SEA OTTERS AND WHALES OF MONTEREY BAY PHOTO TOUR

lunge-feeding humpbacks and cute sea otters

6 Days

California, USA

6 Pax

Easy

Sea Otters and Whales of Monterey Bay

Photograph sea otters at eye level and humpback whales at sunset

Our sea otters and whales of Monterey Bay photo tour will bring you up close and personal with adorable sea otters and majestic whales. You will photograph sea otters from your own private kayak, where you are paddled around by an experienced naturalist and kayaker, allowing you to focus on photographing the sea otters at eye level. For the lunge-feeding humpbacks, and other whales we may encounter in the Monterey Bay, we utilize a smaller, faster speedboat that allows us to get closer to the whales, and lets you enjoy the cetaceans at their level, as they come up to the surface to breath and lunge-feed. Since we charter the boat, we decide where and when we go to find whales!

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PHOTOGRAPH SEA OTTERS FROM EYE LEVEL

PHOTOGRAPH LUNGE-FEEDING HUMPBACK WHALES

HIGH CHANCE OF SEEING SEA OTTER MOMS AND PUPS

WE USE A ZODIAC TO GET UP CLOSE TO THE HUMPBACKS

Have your own personal kayak driver while you see sea otters

HAVE YOUR PERSONAL KAYAK DRIVER WHILE YOU SEE SEA OTTERS

Conservation Activity during our Humpbacks and Sea Otter Photo Tour

LEARN ABOUT HOW TO HELP SEA OTTERS

Why we love this Sea Otter and Humpback safari

We love this sea otters and whales of Monterey Bay photo tour because it provides you with intimate experiences of the marine mammals. Instead of being on a large whale watching boat with tons of other people you get intimate encounters with the otters and whales of Monterey.

For the sea otters, we utilize two person kayaks. The otter naturalist is in the backseat, paddling the boat and getting you into the right position with the otters. All you have to do is have your camera and take photographs. The sea otter portion of this tour is on very calm water with no waves, ensuring that you and your equipment stay dry. We photograph the sea otters in one of their strongholds, with over three hundred sea otters found in this part of the Monterey Bay. We will see sea otters feeding, resting, playing, and we even have a high chance of photographing sea otter moms and pups. Doing so in the kayak ensures that you are getting eye level shots of these adorable animals. We have had multiple people take over ten thousand photos on the sea otter part of the tour alone!

For the whales in the Monterey Bay, we utilize a small, fast RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) which allows us to cover lots of ground as we search for whales in the Monterey Bay, and means that we are very low to the water surface when we spot them, ensuring once again, eye level perspectives of the whales. Since we charter this boat, we have full control of where and when we go and one of our main targets for the tour is to see humpback whales feeding at sunset, where you have that beautiful golden light behind the whales as they surface with their gaping mouths wide open.

Finally, as our conservation activity for this tour, you will get intimate knowledge of how you as an individual can help sea otters. Southern sea otters are endangered and there are less than three thousand of them left. The steps you can take as an individual make a big difference for the survival of sea otters.

Sea Otters and Whales of Monterey Bay photo tour testimonials

“I met Sebastian at sunrise and we jumped right in to the kayak to catch the morning light. From the minute we left, he took care of all of the navigating and paddling - all I had to do was sit back, take photos and enjoy the wildlife in this beautiful area of Monterey Bay. In addition to the adorable otters, we saw harbor seals, pelicans, egrets and several other shore birds. There were several times during the day that there was such a variety of wildlife around us that it was almost hard to decide what to actually photograph!

As a novice photographer, it was such a treat to spend a day with someone as accomplished as Sebastian. He was incredibly helpful with camera settings and offered suggestions regarding framing and composition. He always made sure the kayak was in the best position from a lighting perspective. I can honestly say I learned more about my camera in this one day than I have from any of my previous photography tours.

Most importantly, Sebastian is incredibly knowledgeable about the wildlife and their behaviors and his deep passion for them was clearly evident. Throughout the day, Sebastian was very cognizant to make sure that we did not disrupt their natural behaviors in any way. The kayak offered such a unique vantage point and provided us with the ability to sit and observe the wildlife in a way that was non-intrusive.

I would highly recommend this tour, I look forward to booking my next trip with Sebastian and team!”

- Sherry Herr

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Sea Otter mother and pup, Monterey Bay, California

Sea Otter mother and pup, Monterey Bay, California
Humpback Whales Lunge Feeding in Monterey Bay California

Humpback Whales Lunge Feeding in Monterey Bay California
Sea Otter grooming, Monterey Bay, California

Sea Otter grooming, Monterey Bay, California
Humpback Whale Diving in Monterey Bay California

Humpback Whale Diving in Monterey Bay California
Sea Otter pup hugging mother while swimming, Monterey Bay, California

Sea Otter pup hugging mother while swimming, Monterey...
Humpback Whale Lunge Feeding in Monterey Bay California

Humpback Whale Lunge Feeding in Monterey Bay California
Sea Otter mother carrying pup on belly, Monterey Bay, California

Sea Otter mother carrying pup on belly, Monterey...
Humpback Whale at Surface in Monterey Bay California

Humpback Whale at Surface in Monterey Bay California
Sea Otter mother and pup, Monterey Bay, California

Sea Otter mother and pup, Monterey Bay, California
Close up of Humpback Whales Lunge Feeding in Monterey Bay California

Close up of Humpback Whales Lunge Feeding in...

Other wildlife you can see on this tour

Brown Pelican sub-adult bathing, Monterey Bay, California

Brown Pelican sub-adult bathing, Monterey Bay, California
California Sea Lion females, Monterey Bay, California

California Sea Lion females, Monterey Bay, California
Clark's Grebe, Monterey Bay, California

Clark's Grebe, Monterey Bay, California
Harbor Seal on shore, Monterey Bay, California

Harbor Seal on shore, Monterey Bay, California
Double-crested Cormorant preening, Monterey Bay, California

Double-crested Cormorant preening, Monterey Bay, California
Elegant Tern flying, Monterey Bay, California

Elegant Tern flying, Monterey Bay, California
Great Blue Heron hunting, Monterey Bay, California

Great Blue Heron hunting, Monterey Bay, California
Pacific White-sided Dolphin group porpoising, Monterey Bay, California

Pacific White-sided Dolphin group porpoising, Monterey Bay, California
Marbled Godwit flying, Monterey Bay, California

Marbled Godwit flying, Monterey Bay, California
Snowy Egret foraging in lagoon at sunset, Monterey Bay, California

Snowy Egret foraging in lagoon at sunset, Monterey...

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Target marine mammals during our sea otter and humpback photo tour

SEA OTTER (Enhydra lutris)

The adorable look of sea otters, a type of weasel, comes from its super thick fur, which they rely on for body heat, since they do not have a blubber layer, like other marine mammals. They spend a significant amount of time foraging for food, which includes lots of different invertebrates. There is a high chance of us seeing otter moms and pups on this photo tour.

Difficulty: Easy

HUMPBACK WHALE (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Humpback Whales are easy to identify from their large pectoral fins. They are numerous in the Monterey Bay area during our tour, and one of our main hopes is to see these cetaceans lunge-feeding. The humpback whales will drive anchovies to the surface, open their large expandable mouths, and swallow their prey. They may do so as individuals or as groups often accompanied by sea lions and gulls.

Difficulty: Easy

Other possible marine mammals during our safari

COMMON MINKE WHALE (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

Common Minke Whales are the second smallest species of baleen whale in the world. Their relatively large, sickle-shaped, dorsal fin is a distinctive identifying marker. They are most frequently sighted in the Monterey Bay during our tour, so we will keep an eye out for these rorqual whales, especially near-shore where they are usually found.

Difficulty: Very Difficult

SEI WHALE (Balaenoptera borealis)

The Sei Whale is a baleen whale with dark, steely gray ventral coloration. Their tall, hooked dorsal fin is located about two-thirds down their back. Sei Whale's appearance in the Monterey Bay is erratic and unpredictable, but the most numerous sightings of this species have been in September, when we run out sea otter and whales tour.

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

BLUE WHALE (Balaenoptera musculus)

The world's largest animal to have ever lived, blue whales are simply spectacular measuring up to one hundred feet in length and weighing over one hundred tons. Blue whales come to the Monterey Bay to feed on krill during the spring, summer, and fall. We will most certainly look for these incredibly large baleen whales, which would dwarf our boat, during this tour.

Difficulty: Very Difficult

FIN WHALE (Balaenoptera physalus)

The fin whale is the second largest whale in the world, after the blue whale, growing to lengths of eight-five feet. They can be differentiated from their larger cousins by their darker coloration on their dorsal side, with two asymmetric chevron patches near the back of the head. Fin Whales come into the Monterey Bay to feed, but are rarely seen.

Difficulty: Very Difficult

NORTH PACIFIC RIGHT WHALE (Eubalaena japonica)

The Northern Pacific Right Whale is one of the rarest whales in the world, with an estimated thirty two individuals along the Pacific coast. Two of the last three sightings were in the Monterey Bay. To identify Northern Pacific Right Whales we will look for their characteristic broad pectoral flipper and v-shaped blow. Seeing one of these giants would be like winning the lottery.

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

COMMON DOLPHIN (Delphinus delphis)

These medium sized dolphins are unique in their coloration, having a yellow or golden hour glass on the sides of their bodies. These dolphins can form large pods. They are a common dolphin off the Monterey Bay, especially in the fall, when we hold our tour. Common dolphins will often bow ride, an experience we would most definitely cherish.

Difficulty: Medium

SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE (Globicephala macrorhynchus)

The Short-finned Pilot Whale is the only pilot whale in the eastern North Pacific, and sightings of them in Monterey Bay are extremely rare, as they have a more southern distribution. Look for its bulbous head, and sickle-shaped dorsal fin. The body is black or dark brown, with a large gray saddle behind the dorsal fin.

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

RISSO'S DOLPHIN (Grampus griseus)

The unique looking Risso's Dolphin has a large bulbous head, with a quickly tailoring body towards its tail. Its dark gray colored body is often marked by white scratches. They are mostly nocturnal, feeding on squid off of the continental shelf. They are found in the Monterey Bay all year around and we have a good chance of seeing these dolphins.

Difficulty: Medium

NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN (Lissodelphis borealis)

The Northern Right Whale Dolphin is a black, slender bodied dolphin most easily identifiable by its lack of a dorsal fin. Monterey Bay is thought to be the best place in the world to view the Northern Right Whale Dolphin, especially in the fall, during out tour. They are often seen with other dolphin species.

Difficulty: Medium

ORCA (Orcinus orca)

Orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family. They are mostly black in coloration with white markings behind the dorsal fin, chin, and lower body. Male orcas have a very large, straight dorsal fin. They are apex predators, capable of hunting prey much larger than themselves. Though they occur in the Monterey Bay, our tour is not the best time of year to see these remarkable dolphins.

Difficulty: Very Difficult

PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)

The Pacific white-sided dolphin is an average sized dolphin that has three different colors. The belly, throat, and chin, are creamy white. The back, flippers, and beak are dark gray. On the sides of their bodies, they have light gray patches and an additional light gray stripe. Pacific White-sided Dolphins are found year around in the Monterey Bay, but are most frequently seen during our tour.

Difficulty: Medium

COMMON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Tursiops truncatus)

The Common Bottlenose Dolphin is the most well known dolphin species, as it is the species most commonly found in aquariums and was the dolphin on the show flipper. It is a medium size dolphin, uniformly light gray in coloration, with a short beak. It is one of the more common dolphin species found in the Monterey Bay, preferring to stay close to shore, generally less than one mile away from land.

Difficulty: Medium

HARBOR PORPOISE (Phocoena phocoena)

Harbor Porpoises have a small, robust body with a short, blunt beak. Their triangular dorsal fin is medium sized. Harbor Porpoises have a back that is dark gray, fading to lighter shades of gray on their sides. They are hard to see, as they are shy and tend to stay away from boats. Look for them near the shore, where they prefer to hunt.

Difficulty: Very Difficult

DALL'S PORPOISE (Phocoenoides dalli)

The Dall's Porpoise is the largest of all porpoises. They have a stocky, robust body that is mostly black in color. There are white patches on both sides of the lower belly. Look for their distinctive rooster tail water trail that is created when a Dall's Porpoise surfaces. They are hard to find in the Monterey Bay, but prefer the open ocean.

Difficulty: Very Difficult

DWARF SPERM WHALE (Kogia sima)

The dwarf sperm whale is the smallest of the three sperm whales, with a length of about eight feet. It has a dark-gray or blue-gray color with a lighter-grey ventral side. It has a pale, crescent-shaped mark between the eye and the flipper, just like the pygmy sperm whale. Dwarf Sperm Whales are extremely rare in the Monterey Bay, but have been found washed ashore.

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

SPERM WHALE (Physeter macrocephalus)

Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales, with a length of about fifty feet. The easiest way to tell them apart from other whales is by their very large, block-shaped head. Their blowhole is also skewed to the left side of their body. Rather than smooth skin, the sperm whale's skin looks like a dried fruit. They are extremely rare to see in the Monterey Bay.

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

HUBB'S BEAKED WHALE (Mesoplodon carlhubbsi)

Hubb's Beaked Whales are gray in coloration with a distinctive white cap on the head. Extensive scarring is seen on their bodies. These beaked whales have only been seen a few times at sea and are mostly known from beach strandings, which have occurred in the Monterey Bay.

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

BLAINVILLE'S BEAKED WHALE (Mesoplodon densirostris)

Blainville's Beaked Whale have slender, long bodies that are steely-blue in coloration. They are often covered with lighter blotches, potentially caused by cookie-cutter sharks. Like all beaked whales, Blainville's beaked whales forage in deep waters and are rarely seen at sea.

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

STEJNEGER'S BEAKED WHALE (Mesoplodon stejnegeri)

Stejneger's Beaked Whales are dark in coloration with light coloration below, and around the head. The teeth of the males are much larger than those of most other mesoplodonts and point forwards and inwards. Like other beaked whales Stejneger's Beaked Whales are extremely rare to see.

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

BAIRD'S BEAKED WHALE (Berardius bairdii)

Baird's Beaked Whales are the largest beaked whale and the second largest toothed whale. Their bodies are brownish-grey, while their foreheads turn white as they age. Their unique underbite, with the lower jaw having two pairs of teeth is a unique identifier for this species. Like other beaked whales Baird's beaked whales are extremely rare to see.

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

CUVIER'S BEAKED WHALE (Ziphius cavirostris)

Cuvier's Beaked Whales are dark gray dorsally and have lighter bellies and heads. Along with their dark eye rings, look for the numerous scars that cover their body from their prey and from fighting. Cuvier's beaked whales have the longest and deepest recorded dives from any mammal in the world. Though unlikely, the Cuvier's Beaked Whale is the beaked whale species we are most likely to see.

Difficulty: Extremely Difficult

Easy: for the duration of the trip we will have multiple encounters with this whale or dolphin species with good photo opportunities

Medium: we expect to see the cetacean and have at least one, but probably multiple encounters, with good photo opportunities

Difficult: for the duration of the trip, our goal will be to have one encounter with good photographic opportunities

Very Difficult: for the duration of the trip we hope to have one encounter with the whale or dolphin species, whether a good photo opportunity or not

Extremely Difficult: it is extremely unlikely to see this whale or dolphin species, so having even a glimpse of it is considered success

You are in good hands, we are sea otter and humpback experts

We have chosen the fall for our sea otters and whales of Monterey Bay photo tour as it is the season when most cetaceans are visiting the bay. The sea otters are here year around, with pups giving birth at any time of year. We have chosen the boat operator with years of experience providing intimate encounters with the whales of the Monterey Bay. For the sea otter portion of the tour, we have chosen four different local naturalists that know these otters inside and out.

Your international whale, sea otter, and photography guides are Rachel Tobias and Sebastian Kennerknecht. They have both lived near the Monterey Bay for over four decades and have spent significant time on its waters. In total, Rachel and Sebastian have spent over five hundred hours with the sea otters and whales that call the Monterey Bay home. Sebastian has even photographed and worked with the sea otter recovery program at the Monterey Bay aquarium.

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Day 1
Fly into San Jose Airport in California. You will be met by a Whale Expeditions representative, who will drive you to our hotel, on the coast of the Monterey Bay. Settle into your room, before we have our welcome dinner with everyone.

Sanctuary Beach Resort

Lunge-feeding Humpback Whale on our Tour

Day 2
After an early breakfast we look for and photograph humpback whales and other cetaceans in the Monterey Bay, from our chartered boat. We will have good chances of seeing humpback whales lunge feed, as well as seeing multiple dolphin species. Lunch is back on land, before we go out again on the boat for the afternoon. Dinner is back at the hotel.

Sanctuary Beach Resort

Day 3
After an early breakfast, each person will get into their own double kayak, with a naturalist paddling for you, to get you into position to photograph otters at sunrise. We will spend a few hours on the water, before returning for lunch, and going back out on the kayak in the afternoon. Dinner will be back at the hotel.

Sanctuary Beach Resort

Watch and photograph the whales of Monterey Bay

Day 4-5
Like day two, we will spend the day on the fast inflatable boat, on the Monterey Bay. We will look for humpback whales, blue whales, fin whales, and multiple dolphin species as they forage for food during this time of year. We will be on the boat for extended periods of time in the morning, and then for a shorter trip for sunset.

Sanctuary Beach Resort

Day 6
After breakfast, we will drive back to San Jose Airport for your onward flights.

Itinerary at a glance

5 NIGHTS
6 DAYS

1 Resort

2 Otter Trips

6 Whale Trips

Calm Slough

Coastal Ocean

1 Baleen Whale

1 marine otter

kayak safaris
small boat trips

Having intimate views of sea otters and humpback whales

The main priority for our sea otters and whales of the Monterey Bay photo tour was to create intimate experiences with both marine mammals. We didn't want big boats where you are far away from both the animals as well as the water. Instead, we have chosen kayaks and a small rigid inflatable boat to get you up close and personal to both the sea otters as well as the whales.

We have gone and photographed the sea otters for over two decades. After one full day on the kayak with the otters, you will have more photos that you love, than what you know what to do with. The whales in the Monterey Bay are a bit tougher, which is why we have dedicated three full days for them. We will explore both inshore waters as well as the deep waters of the Monterey Bay Canyon, that drops down to over one mile in depth.

The Monterey Bay Canyon is a hot spot for marine mammals and allows us to look for lunge-feeding humpback whales, blue whales that feed on krill, as well as searching for dolphins like Risso's Dolphin, Northern Pacific Right Whale Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Pacific White-sided Dolphin, and others.

When we aren't looking for sea otters or whales we get to relax and enjoy the beautiful beach location of the Sanctuary Beach Resort, located only a few minutes away from our launching location.

Besides providing you the opportunity to see and photograph whales and dolphins, we at Whale Expeditions make your travel experience hassle free. After booking, you will be sent a full itinerary that includes what to bring and how to prepare. Once you land in San Jose, California, you can focus on enjoying yourself as all the travel logistics are not only taken care off, but optimized to give you the most time to enjoy the incredible wildlife that the Monterey Bay has to offer.

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The Sanctuary Beach Resort, Monterey Bay

Nestled on 19 acres of pristine Pacific shoreline, The Sanctuary Beach Resort invites you to escape and enjoy the best of the California Coast. Rise and shine to beachfront views, savor artisanal cuisine, and take in nature's beauty. At the end of the day, cozy up by a firepit on the sand and fall asleep to the sound of breaking waves. You’ll also find open spaces, modern facilities, state-of-the-art technology, and California hospitality perfect for hosting groups and events.

Clustered in gorgeous bungalows along the beach, the serene rooms and suites here provide you with your own personal sanctuary.

The Sanctuary Beach Resort has high-speed internet and laundry service is available at a small cost to the client.

Sanctuary Hotel, Monterey Bay, California

Sanctuary Hotel, Monterey Bay, California
Sanctuary Hotel, Monterey Bay, California

Sanctuary Hotel, Monterey Bay, California
Sanctuary Hotel, Monterey Bay, California

Sanctuary Hotel, Monterey Bay, California
Sanctuary Hotel, Monterey Bay, California

Sanctuary Hotel, Monterey Bay, California

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Conservation impact of our sea otters and whales of Monterey Bay photo tour

Like all Whale Expedition tours, our sea otters and whales of Monterey Bay photo tour has conservation impact built into it. Sea otters are classified as endangered with the California population hovering around three thousand adult individuals. This is in strong contrast to the sixteen thousand individuals that were estimated to exist in California historically. Sea otters are primarily threatened by oil spills, but in California another large threat is disease caused by bacteria found in domestic cat droppings.

To help increase sea otter numbers, our conservation activity for this tour is to learn about the Monterey Bay Aquarium's sea otter recovery program. We will learn how the aquarium pairs up orphaned otter pups with surrogate moms, how they operate on otters, and how they release them back into the wild. We will donate part of the tours costs to the program to ensure they will continue saving California's sea otters.

Conservation at a glance

Funding wildlife rehabilitation

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Sea Otters and Whales of Monterey Bay Photo Tour Dates

September 25th-30th, 2024 (6 spots available)

Sea Otters and Whales of Monterey Bay Photo Tour Pricing

Price per person: $8250

Single room supplement: $1500

The price includes:
- all transportation starting in San Jose, California
- lodging
- meals (not including alcohol)
- sea otter private kayaking excursions
- whale watching trips into Monterey Bay
- guide services of Rachel Tobias
- guide services of Sebastian Kennerknecht
- visit to the Sea Otter Recovery Program at the MBA
- donation to the Sea Otter Recovery Program at the MBA

The price does not include:
- flights to San Jose, California
- tips
- laundry
- insurance

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