Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Delight in the exciting sights and sounds of the magnificent ocean creatures off Dana Point in Orange County. Known as a landmark for marine life sightings, Dana Wharf’s ocean adventure cruises offer rare glimpses into a huge variety of underwater wildlife and gorgeous scenic views you’ll never forget. Search for whales, dolphins, sea lions and other exciting marine life! All cruises are narrated by expert captains who will educate you on the abundant ocean life on the coast. Trips are 2 hours long, plenty of time to discover the world that lies beneath. Remember that sightings of marine life are guaranteed.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
There are no refunds or rescheduling for no shows.
Customers are limited to 10 tickets max for yourself or your party.
Please arrive 30 Min. prior with your entire party to check in.
If you are lost please call 949-496-5794 x7.
What To Expect
Delight in the sights of these marine animals Blue Whales Gray Whales Fin Whales Minke Whales Humpback Whales Killer Whales (Orca) Common Dolphins Bottlenose Dolphins Risso's Dolphins Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Options
Whale Watching Cruise
Delight in the exciting sights and sounds of the magnificent ocean creatures off Dana Point.We offer rare glimpses into a huge variety of underwater wildlife and gorgeous scenic views you won't forget
What‘s Included
Narration by captain
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Drinks
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
698 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Viator disappointment.
Mark C,Jun 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00Tuesdays is half price yet Viator chose to not pass on that savings to the customers who are loyal to them. I’ve used Viator probably 15 times and they could have easily disclosed the price is $34 a ticket and they charged me $68. I would like the 50% refund or I never plan on using Viator again. And the manager told me Viator only pays the half price fee and they get a commission. They have an opportunity to do the right thing. The boat was extremely crowded. Never saw a whale.
So many dolphins!!
X3072LAelizabeths,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great trip! We were bummed to not see any whales but we did see a sunfish and a huge pod of common dolphins. Captain Jamie and the naturalist on board were very knowledgeable. Overall it was a great way to spend 2 hours of our SoCal vacation.
Fun boat trip!
Barbara H,May 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The staff was amazing! They even got some nice family pictures of us. We saw so many dolphins, as well as sea lions. (Unfortunately, no whales.) Our kids (ages 6 and 12) loved it. The boat ride was a bit choppy on the day we went (a clear and not very windy day), which is something to bear in mind if you are prone to motion sickness.
Surprise Birthday Sunday!
brandyek2016,May 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00So this was part of my husband’s surprise birthday Sunday, where he had no idea where we were going stop after stop. This will stop number three and my thought is even if we never see a whale. It’s always a pleasant way to spend a few hours out on the water.. Everyone on the boat was super professional and informative. We really appreciate Laura spitting facts at us and making sure we knew what was going on. At one point, I was standing in front of the boat and I was about to go sit back down, but Laura told me to stay because she knew we would see something soon and we saw a Fin whale, which we stopped for a while to watch come up and down and no matter what it’s always magical. We ran into a bunch of dolphins and watching them chop and play as always fulfilling. There’s no way you can go wrong with this excursion, especially with a discount. They seem to always be offering. They also give all the birthday people a drink cozy. Highly recommend a great way to spend a few hours..
Great experience!
ILoveAmsterdam1209,Apr 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was well organized and well run. We didn't see whales, but we saw a large pod of dolphins. It was a beautiful day for a boat ride with beautiful views.
Wonderful Whale Watching Experience!
dandA3285HG,Apr 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Captain Dave's whale watching was the best! Great crew, the gave all of us a wonderful experience. We saw Fin Whale and many porpoises.
Dana Point Whale Watching
AruneeN123,Apr 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour. See fin whale , sea likns, and a lot of dolphins. Teerific crew
Such a fantastic finale!
Jacob P,Apr 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I went with my daughters on a family day and had a wonderful time. The catamaran was very comfortable and provided excellent 360 degree views. It was my first experience whale watching and I was not left wanting. We saw common and bottle nosed dolphins and finished the trip seeing a mother and calf gray whales.
Dolphins and whales!
sylvrunr,Apr 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an amazing experience! We saw a common dolphins for a large portion of the cruise (they follow the boat). The captain did a great job of communicating with other boats & we were able to see a fin whale breach and feed. The view of the area and surrounding mountains is beautiful from the water. I highly recommend this excursion, completely worth it!
It’s a fun experience for...
Alberto R,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00It’s a fun experience for kids and adults! We didn’t see a whale but did see a lot of cute common dolphins still made it worth it. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable as well.
Related Experiences
Operated by Dana Wharf Whale Watching and Sportfishing