5 Newport Beach Whale Watching Tours Worth the Early Start

1.Newport Beach: 2-Hour Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,375 reviews · 2 hours · from $27Our pick

From Balboa Pavilion, you’ll cruise Newport Harbor and the coast with an English-speaking guide, watching for blue, fin, gray, humpback, and minke whales. Captains such as Hunter and Kayla also track dolphins, sea lions, and birds. Bring a jacket, arrive early for parking, and remember that whales are never guaranteed.

“Super well run, and the guide/announcer was great -- she sang songs that were fun, told interesting data, got wxcited when we spotted pods of dolphin. She made it more fun for everyone.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Whale-Watching Cruise from Newport Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 927 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $31

Cruise from Newport Harbor for about 2.5 hours with marine biology trained crew. Look for whales, dolphins, sea lions, and seals along Orange County’s coast. You may ride the 65-foot vessel or upgrade to a smaller luxury yacht with a 360-degree deck and more speed.

“Nature will always nature, you may not see whales and that’s perfectly fine. The crew does their absolute best to make your experience magical and memorable. We had an absolute blast sailing on the water sharing time with family and having conversations with other folks on the boat.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Newport Beach: Whale and Dolphin-Watching Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 415 reviews · 2h 30m · from $30

Spend 150 minutes aboard a marine-life viewing boat from Newport Beach, guided in English by the captain and crew. Watch for blue, gray, fin, humpback, and minke whales, plus dolphins, sea lions, and seals. The route passes Balboa Island, Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach, and The Wedge.

“Me and my son absolutely loved this activity. Both the captain and his mate went out of their way to make this a memorable experience. We were fortunate enough to see a blue whale, some dolphins and a gorgeous sunset but if we hadn’t, the tour would have still been worth it. Everything was beautiful to see!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Newport Beach: Ultimate Whale Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 272 reviews · 2 hours · from $84Top rated

Cruise up to 14 miles offshore from Newport Beach aboard a fast, open RIB carrying no more than 15 people. Your English-speaking captain and guide search for whales, dolphins, sea lions, and pelicans, often using a drone or long-lens camera to help spot wildlife.

“The guides, Christina and Erica (?) were fantastic. We followed 3 whales for a bit and hung out with a pod of about 500 dolphins for a while. Was definitely worth it! Will be recommending to others that we know are visiting.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Newport Beach: Luxury Whale Watching Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 194 reviews · 2h 30m · from $58

Join Newport Landing Cruises from Balboa Pavilion for a 150-minute whale-watching trip aboard a 50-foot catamaran. Your English-speaking captain and naturalist guide search for blue, humpback, fin, and minke whales, while dolphins often race along the twin bows. Bring a hat and expect some spray.

“larry took us out in the Catamaran. we got lucky this morning saw 3 whales at 3 different spots. kudos to Larry! also saw large school of dolphins. Wonderful time.”

Check availability →Read our full review