Newport Landing Whale Watching & Dolphin Cruises

Newport Landing Whale Watching offers multiple whale watching cruise times daily year round. The winter and spring months have the annual gray whale migration with over 20,000 gray whales migrating along the Newport Beach coastline during the months of December, January, February, March, April, & May. During the gray whale migration, it is not uncommon to view 5 or more gray whales on a single whale watching cruise making for excellent viewing opportunities. Both mothers and newborn calves are regularly viewed and are a special treat. Other varieties of whales including finback whales, humpback whales, and minke whales are also viewed during these months along with several species of dolphin.

The summer and fall months have the largest of all whales, the giant blue whale migrating into the waters off Newport Beach. Giant blue whales were once considered quite rare off southern California, but over the last seven years, this has changed dramatically with hundreds of giant blue whales spotted each summer. These giants of the sea reach lengths of up to 90 feet and are the largest of all animals. Along with viewing these giants view the second largest whale in the world, the finback whale which is often seen feeding in the same areas as the blue whales. Others whales encountered include humpback whales known for their amazing acrobatics a real favorite with whale watchers. Along with whales, giant pods of common and bottlenose dolphin are also regularly viewed on our whale watching cruises with pods numbering in the hundreds to over one thousand is quite a sight to witness.

Just outside of Newport Bay is the beginning of one of the largest marine protected areas in southern California created to protect this rich ecosystem for future generations. The marine sanctuary covers over 15 miles and provides a haven for all marine creatures including whales and dolphin. The whale watching is so good in this protected marine park that cruises of 2-2.5 hours are all that is needed to view whales and dolphin. The marine reserve stretches along much of the Newport & Laguna Beach coastline and along with being a mecca for whale watching also offers some of the most beautiful coastlines in Southern California.