Whale Watching · PRIVATE

15 Private Whale Watching Trips to Build a Morning Around

97 tours  ·  from $2 a head

The 15 best private whale watching trips you can book today, with what each costs, how long it stays out and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason, so start there.

Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira - Looking for dolphins and whales in the Madeira waters
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Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira

1.Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 539 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) Our pick

Sail privately from Calheta for 2.5 hours with space for up to five people. On Tales provides snorkeling gear, towels, drinks, sparkling wine, and a crew that may include Emanuel or Beatrice. Expect coastal views, a swim stop, and a chance to see dolphins or whales, but no wildlife guarantee.

“We had a great time on board. The whole crew took perfect care of us. Thank you very much for this experience.”

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Lydia Boat Mauritius :Private boat tour:Whales&Dolphins encounter - Leaving Le Morne on a private speedboat
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Lydia Boat Mauritius :Private boat tour:Whales&Dolphins encounter

2.Lydia Boat Mauritius :Private boat tour:Whales&Dolphins encounter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 409 reviews · from $225

Set out early from Le Morne with Lydia Boat’s private crew, including guides such as Miguel, Navy, Owen, and Rino. Look for wild dolphins and whales, snorkel near Crystal Rock, and enjoy oysters, sea urchin, lobster, fish, drinks, and a seafood barbecue, now served on the boat while Benitier Island is closed.

“Our trip to Bénetier Island was a breathtaking experience. We were able to swim with dolphins and snorkel in the lagoon with turtles and many beautiful fishes. The barbecue at Bénetier was excellent and couldn't have been better. Many, many thanks to our great guides Navy and Ivan, who did everything to give us a perfect day :)”

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Private 2 hour Whale Watching Tour - Watching pilot whales on their terms
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Private 2 hour Whale Watching Tour

3.Private 2 hour Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 174 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Set out from Puerto Colón in a private 8-meter boat for two hours of whale and dolphin watching. Guides such as Ion, John, and Carlota explain the marine life, use a hydrophone, follow local viewing rules, and email wildlife photos after the trip.

“Was a brilliant experience having only a small group made it easier and comfortable.”

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Private 2hr Supreme Whale/Dolphin Watching Tour, Newport Beach CA - Leaving from 508 S Bay Front
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Private 2hr Supreme Whale/Dolphin Watching Tour, Newport Beach CA

4.Private 2hr Supreme Whale/Dolphin Watching Tour, Newport Beach CA

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 161 reviews

Join Captain Nick or another USCG-licensed certified naturalist for a private two-hour Newport Beach cruise for up to six people. Search Newport Harbor and nearby waters for dolphins and whales aboard a quick, compact boat, then finish with a Balboa Island treat.

“Captain Nick was fantastic! Extremely knowledgeable. Laid back and lots of fun. Also determined to find those whales!”

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Private Luxury Whale Watch - Four hours among Juneau’s humpback whales
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Private Luxury Whale Watch

5.Private Luxury Whale Watch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 139 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Spend four hours on a private Juneau yacht with a US Coast Guard master captain and naturalist. Watch for humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, seals, and eagles while enjoying snacks, coffee, wine, beer, and champagne. Pickup comes from your cruise ship or local hotel.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see so many whales. No orcas but Beautiful humpbacks. The crew was outstanding and down to earth in explaining the way of the whales! You get what you pay for and this was the highlight of our entire Alaskan vacation.”

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Private Whale Shark All Inclusive Experience - Swimming with whale sharks in open water
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Private Whale Shark All Inclusive Experience

6.Private Whale Shark All Inclusive Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 136 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $1,095

Start early with private pickup, then cruise about an hour to the whale shark area with guides such as Xenia, Nicholas, or Reuben. Swim in small pairs under crew supervision, snorkel a Mayan coral reef, and finish with lunch at Playa Norte. Vegetarian meals are available with advance notice.

“Rueben was the goat and lined us up to jump in the water right in front of the whale sharks. Craziest thing ever! Really fun trip overall. Enjoyed snorkeling and especially the beach at the end with beers.”

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Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea - Rays, sharks, turtles, and the two bays
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Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea

7.Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews · from $1,640

Spend four hours aboard Mana’hau with guides such as Nicky, Fabien, Lolo, or Lingee, seeking humpback whales from July to November. Swim or snorkel with marine life, visit Moorea’s bays, and try the towed subwin board on a private trip for up to eight people.

“Such a wonderful experience with our guide, Nicki, and her father! Knowledgeable and personable, they geared the trip to our needs and wants. We never felt rushed as we snorkeled with stingrays, sharks, and turtles. And you cannot beat the scenery!”

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Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta - Meeting at Marina Vallarta at 8:45
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Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta

8.Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 109 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Join Vallarta Natours for a private 3.5-hour whale watch in Banderas Bay. Guides such as Victor, Thalia, Carlos, or Talia explain humpbacks, play underwater whale calls, and look for dolphins, turtles, and other marine life. Lunch, soft drinks, and a boat with a bathroom are included.

“We traveled with 6 adults and 4 kids from ages 4-11. They all loved it! Some good information at the beginning, answered any and all questions throughout and the provided sandwiches and snacks were great even for the adults! The kids liked the cookies the best of course! Boat had a bathroom, clean, and felt safe entire time. Would highly recommend!”

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Private Whale Watching in San José del Cabo - Leaving from San José del Cabo instead of Cabo San Lucas
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Private Whale Watching in San José del Cabo

9.Private Whale Watching in San José del Cabo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $200

Join Salty Cabo for a private whale watching trip from San José del Cabo. Your guide and captain tailor the outing for your group, with free photos, comfortable boats, and a hydrophone for listening to whale songs. Guides such as Sophie and Paola add useful insight into local marine life.

“From arrival at the office, the short walk to the boat, and on the water everyone was friendly knowledgeable and professional. Once we were out on the water it wasn't long until there were humpback whales spotted. Sophia set up the hydrophone and we were able to listen to the singing. There were several breaches and quite a few tails in the air as they made their deep dives. We found the marina at San Jose del Cabo to be a welcome change from Cabo. The 25' boat was roomy and comfortable with excellent viewing and canvas sun shades. Doing the private tour was well worth it. You will have…”

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PRIVATE Whale Watch Tour | Cabo San Lucas | Biologist | FREE Pics - Searching the Sea of Cortez or Pacific Ocean
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PRIVATE Whale Watch Tour | Cabo San Lucas | Biologist | FREE Pics

10.PRIVATE Whale Watch Tour | Cabo San Lucas | Biologist | FREE Pics

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 98 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $369

Set out from Cabo San Lucas with a private captain and marine biologist for about 2.5 hours. See the Arch, Lovers Beach, and Pelican Rock, then search for humpback and grey whales. Your guide explains the wildlife and sends tour photos at no extra cost.

“Guide & Captain were awesome. Amazing up close views of whales! Humpbacks & Grey Whales. Absolutely recommend 🐋🐳”

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Private Family Whale & Dolphin Adventure in San Diego - Leaving Mission Bay for open water
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Private Family Whale & Dolphin Adventure in San Diego

11.Private Family Whale & Dolphin Adventure in San Diego

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 98 reviews · from $179

Join Captain Rich on a private three-hour whale and dolphin trip from Mission Bay. Your group of up to six has the boat to itself, with an enclosed cabin, restroom, observation tower, safety gear, and bottled water while searching for dolphins, gray whales, humpbacks, blue whales, and more.

“"Best birthday present ever! My mouth hurt from smiling so much, but I just couldn't stop. This was one of those core experiences for future marine biologists!" -- Mia, age 9. Captain Rich was super helpful and knowledgeable. We saw a blue whale, two fin whales, and a bazillion dolphins!”

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Sports Boat- Private Whale Watching Trip( free breakfast & paid pick-up) - What the private format changes
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Sports Boat- Private Whale Watching Trip( free breakfast & paid pick-up)

12.Sports Boat- Private Whale Watching Trip( free breakfast & paid pick-up)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews

Set out from Mirissa at 7 a.m. on a private 10-meter sports boat for up to eight people. A naturalist gives live commentary as you search for blue whales, dolphins, turtles, and other sea life. Breakfast, drinks, snacks, WiFi, and an onboard restroom are included. Pickup costs extra.

“Great whale, dolphin and turtle spotting experience. Wonderful staff and an excellent, clean boat. We had a whale of a time :)”

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Private Ketchikan Fishing Combo & Whale Watching/ Wildlife 5 HR - What the five hours can look like
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Private Ketchikan Fishing Combo & Whale Watching/ Wildlife 5 HR

13.Private Ketchikan Fishing Combo & Whale Watching/ Wildlife 5 HR

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $700

Spend five private hours fishing Ketchikan’s calm waters for salmon, halibut, cod, and rockfish, with whale and wildlife viewing along the way. Captains Tony, Lukas, and Grayson are praised for helping beginners. Gear, bait, snacks, and water are included, but you’ll need a fishing license.

“Capt. Luke took my family out for a fantastic day of fishing..we tagged out in less than 2 hours…Great boat and equipment …I would highly recommend this charter!”

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Los Cabos Private Yacht Whale Watching & Drinks - Up to 18 Guests - Leaving C Dock and finding the yacht
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Los Cabos Private Yacht Whale Watching & Drinks – Up to 18 Guests

14.Los Cabos Private Yacht Whale Watching & Drinks – Up to 18 Guests

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Spend about three hours on a private yacht from Cabo’s C Dock, looking for humpback whales, cruising past the Arch, and stopping to swim or snorkel. The crew may tailor the outing to your group, with names such as Freddy, Gil, Arturo, Nadia, Pablo, and Eric appearing among the captains and crew.

“It was amazing the whales were literally a few feet away from our boat they even splashed us with the water”

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Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Newport Beach - From Newport Harbor to the open Pacific
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Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Newport Beach

15.Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Newport Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Set out from Newport Beach aboard the private Surfrider with Coast Guard licensed Captain Dustin and a Certified Marine Naturalist. In 2.5 hours, cruise Newport Harbor and the Pacific coast toward Laguna Beach and Dana Point, watching for dolphins, whales, sea lions, sunfish, and seals.

“Dustin went out of his way to make us comfortable. The massive amounts of common dolphins were so beautiful. I noticed there was a whale sighting later in the day unfortunately we didn’t get to observe it.”

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New in Private

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★ 3.0Private tour Fee to see whales and dolphinsFrom $3102 reviews
★ 5.0Whale Watching Monterey Bay semi-private limited to 6 people maxFrom $19915 reviews
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