Definitely wasn't sure how a 4.5 hr excursion would be but overall I'm so glad we went. 2 hours in we followed 3 humpbacks around. There was a minke whale, so so many dolphins and sea lions all going to town on all the grub in the water. Learned facts from the crew about tectonic plates, whale calf's growing up to 100lbs a day and all the oil that leaks from the ocean floor. Even if you do not see something it's a great ride! read more

Condor Express Whale Watching - Boat Charters Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

In spite of not seeing any whales, I still had an unforgettable experience. There were hundreds of different dolphin pods swimming alongside the boat. It was a magical experience. I hope to see you whales next time I go. The water was a little choppy so you might want to preload your trip with some nondrowsy pills if you get seasick. It's also just beautiful to be out on the water looking at the channel islands. Highly recommend the service. read more

Great experience on the whale watching tour. We saw dozens of dolphins playing all around the boat and chasing it as if surf riding the wake of the boat. The captain knew the channel waters very well and guided the boat until we happened upon a group of humpback whales feeding all around us. I'm guessing we saw at least 6-8 whales as they did their thing. It was a memorable experience with a knowledgeable crew and a seasoned captain. read more

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Whales are my favorite animals but I've never seen them, so the Condor express was the perfect experience. We got to see a lot of dolphins and humpback whales. I was sad we didn't get to see any blue whales but it is what it is. We went in August and as we moved further away from land, it got reallly cold. I kinda wish I had more layers but that's my fault haha. The food on the boat was surprisingly pretty good! I got the burger and the grilled cheese sandwich. The unfortunate thing was that they ran out of hot water, so when it got really cold we didn't have hot water to warm up. Again, this did not take away from the experience! As for the staff, they were soo friendly and so knowledgeable! They kept us updated whenever there was any sightings and led us directly to where the Whales were. Things to know before you go: Pack snacks! We saw some people pack instant ramen cups and that was soooo smart! Bring layers or a blanket! Maybe a hat bc it gets really windy. Expect that it'll take maybe an hour or two before you see the whales. They do go pretty far out. You don't have to stay outside the whole time! If you do, you'll get cold lol. You can go inside and warm up haha read more

We had so much fun during the reggae and rock sunset cruise. Staff was beyond friendly and the food was delicious! Music was awesome. Will be joining more events! read more

We had an amazing welcome party for a wedding with 100 guests. The staff were great to work with and the cruise went off without a hitch! I would definitely recommend using Condor Express for any celebration including weddings, birthdays, receptions, or welcome parties. read more

This was such a breathtaking experience! We saw so many whales, dolphins, seals, birds. The volunteers and staff were so friendly and made our trip such a memorable one! read more

From ticket purchase to on time departure and on board exceptional staff, this had the makings of a great adventure! And boy oh boy did they deliver! We were drawn to their track record and knowledge of the area, and were delighted to see three different species of whales! After enjoying seals and sea lions and pelicans on the way out of the harbor, we next saw giant sun fish dining on jelly fish. A great start but what came next was truly astonishing. A massive pod of dolphins along with about 8 humpback whales, including a mother and baby, and countless sea birds having a feeding frenzy. Lots of breaches and photos of whale tails, and some of the whales surface fed and got close enough to the boat to see their barnacle "friends." We continued on and as we got further out, came upon a small group of blue whales AND fin whales, so were able to see the two biggest whale species on the planet. Again, good breaches and dives for whale tail views. It isn't guaranteed to see the amazing show we got today, but the crew knows what they are doing and where to go to give you your best shot at THE best whale watching experience you can imagine. A bonus was a drone operator on board who kept an eye on the blue whales from above so we knew exactly where to look as they started to surface. And then we got to see the drone video and it was spectacular to see the giant creature from that vantage point. read more

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Me and my husband were married on the condor express 5.22.26 . The entire process was so smooth and the easiest decision choosing them for our venue . The crew were the absolute sweetest the boat was clean . The ride was so beautiful we would do it again and again if you want the most beautiful views the smoothest ride and the best crew condor express is your venue to tie the knot read more

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Went on a whale watching tour a few days ago. Online reservations and payment were easy and fast. Check in information was good and check in easy. Tour started on time. The only bummer about our trip was last minute a large school group of Jr High students got on and took over where we were sitting and the large group made it hard to see. Other than that our party of 4 adults enjoyed this trip! Ordering drinks and food was easy. The bathroom wasn't the best but it was clean. Our captain was friendly and knowledgeable. We saw many whales that came close and stayed close to our ship. So close that I got sprayed by one. Captain said when that happens it's called being kissed. I can proudly say I got whale kissed! We will surely go again on our next visit. read more

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Cancelled day before trip claiming rough weather ( mid week whale watching in July). Called over to other charters that are still running the channel and they had no concern over the weather / wind forecast (Island Packers). Initially condor charged a 3.5% processing fee for a charter cancelled by them, not me. Then fully refunded after I pointed out that California has several laws against this when a service is canceled by the business. I don't know how the trip would have actually gone and maybe they would have been fun. read more

This was the highlight of our trip to Santa Barbara! We saw lots of birds, 100's of dolphins, sea lions, and about 10 humpback whales. The staff and channel volunteers were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The boat was super nice and well kept. I would 100% spend the money to do this again if we ever go back. read more

We had friends in town and decided a whale trip would be an adventure. It was amazing. The whale had breached a few times. They are huge. The Condor made sure we saw a whale. read more

Easy to book. Easy to find. Friendly staff. Knowledgeable crew and volunteers. The boat is not for the weak stomachs!

What a beautiful experience! We saw more whales and dolphins than we ever have before on similar trips. The Condor, a catamaran, was very stable and comfortable. The crew and naturalists aboard were all very knowledgeable and welcoming. We had a wonderful time and definitely plan to visit again with other family members sometime. read more

Yesterday my family and I went whale watching with some of our friends. We had 2 young children with us and a teenager. We had an amazing time! When we got to the dock, we checked in and they gave us our boarding passes. The boat left promptly and on time. While the boat is leaving the marina, they give a little science lesson on the whales and what we can expect to see. We saw 3 blue whales and a couple humpback whales. The blue whales are extremely rare this time of year. It was a very active day! We also saw lots of dolphins and seals. I've been whale watching out of Long Beach many times and I've never seen as many whales as I did yesterday. This was my first time whale watching in Santa Barbara and would definitely do it again. Great time! read more

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I love going out on the Condor Express, it is the best whale and dolphin watching experience in the Santa Barbara Channel and the entire west coast. And the vessel is safe for our precious marine life. Make plans to go out today! read more

My executive team, their guests, and I had such an amazing experience with Condor Express Whale Watching this past Nov. 2025 in Santa Barbara! Captain Dave and team were awesome. They answered all my questions, were responsive, friendly, and very accommodating. The day of our trip was sunny; their boat was very large where we could sit and walk around, and they had food and drinks available that we could purchase which was great! Captain Dave and crew were great in telling us what we would expect to see, and we saw so many dolphins and whales than we thought we would, as you know, it's never a guarantee. Everyone had such a wonderful time, and I would strongly recommend booking Condor Express Whale Watching for your next event with family, friends, or corporate team. Thanks again Captain Dave and Crew! Such a fun experience! read more

we had an incredible experience today with 15 whales and hundreds and hundreds of dolphins and some sea lions with the very best crew and a fabulous boat and lovely lovely people experiencing this magic with us. Thank you to everyone at Condor Express!!!!! read more

Enjoyed an excellent whale watching trip this past Saturday, my second trip this year. The Santa Barbara channel is one of natures treasures and I can highly recommend this adventure for anyone who loves the natural world. On both trips we experienced close up encounters with several humpback whales (and one curious sea lion!) along with a variety of sea birds and on our way back into harbor several sunbathing harbor seals. The Condor Express is a very seaworthy twin hulled vessel powered by saltwater jet engines so, there are no propellers to harm inquisitive whales, dolphins, etc. Consequently, we can get very close to whatever sea mammals we find. My hats off to the captain, Dave, the galley crew, Aspen, and Becky one of the excellent tour guides. read more

They knew where the whales were and how the boat should behave to allow the whales to get close. Also great skill with Painted Cave on Santa Clara island. read more

Honestly, deserves more than 5 stars. I had low expectations for seeing whales, but we saw at least ten humpbacks and dozens of sea lions feeding when we visited Santa Barbara in mid April. I can only say good things about our whale watching cruise. The crew was friendly and the captain was very knowledgeable about the marine life we encountered and provided a good description of their feeding behavior. He also positioned the boat so the lighting was optimal for pictures. Highly recommend paying the extra $5 to get a seat on the top deck. There are less people on the top deck and they'll serve you drinks when you're seated while you get out far enough to see any marine life. Parking on the pier can be a bit of a mess. We parked in one of the neighborhoods across the street and walked about ten minutes. The ticket station is close to the end of the pier so give yourself ample time to make your tour, they recommend at least 30 minutes. You can book reservations online directly through their website or you can buy tickets the same day. You might have to wait for the next tour if you don't buy tickets in advance. If you get sea sick, take some ginger candies or dramamine with you. We also brought ginger ale just in case. Take an actual camera if you have one. I don't know how anyone got any good shots with their phones. You don't get that close to the whales, remember they are protected marine mammals. I couldn't ask for more for my first whale watching tour. This will definitely not be my last whale watching tour with Condor Express. read more

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Right now, the boat is running at 50% capacity, but we were out a week ago and had a full (50%) boat. Arrived at 9 in the marina to make sure we had good seats up top. Boarding started at 9:30. Ship leaves at 10a and normally you go about 30 mi out. This day we were put close to 50 mi as we were following multiple whales including some fin whales and many blue whales. They were amazing to watch. Well worth going out with them. Just a few things to remember: 1. Wear a jacket as it does get chilly on the water. 2. Bring your sunscreen as the sun will scorch you 3. Pack a lunch and snacks. They do have a galley but this is a cheaper option. 4. Have fun! They say August is a great month to see the whales but I hope to see them again in the future. read more

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What a great experience! A group of us went out for a night cruise on the Condor Express to watch the annual Santa Barbara holiday boat parade. They put out a yummy spread of snacks, drinks were reasonably priced, and the staff was friendly and helpful. A fun group of spectators and festive Christmas music just added to the festive mood. On top of enjoying our awesome position just past the decorated boats going by, we were treated to a pod of dolphins who were feeding in the pitch black water. Did you know they bioluminescence? Streaks of pale light in the water were followed by the noise from their blow holes and then a shadow of them leaping out of the water. And to top it off, a fireworks show for the ages. It was an evening I will never forget. Thank you, Devin and crew. We'll be back next December with more friends! read more

Condor Express Whale Watching - A decorated boat waiting for the sun to set. - Boat Charters Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The best experience of your life. I've been on this boat at least 5 times and we ALWAYS see wildlife. Multiple dolphin species, seals and sea lion, and of course many species of whales. The captain and crew are so knowledable of the ocean and wildlife and are able to give you the best experience possible. They have great food and drinks as well and are extremely friendly. We will continue to come on more trips! It's the best days ever. read more

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My boyfriend and I visited back in October 2020 for his birthday. What an amazing experience! I can not recommend this whale watching company enough. My boyfriend is a Marine Biology major, a scuba diver, and marine life lover. He was so impressed with how many whales and dolphins we saw on our trip. Condor Express is truly one of the best whale watching companies in Santa Barbara. They do their research on where to find the whales and we saw about 4-5 whales on our trip. However, I did get a little seasick. The ride was around 2 hours long and they did have food available. Since I'm not really that big of a fan of boats, I took a little nap because I felt super dizzy and seasick. I still enjoyed the trip and I'm glad my boyfriend had a great time. We got great photos and my boyfriend is longing to go back! Thank you Condor Express for such a great time and I'm sorry we were a little bit late when we arrived. You guys are awesome! We will definitely be back. If you're in Santa Barbara, give this place a try. read more

Condor Express Whale Watching - Little selfie time - Boat Charters Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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On May 24, 2022 I had one of the absolute best experiences of my life in which we saw at least 9 whales, 100s of dolphins, and even a puffin! We had barely left the harbor and there was a HUGE pod of dolphins feeding on anchovies. They were precious surrounding the boat. Everyone was so excited! The waters were crystal clear and we could see 100s of them all around us. Shortly after, we came across a mom and calf humpback whale. They were extremely friendly and came very close to our boat even waving at us several times. I could not quit smiling. So incredible! After spending some time with the sweet mom and calf we moved on towards Santa Cruz island and saw more humpback whales. Some of them came close to the boat and at one point one of them went directly under our boat! I could see it in the crystal clear water. It felt as though it went right under me! I will NEVER forget this incredible experience of a lifetime! Thank you so much Condor Express! On another note, the drinks and food are also delicious! I enjoyed an irish coffee and a delicious grilled cheese and ham sandwich. :) read more

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This tour was absolutely fantastic. We passed through several dolphin pods -- saw dozens and dozens of dolphins playing by the ship, it was mindblowing. Once we were far out, we encountered four humpback whales, two of whom were very social. The humpbacks came right up to the ship and hung around for 35 minutes! Great tour, and the guides were also friendly and very informative. read more

I've been going out on this boat for 20 years. Crew is friendly and welcoming. The food is great. They offer a whale check if you do not see whales. It's important to remember whales are wild animals, it's not like they have trackers on them. Usually the Capt can find the whales, Santa Barbara is unique since they come thru the channel almost year round. This is a MUST!! read more

Condor Express Whale Watching - Whale - Boat Charters Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

They definitely deliver we saw countless amounts of dolphins and six whales . The boat has someone in the galley to make food for you and to serve drinks. read more

I hired the Condor Express to serve as the rehearsal dinner for our wedding (~50 guests). We opted to do a two hour charter with catering provided by Chicken Ranch (what they call Condor Catering). It was by far one of the most affordable options in the area. While the communication at times was rocky, from the guest experience perspective it was fantastic. read more

I always thought that it would be hit or miss in whale watching. We did see several humpbacks and dozens of sea lions. The sight of wildlife always excites me! The boat trip was long, the boat was big. I like being out at sea so the price was worth it. read more

Ahead of time I had booked a hotel/whale watching package through the Brisas Del Mar Inn down the street, my booking (although legit) seemed very vague and sketchy on the hotel side so I contacted the Condor Express via email to confirm I was actually on the manifest and got in contact with a woman named Carole who was extremely helpful even though she didn't handle that side of the business. She was amazing and patient through my unnecessary paranoia with my hotel and I wanted to give her a shout out! Thanks again! We had an amazing time on the Sept 19th tour and saw hundreds of dolphins, a minke and about 5 blues. I'm the crazy person to read reviews whenever I'm excited about something so I thought I'd leave some tips for future passengers! - It was very choppy out which made a few people sea sick so if you're the slightest bit worried about getting sick, id definitely recommend taking meds beforehand. - They serve reasonable priced food on board, we had the turkey grilled cheese but it was rather plain, wouldn't order it again but am not against trying something else next time. - BIG HEADS UP!!: I read ahead of time to dress in layers and they weren't kidding! The forecast was predicted to be 78 degrees so I wore jeans and a leather jacket with a hoodie and t-shirt underneath and was still freezing! On the way back everyone that could be inside, was. The only time it seemed warmer was when your hands got numb lol, I wish I brought gloves and was glad we were required to wear masks so at least my face was half warm. - Lastly, At the end, right before you get off the boat, you have the option to drop a tip in a jar for the crew, I'm glad we had some cash on us because they definitely deserved it! So Bring cash! Lol Overall, this trip was amazing, definitely something I'll remember for a long time! 100% recommend the Condor Express! read more

Condor Express Whale Watching - Boat Charters Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Went on the 2.5 hour Whale Watching a couple weekend ago. Saw one whale (very far away) , no dolphins or sea lions. As we went out further the oil spillage was everywhere, and the smell was terrible. Stayed in that for too long. Unfortunately cannot give a good rating for this trip. I think we were disappointed because we assumed we would see more. :/. read more

Absolutely great company! Staff is extremely friendly and professional. Wonderful experience. Definitely recommend sea sick medicine if you don't have good sea legs. We saw many whales and dolphins. Not is very nice. Food is very good for "boat food". Would absolutely recommend. read more

Condor Express Whale Watching - Humpback whale - Boat Charters Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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If you want to explore a truly exceptional marine mammal experience this is the tour for you. The boat is fast, sea animal friendly with no propellers and immaculate. The Capitan, Dave, is a former Cousteau associate with exemplary knowledge of the ocean and its Denizens including whales and other species both mammals and fish. He knows where they frequent and his narratives are delightful and informative. If you miss him, he has taught his second in coommand Colton very well and you'll be well treated. The Galley has a full bar with terrific fresh food, frankly I know of nothing so wonderful as a good burger on the ocean and a beer. If you are a novice at sea or even a bit doubtful take your Dramamine at least 30 mInutes before to ensure a happy experience. This is a true Santa Barbara gem you should not miss tourist or local. read more

**Dress warm! Winter coat warm. I wore jeans and a coat, and I was comfortable. Several people were wearing shorts, and they looked miserable.** Amazing experience!! Highly recommend. Saw hundreds of dolphins (2 different species), sea lions, and six humpback whales. The captain did an awesome job locating the whales, and let us stay out a little later since it took him until the end of the trip to find them. Also they have a "whale watching guarantee" and will give out vouchers if they do not find a significant amount of wild life. Our active 5yr & 3yr olds were captivated by the experience and loved it. The volunteers on board were as engaged with them as the adults and did an excellent job teaching them about whales! read more

Our whale watching cruise on the Condor Express was an excellent experience. We took the 2.5 hour cruise and saw 7 gray whales, 1 humpback whale, and lots of dolphins and seals. The trip was educational with two volunteers explaining what we were going to see and what we were witnessing. The ship was well appointed and extremely clean and comfortable! We had so much fun and will definitely do it again! read more

I was asked several times if I was sure that I wanted to go on the boat because I might get sea sick. I had already stated several times that I was going. The service was horrible, communication was non existent. Staff was rude!! So much so, I got the feeling that they were discriminating against my friend and I. An entire boat full of people that made their choice to go out Whale Watching, went out but we were the only people questioned and discouraged not to get on the boat. This was all after my friend purchased water and dramamine for $29 (high prices) and did not offer a refund. People may have fun on this shitty ass boat, I wish I was able to say but I was not allowed on the boat. Condor Express, do better!!! read more

Overall was just an average experience. The boat was not at full capacity but it was still too crowded given the circumstances. We saw a ton of dolphins and one Minke whale which was nice, but all the down time waiting is why I say this was only average. I understand that whale watching is something you can't predict how many or how long you will see wildlife. Other tours I've been on, there's a video playing or a tour guide speaking. On our charter, there was none of that, just staring at the water and coastline and waiting to see something. The captain did take us to the painted caves which was beautiful to see but overall the trip was underwhelming. Hoping this was a fluke experience. read more