The 15 Best Places to Watch Whales Across the Globe
Going whale watching is one of my favorite activities across the world. From California to Seattle, Alaska to Iceland, and Maui, I’ve experienced some incredible moments with these incredible creatures. Thankfully, these have occurred in the best places to watch whales in the world.
Humpbacks are one of the reasons I’ve become more focused on wildlife photography. Capturing their beauty and playfulness has been thrilling. It’s way harder than shooting a mountain, as you have so many factors to think about.
But for those who just want to see it with their own two eyes, you’re in for a treat with these 15 whale destinations. Some may require a long flight, others just a drive down south (if you live in Los Angeles or San Francisco).
However you enjoy whale watching, I hope it prompts you to consider how to protect them and enable them to continue flourishing around the planet.
Unforgettable Moments: These are the Best Places to Watch Whales
To keep this list from never ending, I stuck with a nice round 15. I’m sure I missed a few places.
1. Maui and the Hawaiian Islands
If you’re a west coaster and looking to warm up during winter, Maui is the place to be! There are so many things to do there, and the whales are top-notch. Upwards of 10,000 whales descend on the Maui Nui Basin each winter to give birth and mate.
If you’re looking to see whales, you’ll be blown away by the number of whales you see.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Humpback Whales
- Best time: December through April
- Best place: Maui, especially the Auʻau Channel between Maui, Lanai, and Molokai
- Why they’re special: Breaching, tail slaps, and mother-calf pairs in shallow water
- Your odds: Extremely high in winter
Places to Stay
Hotels are not cheap in Maui, as you likely already know. You can find some Airbnbs for $300 a night.
Mid-tier Hotels: Maui Coast Hotel | Maui Seaside Hotel | Days Inn
Luxury Hotels: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort | Grand Wailea Maui | Fairmont Kea Lani
My Personal Experience
One of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. We did two days of whale watching in Maui, and it went phenomenally. I can’t speak more highly of coming here to see humpbacks. We had one whale breach just out of the harbor, maybe 30 yards from us. It was magical.
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2. Alaska (Inside Passage and Kenai Fjords)
Summer in Alaska is the prime season for seeing whales and other wildlife. If you are traveling to mainland Alaska, you’ll want to visit Seward, about two hours south of Anchorage. But if you will be in the Inside Passage, Juneau is the place to see whales.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Humpback Whales
- Best time: May through September
- Best places: Kenai Fjords National Park and Inside Passage
- Why they’re special: Bubble-net feeding and dramatic scenery
- Your odds: Very high
Orcas
- Best time: May through September
- Why they’re special: Resident and transient populations
- Your odds: Common
My Personal Experience
In 2021, my now-wife and I did a 22-day trip through Alaska. For a few of those days, we hung out in Seward, Alaska, and took the Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise. I had never seen so much wildlife in my life!
Orcas, humpbacks, stellar sea lions, rare birds, a bear, seals, and more. It was awe-inspiring.
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Kenai Fjords: The best tour to take. The second-best tour to take.
Juneau: Top-reviewed whale watching tour
3. Seattle, Vancouver, and the San Juan Islands
The Pacific Northwest offers abundant marine life and wildlife. Before moving to Ballard, I had no idea how easy it is to see Orcas and other whales in the area.
There’s even an entire Facebook network of people who report orca sightings, and people chase them all over the Seattle-Tacoma metro area.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Orcas
- Best time: Year-round (winter surprisingly has a lot of orcas in the Puget Sound)
- Best place: Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, and the waters near Vancouver
- Why they’re special: Southern Resident population of orcas are critically endangered; the Bigg’s orcas are thriving
- Your odds: Pretty strong year-round for orcas; gray whales, and humpbacks, good but inconsistent
Humpback and Gray Whales
- Best time: Spring, Summer, and Fall
- Humpbacks up by the San Juan Islands, Gray Whales north of Seattle
- Your odds: Increasingly common
My Personal Experience
I’ve done two whale-watching trips in Seattle and a third in the San Juan Islands. My first trip was incredible, with over a dozen orcas and then a handful of spy-hopping gray whales. My second trip took us from Seattle to Port Angeles, where we saw orcas, but it was less exciting overall.
My final one, in the San Juans, was great! It offered beautiful views of the islands and Mount Baker, and then we first saw orcas and then humpbacks, which stayed with us for nearly an hour!
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From Seattle
From Friday Harbor on San Juan Island
From Vancouver
4. Depoe Bay on the Oregon Coast
This is the best place to go whale watching on the Oregon Coast. It’s Gray Whale heaven as they migrate north and south.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Gray Whales
- Best time: December through March and late spring
- Best place: Depoe Bay
- Why they’re special: Close-to-shore viewing
- Your odds: Very good during migration
Places to Stay
Find hotels in Depoe Bay and Lincoln City
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Learn more here.
5. Monterey and Carmel
I’ve had this area circled for a while to go whale watching, but I haven’t had the chance to go. It’s easily one of the best places to watch whales, as you don’t have to go too far to see them. Get inspired by these photos.
Also, make sure you explore Big Sur. It’s stunning!
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Humpback Whales
- Best time: April through November
- Best place: Monterey Bay
- Why they’re special: Active feeding behavior and frequent breaches
- Your odds: Very high
Blue Whales
- Best time: Late spring through summer
- Your odds: Good in peak season
Gray Whales
- Best time: December through April
- Your odds: Reliable during migration
There’s also a chance to see orcas in the winter months, but they are less predictable.
Places to Stay
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Highest rated tour in the area
6. Baja California
If you want to see gray whales up close and maybe even touch them, Baja California is the place to be. These are incredibly curious and friendly animals, and you’ll have an amazing time.
This might be one of the more challenging tours to book unless you plan to go with a bigger, more expensive company. This is in the middle of the Baja California peninsula, with not many lodging options. (There’s also whale watching down in Cabo San Lucas if that aligns better with your travel plans.)
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Gray Whales
- Best time: January through April
- Best place: Baja California lagoons (San Ignacio, Magdalena Bay, and Laguna Ojo de Liebre)
- Why they’re special: Close encounters with mothers and calves
- Your odds: Extremely high
Humpback and Fin Whales
- Best time: Winter
- Your odds: Good offshore
7. San Diego, California
San Diego is a mecca for sea life, and that includes some of the best whale watching in the world. They consistently have massive blue whales, humpback whales, and plenty more just offshore. One of these days, I’ll get down and experience it for myself.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Gray Whales
- Best time: December through April
- Best place: San Diego coastline
- Your odds: Strong in winter
Blue and Humpback Whales
- Best time: May through September
- Your odds: Good in summer
Places to Stay
Book a Tour
Larger Boat Tour Option
Smaller Boat Tour
8. Santa Barbara Channel
The Santa Barbara area teems with wildlife and is, honestly, one of the best places to watch whales on Earth. I lived here for a year and took three whale watching excursions with exceptional success. We also saw a gray whale in shallow water near the wharf.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Gray Whales
- Best time: December through April
- Best place: Santa Barbara coastline
- Why they’re special: One of the longest mammal migrations on Earth
- Your odds: Good in winter
Blue and Humpback Whales
- Best time: May through September
- Why they’re special: Blue whales are the largest animals on Earth
- Your odds: Strong in summer
My Personal Experience
You can read all about Santa Barbara whale watching here. But the most vivid experience was with my parents and Jaimie. We had whales swimming alongside us and beneath us, and they were so friendly. The photos from that day are forever some of my favorites!
Where to stay in Santa Barbara
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A more intimate experience: SB Whale Watch
Larger Boat, the one I’ve gone with three times
9. Cape Cod
I’ve only heard incredible things from the Cape Cod area. It has abundant sea life and offers some of the best whale watching around. One of these days, I’ll get myself to the New England area.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Humpback Whales (Most Common)
- Best time: May through October
- Best place: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary near Cape Cod
- Why they’re special: Frequent breaches, tail slaps, and surface feeding
- Your odds: Very high in summer
Humpbacks gather here to feed, and tours regularly encounter multiple whales on a single trip.
Fin Whales
- Best time: Summer
- Why they’re notable: The second-largest whale species in the world
- Your odds: Common in peak season
Fin whales are fast and sleek, often traveling through feeding areas alongside humpbacks.
Minke Whales
- Best time: Late spring through early fall
- Why they’re special: Smaller and more subtle, often seen darting through feeding zones
- Your odds: Fairly common
Right Whales (Rare but Important)
- Best time: Spring
- Why they’re special: Critically endangered North Atlantic species
- Your odds: Possible but not guaranteed
Places to Stay
Book a Tour
Check out this tour operator.
10. Norway Fjords
This is a bucket-list place to visit in the winter. In December and January, more orcas than you can imagine descend on the Norwegian Fjords chasing fish. It’s easily one of the best places to watch whales over the winter months.
Plus, combine it with northern lights views, and you’re in for one incredible experience.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Orcas
- Best time: November through January
- Best place: Fjords in northern Norway
- Why they’re special: Following massive herring schools
- Your odds: Good in winter
Humpback Whales
- Best time: Winter
- Your odds: Often seen alongside orcas
Book a Tour
Whale Safari in Tromso
Tromso: Whale Watching Cruise
11. Tonga
If you have goals to swim with humpback whales, the next two places are for you. From what I’ve heard from others, Tonga is a little harder to get to, with less infrastructure. But you can get closer to whales, though the water isn’t as clear.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Humpback Whales
- Best time: July through October
- Best place: Tonga
- Why they’re special: Swim-with-whales experiences
- Your odds: Excellent in season
Places to Stay
Book a Tour
12. Tahiti
Tahiti is hands down one of the best places to watch whales in the world. It’s a top-tier destination for swimming with humpback whales. It’s more expensive and easier to reach, though the water is crystal clear here.
My wife and I are so excited to do this in the near future.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Humpback Whales
- Best time: August through October
- Best place: Tahiti and nearby Moorea
- Why they’re special: Calm lagoons and clear water
- Your odds: Strong in season
Places to Stay
Book a Tour
5-hour tour with whales
13. Azores
This is one of the premier places to see sperm whales in the world. They’re massive divers, so you may not see much without going underwater. There’s a pretty cool National Geographic doc on Hulu about finding Sperm Whales near the Azores.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Sperm Whales
- Best time: Year-round
- Best place: Azores
- Why they’re special: Deep-diving giants
- Your odds: Very high
Blue, Fin, and Humpback Whales
- Best time: Spring
- Your odds: Seasonal but strong
Book a Tour
Find whale watching tours from the Azores.
14. Iceland
One of my first whale watching tours of my life was in Iceland, out of Reykjavik. Unfortunately, we only saw minke whales, which were doing nothing exciting. But further north, out of Akuryei, it’s one of the best places for whale watching. Their trips could even take you into the Arctic Circle.
What Whales Could You See, and the Best Time to Go Whale Watching
Humpback Whales (Most Common)
- Best time: April–October
- Best places: Húsavík, Akureyri, Reykjavík
- Why they’re special: Known for breaching and dramatic tail dives
- Your odds: Very high in summer
Humpbacks feed in Icelandic waters during summer, making them the most commonly seen whale on tours.
Minke Whales
- Best time: April–October
- Best place: Faxaflói (near Reykjavík)
- What to look for: A curved dorsal fin slicing through the water
- Your odds: Common, especially on Reykjavík tours
They’re smaller and more subtle than humpbacks but are frequently spotted in summer.
Orcas (Killer Whales)
- Best time: November–March
- Best place: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- Why they’re there: Following herring in winter
- Your odds: Good in winter around Snæfellsnes
If you’re visiting Iceland in winter and want to see orcas, this is where to go.
Fin Whales
- Best time: Summer
- Where: Primarily North Iceland
- Why they’re notable: The second-largest whale species in the world
- Your odds: Occasional summer sightings
White-Beaked Dolphins (Very Common)
- Seen: Year-round
- Where: Especially around Reykjavík and North Iceland
- What they’re like: Fast, playful, and often swim alongside boats
- Your odds: Very high
15. Costa Rica for Humpbacks
Costa Rica has some of the best whale watching in Central America. They have two whale seasons, with the gentle giants coming south from Alaska and California and north from Antarctica.
The main hub is from Uvita, south of Manuel Antonio, in Marino Ballena National Park. It’s super interesting because there’s no marina here. They pull the boats out with tractors, people load into them from the beach, and they venture out.
How to Book
Why is this so cool?
You don’t have to fly to Hawaii to see humpbacks. For those on the East Coast, it’s a five-hour flight to the Central American country.
Best time to go whale watching here
As I mentioned, there are two seasons. The first runs from December through March (North American whales coming south), and the second runs from July through October (southern whales coming north).
Places to Stay
You’ll want to stay in Uvita. This area is far less tourist-heavy, making it a fun place to enjoy the natural landscapes.
Best Places for Shore-Based Whale Watching
South Maui Beaches
On our 2024 trip to Maui, we sat on the beaches and watched dozens of whales breach far out at sea. With binoculars, it was almost like watching them do it right in front of you. I still recommend taking tours, but the beach is a good option as well.
It’s another reason Maui tops the list of the best places to watch whales.
Puget Sound and San Juan Islands
In Seattle, there’s a Facebook group called Orca Network where people share where they’ve seen orcas that day. This allows people to go to the water’s edge and see them. It’s really impressive, and we’ve had good success since we used to live 10 minutes from the water.
Costa Rica
While we were in Uvita, exploring the Whale’s Tail, we saw the whale-watching boats just offshore. And lo and behold, we saw some whales! And then three of them breached, with one being the largest breach I’ve seen in years. A total behemoth.
Where would I recommend going whale watching?
If you’re okay with a flight, then you should go to Maui in January or February. The sheer number of whales in the area will absolutely blow you away. If you don’t want to fly that far (understandable), I have incredible reviews of Santa Barbara. There’s so much life out there!
Anywhere on this list is truly one of the best places to watch whales.
What to Bring for Whale Watching
Don’t forget these crucial items as you enjoy the best places to watch whales.
- Binoculars
- Camera + lens – Read my wildlife photography guide
- Motion sickness tips
- Clothing layers
- Hat (that won’t fly off)
- Sunglasses
Final Thoughts on the Best Places to Go Whale Watching
Over the last few years, I’ve prioritized getting out onto the water to spend time with whales. Yes, they may only be in 3-4-hour increments, but each time I feel invigorated by these gentle giants.
How they move, play, and live lights a little fire inside.
I hope this piece helps point you in the right direction for the best places to watch whales and allows you to see them up close.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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