FAQ

GPS to 100 Pacific Street Monterey Heritage Harbor Parking Garage
– Located conveniently on Scott and Pacific Street, 2 short blocks from the head of the Wharf. Hourly rate is $1 per half hour and $15/day. Take a ticket, (pay when you exit) Cash or credit card.
– Walk down Scott Street for one block, the street bends to the left and brings you to the beginning of Wharf #1 (Old Fisherman’s Wharf)
– There is a pink gift shop called Harbor House Gifts with a teal lighthouse sticking out of the top at the entrance to our wharf. Walk down that wharf in between all the shops and restaurants. Turn Right at the yellow CRAB HOUSE restaurant with the clock on the side of it. We are in a red building that says MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH CENTER along the side.

Or GPS to 201 Washington street to reach the waterfront parking lot**
– The waterfront lot is a prepay lot with 2 prepay kiosks. You can also use the parkmobile app. The lot zone is #21031 using the parkmobile app.
– The waterfront lot. Rate is $1.50 per hour with a daily max of $10.00

Please prepay for your parking at one of the pay stations in the waterfront lot or use the parkmobile app.

Also, please insert your credit card magnetic stripe down into one of the pay stations to prepay for your parking fee. There is a button to push on every pay station to reach “help” for any questions you may have.
– Walk from the kiosk towards Wharf #1 with all the colorful shops & restaurants (there is a pink building at the beginning of our wharf).
– Walk down Fisherman’s Wharf, near the end turn right at CRAB HOUSE Restaurant & you will see our building with a large red sign on top that reads “MONTEREY BAY WHALE WATCH CENTER”.

We are owned and operated by Marine Biologists and collect opportunistic data on every single trip and share it with various nonprofit groups! We often extend our trips to see the best and most exciting wildlife. We focus on education, conservation, and research on all of our trips and love sharing our passion with the passengers!

Yes, all three of our boats have restrooms that can be used throughout the trip.

We follow the recommended guideline of staying around 100 yards away from the whales and do not alter their behavior in any way. Sometimes, the whales approach us and we put the boat in idle or shut off the engines for the safety of the wildlife and the passengers on board.

You won’t need binoculars in order to get a good view of the whales, but binoculars can be useful for seeing other wildlife such as seabirds.

Upper Deck:

• Easier to switch sides allowing you to quickly see things happening on both sides of the boat
• You can more easily see into the water as the reflection does not distort as dramatically on the top deck
• Freedom to switch to the main or upper deck
• View of our data collection methods and captain

Main Deck:

• If we encounter any friendly whales or playful dolphins, they will be located next to you on the main deck!
• Preferred location for many photographers due to the low angle with the surface of the water
• Closer access to the indoor cabin

We do not, no business on the wharf validates parking

The main wharf parking has RV parking

Yes, each of our boats have marine biologists that lead the tours.

4 hours in the morning, 3 hours in the afternoon. We also have special all day 8 hour tours.

We offer rain checks that let you come back for free and never expire. Luckily, not seeing whales is very rare in our area!

84 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey, CA 93940

• MOST IMPORTANT – take one seasickness pill the night before and 1 pill an hour before your trip the morning of (meclizine or dramamine), only for people 12 or older
• Ginger candies
• Looking at the horizon line
• Staying OUTSIDE in the fresh air, not inside the cabin or bathroom!

They NEVER expire!

30-45 minutes. Please plan ahead for traffic if you are coming from 1 hour or more away!

Yes, we prefer if you pay for your ticket in advance

Yes, we allow food and drinks on board, including beer and wine. However, we do NOT allow any type of glass on board and no hard alcohol.

We have snacks, soda, and water for sale on board the vessel as well as in our shop

No! All ages are welcome

Yes, however we HIGHLY recommend you do not come on one of our trips if you are pregnant. We may be up to over an hour away from medical care, and there are higher risks on board for pregnant people, such as the possibility of falling, seasickness, and other illnesses.

Yes! Well behaved and leashed dogs are welcome and free

• Active and Veteran Military – $5 off each person
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Staff come for free
• $10 off coupons we give out at events

It is typically around 10-20 degrees colder out on the water than it is on land! We always recommend wearing plenty of layers! You can always take off an extra layer during the trip if its a warmer day. We recommend layers and a jacket, a hat, and even gloves on the colder days as you must be holding on while navigating around and standing up on the vessels.

• Blackfin: 65ft Double wide catamaran with two floors, holds around 120 people
• Sea Wolf II: 65ft single deck vessel, holds 65 people
• Pt. Sur Clipper: 55ft single deck vessel, holds 35 people

• 9AM: usually the Blackfin
• 10AM: Sea Wolf II or Pt. Sur Clipper
• 1:30PM: depends on the total number of passengers, usually Blackfin in the summer
• 8AM All Day trip: Pt. Sur Clipper or Sea Wolf II *Please note – this is highly subject to change*