When Is Whale Watching Season In Monterey, California? (Hint: It's Basically All Year Long)

Planning A Trip To Monterey, California But Looking For More Info On Whale Watching Season Here?

As the daughter of a California native, I’ve visited the state 20+ times and even went on my first whale watching tour here in Monterey Bay. While certain whales visit the bay at certain times of year (see below for more details on this), the great thing about whale watching in Monterey, California, is that it’s basically a year round activity.

🐳 When Exactly Is Whale Watching Season In Monterey, California?

Monterey, California is one of the few places in the world where you can see whales basically all year round with the only real slow period being between mid November and mid December (and that doesn’t mean there won’t be any whales at all during this period).

The probability of seeing whales is so high in fact that most tours actually guarantee whale sightings, and give a free do-over if for some reason there aren’t any spotted.

In addition to the time of year, sea conditions can also affect when or where whales show up, but these are general seasons when specific whale groups are in the Monterey Bay area:

Humpback Whale Season

Humpback whales have one of the longest seasons in Monterey.

Whale watching season for Humpback whales in Monterey Bay, California typically happens during two seasons of the year: Summer and Fall from the months of April to November.

Gray Whale Season

Whale watching season for Gray whales happens twice a year in Monterey Bay, California: during the Winter and Spring seasons from the months of December to February and again from mid February to April.

Blue Whale Season

When certain whales will be in Monterey Bay depends on the time of year and the sea conditions.

Whale watching season for the largest of the whales, the Blue whale, in Monterey Bay, California is typically during the Summer and Fall seasons (June to October) with peaks generally in July and August depending on the Krill levels (more snacks, more whales).

Orca/Killer Whale Season

The whale watching season for orcas is technically anytime in Monterey Bay, California.

Whale watching season for the most ominous looking of the whales, the Orca or Killer whales, is technically anytime of year in Monterey Bay, California, and though their movements are much more unpredictable, the best chances of seeing them here is typically during the months of March, April, and May.

☀️ What’s The Best Time Of Day To Go Whale Watching?

Whales typically don’t have a “best” time of day to see them, they’re generally equally active in the mornings and afternoons, however, mornings are typically better for whale watching tours in Monterey because weather and water conditions are usually better (still not super calm though), and they’re typically less crowded than afternoons.

Whales are awesome, but there is lots of other marinelife in Monterey Bay too.

🛳 Best Whale Watching Tours In Monterey

Most tours in Monterey are pretty similar in price, length of time, and quality so basically any tour will be fine, but below are a few of the most popular options:

Discovery Whale Watch
Chris’ Fishing Trips & Whale Watching (I’ve got a personal review of this tour option)
Princess Monterey Whale Watching
Sea Goddess Whale Watching

ℹ️ Monterey, California Whale Watching Tips

I was somewhat unprepared or unsuspecting of a couple of things when I went on my first whale watching tour here in Monterey, and although I had a great time seeing all kinds of marinelife, there are a few things I wish I’d known beforehand.

Listen For The Blowhole

Listen for the whales blowhole to know when they're about to dive back down.

Most of the time you’re only going to see the whales back or tail (it’s a special and lucky experience if you see a full breach) and they can come up and dive back down in the blink of an eye.

Look and listen for the blowhole (pictured above) to know when whales are coming up (they spewed water up in the air right before taking a deeper dive when I went). This will help you start spotting the whales easier.

Look For More Than Just Whales

There are a few places in Monterey, California where you can do some whale watching from shore, depending on season and sea conditions.

While whales are obviously the main attraction on a whale watching tour, Monterey Bay is filled with tons of other marinelife too. On my trip, I also saw Risso’s Dolphins, Sea Otters, Sea Lions (pictured above), and a Sunfish.

Come Prepared For Rough Waters

The bay in Monterey, California is known for its rough and choppy waters no matter what season it is, so come prepared for your whale watching tour to have the best experience.

I’d never gotten seasick until this whale watching trip, but that might have also been caused by the large number of other passengers getting sick and the strong gassy engine smell of the boat.

Search For More Marinelife From Land

Elephant Seals can be seen from shore, just south of Monterey and Big Sur.

If the rough waters sound too intimidating to you, there are also places on land to check out for more whale and other marinelife viewing.

Asilomar State Beach
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Along Highway 1 in Big Sur
Cannery Row
Point Sur Lighthouse
Old Fisherman’s Wharf
Harbor Seal Lookout
Elephant Seal Boardwalk (pictured above)
Elkhorn Slough
Any Seaweedy Waters Close To Shore in the Monterey, Carmel, or Pebble Beach areas

Dress Warm, Even In Summer

No matter what season it is, it's important to dress warm for a whale watching tour in Monterey Bay, California to have the best experience.

Regardless of the season or the weather on shore, it will be colder and windier out on the water on a whale watching tour in Monterey Bay, California. Despite being warned about weather and temperatures before going out, a lot of passengers on my boat complained about the cold.

Dress Recommendations:

a beanie or tight hoodie that will stay on your head through the wind
a warm sweatshirt and/or long sleeve shirt
a rain/waterproof jacket to wear over your other sweatshirt or shirt (it’s very possible to get a little wet from ocean spray or the rush of water on the boat deck)
pants (I wore leggings and was fine with those)
closed toed shoes with good traction (the boat deck does get wet)
sunglasses (but keep them secure with a string or cord)
a seasick/motion sickness bracelet
camera or phone with a strap to keep from dropping it

🔁 Sum Up: Whale Watching Season In Monterey, California

While whale watching season is basically all year long in Monterey Bay, California, different whales visit the bay at different times of year and depending on certain types of sea conditions. Fortunately, no matter what time of year you visit, you’re basically guaranteed to see whales by most tour companies or get a rain check if for some reason none are spotted, so it’s bound to be an exciting wildlife experience!