Situated along the coast of Monterey Bay, the city of Santa Cruz is recognized for its exceptional location, with San Jose and Silicon Valley to the north, and mountain ranges around all three sides. With its many amenities and attractions, it's no wonder why this area is an especially desirable one to buy a home.
With its prime location on the water comes one of the best attractions in the area: whale watching. Of course, when it comes to spotting whales in their natural habitat, anyone will tell you that a lot of it is luck.
It’s possible to see whales in this area all year around (although different species are more common during certain seasons). For all those interested, here are a few whale watching basics.
What Can I See?
The wildlife that one can see out on the water really depends on the time of year. As an overview, the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay area see a variety of different large marine species, most notably—but not limited to—humpback whales, orcas, gray whales, and dolphins.
The peak times for seeing these creatures differs from animal to animal, although some can be seen year-round. For humpback whales, many cite the months of March through to November (and sometimes even early December) as the best viewing times. Humpback whales are a particular favorite for whale watchers because not only are they frequently spotted, but they are also quite friendly, breaching and jumping quite often.
On the other hand, gray whale migration begins around December and leads into the early spring, up to May. Time your whale watching venture on what you’d like to (or hope to!) see.
In order to best increase your chances, adventurous whale watchers are best recommended to try their luck during the spring and the autumn months, as this is where many of the whale migrations overlap—specifically orcas and humpback whales.
Where Can I Go?
While a lot of this is luck, this also depends on you. Some people have boasted that they’ve seen whales and/or dolphins from West Cliff in Santa Cruz, Capitola, or Seacliff State Beach (up on the cliffside) in Aptos. Of course, if remaining on land, many would recommend taking along binoculars for optimal viewing. However, this is not always necessary.
Davenport is another popular destination for casual whale watching. At around 20 minutes north of Santa Cruz, this coastal community has three main beaches: Davenport Beach, Shark Fin Cove, and Bonny Doon Beach. With gorgeous cliffs that overlook the water, this location (with your binoculars in hand) is an incredible destination for wildlife watching in general.
If one intends on taking a boat out on the water to try and view these creatures up close, then two of the best places around Monterey Bay are Monterey City and Moss Landing. Best accessible by car, Moss Landing is about a 30-minute drive south from Santa Cruz, while Monterey is about 50 minutes. Moss Landing is accessible by public transit, but the commute is quite a bit longer.
Moss Landing is famed for its whale watching, having both lookout points on the shoreline and a number of tours that take off from the harbor. Monterey is quite similar, and the city is home to the famed Old Fisherman's Wharf and Coast Guard Pier, which provide some exceptional views of the water.
For those who want to get more up close, there are a number of whale watching tour services around the bay.
Who Can Take Me?
Anyone taking a day trip down from Santa Cruz can choose from a variety of professional whale watching tours and services. For most areas, there are physical locations that one can visit in order to book a trip, generally on the pier or wharf, but tours can also be found online. Whether you’re looking to book in advance or just spontaneously deciding to go out on the water, there are options for both.
While not extensive, there following are some of the most popular whale watching tours:
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Sea Goddess Whale Watching, Blue Ocean Whale Watching, Oceanic Expeditions Whale Watch, Sanctuary Cruises all take off from Moss Landing
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Princess Monterey Whale Watching, Discovery Whale Watch, Monterey Bay Whale Watch depart from Monterey
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Stagnaro Charter Boats (for fishing or whale watching) is based in Santa Cruz
Additional advice for winter viewing: the weather can be difficult and can sometimes cause seasickness (especially if the boat is small). It is advised that you book and prepare in advance, with medicine on-hand or taken before departure.
With a home in Santa Cruz, you can experience exciting day trips just like this all year-round. To begin your home search, contact Lauren Spencer today.
Posted by Lauren Spencer on
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