Few creatures on earth inspire the same amount of awe as whales, especially when seen in their natural habitat. Part of the reason is that they are some of the largest animals on earth, not to mention some of the smartest besides humans. If you want to see them in person and either live in California or are visiting, then consider taking a whale watching Catalina Island tour.
The reason Catalina Island draws so many whale watching visitors is that it is the perfect location due to its proximity to breeding and birthing grounds. Many whales spend their summers in the Arctic waters surrounding Alaska. However, during mating season, they come to the Catalina area to either mate or give birth before heading back north again.
You will have the opportunity to see many different whale species in this area, which is why it is such a huge draw each winter. The largest ones you can see includes humpbacks, blue and gray whales. There are also fin back and minke whales, as well as orcas, which moat people refer to as killer whales in the area.
When you look for a tour to join, you will have lots of options. The biggest one is deciding the size of boat you want to ride on to watch. There are smaller, speedboat type options that only seat small parties or individuals. They go very fast and bring you as close as possible to the whales.
There are many reasons to take the smaller vessel, and many reasons not to. Perhaps you want a slower pace, more relaxed experience. Or, if you have a walker, wheelchair or an elderly person in your party who needs assistance getting around, then the larger barge-like boats are a much better option. The are also better for families, especially if you have a service dog or children who will need to be attended to while you are watching for the whales.
The next decision you make after the size of the vessel is the length of the tour. For the full experience, try the overnight tour that lets you stay on a nearby island. You can take the full day tour that does not stay overnight instead. You may also choose the short tour that goes out only for a few hours at a time instead.
In addition to the aforementioned whales, you may also be able to see dolphins and porpoises that that live in the area. Many seals and birds also live in the vicinity, including seagulls and the national treasure bald eagles.
You should book your tour in advance, as the busy season fills up quickly and you don't want to get left out. Look out for the weather on your appointed day. Choppy waters may force the tour operator to cancel, so if the weather looks bad, call before you leave to ensure that the boat is still going out so you do not waste your time and can reschedule faster.
The reason Catalina Island draws so many whale watching visitors is that it is the perfect location due to its proximity to breeding and birthing grounds. Many whales spend their summers in the Arctic waters surrounding Alaska. However, during mating season, they come to the Catalina area to either mate or give birth before heading back north again.
You will have the opportunity to see many different whale species in this area, which is why it is such a huge draw each winter. The largest ones you can see includes humpbacks, blue and gray whales. There are also fin back and minke whales, as well as orcas, which moat people refer to as killer whales in the area.
When you look for a tour to join, you will have lots of options. The biggest one is deciding the size of boat you want to ride on to watch. There are smaller, speedboat type options that only seat small parties or individuals. They go very fast and bring you as close as possible to the whales.
There are many reasons to take the smaller vessel, and many reasons not to. Perhaps you want a slower pace, more relaxed experience. Or, if you have a walker, wheelchair or an elderly person in your party who needs assistance getting around, then the larger barge-like boats are a much better option. The are also better for families, especially if you have a service dog or children who will need to be attended to while you are watching for the whales.
The next decision you make after the size of the vessel is the length of the tour. For the full experience, try the overnight tour that lets you stay on a nearby island. You can take the full day tour that does not stay overnight instead. You may also choose the short tour that goes out only for a few hours at a time instead.
In addition to the aforementioned whales, you may also be able to see dolphins and porpoises that that live in the area. Many seals and birds also live in the vicinity, including seagulls and the national treasure bald eagles.
You should book your tour in advance, as the busy season fills up quickly and you don't want to get left out. Look out for the weather on your appointed day. Choppy waters may force the tour operator to cancel, so if the weather looks bad, call before you leave to ensure that the boat is still going out so you do not waste your time and can reschedule faster.
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