Description: The annual gray whale migration makes a great excuse to get out on the water. The gray whales are best viewed from late December through March. At the end of the year, they are on their way down to Baja California to bear their young; in the early part of the year, you can catch them making their way up with their calves. During our last trip, we saw two whales (no calves) within a decent distance of the boat.
You can also see whales between July and September. At this time, humpback and blue whales can be found in the area during periods of upwelling, when plankton is plentiful. I have seen the humpbacks, but the blue whales have prove more elusive.
On any given trip out into the Channel there is a good chance of spotting dolphins. Dolphins love frolicking on the boats wake.
The boat will usually stop at Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the Channel Islands, to drop-off or pick up campers on the Island. This allows a good boat-side view of the island.
I've usually gone with Island Packers, an authorized concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park. The whale watching trips are about three hours long and there are several trips a day, some as early as 9am or as late as 2pm. The cost is $26 for adults, $17 for children, and $22 for seniors.
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