Top 5 One-Day Whale Watching Trips

1.Quebec City: Whale Watching Excursion Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 863 reviews · 11 hours · from $186Our pick

Spend 11 hours traveling from Quebec City to Baie-Sainte-Catherine for whale watching in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Choose a large boat or fast Zodiac, hear bilingual commentary, and look for belugas, fin, minke, and humpback whales with guides such as Patricia and Captain Luke.

“Experience of a life time and great value! The operator provided easy instructions and informative dialogue throughout transport to the launch site. It is quite a long bus ride, but the seating was very comfortable. There were many beautiful sights along the way too. The Zodiac excursion was fantastic! We were provided with waterproof pants and jackets, but be prepared to get splashed and wet from the boat ride. It was quite a warm day, but it is much cooler (-10° Celsius) on the water. There is no proper food stop, so be prepared to bring some snacks/beverages. We were lucky enough to have encounters with a family of Belugas,…”

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2.Moreton Island: Tangalooma Day Trip & Whale Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · 1 day · from $109Best value

Take a ferry from Brisbane to Moreton Island, then join a 3-hour whale watching cruise with an Eco Ranger, onboard lunch, and commentary on humpback behavior. You also get resort access, a dolphin presentation, and a complimentary transfer drink, though free time on land is short.

“The trip is very informative and staff are very helpful. Lunch is a bit too light, just salad and a small ham & cheese muffin. We managed to see 7 to 8 whales! We were lucky to have fantastic weather.”

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3.Whale Watching & Limón Waterfall Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 94 reviews · from $169

From Punta Cana, take a long day trip to Samaná Bay for humpback whale watching, then ride horseback for 30 minutes through tropical farmland to El Limón Waterfall. Expect about 13 hours total, roughly 10 hours in transport, a 45-person maximum, and moderate physical effort.

“The boat crew and whale watch was fun- although short - once we’d seen a few whales! The guide basically said. That’s good enough . The horse back ride was awful - the hoses are in terrible shape and maltreated - yelled at and hit Read more”

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4.Punta Cana: Sanctuary Whale Watching Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 87 reviews · 12 hours · from $189

Travel from Punta Cana, Bávaro, Uvero Alto, Cap Cana, or Bayahibe to Samaná for humpback whale watching, Cayo Levantado, and El Limon waterfall. A bilingual guide such as Thomas may lead the day. Expect a long outing with boat spray, horseback riding, buffet lunch, and several transfers.

“Pickup from my hotel at 6:30am was smooth, but we spent long stretches waiting and driving between stops before reaching the boat dock. We arrived at the dock at 915am. Breakfast was a ham sandwich and fruit. Whale watching was rough due to choppy water, and we saw very few whales. We spent an hour on Saona Island with pushy photographers. Expect to pay $40–50 USD for photos. Lunch is a mainland buffet with great food, but it’s the last meal. You’re shuttled to the waterfall/“horseback” ride, where attendants repeatedly ask for tips, including $50 for the volunteer and animal. You spend ~30 minutes at the waterfall, then ride back.…”

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5.Stradbroke Island Eco Day Trip from Brisbane – Wildlife & Beaches

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · from $136Top rated

Spend about 11 hours exploring North Stradbroke Island with a small group and a guide such as Ivy, Jack, or Anto. You will cross Moreton Bay by ferry, walk the North Gorge, seek koalas and kangaroos, relax at Cylinder Beach, and return by ferry near sunset.

“Wildlife sightings were great and trip was very relaxing. Our guide , Ivy, was very pleasant and helpful .”

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