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The 15 Best Full-Day Whale Watching Trips Worldwide

32 tours  ·  from $52 a head

The 15 best full-day whale watching trips you can book today, with the price on the ticket, how long the crossing runs and which animal you are going out for. Number one is top for a reason; start there.

From Quebec City: Whale Watching Excursion Full-Day Trip - Charlevoix scenery before the water
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From Quebec City: Whale Watching Excursion Full-Day Trip

1.From Quebec City: Whale Watching Excursion Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 863 reviews · 11 hours · from $186Our pick

Travel from Fontaine de Tourny to Baie-Sainte-Catherine by air-conditioned bus, then choose a roomy whale-watching boat or fast Zodiac. Naturalist guides explain the St. Lawrence’s whales in English and French. Expect Saguenay Fjord views, cold weather, a long road day, and a strong chance of seeing several species.

“This is the first time we have joined the whale watching excursion in my life .That is a great challenge For us to stay in the ocean for 3 hours , which is thrilling and stimulating. We enjoyed it very much!”

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Fijian Islands and Snorkel Full-Day Whales Tale Cruise including Beach BBQ Lunch - Four Mamanuca Islands on the way out
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Fijian Islands and Snorkel Full-Day Whales Tale Cruise including Beach BBQ Lunch

2.Fijian Islands and Snorkel Full-Day Whales Tale Cruise including Beach BBQ Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 408 reviews · from $117

Spend about seven hours aboard the 100-foot Whale’s Tale schooner and at a private island in Fiji’s Mamanuca group. You’ll pass Malamala, Vunavadra, Bounty, and Treasure islands, enjoy a champagne-style breakfast, snorkel with provided gear, and eat a fresh beach BBQ. Hotel pickup, drinks, and a friendly Fijian crew are included.

“Best day in Fiji- a lovely view of the islands, such a friendly crew, and a beautiful private island visit with stunning snorkeling. The food was great and cooked fresh. The crew sang and played music on the trip home.”

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Punta Arenas: Full-Day Whales, Penguins, and Glaciers Tour - The pre-dawn start from Punta Arenas
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Punta Arenas: Full-Day Whales, Penguins, and Glaciers Tour

3.Punta Arenas: Full-Day Whales, Penguins, and Glaciers Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 325 reviews · 14 hours · from $365

Set out before dawn from central Punta Arenas for a full-day cruise toward Cape Froward and Francisco Coloane Marine Park. You may see humpback whales, Magellanic penguins, sea lions, dolphins, seabirds, waterfalls, and glaciers. The bilingual crew provides transport, meals, hot drinks, and wildlife guidance aboard a modern vessel.

“We were able to see whales up close, and the guides were very prompt with spotting them and informing what we need to look forward. One improvement would be to have more hot chocolate on board.”

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Samana: Whale-Watching and Cayo Levantado Full-Day Tour - Boat comfort matters more than the brochure suggests
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Samana: Whale Watching and Cayo Levantado Full Day Tour

4.Whale Watching and Cayo Levantado Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 159 reviews · 7 hours · from $77

Set out from Moto Marina with guides such as Ileana, Rayner, and Salomón for whale watching in Samaná Marine Mammal Sanctuary. After about 2.5 hours on the water, continue to Cayo Levantado for a buffet lunch and beach time. Expect English or Spanish guiding, drinks, coconut snacks, and a weather-dependent sea ride.

“We loved our guide, she spoke English fluently and was overall lovely - we learnt about which whales we saw, how they live, eat, mate, sing, etc. We saw some whales surfacing to breathe, but unfortunately no tail breaches (much less full body jumps). It was still quite fun nonetheless, and the beach on Cayo Levantado was beautiful - no sargassum (Feb 10th, windy day), clear water and the sun was shining.”

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From Cape Town: Full Day Guided Hermanus and Whale Tour - Hermanus New Harbour and the optional whale cruise
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From Cape Town: Full Day Guided Hermanus and Whale Tour

5.Full Day Guided Hermanus and Whale Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 155 reviews · from $51Best value

Travel from Cape Town to Hermanus in a small group of up to 18, with an English-speaking guide such as Louis or Brahm. Expect a scenic coastal drive, shore-based whale watching, optional boat cruise, Hemel-en-Aarde wine tasting, and a stop at Peregrine Farm Stall.

“The coastal drive alone made the trip worthwhile but seeing the whales up close is something I will never forget. Our tour guides, Louis, wealth of knowledge was unbelievable and made the tour that much more interesting.”

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Whale Watching Tour + Vila Franca Islet: Full-day with lunch - The morning search for whales and dolphins
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Whale Watching Tour + Vila Franca Islet: Full-day with lunch

6.Whale Watching Tour + Vila Franca Islet: Full-day with lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 142 reviews · from $103

Spend about seven hours from Ponta Delgada searching for whales and dolphins with marine biologists, then take the authorized boat to Vila Franca Islet. Lunch, snorkel gear, islet entry, and a restroom-equipped boat are included, though the boat and lunch setup can vary by date.

“Tour was amazing ! We were able to see a sperm whale in our journey. Inlet was also amazing. You have the opportunity to do some snorkeling and see many fish that is native to the Azores that you won’t see anywhere else. @exploration_wonders approved !”

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Valdes Peninsula: Full Day with Whale Watching - Puerto Pirámides and the boat trip
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Valdes Peninsula: Full Day with Whale Watching

7.Valdes Peninsula: Full Day with Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 98 reviews · from $298

Travel from Puerto Madryn into the Valdes Peninsula Protected Natural Area with a small group of up to 10 people. Sail from Puerto Pirámides for southern right whales from mid-June to November, or see sea lions and cormorants from December to March. Expect Spanish and English guiding, long drives, wild scenery, and many wildlife stops.

“Very nice trip. We got to see a lot of whales. The guide on the boat knows where he is talking about and can answer all of your questions. As a bonus we saw the pinguins. sealions and sea elephants. Also we saw a lot of Guanacos and a Mara.”

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São Miguel: Whales & Volcano Full-Day Tour with Lunch - Pickup from Ponta Delgada between 8:45 and 9:00
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São Miguel: Whales & Volcano Full-Day Tour with Lunch

8.São Miguel: Whales & Volcano Full-Day Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 95 reviews · 7 hours · from $182

Start with hotel pickup near Ponta Delgada, then spend about three hours aboard a catamaran looking for sperm, blue, humpback, fin, and sei whales, plus dolphins and seabirds. After lunch, visit Lagoa do Fogo and learn how São Miguel uses volcanic heat. Guides including João, Joaquim, and Bruno have led this flexible weather-dependent outing.

“La journée s’est bien déroulée, nous avons pu apercevoir deux cachalots lors de la sortie en mer, mais nous n’avons pas eu la chance de voir de dauphins ou de baleines, l’océan est vaste, c’est bien normal. Les différents arrêts effectués par notre guide Joachim étaient sympathiques. Joachim est avenant, dans l’échange et a su donner des informations riches. Merci pour cette journée en compagnie de Joachim!”

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Full-Day Whales & The Princess Ring Islet (incl. Lunch) - Lunch at 11:30, convenient but not the main attraction
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Full-Day Whales & The Princess Ring Islet (incl. Lunch)

9.Full-Day Whales & The Princess Ring Islet (incl. Lunch)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 78 reviews · from $134

Start at 8:30 a.m. with a cetacean briefing and a three-hour boat trip from Vila Franca do Campo. Guides such as Jorge, Marilu, Miguel, and Alex have helped explain local wildlife. After lunch, take a traditional fishing boat to Princess Ring Islet for swimming and snorkeling before returning by 5:30 p.m.

“Motoscafo velocissimo e siamo riusciti a vedere una famiglia di delfini. Nel pomeriggio la balneazione nel cratere vulcanico bellissima.”

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Full Day Whale Watching Campbell River - Through fjords, channels, and tidal rapids
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Full Day Whale Watching Campbell River

10.Full Day Whale Watching Campbell River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $266

Set out at 9 a.m. with Wild Waterways Adventures in a 12-passenger Zodiac. Guides such as Reuben and Jen search Discovery Islands and Desolation Sound for humpbacks, orcas, dolphins, seals, sea lions, and bears. Lunch, snacks, hot drinks, water, and cold-weather gear are included.

“Reuben was an excellent driver and guide. We took a slight gamble going north to find orcas instead of the sure bet for humpbacks. We ended up seeing 3 different pods of orcas as well as a very large pod of pacific white sided dolphins and a cinnamon phase black bear on a beach. A little bit of a ride but well worth the effort. Reuben was able to drop us off in Campbell River after dropping the other party at Quadra. It was an excellent and memory making day.”

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Full Day Gray Whale Watching Experience - How the whale watching works
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Full Day Gray Whale Watching Experience

11.Full Day Gray Whale Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $191

Travel from La Paz to Puerto Chale for a respectful gray whale encounter in a small panga. The day includes hotel pickup, about 2.2 hours on the water, lunch at a local restaurant, and guides such as Pamela, Shiro, Susana, Diana, and Maria on different departures. Expect a long road ride, changing weather, and no guaranteed number of whales.

“The three stars are not for the experience itself which was great but for the tour/tour guide. Description said that a Marine Biologist will be part of the tour. Unless the tour guide who barely spoke was the Biologist this is not correct. Basically this was a round trip transportation. If you have your own rental car, just drive there yourself and save $$.”

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Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching - Why Peninsula Valdes is worth a full day
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Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience – optional Whale Watching

12.Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience – optional Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $115

Spend 8 to 10 hours crossing Peninsula Valdes with an English or Spanish guide, stopping at Puerto Piramides, Caleta Valdes, and possibly Punta Norte. Look for guanacos, rheas, maras, penguins, sea lions, elephant seals, and seasonal orcas. Return transport from Puerto Madryn is included.

“It is a very long drive on dirt roads, but the wildlife was amazing, we saw llamas, a flock of rheas, penguins, mares, an armadillo, sea lions, elephant seals and orcas. We were blown away by the amount of wildlife, and in late January the wild flowers were all in bloom. Our guide Nicholas, was super enthusiastic and as excited as we were to see the wildlife, he was both knowledgeable and helpful. Would recommend, although I think we were very lucky to see as much as we did. Plenty of rest rooms and a good cafe for lunch.”

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From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Full Day Tour - Rotary Way and the first wide view of Walker Bay
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From Cape Town: Hermanus Whale Watching Full Day Tour

13.Hermanus Whale Watching Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 30 reviews · 8h 30m · from $68

Travel from Cape Town to Hermanus by small-group bus with an English-speaking guide, stopping at Rotary Way, Walker Bay, and the Peregrine Farm Store. You get town time and an urban tasting of Hemel-en-Aarde wines. A whale cruise is optional, costs extra, and should be booked for around noon in season.

“Esperava mais, o passeio em si é bem calmo e rápido, a cidade muito bonita também, porém a empresa tendo o conhecimento que é uma época onde é difícil ver as baleias, deveria colocar no aviso sobre a remota possibilidade e sua extrema raridade em x meses e quais são mais fáceis de vê-las, evitando que os clientes comprem e se frustrem.”

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Among Whales Dolphins and Volcanoes Full Day Tour With Lunch - A buffet lunch between sea and volcano
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Among Whales Dolphins and Volcanoes Full Day Tour With Lunch

14.Among Whales Dolphins and Volcanoes Full Day Tour With Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $192

Meet your guide at Ponta Delgada or arrange pickup in nearby towns, then join a marine-biologist-led whale and dolphin trip. After lunch, continue by van to Lagoa do Fogo, waterfalls, volcanic beaches, thermal areas, and geothermal sites. Guides such as Hugo, Nuno, and Mario add local context, though the afternoon route can vary with weather and timing.

“The tour was very good. We didn't see any whales, but we did see lots of dolphins. The tour guide was very nice and professional.”

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From Cape Town: Full Day Hermanus Whale Watching Tour - The Cape Town pickup and the road south
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From Cape Town: Full Day Hermanus Whale Watching Tour

15.Full Day Hermanus Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 20 reviews · 9.5 hours · from $120

Join a small English-speaking group from Cape Town for a 9.5-hour coastal trip to Hermanus. You’ll watch for Southern Right whales from shore, stop in Betty’s Bay, and visit Bouchard Finlayson for wine on Wednesdays and Fridays. Sunday departures replace wine with Stony Point penguins, time permitting. Guides may include Qiyam or Ivan.

“Pas du tout la prestation demandée, à aucun moment il était notifié qu'il y avait le bateau à prendre, seul chose intéressante de la journée mais 120€ pour deux en plus à payer. Pas de dégustation de vin comme notifié. payer 155€ pour deux juste pour l'aller retour c'est du vol, on aurait mieux fait d'y aller avec notre voiture de location. Une véritable arnaque”

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