Enjoy a whale watch excursion for (2) adults from Island Packers.  

On all Island Packer’s trips to the Channel Islands we cruise with an open eye for wildlife, especially everyone’s favorite, whales and dolphins.  There are also two seasons each year where we specifically go out into the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary just to look for whales.  The annual gray whale migration in the local area is best viewed from late December through March.  Shortly after the gray whale migration has passed, there is a chance to see other large whales like the endangered humpback and the blue whale.  Humpback and blue whales are attracted to the local area during periods of upwelling, an ocean condition that produces the planktonic food preferred by these whales.  Typically the ocean conditions that produce this feeding phenomenon occur between July and September.

Within the waters of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary 28 species of whales and dolphins have been identified.  Eighteen of these species are seen frequently and are thought to be residents. Throughout the year it is possible to see common dolphin, risso’s dolphin, minke whales, bottlenose dolphin, pacific white sided dolphin, dall’s porpoise and an occasional pod of orcas.