Kaelyn DeYoung is a captain, wildlife photographer, and naturalist based in Monterey Bay, California. She runs the Fast Raft out of Moss Landing Harbor — “the original 6-passenger whale watching on Monterey Bay, CA. Super-cool boat with experienced captains and great naturalists from peaceful Moss Landing.” Small groups, a fast boat, and a closer, quieter way to see the water than the big commercial operators.
For LocalsInsider, Kaelyn wrote about why Monterey Bay is one of the world’s few year-round whale watching destinations, when to visit for which species, where to base yourself, how to choose the right whale watching tour, and what to bring on the boat.
Follow her at @kaelyn_deyoung on Instagram.
Why Monterey Bay Is One of the Best Whale Watching Destinations in the World
Monterey Bay is one of the world’s premier whale watching destinations. Its unique underwater submarine canyon lies remarkably close to shore, bringing deep, nutrient-rich waters to the surface through a process called upwelling. This creates an exceptionally rich marine ecosystem that attracts whales, dolphins, sea lions, and countless seabirds throughout the year.
Depending on the season, visitors have the chance to see humpback whales, blue whales, gray whales, orcas, and several dolphin species, making Monterey Bay one of the few places in the world where whale watching is truly a year-round experience.
Wildlife can be seen year-round, making every season unique.
“Monterey Bay is one of the few places in the world where whale watching is truly a year-round experience.”
Best Time to Go Whale Watching: Summer and Fall for Humpbacks, Spring for Orcas
While whales can be seen throughout the year, I especially recommend visiting during the summer and fall, when humpback whales, blue whales, dolphins, sea lions, and seabirds are often abundant.
Winter (December through February) is generally the slowest season for whale watching in Monterey Bay, although gray whales migrate through the area during this time.
Killer whale sightings occur throughout the year but are generally seen about once a month, with increased sightings during the spring (April through June) and again in the fall (October).
Best Places to Stay for Whale Watching: Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel or Santa Cruz
I recommend staying in Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, or Santa Cruz. Each offers beautiful coastal scenery, excellent restaurants, and easy access to whale watching tours.
Choosing a Whale Watching Tour: Harbor, Length and Boat Size
Whale watching tours depart from Monterey Harbor, Moss Landing Harbor, and Santa Cruz Harbor.
Most trips last 2.5 to 4 hours, although some companies offer longer excursions that focus on exploring farther offshore searching for species such as killer whales, blue whales, humpback whales, and dolphins.
Every company offers a different experience. Some operate large, comfortable vessels, while others use smaller, faster boats that provide a more intimate experience on the water. Captains and crews communicate throughout the day to help provide the safest and best wildlife viewing opportunities possible.
The Whale Watching Operators I Recommend: Fast Raft and Beyond
I captain the Fast Raft out of Moss Landing Harbor — the original 6-passenger whale watching boat on Monterey Bay. It’s a super-cool boat with experienced captains and great naturalists, and the small-group setup means everyone on board gets a front-row seat to whatever’s happening on the water.
Peaceful Moss Landing itself is worth the trip; it’s a working fishing harbor with sea otters, sea lions, and the kind of low-key coastal feel you don’t find at the bigger tourist marinas.
Other whale watching companies I recommend include Blue Ocean Whale Watch and Sanctuary Cruises in Moss Landing, along with Discovery Whale Watch and Monterey Bay Whale Watch in Monterey.
Whale Watching Tips for First-Timers
A few practical things worth planning for before you get on the boat:
- Dress in warm layers, even during summer. It is often much cooler on the water than on land.
- Wear closed-toe shoes with good grip.
- Bring a fully charged phone or camera and, if possible, binoculars.
- If you are prone to motion sickness, choose a morning trip when seas are often calmer. Taking motion sickness medication the night before and again before your trip (following the directions on the medication) can also help.
- Book your tour in advance, especially during the busy summer and fall seasons.
- Plan ahead for traffic so you don’t miss your tour.
Go With No Expectations — That’s the Point
Go with an open mind and no expectations. Every trip is different because you’re observing wild animals in their natural environment.
“Every trip is different because you’re observing wild animals in their natural environment. That’s part of what makes whale watching so special.”
Sometimes you’ll spend hours watching feeding humpback whales. Other times, a pod of dolphins may surround the boat, or you might witness something completely unexpected. That’s part of what makes whale watching so special.
Every Place in Kaelyn DeYoung’s Whale Watching Guide
The five whale watching operators Captain Kaelyn DeYoung recommends on Monterey Bay, plus where to stay and which harbor to depart from. Verified addresses and official booking sites.
Whale Watching Operators on Monterey Bay
Kaelyn’s picks · Moss Landing and MontereyMoss Landing North Harbor Boat Ramp, 2420 California Hwy One, Moss Landing, CA 95039
fastraft.com · (831) 324-4883 · Winter tours from Monterey Harbor (Jan–Apr)
The original 6-passenger whale watching on Monterey Bay. Ranger, a 33ft rigid inflatable designed for military use — quiet, low-to-the-water, and highly maneuverable, with Ullman-designed suspension seats. Each tour is custom-designed, with experienced captains who are also knowledgeable naturalists.
“The most intimate, fun way to see the incredible whales and wildlife of Monterey Bay.”
Moss Landing Harbor · sanctuarycruises.com
43ft boat, booked to 60% capacity · marine biologist on board
The oldest and original whale watching company in Moss Landing. Runs a 43ft boat capped at 60% capacity for a more personalized experience — longer trips with fewer passengers. Runs on 100% local biodiesel. Recommended by the National Marine Sanctuary.
Moss Landing Harbor · blueoceanwhalewatch.com
Boat: High Spirits (60ft yacht with 360° observation deck)
Owner-operated by Captain Jim Davis and Captain/Naturalist Kate Cummings. The 60ft yacht High Spirits has plenty of interior and deck space, with a top observation deck for 360-degree wildlife spotting and photography.
84 Fisherman’s Wharf #1, Monterey, CA 93940
montereybaywhalewatch.com · Dog-friendly
Departing from Monterey’s iconic Fisherman’s Wharf, one of the best-known whale watching operators on the peninsula. Tours narrated by marine biologists throughout the year.
66 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey, CA 93940
discoverywhalewatch.com · Morning, afternoon, and sunset tours
Departing from Wharf 1 in Monterey (the blue building past the pink Harbor House and yellow Crab House). Multiple daily tours year-round, including a sunset cruise.
Where to Stay for Whale Watching
four coastal basesSee on Google Maps · Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf, Aquarium
The largest base and closest to Fisherman’s Wharf. Best for pairing whale watching with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, and coastal walks along the recreation trail.
See on Google Maps · adjacent to Monterey · Victorian homes
A smaller, quieter alternative next door to Monterey. Known for its Victorian architecture, monarch butterfly grove, and dramatic Lovers Point coastline.
See on Google Maps · south of Monterey · art galleries
Storybook cottages, boutique hotels, art galleries, and destination restaurants. The gateway to 17-Mile Drive and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.
See on Google Maps · north end of Monterey Bay · surf town
Laid-back surf town at the north end of Monterey Bay, with the iconic beach boardwalk, redwood-forest access, and departures from Santa Cruz Harbor.
Where the Tours Depart From
three harbors on the baySee on Google Maps · Cannery Row area
The south-end base, home to Discovery Whale Watch and Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Sea otters and sea lions live inside the harbor itself. The “Gray Whale Highway” passes right by Point Pinos Lighthouse.
See on Google Maps · 30 min north of Monterey
The closest departure point to the Monterey Submarine Canyon — where the deep water starts almost right outside the harbor. Home to Fast Raft, Blue Ocean, and Sanctuary Cruises. Sea otters, harbor seals, and sea lions visible from the dock.
See on Google Maps · north end of Monterey Bay
The northernmost departure point on the bay. Best for travelers based in Santa Cruz or coming down from the Bay Area for the day.
All operators and addresses verified. Winter tours may depart from a different harbor — always confirm your departure location when booking. Book in advance during summer and fall.
Where Else to Watch Whales in the US and Europe
From the Locals Insider editors
If Monterey Bay isn’t on your route, the East Coast has Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod, sitting on the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary — humpback, minke, finback, and endangered North Atlantic right whales feed here from April through October, and the well-run operators regularly report near-100% sighting rates during peak summer.
Juneau, Alaska draws roughly 600 humpbacks each summer alongside orcas (May–September); Maui is the winter counterpart, when humpbacks migrate 3,000 miles from Alaska to breed and calve in the Maui Nui Basin (December–May).
For orcas specifically, head to Washington’s San Juan Islands; for gray whales, Oregon’s Depoe Bay is a year-round base. In Europe, Húsavík in northern Iceland calls itself the continent’s whale watching capital — blue, humpback, minke, and fin whales from April to October, plus occasional orcas.
The Azores archipelago in Portugal — especially the island of Pico — has resident sperm whales year-round and migrating blue, fin, sei, and humpback whales March through June, giving it one of the highest sighting probabilities in Europe.
Northern Norway (Tromsø, the Lofoten Islands, and Andenes on Vesterålen) delivers dramatic winter sightings of orcas and humpbacks when the whales follow the herring runs into the fjords, October through January.
For shorter trips from mainland Europe, Madeira, Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and Scotland’s Isle of Mull round out the year-round or summer options.
Whale Watching in Denmark: Porpoise Safaris in the Little Belt and Øresund
Yes — you can whale-watch in Denmark, though the star species is the harbor porpoise (marsvin), Denmark’s smallest whale at about 1.5 meters long. The Little Belt (Lillebælt) between Jutland and Funen has one of the world’s densest populations, with operators reporting sightings on 99%+ of trips from April through September.
Tours run from Fredericia and Middelfart aboard MS Marianne and the historic 1915 tour boat Mira III. Closer to Copenhagen, the Øresund Aquarium (University of Copenhagen) runs porpoise safaris on a RIB from Helsingør, sailing past Kronborg Castle into the porpoise habitat off Hornbæk — porpoise numbers in the Sound have grown steadily over the last 20–30 years.
Larger whales are rare in Danish waters (the odd minke or humpback occasionally wanders through the Kattegat and makes national news), but for humpbacks, blues, and orcas you’d head to Greenland — technically part of the Kingdom of Denmark and one of the best whale-watching destinations in the North Atlantic, with world-class humpback sightings around Disko Bay and Nuuk in summer.
