Beach Guide

Things to Do

Santa Monica · cruises, tours & watersports

Whale watching
year-round

The Harbor

tap a boat
Whales · 2.5 hrs

Hornblower Whale Watching

Whales

City Cruises (Hornblower) runs naturalist-led trips out of Marina del Rey. Gray whales in winter, blue and humpback whales through summer, dolphins year-round.

10:00 AM

Next boat

2.5 hrs

Trip

$55

From

Departures · Marina del Rey

LIVE CLOCK

Dock wisdom

·

Whale watching is best December to April for gray whales, June to September for blue and humpback whales.

·

Morning trips get the flattest water and the most sea lions hauled out on the buoys.

·

Book sunset sails a day ahead in summer, they fill first.

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Most trips leave from Marina del Rey, about a 15-minute drive south of the pier.

fair winds

Operators are real local fixtures — confirm current sailing times and prices with each operator before you go. Countdowns run on the real local clock and the sunset sail time is computed from tonight’s actual sunset.

At Santa Monica, the sun sets at 8:10 PM today — about 14h 25m of daylight. Sunrise was 5:45 AM. Live water temperature, surf height, UV index, wind and tide for Santa Monica update at the top of the conditions page.