Our 11 Best Small-Group Whale Watching Trips

1.SMALL GROUP Whale Watch | Cabo San Lucas | Biologist | FREE Pics

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,106 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $109Our pick

Join a maximum-12-person boat in Cabo San Lucas for a 2.5-hour whale watch led by a marine biologist. Look for humpbacks, dolphins, sea lions, turtles, and more, while passing The Arch, Lovers Beach, and Pelican Rock. Free photos, onboard restrooms, and a second tour if no whales appear add real value.

“Having a biologist, Oscar, lead the tour made it very interesting by sharing all his knowledge of whales. Also the small group made it easy to get pictures of all the whales we saw.”

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2.Whale Watching Maui: 2-Hour Small Group Raft Tour from Lahaina

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 661 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $80

Join a small raft from Lahaina for two hours in Maui Nui’s humpback whale waters. Captains such as Will and Joe work with marine naturalists including Renee and Brian, while a hydrophone lets you hear whale song underwater. Filtered water, reef-safe sunscreen, and rainy-day ponchos are provided.

“Crew was fantastic Saw lots of whales up close Meeting place easy to find check in was quick would do it again”

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3.Whale and Dolphin Small Group Sailing from Tenerife South

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 342 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $60Best value

Sail from Puerto Colón with a maximum of seven people on a three-hour Galatea trip led by Patrick or another multilingual skipper. Look for pilot whales and dolphins, stop for swimming or snorkeling near shore, and enjoy breakfast, sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. The small boat offers a quieter alternative to large cruises.

“Our family of 5 (2 adults and kids aged 17, 14 and 10) had a great time on Patrick's boat. He took us out to see pilot whales and dolphins that played alongside the boat before heading to a quiet area closer to the shore for the kids to jump in and swim. He served small sandwiches and snacks along with beer, wine and soda for the kids. While the weather wasn't ideal (nothing we could do about that), I can't imagine having a better time out on the water for a few hours and would highly recommend booking.”

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4.Small-Group Half-Day Whale-Watching Tour in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 334 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $110

From Marina Vallarta, you’ll spend about three and a half hours on Banderas Bay with a group of no more than 12. Guides such as Thalia and Pilar explain whale behavior, help spot mothers, calves, and breaching males, and may use an underwater microphone so you can hear whale songs. Lunch, soft drinks, shade, and a return to the marina are included.

“Magical experience, a must do. Thalia and her team are amazing. They know where the whales are and maintain safe distances with concern to the whales safety. The group is small which is ideal, the boat is the perfect size. When too many other boats approached we left to find other whales. An absolutely fabulous day. Highly recommend.”

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5.RIB Whale Watching Small-Group Boat Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 241 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $208

Join Whale Safari at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for a two-hour RIB trip capped at 12 people. Your marine biologist guide takes you past puffin islands, across Faxaflói Bay in search of humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, and porpoises, then back along the waterfront past Sun Voyager and Harpa. Warm coveralls and safety gear are provided.

“Despite the weather was not the best, the experience itself left me wordless, we saw minke whale and humpback whales, the guide was very professional, explained a lot about them. She knew not only about whales but also how to handle people with a sea sick on the board.”

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6.Small-Group Whale Watching Zodiac Boat Cruise in Cabo San Lucas

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 143 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $85

Set out from Cabo San Lucas in a fast Zodiac for about 2.5 hours with a captain and marine guide. Look for humpback, gray, sperm, and other whales, dolphins, and rare orcas, then pause at El Arco for photos. The boat holds up to 15 guests, though crew members are additional.

“Raft captain and guide were knowledgeable and fun. Chased whale activity in both Sea of Cortez and Pacific. Boat was small a fast. Hang on to you seat and hat. Not good for someone with back issues or walking difficulties. We saw humpback, Grey and orca. Told this is rare. Also dolphins. Great day up close with the whales.”

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7.Guided Small Group Whale Watching and Swim Tour Tahiti

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · from $238

Join Teiki and the Wild Explorer Tahiti crew for a four-and-a-half-hour whale search from Papeete Marina. Groups are limited to six, with wetsuits, masks, fins, snacks, and drinks included. If whale behavior and sea conditions allow, confident swimmers may enter the water. Otherwise, you’ll enjoy surface viewing and sheltered snorkeling with turtles, rays, fish, and coral gardens.

“This excursion must go to the top of your list. From the moment we stepped on the boat everything was first class! Our guide Teiki spent a lot of time giving the small group a great understanding of the animals. The safety training and care oRead more”

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8.Small Group Humpback Whale Encounter Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 41 reviews · 2 hours · from $88

Leave Newcastle’s Honeysuckle Foreshore on CoastXP’s two-hour whale cruise, limited to 20 people. Your English-speaking guide, such as Dom, Glen, Jane, or Dominic, explains whale behavior, coastal landmarks, and geology while you search for humpbacks, dolphins, and fur seals. Jackets, a marine toilet, and a free return trip if no whales appear are included.

“Absolutely fantastic day. We were travelling with a pod of 50 - 70 dolphins all around the boat.”

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9.Gray Whale Watching Tour with Marine Biologist and Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $376

Leave La Paz for Puerto Chale on an eight-hour gray whale outing led by marine biologist Valentina, Captain Mike, and a crew limited to six people. After a 2-hour-15-minute drive, spend three hours on the water watching whales under respectful guidelines, then enjoy a fresh local seafood lunch before returning to La Paz.

“Absolutely amazing!! Captain Mike and Karla are the best. Such a phenomenal experience. You definitely want to do this. We saw so many whales playing, high hoping and checking us out! We touched them and they spouted on us and got us wet! I will never forget this day.”

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10.Small Group Whale Watching by RIB

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 28 reviews · 3h 30m · from $278

Meet Æventyr at the Canyon Hotell in Alta, then travel to the harbor where whales were most recently seen. On this 210-minute English-language trip, you will search for humpback whales and orcas from a RIB boat, with thermal suits, gloves, goggles, shoes, hot drinks, and snacks supplied. Whale sightings are not guaranteed.

“Nous avons vus pleins d’espèce : orques, rorqual commun, baleines à bosses. C’était génial ! À cause de la météo nous avons du décaler notre sortie au lendemain du jour prévu nous avons été prévenus et avons échangés facilement par la messagerie. Seul bémol : à cause de la météo ils ont du changer de bateau : un petit bateau avec cabine mais accès extérieur et cela pour le prix du petit bateau à moteur initialement prévu… dommage”

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11.3.5-Hour Small Group Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 3h 30m · from $189

Meet near Juneau’s Mount Roberts Tramway for a narrated bus ride to Auke Bay, then board a 20-passenger catamaran with a full walk-around deck. A naturalist and captain guide the search for humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, eagles, and more. Guide teams have included Daisy, Alan, TJ, and Andrew.

“Amazing. Daisy our whale expert and Alan our pilot were both superb. Daisy had lots of knowledge and taught us lots of things. Alan found us loads of whales. Saw Bald Eagles, Humpback Whales and Orcas. We were very lucky to see Orcas as they aren’t often spotted. I would have been happy to see one shake but I lost count of the number of whales we saw. Lovely boat with comfy seats and plenty of room on deck. It is a small group trip and there were only 15 of us. Would definitely recommend, one not to miss.”

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