Farallon Islands Whale Season
BLUE & HUMPBACK WHALE Farallon Islands
The Farallon Islands, just 27 miles off San Francisco, lie amid the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, a food-rich marine ecosystem which attracts whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds each summer and fall, to feed and to breed. Researchers have catalogued hundreds of individual humpbacks and blue whales as seasonal feeding residents. Twenty three species of marine mammals, including 18 species of whales and dolphins, can be found here. Photo by Thomas M. Johnson
The Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge is the largest seabird rookery in the contiguous United States with nesting Tufted Puffins, Pigeon Guillemots, Rhinoceros Auklets, Shearwaters, and other species. Island beaches are covered with sea lions, including massive Steller's sea lions, now on the Endangered Species List.
Expert naturalists lead full-day whale watching cruises from San Francisco aboard motorized diesel vessels on Saturdays and Sundays from June through November.
Oceanic Society was commended by the California State Senate for its public education service through Whale Watch and Farallon Islands programs. In cooperation with Cascadia Research, the Oceanic Society sponsors long-term humpack whale research in the Gulf of the Farallones. Many of the whale watching trips include dedicated whale field researchers. Since 1972, nonprofit Oceanic Society has sponsored educational natural history encounters for over 140,000 people. Programs benefit the environmental education and conservation research.
TRIP INFORMATION Departure:
San Francisco Yacht Harbor/Marina Green, just outside the Harbormaster's office (please do not enter the building or disturb the harbormaster).
Reminder: Check-in time is 7:30 am, boat leaves 8:00 a.m.
Duration: Approximately 8 hours.
Itinerary: Under the Golden Gate Bridge and west to the Farallon Islands.
Vessel:
Certified 56-foot Salty Lady, 50-foot Wacky Jacky or the 56-foot Huli Cat. Each whale watching vessel offers an observation deck, indoor seating salon (limited indoor seating) and bathroom. Our captains are experienced in nature cruises.
Passenger maximum: 39 to 48.
Clothing: Warm, layered with water-proof outerwear for sea spray recommended.
Parking: Free off-street parking.
Food & Refreshments: Bring lunch and beverages.
Age Restrictions: Age minimum 10; an adult must accompany youths under 15.
TRIPS GO RAIN OR SHINE! For recorded information on Oceanic Society's current sightings of wildlife please call the sightings hotline: 415 474-0488.
Factoids About Local WHALE WATCHING Programs
RELATED LINKS
Farallon Islands Press Release (May 1, 2004)
CORDELL BANK WHALE WATCHING
2008 FARALLON ISLANDS SCHEDULE
Observing a friendly humpback whale during an Oceanic Society Farallon Islands trip/Alison Sanders.
Humpback and Blue whales migrate to the Gulf of the Farallones during the months of June through November, and sea bird nesting season is from March through August. See Farallon Island schedule below.
Gray Whales migrate along the California coast and past the Farallon Islands. Click here for Gray Whales January - May, 2007.
CURRENT SIGHTINGS FARALLON ISLANDS WHALE WATCH
SAN FRANCISCO DEPARTURES
MAY 2008
Saturday, May 24
Saturday, May 31
Sunday, May 25
JUNE
Saturday, June 7
Saturday, June 14
Saturday, June 21
Saturday, June 28
Sunday, June 1
Sunday, June 8
Sunday, June 15
Sunday, June 29
JULY
Saturday, July 5
Saturday, July 12
Saturday, July 19
Saturday, July 26
Sunday, July 6
Sunday, July 13
Sunday, July 20
Sunday, July 27
AUGUST
Saturday, August 2
Saturday, August 9
Saturday, August 16
Saturday, August 23
Saturday, August 30
Sunday, August 3
Sunday, August 10
Sunday, August 17
Sunday, August 24
Sunday, August 31
SEPTEMBER
Saturday, September 6
Saturday, September 13
Saturday, September 20
Saturday, September 27
Sunday, September 7
Sunday, September 14
Sunday, September 21
Sunday, September 28
OCTOBER
Saturday, October 4
Saturday, October 11
Saturday, October 18
Saturday, October 25
Sunday, October 5
Sunday, October 12
Sunday, October 19
Sunday, October 26
NOVEMBER
Saturday, November 1
Saturday, November 8
Saturday, November 15
Saturday, November 22
Saturday, November 29
Sunday, November 2
Sunday, November 9
Sunday, November 6
Sunday, November 23
Sunday, November 30
2008 WHALE WATCHING RATES Farallon Islands San Francisco Departures-Saturdays & Sundays: $105.00/person We reserve the right to increase trip fees if there are exceptional cost increases for fuel.
New! Online Registration! We are pleased to partner with Acteva.com in offering convenient, secure online registrations for our Bay Area whale-watching trips.
Acteva is a low-cost e-commerce solution that allows nonprofits to conduct online transactions, without the expense of setting up a full e-commerce site. If you would like to take advantage of online registration, click here.
A minimal processing fee will be charged. (You can avoid the processing fee by registering by phone Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30am-5:00pm PST at: (415 474-3385), or download the reservation form below and fax your reservation to our office.) Processing fees are non-refundable.
If your preferred trip is not available through online registration, please call our office to book your reservation
FARALLON WHALE WATCHING RESERVATION FORM
FARALLON WHALE WATCHING GIFT CERTIFICATES
