Best of · PRIVATE WHALE WATCHING CHARTERS

The World’s 15 Best Private Whale Watching Charters

23 tours  ·  from $85 a head

A charter buys the skipper's full attention and a departure time that suits you rather than the coach party. These 15 are priced per boat or per head as marked, with the group sizes each one takes.

Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira - What the private boat format changes
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Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira

1.Private Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Madeira

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 539 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) Our pick

Join On Tales at Calheta Marina for a private 2.5-hour motor-yacht cruise along Madeira’s coast. Guides such as Emanuel, Luca, Chiara, and Béatrice explain the island and marine life while you search for dolphins and whales, stop to snorkel, and enjoy drinks, towels, photos, and sparkling wine. Sightings are never guaranteed.

“Alles perfekt jederzeit wieder...tolles Erlebnis...liebe Versorgung und Service..ein paar Stunden auf Wasser und Bilder gab es auch noch...inklusive...”

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Lydia Boat Mauritius :Private boat tour:Whales&Dolphins encounter - Finding dolphins in open water
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Lydia Boat Mauritius :Private boat tour:Whales&Dolphins encounter

2.Lydia Boat Mauritius :Private boat tour:Whales&Dolphins encounter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 409 reviews · from $225

Meet the Lydia Boat team near Le Morne for a private 7.5-hour speedboat outing. Miguel, Navy, Owen, Rino, Theo, and other crew members may guide you to wild dolphins, whales, turtles, the lagoon aquarium, and Crystal Rock. Expect snorkelling, seafood, drinks, and a barbecue, currently served on the boat because Benitier Island has been closed since March 20, 2025.

“This was a trip of a life time and beyond expectations. We were lucky to also see whales as well as see and swim with dolphins and the food on a paradise island was amazing , having our oyster and sea urchins starter prepared in front of us was incredible . Our guides Miguel and assistant were so friendly and professional and fun.”

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Private 2 hour Whale Watching Tour - Boarding the 8-meter whale-watching boat
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Private 2 hour Whale Watching Tour

3.Private 2 hour Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 174 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Meet at Puerto Colón Marina for a private two-hour trip aboard an 8-meter boat. Guides including Ion, Carlota, and John explain Tenerife’s whales and dolphins, use a hydrophone, follow responsible viewing rules, and email wildlife photos afterward.

“We had a fantastic whale watching trip with Whale Watch Tenerife. Our biologist, Carlota, was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, sharing fascinating information while showing great respect for the whales.”

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Private 2hr Supreme Whale/Dolphin Watching Tour, Newport Beach CA - Cruising through Newport Harbor
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Private 2hr Supreme Whale/Dolphin Watching Tour, Newport Beach CA

4.Private 2hr Supreme Whale/Dolphin Watching Tour, Newport Beach CA

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 161 reviews

Set out from Newport Harbor with Captain Nick or another USCG licensed captain on a private two-hour whale and dolphin trip. The small twin-engine catamaran carries up to six people, giving you a quick, personal ride toward local wildlife. Expect harbor views, naturalist commentary, and possible dolphins, whales, and sea lions.

“We went on a Dolphin/Whale watching excursion with Nick from East Meets West yesterday morning. It was honestly the trip of a lifetime! Nick was our captain and is extremely knowledgeable about marine life. We learned alRead more”

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Private Luxury Whale Watch - Four hours on the water
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Private Luxury Whale Watch

5.Private Luxury Whale Watch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 139 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Meet your captain and naturalist after pickup from your ship or hotel, then ride to Auke Bay and board a private yacht. Over about four hours, watch for humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, seals, eagles, and bears. Champagne, beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and snacks are included.

“So incredible! Our crew was super informative and an overall great time. We felt comfortable as soon as we got on the yacht thanks to Mallory and Captain Pete's awesome efforts! Saw bubble feeding and breaching! 10/10”

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Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea - July to November is whale time
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Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea

6.Private tour observing and swimming with humpback whales in Moorea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews · from $1,640

Join Mana Moorea Tours aboard the Mana’hau for a private four-hour trip around Moorea. Guides including Nicky and Fabien tailor the route to your group, with whale watching from July to November, plus snorkeling with rays, sharks, turtles, and other marine life. Equipment and safety gear are supplied, and pickup is available.

“What an incredible experience we had with Nicky and Fabien! Not only were they knowledgeable, you could tell how passionate they were about each whale/dolphin/fish we saw. They had our safety as their top priority and were very in tuned to each whale's movementRead more”

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Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta - Finding humpbacks without chasing them
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Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta

7.Private Whale Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 109 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Spend about 3.5 hours on a private boat in Banderas Bay with a guide such as Victor, Carlos, or Talia. Search for humpback whales, dolphins, turtles, and other marine life while learning how to watch responsibly. Lunch, soft drinks, and a boat bathroom are included. Departures run December through March.

“We had a great time with Talia on a private whale watch excursion. We actually got to see them doing amazing things just like the picture at the top of the ad! We loved the small boat as there were only 5 of us. Talia has a masters in Marine Bio so it was very informative throughout. They also catered to dietary needs of two of us for the lunch. Would highly recommend.”

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Private Whale Watching in San José del Cabo - Humpback whales and the hydrophone moment
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Private Whale Watching in San José del Cabo

8.Private Whale Watching in San José del Cabo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $200

Spend about 2.5 hours on a private whale-watching boat from San José del Cabo with a guide such as Sophie or Paola. Look for humpback whales, dolphins, turtles, and other sea life, then listen underwater with a hydrophone. The tour includes free photos, a captain, and return to the starting point.

“Paola was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide! We wanted to be away from the craziness of the San Lucas marina and our efforts were rewarded. The entire process was effortless and wonderful. I recommend contacting Salty Cabo directly, however, because Viator isn’t helpful to modify or change your excursions.”

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PRIVATE Whale Watch Tour | Cabo San Lucas | Biologist | FREE Pics - Searching the Sea of Cortez or Pacific Ocean
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PRIVATE Whale Watch Tour | Cabo San Lucas | Biologist | FREE Pics

9.PRIVATE Whale Watch Tour | Cabo San Lucas | Biologist | FREE Pics

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 98 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $369

Set out from Cabo San Lucas with a private marine biologist and captain for about 2 to 2.5 hours. See the Arch, Lovers Beach, and Pelican Rock before searching the Sea of Cortez or Pacific for humpback and grey whales, dolphins, sea lions, and turtles. Photos taken by your guide are included at no extra cost.

“The guide and boat captain were so knowledgeable and friendly. We saw tons of whales! We would definitely repeat this activity and recommend it highly.”

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Private Family Whale & Dolphin Adventure in San Diego - The observation tower is your best search post
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Private Family Whale & Dolphin Adventure in San Diego

10.Private Family Whale & Dolphin Adventure in San Diego

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 98 reviews · from $179Best value

Take a private three-hour boat trip from Mission Bay with Captain Rich of Tailwalker Whale & Dolphin Adventures. Your group of up to six has the whole boat, including an enclosed cabin, observation tower, restroom, safety gear, and bottled water. Look for dolphins, gray, humpback, fin, and blue whales, plus sea lions and other marine life.

“We enjoyed the experience of going out to see the Fin Whales, and are happy we did this excursion. But, in the future it might be a good idea to put more information on the description. We had difficulties finding the boat as the ‘Mission Bay Read more”

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Sports Boat- Private Whale Watching Trip( free breakfast & paid pick-up) - Meeting in Mirissa at 7:00 am
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Sports Boat- Private Whale Watching Trip( free breakfast & paid pick-up)

11.Sports Boat- Private Whale Watching Trip( free breakfast & paid pick-up)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews

Join Whale Watching Mirissa with Chaminda for a private morning trip from Mirissa. A twin-engine sports boat reaches whale habitat in under an hour, with breakfast, snacks, WiFi, a restroom, and live naturalist commentary included. Pickup outside Mirissa costs $1 per kilometer, and the $20-per-person entrance fee is paid at check-in.

“Great whale, dolphin and turtle spotting experience. Wonderful staff and an excellent, clean boat. We had a whale of a time :)”

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Private Ketchikan Fishing Combo & Whale Watching/ Wildlife 5 HR - Salmon and halibut are the main event
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Private Ketchikan Fishing Combo & Whale Watching/ Wildlife 5 HR

12.Private Ketchikan Fishing Combo & Whale Watching/ Wildlife 5 HR

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $700

Spend five private hours with a Ketchikan captain such as Tony, Lukas, or Grayson, fishing for salmon, halibut, cod, and rockfish. Your trip includes gear, bait, water, snacks, wildlife viewing, possible whale sightings, and coastal scenery. No fishing experience is needed, and your catch can be processed and shipped home.

“Absolutely amazing experience! I had the best time on this charter. The captain really knows his stuff—tons of fishing experience and insider knowledge. He took us to all the right spots and had all the tricks to help us reel in a great catch.”

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Los Cabos Private Yacht Whale Watching & Drinks - Up to 18 Guests - Swimming, snorkeling, and paddle boarding
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Los Cabos Private Yacht Whale Watching & Drinks – Up to 18 Guests

13.Los Cabos Private Yacht Whale Watching & Drinks – Up to 18 Guests

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Board a private yacht at C Dock in Cabo San Lucas for roughly three hours of whale watching, Arch views, swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and time on a floating mat. Crews such as Arturo and Nadia, Freddy and Gil, and Pablo and Eric have handled recent trips. Water, soda, and equipment are included. Food and alcohol depend on the option you book.

“The crew was amazing (Freddy and Eal) - the captains were very professional, would book this trip again. We saw whales, stopped by the arch and caught amazing views in every direction. Only feedback is to the owners of the vessel (not the crew), you might want to consider replacing the various cushions, as these are pretty beat up and have seen better days. Would help with the experience.”

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Tenerife: 3 &-6 Hour Private Whale & Dolphin Watching - Watching whales, dolphins, and sea turtles in open water
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Tenerife: 3 &-6 Hour Private Whale & Dolphin Watching

14.3 &-6 Hour Private Whale & Dolphin Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 45 reviews · 6 hours

Sail from Puerto Colón aboard the luxury yacht Gran Azor with a private group of up to nine. Watch for pilot whales, dolphins, and sea turtles, listen through onboard sonar, swim and snorkel, and enjoy food and drinks. Captain Maxi has earned praise for his warm, funny style. Confirm whether you want the three or six-hour option when booking.

“Captain Maxi was a very nice and fun Guy! We saw a lot of pilot whales very close and some dolphins from about 50 Meters away. the other half of our 6 hour Trip was more of a coast-tour, which we enjoyed a lot too. the food and drinks which were included was really a lot and very good. We felt like rich people for a day ;-P would definitely recommend it for a group of friends!”

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Hermanus Whale Watching Shared Boat Trip and Private Wine Tour from Cape Town - Lunch and wine in the Hemel-en-Aarde area
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Hermanus Whale Watching Shared Boat Trip and Private Wine Tour from Cape Town

15.Hermanus Whale Watching Shared Boat Trip and Private Wine Tour from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 38 reviews · from $242

Leave Cape Town around 6:30 am in a private vehicle with a guide such as John, Kelly, Samson, or Barnabas. Take a 2 to 3-hour shared boat trip from Hermanus, then visit a wine estate, stop at Stony Point’s penguin colony, and return by the scenic R44. Whale trips run June through mid-December and depend on good weather.

“visite des baleines depuis un bateau, un peu déçu car les bateaux ne sont pas autorisés de s'approcher à moins de 50 M des baleines.”

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Private Yacht Tour With Whale and Dolphin Watching 33 Foot Boat - Searching for pilot whales and dolphins
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Private Yacht Tour With Whale and Dolphin Watching 33 Foot Boat

18★ 5.0Private Yacht Tour With Whale and Dolphin Watching 33 Foot Boat17 reviews

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