Golden Gate Whale Watch

Yes! We are seeing whales! — Humpback whales are typically seen from Spring into Winter months while gray whales have been feeding in and around the San Francisco Bay in the winter and Spring months. Check out our Instagram and Facebook pages for recent sightings @SFWhaleTours. Other marine mammal sightings include Harbor Seals, Harbor Porpoise, California Sea Lions and many pelagic sea birds. Join us on board!

Advance purchase is required, and trips often sell out quickly. To maximize your chances of getting the day and time you prefer, please buy your tickets well in advance. Tickets can only be purchased with a Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express.

If the date you are looking for is further along than our schedule shows, please click on the “Contact SFWhaleTours” link to request a tour on a specific day.

Trips will continue rain or shine. In the case of severe weather, you will be notified of the cancellation and offered to refund or reschedule to another time depending upon availability.

Children of all ages are welcome on board.

Pregnant women should consult with their doctors before participating in any active activities. For safety reasons, we do not recommend that pregnant women attend. If you have any questions, please click on the “Contact SFWhaleTours” link to discuss further.

Yes, our trips do depart promptly! We kindly ask that you arrive 30 minutes early for check-in. Don’t miss the boat! Tickets are non-refundable less than 48 hours prior to the tour.

We are approximately 30 minutes from San Francisco and Oakland airports depending on traffic.

Yes! If you don’t see a whale your next trip is on us.

We have seen Gray and Humpback whales throughout the year depending on the season. See our sightings report for the most recent sightings.

We will stop 300 ft. from the whales and let them come to us, following federal whale watching guidelines. We do not touch, swim with, or feed the wildlife.

We will try our best to make sure you have a great experience on board with us, but we cannot control where the whales are at any given time. If you don’t see any whales or dolphins during your trip, we kindly invite you to come back again for another trip!

The other marine and wildlife include: Harbor Porpoise, Harbor Seals, California Sea Lions, California Gulls, Western Gulls, Pigeon Guillimot, Brandt’s Cormorant, Double Crested Cormorant and so much more!

Our goal is to find whales in the wild. The destination depends on where the whales are feeding any given day and time.

The tour duration is about 2.5-3 hours depending on weather conditions.

No, you will not get off of the boat at any point during this excursion.

The trips end at the same dock which they departed from.

All trips take place on the 65 foot catamaran, Kitty Kat. If the vessel is no longer available an equal vessel may be substituted.

If you are prone to motion sickness, then there are a few great remedies out there to try. Please be prepared and take preventative measures after consulting with a doctor. Keep in mind that this is an intense expedition and the boat WILL stop (but you will NOT get off) which may result in some light rocking. Fortunately, our boat is one of the best out there and its modern technology helps make every trip a great ride.

Yes, there is a gender neutral restroom.

Safety is our number one priority! Our boat meets the current United States Coast guard regulations, and our experienced captain and crew make every effort to ensure a fun and safe adventure.

Yes. We carry life jackets on board for all passengers.

Unfortunately, there are 4 steps you must take to board the boat, but if you are mobile enough our crew would be glad to assist you onto the boat with the best of their ability. The bathrooms on board are not wheelchair accessible but can be used by a passenger with limited mobility. If you’d like to make a request for any special accommodations, please click on the “Contact SFWhaleTours” link.

No, smoking is not permitted on board.

We cannot allow pets on board, with the exception of service animals.

Yes! Please feel free to bring your own food or non-alcoholic beverages on board. Beer and wine are allowed on board, but hard alcohol is not.

You may bring beer or wine on the trip. Harder alcohol is discouraged because we are a family- friendly experience.

Dress warm and in layers. Waterproof jackets are great and comfortable, sturdy shoes are a must. Depending on the weather conditions it is always a possibility that you may get wet. Please plan accordingly.

Yes, please click on the “Contact SFWhaleTours” link for more information and merchandise will be provided on board for purchase.

Yes, gift certificates make a great gift for any occasion! If you are interested in purchasing a gift certificate, please click “Buy a Gift Card” button on the top right corner in red on our home page.

Trips are narrated in English, but the scenery is enough to take in even if English isn’t your first language.

Yes, we do offer private charters. To inquire further, please click on the “Contact SFWhaleTours” link for more information.

Tickets may be cancelled up to 48 hours prior to the tour, tickets cancelled less than 48 hours prior to the tour cannot be refunded, but may be rescheduled depending on availability.

Activity may be cancelled due to severe weather.

The activity usually runs in light rain and other moderate weather conditions, but the seller may cancel the activity up to an hour before the start time in the event of severe or unsafe weather conditions. If the seller cancels the event, ticket-holders will be offered a refund or receive a credit for a future event.