No matter when you go, youre likely to see one or more whale species, which may be migrating through the area or feeding in the bay. Join us for an exciting marine mammal wildlife trip along the san francisco bay and the northern. We spotted harbor seals, bird life, sea otters and a whale with her calf. Faqs discovery whale watch monterey bay, santa cruz. Owning a fancy whale scarf is all well and good, but opportunities to wear it are rare. San diego provides the perfect launching point for a whale watching tour in california. Board a boat tour from the wharf for whalewatchinggrays, blues, or humpbacks, depending on the time of yearor take a winding drive in the santa cruz. There are many reasons to go whale watching and for santa monica whale watching enthusiasts, whale watching from the nearby destination goes on throughout the year. Below are just a few locations youll likely be able to see whales during migration without getting seasick. Our boats discovery whale watch monterey bay, santa cruz. Stagnaro charters presents yearround whale watching trips on monterey. Monterey ca whale watching santa cruz whale watching. Apr 30, 2017 rv camping at santa cruz watsonville, ca koa camp grounds duration. Whale watching santa monica visitors newport landing.
Whichever your choice, todays fourth generation stagnaro charter boats will surely make your trip fun and memorable. Twice every year over 20,000 gray whales pass through our waters off of santa cruz. All of our boats are slightly smaller than other companies in our area. The grey whales in the bay here are often younger whales that have stopped to rest or feed during their 6000 mile migration from mexico to alaska. This 34 hour trip focuses on the annual migration of the california gray whale. We only take 30 passengers per trip to allow for more personal time with the crew and comfort while riding on board. Santa cruz county is located between san francisco and monterey on californias central coast. Shes been a whale watching naturalist on boats in the monterey bay since 2008 and goes shorebased whale watching on her days off seriously.
Best 30 whale watching tours in santa cruz, ca with. We also have the most fuel efficient boat on the bay. There is a european feel to the town where visitors can enjoy a variety of unique events and activities. Velocity is one of the only charter boats in northern california equipped with passenger bunks and comfortable highback seating. As said in my answer to the same question above, moss landing is the best place to go whale watching, because the whales have been in this area this year. Santa cruz, california to us, whale sculptures in this pose always look beached and dead. Youll be taken to the yacht harbor of puerto colon, where. Its one of the most amazing wildlife migrations on the planet. Dock i santa cruz, california 95062 santa cruz harbor. Hop aboard a whale watching tour and see why the santa barbara channel is one of the best venues in the world for spotting sea life. Peak migration usually occurs mid january and mid march. See allday whale watch trips in killer whale season for details. The first time occurs from december through mid february when they are migrating south from the cold arctic waters of the bering sea to their winter calving grounds off of the baja peninsula.
Top 10 best whale watching tours in santa cruz, ca last. Santa cruz whale watching by stagnaro charters, santa cruz, california. Her spacious walkaround deck and exterior seating make her a great choice for fishing, whale watching and scenic tours. Whale watching from land if youre looking to whale watch from shore, there are many locations along the west coast from california to washington. Provide personalized trips for groups up to 30 passengers.
The whales of monterey bay santa cruz whale watching. Our primary whale watch vessel is the sur randy which measure 53ft in length and carries up to 45 passengers. Please note that you can unsubscribe at anytime and our policy is not to send you any unsolicited emails. Santa cruz whale watching safaris great white shark tours. Whale watching in monterey bay is an amazing experience. Best whale watching in southern california, santa barbara. Theres a reason why the santa barbara channel is one of the west coasts best areas for whale watching.
Scheduled on selected days during the summerfall season. Whale watching monterey and santa cruz what to know. Her experienced crew is dedicated to making your ocean adventure fun and memorable. This tour offers you the rare opportunity of watching whales and dolphins in their natural environment.
We only saw dolphins on our trip, no whales, so as advertised, captain jim and kate invited us to come back for another trip at no charge. Kate is a member of the whale entanglement team and has assisted in several whale rescues. Our whale watching tours depart from the santa cruz north harbor. Whale watching in monterey bay offers seven different species of whales and.
Migratory whales, including grays, blues, and humpbacks, can all be spied off the coast here at different times of year, and dolphins, sea otters, and seals are observed year round. Weve rounded up five incredible whalewatching spots along the pacific, from alaska to hawaii. Where to go whale watching in the western usa visit the usa. Approximately 20,000 whales pass by the santa cruz coast south and then north again in a 5month period. Santa cruz whale watching by stagnaro charters home. Santa cruz has enough pacific shoreline that it has seen its share of unfortunate strandings. Faqs discovery whale watch monterey bay, santa cruz, san. Rv camping at santa cruz watsonville, ca koa camp grounds duration. Apr 19, 2011 a beautiful day with fog, mist and sunshine to explore the waters around santa cruz. We spotted harbor seals, bird life, sea otters and a whale with. Current monterey bay and santa cruz fishing reports. Trips depart several times a day yearround from beautiful newport beach and allow for great opportunities to view marine life in their natural habitat. Blue ocean whale watchs top priorities are passenger safety, respect for wildlife, and having fun. Monterey ca whale watching santa cruz whale watching by.
Not as many whales as the open water tour, but this tour features the calmer waters of the monterey bay off santa cruz cove. Whale watching monterey style means you get the experience of a lifetime. Buffeted by the santa cruz mountains and monterey bay, santa cruz attractions offer a variety of activities for the entire family. California sea lions, harbor seals, northern right whale dolphin, pacific whitesided dolphins.
You wont find this level of customer service anywhere else. As for seasickness, you will be in monterey bay, not the pacific ocean, so the water will be calmer. Southern california carlsbad is known as the village by the sea, due to its proximity to the glistening pacific ocean. To make the monterey and santa cruz area even more appealing, the whale watching season is the longest in the state of california, lasting more or less all year. Whale watching in santa cruz ca stagnaro charters 831 4270230. Each year, about 20,000 gray whales make an epic 6,000mile journey between alaska and mexicoand then back again. Year round whale watching and a whale watch guarantee available. Some of the best whale watching firms serving santa monica whale watching enthusiasts even post this information on their websites to help potential clients make the best choices. One way to view some of these species up close is on one of the areas whale. Santa cruz sport fishing, private fishing charters and whale. The stagnaro family has been serving the santa cruz area for over a century when italian patriarch cottardo stagnaro settled in santa cruz in 1879. Or, if it is more convenient, take a boat from stagnaro bros.
While santa cruz gets thumbsup for its hangloose surf scene, oceanfront amusement park, flawless beach, and classic wooden pier, theres another giant treasure lurking just beneath the surface. Trips depart daily from the wharf in monterey, where passengers can expect to see humpbacks during. Blue ocean whale watching run a strict data protection policy click here for further information. Santa cruz whale watching by stagnaro charters home facebook. Learn more about santa cruz whale watching tours by visiting our other website. If youre planning on going whale watching in the northern part of california, from marin county to the oregon border, this guide includes all the best places to go, when to go, and how to see some of the worlds biggest creatures as they swim just off the california coast. Special trips emphasizing killer whales take place in april and may. Our boats discovery whale watch monterey bay, santa. Find watching tips for humpback and blue whales that can be found around the channel islands. Venture quest kayaking venture questscenic and wildlife. Stagnaro sport fishing, charters and whale watching cruises, santa cruz and monterey bay, california ca. Santa cruz harbor gateway to the monterey bay national.
Sf bay whale watching whale watching tours in san francisco. Take advantage of discount sanctuary cruise whale watching tickets by booking one nights stay at our santa cruz hotel, inn at pasatiempo in santa cruz, ca. Santa cruz whale watching by stagnaro charters facebook. Its nutrientrich water is home to hundreds of species of marine life as well as a wide variety of seabirds. Sanctuary cruise whale watching package santa cruz hotel. The whales of monterey bay santa cruz whale watching by. And be sure to dine at gilda stagnaros family restaurant before or after your ocean adventure. Long beach, newport beach, dana point, oceanside, and san diego all offer whalewatching. Come to beautiful santa cruz, california and join us on an ocean safari aboard the 50 motor vessel sea spirit venturing out into the beautiful monterey bay in the heart of the monterey bay marine sanctuary. Sf bay whale watching provides whale watching and natural history expeditions from san francisco bay to the gulf of the farallones national marine sanctuary. Whale watching santa monica was designed for residents and visitors who are looking to take a whale watching excursion. One of the few whalewatching vessels to depart from the santa cruz harbor, the chardonnay ii is a 70foot luxury sailing yacht that offers whale watching tours each february through aprilthe season during which gray whales pass through monterey bay on their epic annual journey from mexico to alaska. Rent a kayak or join us on a guided tour and enter the realm of sea otters, seals, sea lions, pelicans, dolphins, whales and a variety of other bird and marine wildlife. Venture quest kayaking of santa cruz offers a unique opportunity to explore the monterey bay national marine sanctuary from a kayak.
The rare rissos dolphin combined with other species of dolphin and sea lions are viewed regularly on newport landings whale watching tours. Since many santa cruz boat tours only operate during specific seasons, call ahead to make sure tours are operating before making plans. Click here to learn more about tours annual santa cruz fireworks display. There is also an increased chance of spotting killer whales in march, april, and may. California is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. Best santa cruz tours is your guide to land, sea and air tours of this uniquely scenic area, as well as other attractions of interest. Velocity, stagnaro sport fishing, charters and whale. Whale watching in santa cruz ca santa cruz whale watching. Every day on the bay is different and were always excited to see whats next and share the experience with our passengers were often told our enthusiasm is contagious. If you want to have less impact on energy consumption and the world ecology while your enjoying, living and learning, sanctuary cruises is the clear choice for marine wildlife tours on the monterey bay. They also get to see harbor seals, sea otters, bottlenose dolphins, and much more. Morning and evening tours are available, private tours too. A beautiful day with fog, mist and sunshine to explore the waters around santa cruz. Todays groupon puts your whale fandom to the test with a 3.
Our whale watch is an owneroperated business 99% of the time. These massive, itinerant mammals travel from feeding grounds in the bering sea to mating and breeding lagoons along baja california in mexico. We have two vessels we use for whale watching and are happy to introduce our third vessel as of the 2019 season. Sea spirit is the premier whale watching and great white shark adventures on the monterey bay. Several companies offer whalewatching cruises with common sightings of gray whales and. In response to the santa barbara city councils emergency proclamation and the recent guidance from the california department of health, condor express whale watching is temporarily shutting down all operations including whale watching tours and charter boat excursions until further notice. Santa cruz, ca the monterey bay is teeming with whales, especially blue whales, proving a boon for local whale watching businesses. Take a look at our california whale watching seasons and pricing information for your trip. Whale watching in santa barbara outdoor activities. The main whale watching tour boat from newport landing was built for the primary purpose of providing whale watching tours to guests and residents of santa monica. Whale watching in ventura ca is great way to spend your day. The harbor provides permanent moorage for approximately 1,200 wetberthed and 275 drystored vessels and offers both residents and visitors access to a variety of recreational and commercial opportunities.
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