nick on his great 6-seater boat, where it’s essentially a private ride, and you are practically an arm’s length from the surface of the ocean. Boy, did it pay off! Capt. Nick is super chill and makes you feel at home on his boat, and he is incredibly knowledgeable about the ocean and marine life. It was impressive to watch him seek out wildlife, watching the bird formations and using binoculars to search for movement. Our first sighting was a small group of common dolphins that playfully flipped and skipped near us as we all freaked out at being so close to them! We could have watched them forever, but Capt. Nick thought we should move on. A short ride later, he found a large pod of over 100 common dolphins! We rode alongside them for a good while – they jumped and followed our boat, they showed off unbelievable flips, and simply surrounded us. It was unlike anything we’d experienced before. Our group of 6 adults was like kids on the boat, screaming at every flip and grinning from ear to ear. When it was time to head back, the dolphins were so impressive and nature is unpredictable that we felt lucky just to see them, that we weren’t even really thinking of whales anymore! But halfway there, you could tell Capt. Nick was on another mission. Suddenly, he’s telling us “Minke Whale, 1 o’clock!” And sure enough, a beautiful whale surfaces not too far from us. He moves us in a little closer, and it was unreal – the whale was curious of us! She was feeding, swam around us, under us, it was like she was being playful, for a good 20 minutes! Well that just did us in. We were brimming with excitement; watching this grand mammal in her natural environment was a moving experience! The ocean is a magnificent and wondrous place, and it was only through the skills, knowledge and pure enthusiasm that Capt. Nick brings to the excursion that we were truly able to appreciate it. I whole-heartedly recommend this tour to everyone.

saalfeldk68

Oct 2016

The boat that we went out on was a very nice Bimini that held 6. No one but the two of us showed up so it was a private tour! Nick warned us before we left that there had been no whale sightings for three days and offered to refund our money if we decided not to go. Fortunately my husband insisted we go along for the ride. Nick radioed another boat and found that there had been a sighting of a humpback. We quickly headed to the spot. While Nick's trained eyes saw the whale right away, we didn't. Nick then spent 15 minutes searching the area until we were delighted to spend the next 1/2 hour watching the whale surface and blow!!! We had several dolphins that played along beside us that were also fun to watch. We were impressed that Nick decided to spend the extra time just to make our trip memorable.

johnnier594

Sep 2016

My wife and I went out with Captain Nick on a 9am morning trip. It was a beautiful morning, sun was out, but not too hot. Captain Nick was very personable and friendly. It didn't take long after leaving the harbor that we found a good size pod of dolphins. Had to be approximately 50-75. They were playing with the boat and giving us great video and photo opportunities. It was so amazing to see so many. Afterwards, Capt. Nick was able to find a humpback whale. Approximately 30' in length. We probably spent close to 45 minutes watching as he would come up for 2-3 breaths before diving down for 2 minutes. On a few of his dives, he would show us his tail, it was so awesome! Again, being that we were on a smaller more private boat, we had great video and photo opportunities. On our return trip in, we stopped and saw some sea lions basking in the sun. I would highly recommend Capt. Nick if you're planning on taking a tour, you will not be disappointed!