Avila Beach Whale Watching
Avila Beach Whale Watching
Avila Beach Whale Watching
5
Boat ToursEco ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife ToursSpeed Boats Tours
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Full view
About
We are a small family run tour company that offers Powerboat excursions on the pristine waters of San Luis Obispo Bay, the hidden gem of the Central Coast. Hop aboard any of our tours and you will experience an abundance of wildlife viewing opportunities and see for yourself why locals and visitors alike consider our trips their favorite way to share the beauty of this bay with friends and family. Our boat is very comfortable and with only 6 passengers on each tour you are guaranteed a personalized experience and an unobstructed view when we stop to see the sights and animals. I have been leading adventure tours for over 35 years and will be your personal guide on every tour. Our boat is one of the best whale watching platforms on the west coast. She is an amazing 28 ft Power catamaran that is incredibly stable and quite fast which means you get more quality time with the whales than the traditional slower boats.
Avila Beach, United States
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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Avila Beach Whale Watching
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5.0
542 reviews
Excellent
538
Very good
3
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
LPT999
Tiburon, CA6 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
My son is a student at Cal Poly and I thought this would be a fun activity for us during my weekend visit. We got a beautiful 70 degree day and had an awesome time on this trip. Mark was so wonderful and knowledgeable. At first we didn't see any whales but after an hour and Mark's perseverance we were able to see them. We got up close and it was such a thrill to see them breach, spout, and dive. Would definitely recommend this trip!
Written 25 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vbtred
Arroyo Grande, CA2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
If you are looking for a fun, educational and amazing tour check out Avila Beach Whale Watching. We love to whale watch in Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and California and one of the best is Avila Beach Whale watch. Captain Mark is personable and knowledgeable captain. We have been out several times over the years and so far has not disappointed. Our last ride on Nov 3 was amazing! There were at least 30 hump back whales feeding in the area, but more amazing were the sea lions feeding with them. There must have been 300 or more. When the sea lions dove down and came back up chasing the fish it felt like you could walk on top of them without getting wet. Then the whales followed slapping their tales and taking huge gulps. The behaviors that occur with whales while eating between migration points ( California central coast) are so different than when they are breeding in Mexico or Hawaii.On the way our we were treated to sea lions resting on a specially built raft, sea otters grooming themselves and eating urchin, and a multitude of birds.
His boat is very smooth and stable even in rougher waters and everyone has a great seat. One of the few trips worth every penny. Hope you have the same luck as us.
His boat is very smooth and stable even in rougher waters and everyone has a great seat. One of the few trips worth every penny. Hope you have the same luck as us.
Written 3 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for this very detailed and kind review. I am so glad you enjoyed the tour
Written 4 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jill W
Camp Verde, AZ13 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
What a fantastic experience! This was not our first whale outing, in fact, it was our 5th in our lifetime as I am a huge Whale and Dolphin lover. This definitely was our favorite! I gave the experience to my husband for his birthday a few weeks prior and we did the early 9 am tour on Halloween morning. The weather was absolutely perfect. Captain Mark was friendly upon arrival and delightfully just as excited as we were to go see some whales. He briefly went over some safety information, which is always appreciated, and off we went, right to the spot he had been seeing whales recently. On our way, we saw a huge stampede of hundreds of dolphins! He slowed to let us appreciate them. He was always so knowledgeable about all the wildlife we saw and gave us all excellent answers to our questions. It is ALWAYS special to see a huge pod of Dolphins playing and jumping right by the boat and I would have been satisfied right at this point! Next, we went right to his spot, and on the way there, we began seeing whale spouts in the distance. He went to a huge circle raft of sea lions on a feeding frenzy that he knew meant many whales would be near. Oh my were they ever!! We were so fortunate to watch over 40 humpback Whales all around us! In the distance, on the sides, I mean everywhere! It never once felt unsafe either as he was a true Captain and knew how to navigate the boat by watching the other wildlife, the whales, and their water imprints, and when to kill the engine and when to start it. All to keep the whales and us safe. He even played classical music at one point because he said, "The whales like it" and it seemed like the whales were choreographed to the music! I really liked the music too; this is when I teared up from the sheer joy of it all! An absolutely incredible nature symphony! Finally, the group size is the perfect, intimate size group too. There was NO bad view on the Pacific Flyer and really affordable to only have 6 total passengers, that's like a private tour size! I cannot wait to go back out again! Thank you, Captain Mark!
Written 1 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for this very kind and detailed review. That truly was one of the most magnificent trips we have ever done. The Whales, weather ,Dolphins and Sealions were all just incredible that day!
Written 1 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
James M
Bristol, UK4 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We had an awesome trip with Captain Mark today. His boat is perfect for offshore adventures, and we were made to feel really welcome.
Our experience was honestly one of the most amazing days of our lives. First of all, we encountered a pod of about 100 dolphins swimming around the boat. We then got into some serious whale action with approximately 30 humpback whales around us at various times during the trip. We got some great photos and video which we will treasure from our time in California.
We highly recommend Mark and his boat. Lovely guy who is very knowledgeable of the local marine life. Go ahead and book you'll have a great time.
Our experience was honestly one of the most amazing days of our lives. First of all, we encountered a pod of about 100 dolphins swimming around the boat. We then got into some serious whale action with approximately 30 humpback whales around us at various times during the trip. We got some great photos and video which we will treasure from our time in California.
We highly recommend Mark and his boat. Lovely guy who is very knowledgeable of the local marine life. Go ahead and book you'll have a great time.
Written 31 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Jimmy for this wonderful review. That was an amazing trip I do give all the credit to the animals, sometimes they make my job easy.
Written 1 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Katy W
Castro Valley, CA28 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
We took the morning tour at 9am, it was a sunny beautiful day. Capt. Mark was amazing, he made the trip so much more interesting by sharing his knowledge. We saw about 20 whales up close & personal, it was an absolutely EPIC day!!! Can't recommend this highly enough!!
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for this very kind review it is greatly appreciated
Written 1 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paula L
Madera, CA5 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
I have gone out with Avila Beach Whale Watching two times now, and I will happily go again. The first time a juvenile whale recognized Captain Mark's boat and came over to greet us. The whale entertained us with an up close and personal encounter by swimming around and under our boat. The second time I went out, we didn't see any whales and I had an equally enjoyable time. We toured around the bay and saw plenty of other sea life, birds and coastline to keep us entertained. I highly recommend Avila Beach Whale Watching tours.
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Paula for this very kind review and for your continued patronage of my business
Written 1 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lars J
8 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Was a great experience!! Can highly recommend for anyone !!! We managed to see a whale and its a must if you come through Avila Beach!
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for this very kind review
Written 1 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maureen S
2 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
What a fabulous day! Thank you, Mark, for an awesome experience. We appreciated your knowledge of the humpback whales & your respect for them & the ocean. You were patient & allowed us lots of time for observation & photos. Your demeanor was perfect both as our captain & our guide. This was a bucket list item for us. It was spectacular! It exceeded our expectations. We'll be talking about this for a long time & sharing our adventure with others. We highly recommend this tour! Also, Mark's boat was in pristine condition...clean & comfortable!
Written 10 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for this wonderful review
Written 1 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Beverley R
Leeds, UK2 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
What an experience, hard to surpass. Mark was knowledgeable, informative, and friendly. The tour was perfect, small, and intimate to be able to get up close to the whales.
The ability to see these amazing creatures in their own environment is something we will never forget. Thank you!
The ability to see these amazing creatures in their own environment is something we will never forget. Thank you!
Written 23 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Beverley for this very kind review
Written 1 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa R
San Luis Obispo, CA2 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
This is my second time with Captain Mark on his tour looking for Humpback Whales. He is so kind and happy to share his knowledgeable about the sea and its wildlife. While we had to venture a bit further out to find the whales, we did and it was so worth it! I’d go again in a heartbeat and recommend his company highly.
Written 11 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for this wonderful review
Written 1 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ibdiane
Bakersfield, CA3 contributions
Is there a better time of the day to see the whales? There are 3 tour times available. Thank you.
Mark K
15 contributions
Hi and thank you for this question. The honest answer is the best time changes daily depending on the weather and viewing conditions as the whales are always active feeding. Typically the 9 am has the calmest seas and the prettiest morning light unless is is foggy then the 11:30 becomes the best time. In the Fall the 2 pm trip starts to be the best with spectacular afternoon light and calm seas. So overall it is hard to say which is best but I would go with the 9 am trip from May through June and the 11:30 from July through November..The 2pm trip is only added when the weather forecast looks great for a calm afternoon and are usually fantastic as well. The most spectacular trips however are the private photo tours we offer on evenings in September and October. If you read the reviews you will see that all the times have good success rates as we have an abundance of whales here and the best boat to get you to them.
Mimi H
South Nyack, New York, United States3 contributions
Please tell me if children ages 5 and 9 are suitable for this whale watching
Mark K
15 contributions
Hello Mimi
Thank you for this question. We have the age limit for this trip set at 4 but the truth is we take infants fairly often. It really depends on the child’s temperament that day. To answer your question directly YES we think this tour is great for 5 and 9 year olds. . We suggest that family’s with children younger than 4 to please reserve a private tour so we can cater the trip to your child’s needs that day. Thank you again and hope to see on the water soon. Mark
ROVERS FROM RUSHTON
17 contributions
Hi, we have booked a trip for June and have read the questions and answers, just looking for a few ideas about clothing due to having booked the powerboat trip. Any advice would be appreciated. Kind Regards Richard.
Mark K
15 contributions
We suggest that you dress in layers as the temps can change quickly. For example Long pants, T shirt plus sweater or sweatshirt plus a wind breaker or rain coat . The boat is big enough that everyone can bring a backpack with some extra clothes. Hats and gloves are sometimes a good idea on the 9am tours. I hope this helps
Cheers Mark
Angie M
North Houston, TX26 contributions
Coming in from TX. Our children are 16, 14, and 8. Do you recommend power catamaran whale watching or family sea life?
Mark K
15 contributions
Hello Angie,
Both of our boats offer fantastic whale watching opportunities.
The powerboat gets you to the whales fast and enjoys wonderful experiences with the whales. The sailboat is a more tranquil experience and has the most magical interactions with the whales were they sometimes choose to swim over and interact with us. There are laws about how close we can go and so it is up to the whales if they choose to come over and say hello. I can not really recommend one over the other it is really up to you and the whales as to what experience you will have, both are wonderful so it comes down to if you would rather travel fast over the ocean or would you like travel in a more relaxed mode.
Sandra M
Sacramento, CA2 contributions
Do you give refunds if a client has to cancel?
Mark K
Avila Beach, CA4 contributions
Hi Sandra, Thank you for the question do we give a refund if clients cancel a trip. Yes we do when the trip is canceled more than 7 days in advance or if we can rebook the day and time we were holding for you we give a full refund minus a $25 cancelation fee to cover the costs of canceling ( time and credit card fees), if you cancel less than 7 days before your trip we give you a 50% refund and if you cancel less than 48 hours before your scheduled departure there is no refund unless we can rebook your trip, then since we did not lose money by holding a spot for you we give a full refund minus the $25 cancelation fee. We understand that life happens and plans change and will do what we can to help and have often times give refunds to people who cancelled due to emergencies but we want folks to understand that we have a short season to make a living and if you cancel on a whim at the last minute we lose that time and do not get it back. This information is available on our website
Karen D
Felton9 contributions
I've been on several whale watching tours in my 71 years, on different types of boats. I've only gotten sick twice sailing out of Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay. How rough is the sea where you sail, in comparison?
Mark K
Avila Beach, CA4 contributions
Hi Karen, We tend to have calmer sea conditions here than up in Monterrey bay as we are in a more protected area. That said it really depends on the weather the day you decide to go. My suggestion for you would be to come see the whales in September as that is the least windy month and we have many magical days with the whales at that time. Otherwise throughout the year the morning trips tend to experience calmer conditions than the afternoon tours. We also are going out on a 44 ft sailboat which is much more stable than a power boat which helps with the seasickness.
henleytraveller04
Henley-on-Thames, UK6 contributions
I think this trip sounds great, however slightly unsure as my six year old is sometimes nervous if it's choppy and the boat bounces around. Can anyone give me an indication of how big the boat is and how well it rides the waves?
Thanks
Mark K
15 contributions
Hello Hellen on Thames,
We take many young children out every year and I do have a child of my own so I understand your concerns. We offer a special family private tour of a shorter duration (1 hour) if you would like to try it out before committing to a longer tour with other guests aboard. On a private tour we would go out with only your family aboard and and can tailor the tour to fit with yours family comfort level upon the sea. Here at Port San Luis /Avila Beach , we have several miles of protected waters where even on windy days there are little to no waves and an abundance of wildlife to observe! The youngest ever to travel with us here has been 4 months old and the oldest was 86.