Weekday Whale Watching Trip on a Catamaran with San Francisco Whale Tours
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- Five-hour, 27-mile trip in an eco-friendly catamaran
- Next trip is free if a whale fails to appear
- Narrated by a trained naturalist
- Views of Farallon Islands, Muir Beach, Bolinas, Double Point, and more
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There is an art to coaxing whales and dolphins to appear for passengers on whale-watching cruises. While at sea, do your part to help attract these mighty creatures by following these hints:
- Talk loudly about the whales’ favorite movie, Star Trek IV.
- Bring as many school busses and monster trucks onto the boat as you can. Whales love to be compared in size to these large vehicles.
- Drop your wallet in the ocean. Sea mammals like to return lost wallets.
Here are some sea-taboos to avoid when trying to spot dolphins and whales: * Don’t snap your fingers. It’s not the sound dolphins detest—it’s the opposable thumbs that make it possible. * Don’t wear a “Save the Whales” t-shirt. Whales don’t appreciate being patronized.
Details
Today’s Groupon guarantees you’ll see a sea mammal on a five-hour whale-watching trip along the San Francisco Bay and the northern California coastline. San Francisco Whale Tours says the next trip is free if a whale fails to appear while waves gently rock you in an eco-friendly catamaran. Slurp a beer, smell the ocean breeze, sit in the sun surrounded by one of California’s scarcest resources on the 46-seater boat, which has a spacious sun deck and enclosed cabin.
Bring food and drinks (beer and wine, no hard alcohol is allowed) along for the cruise, which departs from San Francisco and goes 27 miles offshore traveling west (whale-watching tours that travel east directly into land are 17% less likely to spot a whale). See elephant seals, dolphins, and porpoises. Twelve species of seabird and shorebird nest on the lush shores of the Farallon Islands, so don’t be surprised if you catch a glimpse of Brandt’s Cormorant, the Pelagic Cormorant, the Double-crested Cormorant, or Cormorant McCarthy. One of San Francisco Whale Tours’ expert naturalists talks about the birds and the bees while explaining the geology and history of the northern California’s breathtaking coastal landmarks. You get great views of Fort Cronkite, Muir Beach, Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Double Point, and the Point Reyes National Seashore and Lighthouse.
Whale migrations change through the year, so from June through November you can see blue whales and humpback whales. Tours are Monday through Friday departing at 8:00 a.m.
Reviews
Reviews for San Francisco Whale Tours are scarce, but it has a perfect five-star rating from two reviewers on Yelp: > * Just the boat ride is worth the trip…the crew is friendly and the boat is clean. – mike m. > * The crew was very outgoing and love their job…The farallons [sic] Islands are very interesting cant [sic] believe the bird life. – lisa w.
Fine Print
About San Francisco Whale Tours
The thick September fog haunts the water like a lonely ghost, obscuring the boat’s passengers’ view of everything but their fellow riders. Convinced that they’ll see nothing more that day, Captain Joe Nazar turns his vessel around and heads back to shore when suddenly, out of the brume, a graceful hulk breaks through the rolling waters. The boat has unwittingly happened upon a pod of humpback whales, and everyone––including the seasoned naturalist guides aboard––suddenly falls into a stunned silence as the majestic creatures spout water and dive into the mist. Fostering humbling, awe-inspiring interactions with nature such as this is Captain Joe’s raisons d'être and the driving force behind the founding of San Francisco Whale Tours.
San Francisco Whale Tours demonstrates the beauty and diversity of the Bay’s bustling ecosystem with regular nature tours that trawl the coast. Captain Joe––aided by his expert crew and sage naturalists––shares his passion for aquatic adventures with his guests via leisurely excursions through the waters of the Farallon Islands aboard the Kitty Kat, his trusted watercraft. The catamaran ferries its curious passengers in style with a sun deck and enclosed cabin, and its low wake and gentle underwater noise make it a model marine houseguest. Aiding the crusade to preserve whale populations, San Francisco Whale Tours donates a portion of profits to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.