Archive for category Whales Watching

Whale Watching Cruises in San Diego

From December 15th through April 1st every year is simply the best time to visit as far as whale watching is concerned as this is when at least 25,000 Pacific grey whales migrate from the South Arctic to Baja California and stop over in .

Visitors to San Diego during whale watching season are spoiled for choice as far as whale watching cruises are concerned as available options range from intimate trips on small sailing boats to luxury excursions on gigantic charter yachts. During the whale migration season, Pacific grey whales are common as are the blue whales, and fins, pilots, orcas and minkes also make an appearance. As far as other marine life is concerned, harbor visitors should be able to catch a glimpse of such exotic species as Pacific whitesided dolphins, sea lions and bottlenose dolphins.

While the private trips on the smaller – 40 to 46 foot – yachts may, at $85 per person, be considered a little pricey, these customized trips have much to recommend them as each passenger is treated like royalty while conducting their search for the whales, porpoises, dolphins and pelagic sea birds that infest the San Diego harbor area. Complimentary snacks and drinks are available, as are extra jackets, sunscreen and blankets, and the captains are experienced folk who are constantly and instantly available to answer any questions. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,

Related posts

Experiencing Whale Watching At The Top Of The World

For one of the most serene experiences that one can have in this lifetime, Whale Watching in Iceland must definitely be on your list. The icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean have scores of whales of every species and size imaginable. Whale watching is something that visitors from all over the world come to enjoy here. The main centers of whale watching are Dalvik and Húsavík. Then in the Midwestern section you have Ólafsvík and Stykkishólmur. These are located on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. A half hour drive from Reykjavík is Höfn in the East as well as Keflavík and Sandgerði in the southwestern section.

Despite whale watching being a major activity here in Iceland, it is not really commercialized. There are several private agencies that take groups of tourists at a time in boats. Besides being able to see majestic whales you will also get the chance to look at some great species of birds and other marine life forms. And another must see attraction is the sun at midnight that is found in the winter time of the year. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ,

Related posts

Have A Whale Of A Time In Santa Cruz

The beautiful California city of has been attracting tourists, surfers, artists and home buyers for many decades. But an altogether different kind of migration has been taking place here for millennia.

Each spring, more than 20,000 gray whales head past Santa Cruz as they make their way to the Bering Sea, off the Alaskan coast, to spend the summer. And along with the whales, come countless whale watchers from all around the globe; here to witness one of the most extraordinary migrations in the animal kingdom.

Having spent the winter months off the Baja Peninsula, where adult female whales will have given birth to their 13 foot long calves, the gray whales move north to the Arctic. As they pass the California coast, they do so at a leisurely pace and allow excellent opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts to observe these massive aquatic mammals. The males and those females without young calves are the first to start their journey, while the new mothers linger in the lagoons off Baja. This means that the spring migration is quite protracted, and whales can be seen from Santa Cruz from February through to early May, with a peak passage in late March. In December these serene mammals return to California’s coast, as they make their way once more to the wintering grounds in the south. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , ,

Related posts