Whale Watching Birding Tours & Trip Packages

Whale Watching Birding Tours & Trips

67 Whale Watching trips. Tours from 46 tour companies. 107 reviews. 5/5 avg rating.

16 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Birding
Magdalena Bay Whale Watching
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5/5 Excellent
31 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Explore Loreto
  • Enjoy Whale Watching in Magdalena Bay
  • Exploring swimming, dune walking, whale watching

Themes

Birding, Family Friendly, Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"When my partner and I went on a whale watching trip with Sea Kayak Adventures five years ago, we concluded that it was one of the best things we had ever done - especially the encounters with the grey whales in Magdalena Bay. I decided that I wanted an excuse to visit the whales again and I found this in a plan to go back with my family so that we could introduce them to my family and share their joy in this trip. As always, when organising such a treat, I was desperate that it would be as good a second time. I need not have worried, under the expert guidance of Monica (who amazingly had been a guide on our first trip) and Fabian our family group were wowed by whales that swam close, sky-hopped, breached and swam to our boat, rubbed against it, looked us in the eye mammal-to-mammal and then let us rub their skin. Wow oh wow! My niece even discovered that one whale had shared two of its sealice with her! Simply amazing and thanks to Monica and Fabian for sharing their knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise with us, and to Vicky for the excellent food."

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Antarctica Expedition & Wild Patagonia
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By Across South America
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
65 reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

El Calafate, Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia

Highlights

  • Torres del Paine Luxury Camp
  • Walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier
  • Explore the "End of the world"
  • Nature at its best at the Small Luxurious Expedition Cruise to Antarctica.
  • Adventure in Antarctica: Ice-Camp and Kayak

Themes

Birding, Cultural, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Small Ship Cruise, Trekking & Expeditions, Sailing, Photography

What travelers are saying

"I highly recommend Across South America for a memorable experience that is personalized for YOU."

Trip dates & details
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Generous cancellation

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Costa Rica at it’s best- Nature, whales and dolphins
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5/5 Excellent
14 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Arenal Volcano, Corcovado National Park, La Paz, Manuel Antonio National Park, Poas Volcano National Park, San José, Tortuguero National Park

Highlights

  • In Costa Rica tour we will visit
  • Central Mountain Range with an authentic Costa Rican coffee plantation
  • La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Poas Volcano
  • Turtle Museum of the C.C.C. (Caribbean Conservation Corporation)
  • Tortuguero National Park
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Themes

Birding, Cultural, High Adventure, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Scuba Diving

What travelers are saying

"The brilliant excursions! Dear Richele! I am writing you with gratitude for organizing the brilliant excursions for our group of 16 people! They came back from Brazil very happy and really satisfied! So, many-many thanks to you and your wonderful team! Looking forward to our next cooperation) Kind Regards, Anna Zboranska Exotic Department TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL GROUP"

Trip dates & details
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19 Day Secret Colombia
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By BnB Colombia Tours
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
4.9/5 Excellent
61 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Amazon Rainforest, Bogota, La Candelaria, Leticia , Medellin , Monserrate, Nuquí

Highlights

  • Monserrate, La Candelaria and The Bogotá Gold Museum
  • The River of Seven Colors, Caño Cristales!
  • Laguna del Silencio (Silence Lake)
  • Zipaquira & Guatavita Day Trip
  • Arriving to the Jungle and a Night Hike
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Themes

Birding, Cultural, Education / Learning, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Relaxing Retreats, Photography

What travelers are saying

"My husband and I have just returned from our 3-week honeymoon in Colombia organised by Bruce and Paula and the wider team at BnB Columbia. It was truly the best holiday/ travel of our lives. We loved it so much that we consider moving there once we learn more Spanish! We had a magical experience thanks to BnB Columbia, who have organised a terrific itinerary for us and provided full support from start to finish. Paula was our main point of contact/ organiser and she was a TOP STAR!!! She was the most  kind, helpful, professional and flexible person , from the start of our initial discussions until the very end. She has always been very switched on/ hands-on, listened to us and to our ideas, gave us open and direct advice (regarding flights, accommodation, restaurants, activities- literally everything).  She even saved me when I got food poisoning from a sandwich and got medicine delivered to me super quickly. She is definitely someone you can trust and I would highly recommend her (and the whole agency) to organise your trip. We are incredibly happy to have gone to Colombia through BnB agency. They organised a proper personalised itinerary for us to match our interests. Without BnB Colombia, we wouldn't have been able to do some of the fun/ different type of activities which they were able to organise using their large network of tour guides. They can really offer any activity from A to Z.  Their tour guides were also top-notch. Especially Alejandro in Medellin. The best tour guide we have ever experienced. Some of the activities we did included a salsa class, a boat party with Colombian dance performance, as well as an indigenous village visit. All of these activities were top quality delivered with top service. We also thought that BnB Colombia offered a very good value for your money compared to some UK agencies which (in my personal view) were a bit of rip off for what they offered. If you are thinking of going through an agency, dont go with a UK agency, definitely go with BnB Colombia. BnB Colombia also made us feel I like a family. We felt like they really cared about us and that we had the best time ever. They were so engaged with us, so supportive. We felt safe at all times, no safety issues at all. They organised the transport everywhere which was always on time (this made me feel bad actually as we were always running late which was embarrassing). The drivers were super patient with us. Paula always texted us the night before about the plan for next day. We didn't have to worry about ANYTHING. Honestly, the only shortcoming of this agency is that I am not sure they cover other countries, otherwise we would 100% book with them again! Michaela & Jonathan"

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety

Generous cancellation

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The Whale Extravaganza
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5/5 Excellent
31 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • Enjoy this non-kayaking itinerary is Baja whale watching at its best, and perfect for youth 6+ or adventurers who prefer not to paddle.
  • Explore 8-day itinerary includes 4 days at our very special, safari-style gray whale basecamps in the heart of Magdalena Bay.
  • See the whales in these lagoons have become "friendly" with boat operators and tour guests, and so babies will often come right over to see the people looking at them.
  • Our basecamp is located on the mouth of Magdalena Bay's exit to the sea, and gray whales like to hang out in these deep waters. Consequently, we are privileged to see whales right off shore from our campsite quite regularly. This greatly increases the "whale time" for our guests, as whale watching by boat is regulated by time and duration for all companies.
  • When you've had your fill of looking eye-to-eye with charming whale babies, we'll cross to the other side of the peninsula in the Sea of Cortez for two day tours exploring the waters of Loreto Bay National Marine Park in search of the largest animal on Earth: the blue whale.
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Themes

Birding, Family Friendly, Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"When my partner and I went on a whale watching trip with Sea Kayak Adventures five years ago, we concluded that it was one of the best things we had ever done - especially the encounters with the grey whales in Magdalena Bay. I decided that I wanted an excuse to visit the whales again and I found this in a plan to go back with my family so that we could introduce them to my family and share their joy in this trip. As always, when organising such a treat, I was desperate that it would be as good a second time. I need not have worried, under the expert guidance of Monica (who amazingly had been a guide on our first trip) and Fabian our family group were wowed by whales that swam close, sky-hopped, breached and swam to our boat, rubbed against it, looked us in the eye mammal-to-mammal and then let us rub their skin. Wow oh wow! My niece even discovered that one whale had shared two of its sealice with her! Simply amazing and thanks to Monica and Fabian for sharing their knowledge, enthusiasm and expertise with us, and to Vicky for the excellent food."

Trip dates & details
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Health Safety

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Antarctic Peninsula
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4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Ushuaia

Highlights

  • Explore Ushuaia
  • Opportunity to Cruise along beautiful Antarctic Peninsula
  • Visit the Ukrainian Vernadsky Station
  • Enjoy sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pléneau Island and You will have a chance to encounter Humpback Whales, minke whales and fin whales.
  • Experience the joy of cruising by zodiac between the icebergs in the inner parts of the bay
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Themes

Birding, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We particularly wanted to do this trip because of the abundance of wildlife we expected to encounter and selected this ship because they offered the kayaking experience. Overall, the weather was very good. Most people seemed like minded and were there for the adventurous experience. Accommodations Review They upgraded our cabin and we were very pleased with the amount of space and the amenities in the room. We appreciated the twin windows and being able to see humpbacks diving from our cabin. It was kept very clean and it was a treat to have our bed turned down with chocolates on the pillow each night. Meals Review We liked the variety and the quality of the food. There was always something new to try. The dining room staff was very professional and personable. Crew & Guides Review Solon was our Principal Trip Leader. He was incredibly professional and it seemed like he was constantly working to maximize the encounters with wildlife and scenery, taking advantage of all the weather opportunities and going to places that they don't often go. He worked very closely with the captain who was very accommodating and caring about us having a memorable voyage. Aymie and Andrew were our kayak guides. We went out to kayak 10 different times and were able to get to know both of them well. They worked hard to keep us safe and well informed. They made sure that we didn't miss out on any land excursions. We've had quite a few kayak guides over the years that we've paddled and we loved these two. Marla was the marine biologist aboard the ship. She was very enthusiastic and had a passion for marine mammals that was infectious. We loved listening to her presentations and looked forward to hearing her voice on the PA saying that there was another whale sighting. Colin, the geologist aboard the ship, was very knowledgeable and able to make difficult subjects understandable to the passengers. Itinerary Review The trip far, far, far, far, far, far exceeded our expectations. I had one "far" in the sentence when we left South Georgia Island after seeing 250,000 King Penguins at St. Andrews Point and added the second when we saw blue whales on two different days. The third "far" was added when we saw hundreds of whales for 6 hours along the iceberg, A68a. I added another "far" when we kayaked for over an hour with humpbacks all around and another "far" when minke whales were all around the kayaks the next day. The last "far" was added the day we didn't paddle since a leopard seal was all around the kayaks and then an orca came close. We had so many incredible experiences that we could never experience all of them in the same trip again. The guides told us that the close encounters that we had didn't happen very often and that we were very lucky that they all happened on our trip. The only thing that we didn't like was portions of the Drake Passage when it was a tad rough, but that experience gives us something to talk about. Transportation Review We made our transportation arrangements through another travel agency. Traveler Advice Make sure that you take sea sickness meds. Take advantage of every opportunity to see wildlife."

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Antarctic Peninsula-Basecamp Plancius
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia

Highlights

  • Visit Ushuaia
  • Enjoy Kayak hike and mountaineering activities in Antarctica
  • Enjoy the cruise through m/v Plancius
  • Have a chance to see different types of polar region birds and animals
  • Experience the nature by visiting Melchior Islands and Booth Island

Themes

Birding, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"I booked an Antarctic Peninsula trip two years ago through Oceanwide Expeditions that I have been looking forward to for a long time. My goal is to scuba dive on every continent, so I added on the dive package and started training. I shelled out a few grand for a drysuit and other cold water diving gear (freeze resistant regulators, etc). I booked trips to bump up my number of drysuit dives so I’d be ready for Antarctica. Probably more important than the training was the financial outlay. I spent nearly $8500 USD on an 11 day Antarctic cruise that was supposed to depart in February. I spent another few thousand dollars on flights to, from and within Argentina and hotels throughout my trip. Mind you, I’m not exactly rolling in money; I’m an Army officer and I had to save up to afford this trip of a lifetime. I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get my international leave approved, but I got that done and was ready to fly to Buenos Aires on February 4th, and then on to Ushuaia to meet my ship my dives were logged, my gear was ready, my arrangements were made and my money was spent. On January 10th, Oceanwide sent an email informing all passengers that they were cancelling all of their itineraries for the season due to Omicron. I’ll admit, I was furious. I don’t want to get into a COVID debate here, but this trip has given me something to look forward to throughout the pandemic. I booked in March of 2020 while I was locked down during my last deployment as the world shut down for COVID. I was concerned about the trip, but Argentina eventually opened their borders as their vaccination numbers skyrocketed. It looked like the last impediment was out of my way, only to have the company pull the rug out from under me because of the mildest strain of this virus we’ve yet seen. The initial email offered to rebook passengers on next year’s cruises, but I had no interest in this for a few reasons- 1. As a service member, I don’t have the luxury of taking a month of leave whenever I want. I don’t know what obligations I will have a year from now. 2. I don’t trust that the world will be any better off in terms of government and corporate reactions to COVID a year from now. This isn’t going away, new variants will continue to emerge, so if the company is cancelling for the season over something as mild as Omicron, I have little confidence that whatever variant we see in February 2023 will be any better. 3. The company cancelled all itineraries in the 2020-2021 season and I’d imagine they did the same in the 2019-2020 season. They ran a couple in November-December 2021, but have cancelled for the rest of the 21-22 season. They have had no significant cash flow for nearly two years. I don’t want this company to hold on to my money for another year because I’m not confident this company will still exist in a year’s time. Here comes the really frustrating part- I replied to the initial email from their home office on January 10th explaining my position and requesting a refund. I received no reply. On 12 January I emailed the American office of the same company explaining the situation and again requesting a refund. I again received no reply. Between 14-16 January, I called both the American and home (Dutch) offices of the company. In both cases, the employees politely apologized and told me they’d look into it and get back to me. I never received any further communication. On 19 January, I emailed both offices reiterating my request for a refund and expressing my concerns at their lack of communication and requesting a response by the end of the week, or else I would pursue other means of recourse. I received no response. Last night, I again emailed both companies with a final good faith attempt to allow them to resolve the situation. I figured I’d give them the morning to respond, but they have not responded. It looks like I will have to dispute this through my credit card and bank and fight to get back my own money. TL;DR Oceanwide Expeditions accepted payment of $8500 for an Antarctica Cruise then cancelled the cruise and will not respond to any requests for refunds. This shady conduct is more than enough reason to avoid this company."

Trip dates & details
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Antarctic Peninsula – Polar Circle, Deep South Discovery and whale watching voyage
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1/5 Terrible
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands

Highlights

  • See Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black- browed Albatrosses, Light- mantled Albatrosses, Cape Petrels, Southern Fulmars
  • See Humpback whales here as we approach Fish Islands for a Zodiac cruise and possible landing.
  • See more Adélie penguins among the myriads of icebergs large and small.
  • Enjoy even more Humpback whales.

Themes

Birding, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise, Scuba Diving

What travelers are saying

"I booked an Antarctic Peninsula trip two years ago through Oceanwide Expeditions that I have been looking forward to for a long time. My goal is to scuba dive on every continent, so I added on the dive package and started training. I shelled out a few grand for a drysuit and other cold water diving gear (freeze resistant regulators, etc). I booked trips to bump up my number of drysuit dives so I’d be ready for Antarctica. Probably more important than the training was the financial outlay. I spent nearly $8500 USD on an 11 day Antarctic cruise that was supposed to depart in February. I spent another few thousand dollars on flights to, from and within Argentina and hotels throughout my trip. Mind you, I’m not exactly rolling in money; I’m an Army officer and I had to save up to afford this trip of a lifetime. I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get my international leave approved, but I got that done and was ready to fly to Buenos Aires on February 4th, and then on to Ushuaia to meet my ship my dives were logged, my gear was ready, my arrangements were made and my money was spent. On January 10th, Oceanwide sent an email informing all passengers that they were cancelling all of their itineraries for the season due to Omicron. I’ll admit, I was furious. I don’t want to get into a COVID debate here, but this trip has given me something to look forward to throughout the pandemic. I booked in March of 2020 while I was locked down during my last deployment as the world shut down for COVID. I was concerned about the trip, but Argentina eventually opened their borders as their vaccination numbers skyrocketed. It looked like the last impediment was out of my way, only to have the company pull the rug out from under me because of the mildest strain of this virus we’ve yet seen. The initial email offered to rebook passengers on next year’s cruises, but I had no interest in this for a few reasons- 1. As a service member, I don’t have the luxury of taking a month of leave whenever I want. I don’t know what obligations I will have a year from now. 2. I don’t trust that the world will be any better off in terms of government and corporate reactions to COVID a year from now. This isn’t going away, new variants will continue to emerge, so if the company is cancelling for the season over something as mild as Omicron, I have little confidence that whatever variant we see in February 2023 will be any better. 3. The company cancelled all itineraries in the 2020-2021 season and I’d imagine they did the same in the 2019-2020 season. They ran a couple in November-December 2021, but have cancelled for the rest of the 21-22 season. They have had no significant cash flow for nearly two years. I don’t want this company to hold on to my money for another year because I’m not confident this company will still exist in a year’s time. Here comes the really frustrating part- I replied to the initial email from their home office on January 10th explaining my position and requesting a refund. I received no reply. On 12 January I emailed the American office of the same company explaining the situation and again requesting a refund. I again received no reply. Between 14-16 January, I called both the American and home (Dutch) offices of the company. In both cases, the employees politely apologized and told me they’d look into it and get back to me. I never received any further communication. On 19 January, I emailed both offices reiterating my request for a refund and expressing my concerns at their lack of communication and requesting a response by the end of the week, or else I would pursue other means of recourse. I received no response. Last night, I again emailed both companies with a final good faith attempt to allow them to resolve the situation. I figured I’d give them the morning to respond, but they have not responded. It looks like I will have to dispute this through my credit card and bank and fight to get back my own money. TL;DR Oceanwide Expeditions accepted payment of $8500 for an Antarctica Cruise then cancelled the cruise and will not respond to any requests for refunds. This shady conduct is more than enough reason to avoid this company."

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16 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Birding

Whale Watching Reviews & Ratings

5/5  Excellent
107  Reviews
See all Whale Watching tour reviews
Excellent
22
Great
0
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
E

Eric

Oct 2019

Written on

A Close Encounter of the Orca Kind

I have been on this trip 3 different time, and each time has been unique, and so amazing. The guides were so great, and knowledgeable, the food was fantastic, and th...

K

Kimmie

Sep 2019

Written on

This was one of the best vacations I have ever gone on

This was one of the best vacations I have ever gone on. It was amazing to see the humpbacks slapping their tails and orca swimming by our base camp every evening. Bu...

L

Lin Teichman

Aug 2019

Written on

Best Trip Ever

This trip exceeded all expectations for a kayaking trip. Not only were the guides wonderful, the food amazing and the participants fun, but the sheer numbers of whal...

M

Michelle

Jul 2019

Written on

Incredible Kayaking with Orcas

If you're looking for an opportunity to kayak with whales, specifically orcas, this is an incredible adventure. Not only did we get the opportunity to see orcas from...

J

Jimbo

Sep 2018

Written on

Amazing Johnstone Straight Experience - Kayaking, Fun, Wildlife, great food, beautiful location

We recently took the Orca Base Camp trip with Sea Kayak Adventures. It was amazing. Yes its camping. We were well taken care of and got to paddle in this pristin...

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Whale Watching Tour Selection Trips

  • Whale watching is possible year round, though the farther north you go, summer is typically the best season.
  • While your tour will do their best to find a pod, it's never a guarantee that you'll witness a breach. However if you plan accordingly and travel during the best months, your chances are very good.
  • Seas can be very choppy so if you get seasick be sure to take appropriate precautions. A good tour guide should have remedies available.
  • Be careful with nice camera equipment! While nothing beats getting that perfect shot, you will be out on the water for extended periods of time, so watch out for sea water, and keep your camera well protected.

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