Every year, as Eastern Pacific gray whales migrate from the Bering Sea to lagoons in Baja California, people come from all over to watch.
The whale-watching season, which runs from late December to early April, even draws an international crowd, according to Rebecca Milkey, director of marketing for Hornblower Cruises.
“Europeans love to go whale watching,” she said.
Milkey explained that each excursion differs, but most trips will see some form of marine life, whether sea lions, seals or dolphins.
“Mostly we see the Pacific white-sided dolphin,” Milkey said. “It’s interesting because if we see whales, we’ll often see dolphins traveling with them.”
Hornblower, and many other whale-watching cruises, guarantee sightings, which means that customers receive a free pass to return for a future cruise if the whales prove shy or absent during a tour. Milkey explained that those passes can also be used for harbor cruises or a sea lion adventure.
While whale watching does require patience “” tours typically last between three to three and a half hours “” many cruises fill the time with expert commentary from naturalists, information packets or displays of fossils and other artifacts.
Tours have gained popularity since 1970, when the gray whale was placed on the endangered species list, from which they were removed in 1994, Milkey said.
“It’s one of those things that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This is a great place to see sea life,” she continued. “People go to SeaWorld and they still want to go out whale watching because they want to see a whale in its natural surroundings.”
Big tour boats are not the only way to catch whales in action. La Jolla’s Hike Bike Kayak offers whale-watching trips by kayak.
“I think it’s a little bit more intimate,” said Amy Kangleon, president of Hike Bike Kayak, on the advantages of a sea-level view.
Milkey suggested that tourgoers wear layers of clothing for a chilly ocean voyage and all tours suggest visitors bring a camera, binoculars or video camera.
This year’s offerings include:

Boat Tours
Hornblower Cruises: Tours twice daily at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; $30 for adults Mon.-Fri., $35 Saturday and Sunday; $15 for children 4 to 12; www.hornblow
er.com or (619) 686-8715
Harbor Cruise and Birch Aquarium: Tours twice daily at 9:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. $27 for adults Mon.-Fri., $30 Saturday and Sunday; $15 for children ages 4 to 12 with paid adult; (619) 234-4111
Islandia Sportfishing Ltd.: $25, (619) 222-1164
H & M Landing: Tours depart at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; three-hour tours are $17.50-$25; five-hour tours $40-$50; (619) 222-1144 or www.hmlanding.com
Dive Bliss: Tours departs at 8 a.m., cost ranges $35-$75, www.divebliss.com or (619) 200-5852

Airborne Tours
Biplane, Air Combat and Warbird Adventures airborne tours: Cost $311-$624, (760) 930-0903

Kayak Tours
Hike Bike Kayak: Tours include equipment, guide and wetsuit, with hot drinks and snacks to follow; single kayak costs $60, $50/person in tandem kayaks; (858) 551-9510

Baja Tours
Birch Aquarium: Tours run four to five days and cost $500-$885, (858) 534-7336
H & M Landing: Tours run nine to 11 days, cost varies, (619) 226-1729 or (619) 226-8224