Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Discovery Whale Watch

    4.9 (693 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Discovery Whale Watch Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Discovery Whale Watch

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Humpback whale coming up for air.
    Del S.

    The staff was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The 9am departure did not disappoint. Once spouts were spotted the Captain took us as close as safe to see the Humpback Whales, which was plenty close. I wish I had a better camera with me to do it justice. We also saw sea otters, common murres, cormorants and an incredible pod of Risso dolphins. Totally worth the money and time.

    Humpback whale

    We were running a little late and they called to check in loved that . Having a naturalist on board is always great . We did the extended tour and they do an amazing job at making the 6+ hrs fly by , my 3rd time riding with them and always a great experience.

    Julie P.

    What an adventure!!!! When they say layer clothing they mean it. We did and we had the best trip! The entire staff and crew were very friendly, educated, and informed. There was a professional photographer onboard and take advantage of that! They show you all the amazing sites you can only see form sea..lol while on you journey out. The crew know what they are doing and you will see some amazing things!

    Jeff B.

    My good friend was visiting from the UK and, as a first-time visitor to America, he was keen on doing a whale watching cruise. Based on Yelp! reviews, I booked our trip with Discovery Whale Watch and I'm glad we did! Great communication, very personable, highly knowledgeable and absolutely professional. Naturalist Isaiah was brilliant. It was the highlight of my friend's visit. We did the 9 AM cruise and saw several humpbacks, plus a blue whale. Highly recommend!

    Belle J.

    First time ever going whale watching -- and I absolutely loved the experience! We only spotted one humpback whale, which was a bit disappointing since I was hoping to see more whales and maybe some dolphins too, but of course, that's out of anyone's control. My husband and I, along with a few others, got seasick from the strong waves. I've never experienced seasickness before, so we didn't take any meds in advance -- big mistake! Definitely recommend grabbing the motion sickness pills from the crew (only $1), they're totally worth it. Huge shoutout to the amazing staff -- Maddie, JJ, and Ryan -- for being so kind and helpful!

    A beautiful day
    Nicole J.

    Amazing experience. We got to see a huuuuuge group of dolphins. So beautiful. We hit our 3 hour time and hadn't seen any whales but just as we were heading in, we were able to see a few nearby and the team let us hang for a while over our time to enjoy them for a bit. Overall a great experience. Can't wait to go back.

    A calf humpback breached at least 12 times!
    John W.

    Very professional and helpful. Especially helpful to my 90 year old dad! We'll be coming back.

    James B.

    Great experience with Discovery. Isaiah the guide was very personable and kept the group informed and in the know of any whales while we were out. I did the 3 hour trip and it was definitely enough time.

    Whale Tail
    Emma W.

    We loved our excursion with Discovery Whale Watch! While they fully explained that there was a chance we wouldn't see anything, our trip was extremely lucky. 6 Humpbacks, 20 Grey Whales, 150-200 Dolphins, 2 Jelly Fish, Sea Lions, and birds galore! First, we had a little safety instruction meeting that was both informative and fun. Then, we loaded onto the boat and were helpfully reminded boat etiquette. Traveling out of the harbor to get to the whale crossing was more interesting than we anticipated. The crew talked to everyone and answered any and all of our questions and helped create a great atmosphere. Once, we got to the crossing or channel the crew worked as a team to help locate the whales. They were calm and that energy passed onto the rest of the passengers. I liked how our group was small, no more than 35 people and one dog which was kinda funny. We respectfully kept a distance from the whales and let another boat know our location so they could join us. As we left to see more pods all of the sudden we were surrounded! It was amazing how quiet all of us became when around these giant creatures. Did you know whales can get a cold? If you smell something kinda icky it's not the bathroom vent. Just a whale with a respiratory infection. Who knew! Honestly, we had a once in a lifetime experience and would recommend this team to everyone.

    See all

    24 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jim S.
    54
    19
    15

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ada H.
    812
    445
    1409

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Del S.
    0
    45
    82

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeff B.
    1
    58
    14

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ben M.
    84
    44
    4

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of KC A.
    0
    20
    5

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John W.
    424
    6
    2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of James B.
    98
    19
    15

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    We saw plenty of whales. The naturalist/guide was super knowledgeable, with a high stoke level.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lori M.
    16
    46
    13

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bob R.
    0
    462
    6

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Giacomo C.
    2179
    1620
    5703

    4 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 18

    Discovery Whale Watch Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Discovery Whale Watch

    Hi. I want to take my son for his 7th birthday but we also have a 6 month old. Would it be safe to bring a 6 month old?

    While we didn't have babies on our excursion, I don't see why a 6-month old couldn't join safely. There are opportunities to sit inside the boat as well as on seats both at the front and back of the boat - an adult could easily hold the baby and… Read more

    Is this a dog friendly?

    I'd highly doubt it. I've gone twice and no one has brought a dog. The waters can be pretty rough

    Does anyone know if they allow walkers or even electric wheelchairs?

    Do they use small or large boats?

    I liked the size of their boat because there was only about 20 people on board. It was a 50' boat

    Is this a good pick for a five year old? How long is the tour?

    We were out for about three hours. If your child loves whales, it would probably be fun, but if they are really active, aren't especially into whales, or get motion sick, perhaps wait a few years.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Discovery Whale Watch

    We saw a great pod of about 8 humpback whales, a couple of dolphins, a sea otter and lots of sea lions.

    Mentioned in 121 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Bella On The Bay Monterey - Peace to sailing!! Woo hoo!!!!!

    Bella On The Bay Monterey

    5.0(134 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Captain Christian was the best! Contacted him a couple months before our trip to make reservations,…read morehe was quick to respond, very friendly. A week or so before our trip to Monterey our agenda has changed and we needed to switch our reservation to another day. A quick call to Captain Christian and he was able to accommodate our request. Very informative about his boat, the ocean and Monterey. Look forward to our next trip out here and will definitely be making reservations with Captain Christian.

    Sailing with Christian was, without a doubt, the highlight of our trip to Monterey, Carmel, and Big…read moreSur!! Of all the activities we planned, this experience stood out the most. From the moment we booked with Christian, we knew we were in for an unforgettable day... Christian is warm, friendly, and a true expert in sailing. His boat is stunning & spacious. His knowledge of the area reflects his years of experience, and it's clear he knows the Bay like the back of his hand. He navigated the waters to ensure we had the best experience possible, keeping us in the sun & warning us when to expect a little bit of colder wind - he accommodated us with warm blankets & cups for our champagne! He made us feel completely safe throughout. We were blessed enough to spot a few whales, which made the views even more exciting. We were celebrating my boyfriend's 30th birthday, so we had an impromptu photo shoot. Christian captured beautiful photos of us that we cherish! All in all, He went above and beyond to make us comfortable and even teaching us a bit about sailing--a dream for both of us. He allowed us to connect our playlist to the speakers, or choose one on his Spotify, and enjoy. While he gave us plenty of private time to soak in the breathtaking scenery, we also loved chatting with him and hearing about his life during the tailend of the trip. This was an incredible experience, and we can't wait to sail with Christian again when we're back in the area. Don't hesitate to book this adventure--you won't regret it!

    Photos
    Bella On The Bay Monterey - Bella (Tierra Lynn)

    Bella (Tierra Lynn)

    Bella On The Bay Monterey
    Bella On The Bay Monterey - Captain Christian is a true Gem!

    See all

    Captain Christian is a true Gem!

    Fast Raft Ocean Safaris - The Fast Raft is a 33-foot Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) with twin 300-hp engines built for military patrol use.

    Fast Raft Ocean Safaris

    5.0(92 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    Women-owned & operated
    11 years in business

    Absolutely incredible experience with Fast Raft Ocean Safaris & Captain Kate!…read more If you're anywhere near the Monterey Peninsula, local or visiting, you must experience Fast Raft Ocean Safaris. We had the privilege of heading out with Captain Kate, and what unfolded was truly beyond words. We witnessed countless humpback whale calves breaching all around us-so many that we didn't know which direction to look-left, right, behind the boat...it felt like nature's ballet on full display! The raft itself is impeccable-comfortable, smooth, and incredibly close to the water, which makes the encounters feel all the more intimate and powerful. It's small-group, thoughtfully guided, and environmentally conscious. Captain Kate's knowledge, passion, and deep respect for the ocean and its creatures created a sense of reverence and wonder that elevated the whole journey. This is not your average whale-watching tour-it's in a league of its own. A soul-stirring, jaw-dropping, life-affirming kind of outing. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Whether you're a local looking to reconnect with the majesty of your own backyard or a visitor hoping for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, this is the one to book. Truly unforgettable.

    I've taken Fastraft a few times. It's always an amazing experience ! The raft gives you the…read moreability to be up close to the whales or dolphins while being completely safe. Leaving from Moss Landing allows you to be directly over the ocean trench so the wildlife is close to the harbor. It's amazing. Laura D

    Photos
    Fast Raft Ocean Safaris - Breaching humpback whale with a sea lion watching and the Fast Raft observing from a distance

    Breaching humpback whale with a sea lion watching and the Fast Raft observing from a distance

    Fast Raft Ocean Safaris - Humpback whale tail w barnacles

    Humpback whale tail w barnacles

    Fast Raft Ocean Safaris - Fast Raft cruising with the iconic smokestacks of Moss Landing in the background

    See all

    Fast Raft cruising with the iconic smokestacks of Moss Landing in the background

    Discovery Whale Watch - whalewatchingtours - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...