All nature lovers will have heard of one of the most extraordinary natural events that takes place every year from December to April in San Diego. It’s the migration of California’s gray whales every winter. These peaceful “giants of the sea” descend from the cold seas of Alaska to the warm lagoons of Baja California. They give birth and raise their young in these warm waters.
More than 15,000 of these whales make a 5,000-mile journey south, creating the world’s longest annual migratory phenomenon among mammals. No other mammal is known to travel such distances in such large numbers annually.
San Diego attracts these beautiful sea creatures due to its extensive 70-mile-long coastline. The migration peaks in mid-January, when nature lovers can feast their eyes on a couple hundred whales per day off the coast of San Diego. Therefore, the city hosts a host of whale-watching events, such as Big Bay Whale Days with “Whale of a Deal” discount opportunities, a free Whale Festival, and discounted cruises.
If you are a nature lover, this is the best time to take a San Diego vacation. Check out the best San Diego vacation rentals from where San Diego beaches are nearby.
Not surprisingly, San Diego is a tourist paradise and offers the best facilities and opportunities for tourists and residents to watch whales frolicking in their natural habitat. The Birch Aquarium at Scripps celebrates the season from late December through March with “WhaleFest,” offering a great opportunity to learn about these leviathans through a host of educational activities and whale exhibits. One of the best vantage points for gray whale watching is the aquarium’s outdoor tide pool plaza, overlooking the La Jolla coastline and Pacific Ocean.
One of the best places to watch whales, learn more about their characteristics, and see some great whale displays is at Cabrillo National Monument. Located on the scenic Point Loma peninsula, Cabrillo National Monument offers a glass-enclosed observatory and picturesque national park where visitors can watch whales in magnificent tide pools.
La Jolla Kayak offers 2.5-hour tours where you can experience close encounters with gray whales and other marine life, including sea lions, garibaldi, and leopard sharks. As the tour takes visitors along the La Jolla coastline and through the incredible La Jolla Sea Caves, experienced guides provide visitors with a wealth of information about migratory whales. These daily tours run from mid-December to the end of the season.
If you want to get a better view of the whales up close, then treat yourself to the unique whale watching experience aboard the 139ft. long sail yacht, America, a historic replica of the world’s first America’s Cup winner. This 4-hour excursion offered by Dennis Conner’s America’s Cup Experience and the San Diego Maritime Museum from December 19 to April 15 is one of the best opportunities you can have to photograph whales up close.
The reason for this is that the yacht cruises smoothly towards the whales without being scared away by a loud engine and its low, wide deck gives you the best views. You can bring your own lunch and drinks. In addition, the tour price also includes a complimentary visit to the San Diego Maritime Museum, where you can learn more about the migration habits of the whales and the history of the legendary yacht, as well as refresh yourself with refreshments and snacks.
One of the other popular whale watching excursions are the 3.5-hour luxury whale watching adventure cruises offered by Hornblower Cruises and Events in collaboration with the San Diego Museum of Natural History from December 11 to December 17. april. Professional narration on whale migration and marine life, whale displays and video presentations, plus other luxury facilities such as cafeterias and climate-controlled indoor seating are the highlights of this cruise.
It goes without saying that whale watching cruises are among the most popular natural events in San Diego this time of year. H&M Landing offers daily 3-hour whale watching cruises from mid-December to mid-March, and 6-hour cruises from December through May. OEX Dive & Kayak Centers offers visitors a 2.5-hour whale-watching kayak tour from December through March.
Adventure RIB Rides is offering an exciting whale watching excursion aboard an authentic 30′ Navy SEAL Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) from December 15 to April 15.
The Birch Aquarium at Scripps is also hosting a six-day whale watching expedition March 23-28. These coach tours along the Baja California coast include scenic Baja California coastline tours, guided boat rides at Ojo de Liebre (also known as Scammon’s Lagoon, the famous breeding and calving ground for whales grey) and short visits to virgin salt marshes, the Biscay Desert and prehistoric cave paintings.
If you’re a nature lover and wouldn’t want to miss out on a whale-watching experience this year, book your rooms at one of San Diego’s affordable hotels near the beaches and La Jolla. You can even opt for a cheap extended stay hotel in San Diego if you want to enjoy a longer San Diego vacation dedicated to your passion for whale watching.
