Oceanic Society Whale Watching
Blue whales, grey whales, and humpback whales are the most common whales to be sighted. The whales are drawn to the bay to feast on schools of anchovies. Humpbacks, with their acrobatic jumps and thundering tail slaps, provide an unforgettable experience for anyone lucky enough to see them. Grey whales migrate past the bay as they head north to Alaska to feed in the summer. But the most exciting of all is the Blue Whale – the largest of them all. The best time to see the whales are the summer months, and December through to April.
We recommend booking a tour through Oceanic Society Whale Watching, a non-profit ocean conservation organisation based in San Francisco (their boats depart from SF docks). Aside from humpbacks, blue whales and grey whales, you will also have the chance to see other whale species, sea lions, harbour seals, fur seals, harbour porpoises, and dolphins. On rare occasions people even see killer whales and leatherback turtles.
As always in San Francisco, take some warm and waterproof clothing.