7 Tours in Monterey and Carmel Worth Booking

1.Monterey Bay: Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,300 reviews · 3 - 4 hours · from $75Our pick

Board Discovery Whale Watch at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf for a 3 to 4-hour cruise led by a marine biologist. You may see humpbacks, gray whales, blue whales, dolphins, sea lions, otters, and more. Guides such as Isaiah, Maddy, and Sophie add lively commentary, while free hot drinks help on chilly water.

“Just incredible to see the sea otters, dolphins and whales. The crew were incredibly knowledgable. Sea sickness tablets are a must”

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2.Monterey Bay Dolphin and Whale Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,645 reviews · 3 hours · from $62

Sail from Old Fisherman’s Wharf with Chris’ Fishing and Whale Watching for three hours of wildlife spotting. Guides such as Kevin and Lauren explain Monterey Bay’s ecology while the captain tracks humpback and gray whales, dolphins, sea lions, otters, and birds. Smaller boats offer clear views, but choppy seas and confusing parking require preparation.

“We had a great experience from beginning to end. luckily we had a chance to see quite a few whales.”

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3.4 Hour Whale Watching Tour From Monterey

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,045 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $85Top rated

Set out from Old Fisherman’s Wharf at 9 a.m. with a marine biologist or naturalist and a maximum of 30 people. Search Monterey Bay for humpback, gray, and blue whales, dolphins, sea lions, birds, and more. Crew members such as Isaiah, Cory, Colby, and Captain JJ have led recent trips, sharing wildlife facts, photo tips, and conservation notes.

“Had such a great experience on this tour. Spent around 1.5 hours watching humpback whales feed as well as some sea lions. The crew were mega helpful and informative. Explaining the geography of the bay and the reasons the whales were present. Apparently the sea can get a little choppy in October/when winter starts to set in which is what we experienced so take some travel sickness tablets before getting to the dock if you are prone to feeling motion sickness.”

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4.Monterey’s 17 Mile Drive Guided Electric Bike Tour, 3 hr

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 870 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $59Best value

Ride from Pacific Grove along the coast and the scenic parts of 17-Mile Drive on an assisted e-bike. Your guide handles directions, safety, local stories, and wildlife spotting, with stops at Bird Rock, Lone Cypress, Pebble Beach, and more. Family tours offer tandem riding for children up to 120 pounds.

“First 17 mile drive is gorgeous and so much better on a bike. 2nd the guided tour gave us great info, and I love not having to worry about direction or where to stop or timing. 3rd the e-bikes made this a much more enjoyable ride. They were comfy and easy to operate.”

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5.Sunset Whale Watching Cruise with A Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 519 reviews · 3 hours · from $75

Join Discovery Whale Watch at Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf for a three-hour sunset cruise. Guides such as Isaiah, Andrew, Kevin, and Maddie share local wildlife facts while the captain searches for humpback, gray, and blue whales, dolphins, sea lions, otters, and more. Boats are smaller than some local operators, so bring warm layers and motion-sickness medicine.

“It was a nice trip with a very good Team. And we‘ve seen many whales.”

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6.Monterey and Carmel Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 476 reviews · 11h 30m · from $139

Spend about 11.5 hours on California’s coast with an English-speaking guide, traveling from San Francisco to Monterey and Carmel. You’ll get two hours at Cannery Row, scenic stops at Pigeon Point and Davenport, the 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, and one hour in Carmel. Aquarium admission and meals cost extra.

“A wonderful day tour only spoiled by attitude of driver to another passenger who was rude to him however the driver would not let it go so it spoiled the return drive back to San Francisco BUT the tour/drive itself was excellent”

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7.Whale Watching Tour with A Marine Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 348 reviews · 2h 30m · from $70

Cruise Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary aboard the 100-foot Atlantis Monterey or 110-foot Princess Monterey. A marine guide explains whale and dolphin behavior while you watch from heated cabins, large windows, or the 360-degree outdoor deck. Humpback, gray, and blue whales appear in different seasons, with dolphins, sea lions, and seabirds possible year-round.

“The gide was excelent. We saw lot of whales and dolfines. The ship was clean. I think it's expensive”

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