Types of Whale Watching in Los Angeles
Whale Species & Best Months in Los Angeles
| Species | January–March | April–June | July–September | October–December | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray Whale | Peak | Departing | — | Arriving | ~90% Dec–Apr |
| Blue Whale | — | Arriving | Peak | Departing | ~65% Jun–Sep |
| Humpback Whale | Rare | Present | Common | Present | ~40% |
| Fin Whale | Rare | Rare | Present | Rare | ~15% |
| Common Dolphin | Common | Common | Common | Common | Very High |
What to Expect on the Day
Check in at the harbour
Long Beach and San Pedro are both easy to reach from downtown LA (35–45 minutes by car or Metro Blue Line to Long Beach). Arrive 20–30 minutes before departure. Paid parking is available at both harbours.
Exit into the Pacific
Boats pass the Long Beach or LA harbour breakwater into open Pacific water. The Palos Verdes Peninsula rises to the north — a rugged headland where gray whales pass extremely close to shore in winter.
Locating the whales
In winter (December–April), gray whales migrate within 1–2 miles of the LA coastline — some of the closest whale watching to a major city anywhere in the world. In summer, captains head further offshore for blue whales.
Wildlife encounter
Common dolphin pods of 100–500 animals are a near-guaranteed sighting year-round. Gray whale mothers with calves linger in the shallows March–April. Blue whales in summer often surface alongside feeding birds.
Return to harbour
Most tours return through the outer harbour with views of the Queen Mary (Long Beach) or Vincent Thomas Bridge (San Pedro). Tours typically run 2–3 hours total.
What to Bring — and What to Leave at Home
✓ Bring
- Light jacket (ocean air is cooler than LA shore)
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Camera with zoom lens
- Binoculars
- Motion sickness medication if prone
✗ Leave at home
- Heavy clothing
- Pets
Where Tours Depart From
| Port / Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Long Beach Harbour | 1 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. Tour t1 departs here near the Aquarium of the Pacific. Metro Blue Line runs directly to Long Beach — no car needed. Paid parking in the Aquarium lot. |
| San Pedro — West Harbor | West Harbor, San Pedro (Port of Los Angeles). Tour t2 departs from the newly redeveloped waterfront. Convenient for cruise ship passengers. Paid parking at the harbour. |
How to Choose an Ethical Tour
What ethical operators do
- Maintain 100-yard minimum from whales, 50 yards from dolphins (NMFS regulations)
- Support operators with NOAA whale watch permits
- Report sightings to Whale Alert app to help researchers track migrations
- Choose tours with certified naturalists on board
Red flags to avoid
- Operators that approach within 100 yards of whales
- Tours without any educational or naturalist component
- Using drones near wildlife without NOAA permits