Responsible Whale Watching

USA: CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
USA: CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary offers great whale and dolphin
watching opportunities all year round. Due to the submarine canyons close
to shore, it is not necessary to go out very far before you have the chance of
meeting several whale and dolphin species. Twenty-seven of the 87 species of
whales and dolphins known to date have been encountered in this area.
Country or region
USA, California
Location:
Monterey, Moss Landing, Santa Cruz, San
Simeon, San Francisco
Best time to visit: J F M A M J J A S O N D
Main species seen:
Grey whale (December – April), humpback
whale, blue whale (April – November), minke
whale, orca, Pacific white-sided dolphin,
bottlenose dolphin (year round)
Species occasionally seen: Risso’s dolphin, Northern right whale
dolphin, Dalls’s porpoise, harbour porpoise
Types of whale watching on
offer:
2-3 hour trips
Any concerns?
Added value:
Other good sites:
Several viewing points along
Highway 1; Lighthouse Point
(Santa Cruz)
Kayaking tours to see whales and dolphins
are also on offer. Although it might be
tempting, please note that getting close to
a whale is dangerous for both people and
whale. Always keep a safe distance to avoid
disturbing marine mammals.
Sanctuary Exploration Center, Santa Cruz and
Coastal Discovery Center, San Simeon, The
Whale Trail (San Simeon, Santa Cruz, San
Francisco, Point Lobos State Reserve, Point
Reyes)
Other whale watching sites in California
include Dana Point, Fort Bragg, Mendocino,
San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Point Dume
State Beach, Channel Islands
© Fabian Ritter
e Common dolphins | Humpback whale fluke | Grey whale
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