Part of Fishing in San Diego, our guide to fishing, long-range sportfishing and whale watching in San Diego.
H&M Landing runs 3-hour whale watching tours at 10am daily, $30 to $55 per adult as posted October 22, 2026. Flagship Cruises runs half-day tours from mid-December to mid-April. From land, Cabrillo National Monument says its season runs late December to mid March.Checked October 23, 2026.
H&M Landing Tours
3-hour tours at 10am daily, $30 to $55 per adult as posted on October 22, 2026. The site mentions the spring northbound migration and says guests may see seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises and whales. Season dates and child prices are not stated.
Flagship Cruises
Flagship says whale watching returns December 12, 2026 and tours run mid-December through mid-April, two half-day tours daily (9:30 AM to 1:00 PM and 1:30 to 5:00 PM; arrive 15 minutes early). Adult (13+) is $54.00 Monday to Friday and $57.00 Saturday and Sunday; child (4 to 12) is $40.50 and $42.75, plus taxes and fees. Naturalists answer questions and binoculars are recommended. See the fishing and whale watching events.
From Land at Cabrillo
NPS says “Whale Watching Season at Cabrillo is from late December to mid March.” Park entry is $20 per vehicle for 7 days. See Cabrillo National Monument. The Cabrillo National Monument Foundation’s Whale Watch Festival was held Saturday January 10, 2026, 6 AM to 1 PM; the 2027 date is not posted.
Other Landings
Seaforth Sportfishing, on Mission Bay, advertises year-round whale watching aboard the Legacy. Fisherman’s Landing and Point Loma Sportfishing had no whale watching page that we found; Fisherman’s Landing does list a boat called Whale Hello and “Nature & Ecology” trips.
What We Could Not Verify
- H&M Landing’s whale season dates and child prices are not confirmed.
- Flagship’s last tour date is not posted (April 15 is a placeholder for mid-April), its departure point is not stated, and its policy for children under 4 is not stated.
- Seaforth’s whale watching season and prices are not confirmed.
- The overlook location at Cabrillo is not confirmed on the NPS page.
- Fisherman’s Landing’s Whale Hello and Nature & Ecology trip details are not confirmed.
- The 2027 Whale Watch Festival (or Whale Watch Weekend) date is not posted.
- Prices are as posted on October 22, 2026 and change.
More in Fishing in San Diego
FAQ
When is whale watching season in San Diego?
Flagship runs mid-December to mid-April, and Cabrillo National Monument says late December to mid March for land-based viewing.
How much is a whale watching tour?
H&M Landing posts $30 to $55 per adult. Flagship posts $54.00 to $57.00 for adults and $40.50 to $42.75 for ages 4 to 12, plus taxes and fees.
Sources
- H&M Landing: whale watching
- Flagship Cruises: whale watching
- Seaforth Sportfishing
- NPS Cabrillo: whale watching
- Cabrillo National Monument Foundation: whale watch festival
Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.