Dana Wharf has been running whale watching trips out of Dana Point Harbor since 1971, and was the first whale watching company in Orange County. Boats go out year round, and the sightings log on our whale watching page records what came back in from each trip.

Why whales are here all year

Most of the country gets a whale season. Orange County gets two, because the water changes over halfway through the year and a different set of animals moves in.

Gray whales, December to April

Gray whales pass Orange County twice on a round trip of roughly 10,000 miles, heading south to the calving lagoons of Baja in winter and back north with calves in early spring. They travel close to shore, which is what makes them the most reliable animal on the calendar here. February and March tend to be the busiest stretch, and the northbound legs often bring mothers with young alongside.

Blue whales and fin whales, May to October

Warmer water pushes krill up the coast in late spring, and the largest animals on earth follow it. Blue whales reach around 80 to 100 feet. Fin whales, the second largest, are here through the summer and are quick enough that they are often spotted well before they surface. Humpbacks and minke whales turn up through this stretch too.

Dolphins, all year

Common and bottlenose dolphins live off this coast rather than migrating through it, so they are the animals you are most likely to meet whatever month you sail. Pods here run to the hundreds and occasionally the thousands, and they will often ride the bow of the boat.

Where you sail from

Every Dana Wharf trip leaves from Dana Point Harbor, at the south end of Orange County. The harbor sits right off the 5 freeway and Pacific Coast Highway. Golden Lantern dead ends into the Dana Wharf lot, and there is public parking around the harbor, though that public parking carries a four hour limit worth checking against the length of your trip.

That matters if you are coming from further up the county. Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach and San Clemente are all inside an hour, and the drive down Pacific Coast Highway is worth doing in daylight.

Which trip to pick

The standard Whale and Dolphin Watching Tour runs about two hours and is the one most people take. If you want longer on the water, the Epic 4 Hour Adventure and the 8 Hour Ultimate Whale Watch push further offshore, where the bigger baleen whales tend to be in summer. Private charters are available for groups, and there is a pelagic birding trip for anyone more interested in what is above the boat than below it.

Half Price Tuesdays run on whale watching trips, and an Annual Pass makes sense if you expect to come back across a season.

What to bring

Layers, because it is colder on the water than in the parking lot, and the wind picks up once you are moving. Flat shoes. Sunglasses and sunscreen even in winter. Binoculars help but are not necessary, since the crew works to get the boat into a good position rather than expecting you to spot things at distance. If you are prone to seasickness, take something before you board rather than after.

Dana Point, the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World®

Dana Point holds the Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World® trademark, and Dana Wharf is a proud partner of the World Cetacean Alliance. More on what that designation means.

Book a trip

Trips run daily, year round, from Dana Point Harbor. Use code WW20 for 20% off.