Update: We’re back starting April 3rd, 2021!! Due to duration & capacity restrictions on open-air boat activities based out of San Francisco, all Farallon trips will depart from Clipper Harbor in Sausalito. Read below for departure location details.
Departure Schedule: 9:30am-5:00pm | Every Saturday & Sunday | April-November 2021 | Click Here to See Our Schedule & Book Now!
Whale Sighting Likelihood: April-November 98% | Based on Past 10 Years OS Sightings Data
COVID-19: Transmission reduction measures in place including county approved Site-Specific Protection Plan, limited capacity, employee trainings, face coverings, routine deep-cleanings and socially distant spacing at all times during the trip.
Trip Duration: 7.5 hours
Our Capacity: 20 passengers
Trip Details: Cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge led by expert naturalists to the wild Farallon Islands: one of the most biodiverse marine environments in the world!
Price: $450 per person
Age Limit: 10 years or older
Departure Location: Clipper Yacht Harbor (310 Harbor Dr. Sausalito CA 94965 | Check-in is on the right side of the main parking lot.)
Parking: Free on site | For Parking Diagram & Additional Trip Details Click Here!
Any Questions?: Email whales@oceanicsociety.org and get a fast response!
Humpback whales arrive back in the Bay Area as early as March each year! Our 7.5-hour tours provide ample opportunity to circumnavigate the Farallon Islands with expert interpretation coming from our staff of top-notch naturalists. Oceanic Society is a conservation non-profit that pioneered whale watching in San Francisco in 1972. We measure our naturalists’ experience in decades, not years. They are simply the best available!
This trip is designed with COVID safety in mind. We've taken measures that go above and beyond state and local regulations. Social distancing is present at every stage of the trip. All naturalists & boat crew have undergone COVID transmission reduction training and certification. Regular sanitization of common surfaces is ongoing during each trip and a full sanitization process occurs before every new batch of passengers.
As we mentioned before, Oceanic Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ocean conservation. Your participation in our whale watch helps fund conservation efforts, such as our Critters Scholars Program, which delivers life-changing ocean experiences free of charge to underserved student groups & communities around the San Francisco Bay Area. Also, we use our whale watching cruises as an opportunity to collect photographic identification data on marine mammals, which we share with a network of researchers throughout the eastern Pacific. You can see our recently photographed whales on Happywhale. Learn more about Oceanic Society here.
VESSEL
Our Coast Guard certified vessel, the 56-foot Salty Lady, has an observation deck, limited indoor seating, and two bathrooms. Our captains are experienced in nature cruises and committed to marine conservation.
CLOTHING
Face covering is required. Warm, layered clothing with a waterproof outer layer is strongly recommended. Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are also advised.
FOOD & REFRESHMENTS
Bring your own food and beverages; there are no concessions on board. Alcohol is discouraged, but not prohibited. Backpacks are fine, but please, no coolers due to space limitations.
SMOKING POLICY
No smoking is allowed on Oceanic Society cruises.
AGE RESTRICTIONS
Age minimum 10; an adult must accompany children under 16. Children must wear a life jacket at all times while aboard the vessel.
WEATHER
Trips go rain or shine, but may be cancelled due to high winds and/or high seas. All passengers will be notified via email and text should we need to cancel.
For cancellation policy, refund and reschedule policy, and other important terms, read our detailed Terms and Conditions.
A Life Experience, a must do for real nature lovers! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
TripAdvisor Member
Unforgettable Experience ... I can definitely recommend this trip ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
TripAdvisor Member
Best bargain in S.F! Wow - what a wonderful experience!! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
TripAdvisor Member
Lived in the Bay Area for 10 years, boy have I missed a great experience before. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
TripAdvisor Member
For an up close experience with the islands, consider spending a full-day with the Oceanic Society ... You will get to spend eight hours with guides who know the best places to spot whales, especially humpback and blue whales that are common in the area.
SF Gate
The Farallon Islands are just 27 miles from San Francisco and the ticket to this classic adventure is aboard the nonprofit Oceanic Society's Salty Lady, a 56-foot-long whale-watching boat equipped with friendly staff and a naturalist who's a virtual water-borne Wikipedia.
Weekend Sherpa
The Oceanic Society runs top-notch, naturalist-led, ocean-going weekend boat trips – sometimes to the Farallon Islands – during both whale-migration seasons.
Lonely Planet