Santa Barbara Whale Watching

Santa Barbara is home to all manner of diversions big and small, but perhaps none more breathtaking than seeing a majestic gray whale at play in the warm Pacific waters. During your stay at Spanish Garden Inn, discover exhilarating Santa Barbara whale watching at any time of year.

The coast of Southern California is renowned among whale watching enthusiasts the world over for the breadth and frequency of sightings. Depending on the time of year, charters departing from Santa Barbara Harbor can expect to see Pacific gray whales, humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, a variety of sea birds and even elusive blue whales. In fact, this is one of the most consistent spots for blue whale sightings in the world.

While many whale watching charters offer tours year-round, the most active months for gray whale sightings are December - April as the whales pass by our coast on their annual migration. If you plan to go whale watching in Santa Barbara, we recommend these vendors:

Condor Express - Year-round cruising with multiple tour options
Double Dolphin - Twice-daily cruises from mid-February to mid-May

Both vendors sail out of Santa Barbara Harbor, located southwest of Stearns Wharf at the far end of West Beach, about 1.5 miles from Spanish Garden Inn.

It's easy to customize your stay with a whale watching adventure when you stay at Spanish Garden Inn, where we are Your Concierge and always at your service. Learn about whale watching add-ons by contacting us below.