Whale Watching & Marine Wildlife Safaris in Avila Beach
$99/person, 2+hours, Max 4/Min2, Ages 12+
Experience the ultimate whale watching adventure in Avila Beach with our guided ocean wildlife tours departing from Port San Luis Harbor. Our small-group Whale Watching & Wildlife Safaris give you close-up encounters with humpback whales, gray whales, and occasional minke whales, along with playful dolphins, sea lions, and sea otters. Led by knowledgeable local guide and captain, Vincent Shay, each tour provides educational insights about whale behavior, migration patterns, and marine ecosystems, making it one of the top whale watching experiences in Avila Beach.
Whale Species You’ll See on Our Tours
Humpback Whales
Spotted frequently off the Central Coast during spring, summer and fall, humpback whales are known for their acrobatic breaches and tail slaps. This whale is our favorite and your captain and guide Vincent Shay has been lucky enough to be tracking and photographing these amazing animals since 2012 and knows the San Luis Bay like no other so has a very high success rate in finding them. Join our <a href="/whale-watching-wildlife-safaris">whale watching tours in Avila Beach</a> to see them up close.
Gray Whales
Gray whales migrate along the California coast twice a year. The best sightings are between December and April. Local expert guide, Vincent Shay tracks these majestic animals to ensure you have an unforgettable Avila Beach whale watching experience.
Rare Sightings
Occasionally, our tours spot the elusive minke whale. Even rare sightings are highlights for wildlife photographers and enthusiasts on our <a href="/private-ocean-safaris">Private Ocean Safaris</a>.
Other Marine Wildlife You May Encounter
In addition to the whales on all of our tours some of the other marine life we regularly see are:
Dolphin swimming alongside the boat
Sea Lions and Harbor Seals lounging and playing near the shore
Sea Otters floating in the kelp beds
Coastal Seabirds including pelicans and cormorants plus oyster catchers.
Every whale watching tour in Avila Beach offers unique wildlife encounters, creating unforgettable memories.
Best Time of Year for Whale Watching in Avila Beach?
Planning your tour during peak migration seasons maximizes your chance of seeing multiple species on a single Avila Beach whale watching tour. For gray whales we see them in December thru April but at times the conditions limit us from seeing them. Our main Avila Beach humpback whale watching season for us starts June 1 every season. Sometimes if the weather is good we can start the whale watching safaris earlier but this is solely dependent on the spring wind conditions. The other whales or animals we may see such as Orcas or Minke Whales and even Dahls Porpoise we see very rarely but can happen anytime.
What to Expect on Your Whale Watching Safari
Avila Beach Ocean Safaris whale watching tours last for 2-2.5 hours. Vincent Shay, your captain and guide has many years guiding wildlife tours and Avila Beach whale watching tours so be prepared him sharing his knowledge of the local area and marine life insights and fun facts. All tours prioritize responsible wildlife observation practices which ensures minimal impact while providing maximum customer enjoyment while on safari. Please read FAQ Page HERE for more information on what to expect.
Book Your Whale Watching Tour in Avila Beach Today
Avila Beach Ocean Safaris does one to two whale watching safaris per day departing Harford Pier in Port San Luis at 7:30am and 10:30am. Our vessel for 2026 is a 20’ Rigid Inflatable Boat, commonly called a ‘Zodiac’. We allow just 4 passengers on our vessel for our whale watching and wildlife viewing safaris with the minimum to book the tour at just 2 people. These tours can be rough so there are some limitations to 12 years of age some at different times of the year please call if you have any questions or concerns.
For the 2026 Season we are ‘reducing’ the price of our adventures to $99.00 per person. For the 2026 Season we are going to stick to relatively strict 2-2.5 hour tour and will include the loading and unloading of passengers in this time frame. If we do not have a tour after yours and the conditions are still good, we can be more flexible of course. Our zodiac is fast and most of the time we find whales in the first 30 minutes! And YES, sometimes we do not find humpback whales. What we do guarantee is that its only happened a few times plus there is so much other marine animals to see it all part of the adventure.
