With a variety of whales to be seen year-round, more dolphins per square mile than anywhere in the world, the first and longest-running annual Festival of Whales, and a captivating harbour minutes from the open ocean, it’s no wonder that Dana Point is also known as the Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World®.
Dana Point headlands afford people the opportunity to whale and dolphin watch from land, and the calm ocean waters and deep coastal canyons near shore provide close proximity for whale and dolphin watching from the sea.
Long and short-beaked common dolphins in pods of 1,000 to 10,000 are seen year-round in Dana Point. Risso’s and bottlenose dolphins are also regularly sighted in large pods throughout the year. Pacific white-sided dolphins can be seen from October through June.
Endangered blue whales can be encountered between May and November. During the winter and spring, both visitors and the local community enjoy the spectacular gray whale migration.
Humpback whales, fin whales, minke whales, and more can be seen all year long, with occasional sightings of Bryde’s whales, sei whales, killer whales, pilot whales, false killer whales, and sperm whales.
Fishing gear is one of the main threats to cetaceans. It leads to injuries or even death.
The busy maritime traffic in Dana Point increases the risk of collisions. Anthropogenic noise from boat traffic can also disrupt the natural behaviour of cetaceans.
Dana Point is part of an urbanised coastal area, and pollution from plastics, urban runoff, industrial discharges, and other sources can introduce contaminants into the marine environment and negatively affect whales and dolphins.
Climate change has wide-ranging effects on the marine environment, impacting the availability of prey species, altering ocean temperatures, and causing changes in migration patterns.
Visitors to Wildlife Heritage Areas can take part in outstanding wildlife watching experiences that put wildlife first. Staying in a Wildlife Heritage Area helps local communities invest in animal welfare and wildlife conservation, benefitting community well-being and driving forward sustainable practices.
Communities achieve Wildlife Heritage Area designation by playing a central role in protecting wild animals and their habitats. With support from responsible travel organisations and wildlife experts, these communities are committed to help turn the tide on biodiversity loss and the climate crisis, adopt a zero tolerance for wildlife suffering in tourism, and advocate for positive change through a willingness to collaborate.
Whale watching companies in Dana Point work collaboratively to ensure minimum disturbance to the whales and dolphins encountered on their tours. There are whale watching guidelines developed by the National Marine Fisheries, a division of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), to ensure that any interaction with cetaceans is done in a respectful manner with a...
Various whales have arrived in Dana Point already entangled, but the community has not been witness to a whale entanglement that originated in the area. The fact that the problem exists is a huge concern to the community and, to that end, they established Orange County’s large whale disentanglement team, in coordination with NOAA, that can respond when entangled animals are...
Dana Point’s responsible whale watching tour operators run projects in collaboration with academic institutions or NGO school outreach programs:
Dana Point hosts the world’s first and longest-running annual whale festival, the Dana Point Festival of Whales, which has been taking place for over 50 years and hosts as many 25,000 visitors annually over its two-week duration. The festival started in 1971 as an annual celebration of the gray whale migration along the California coast. During the festival, various activities...
The Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation are Indigenous peoples of California and the original inhabitants of the lands that later became colonised and known as Orange County, as well as parts of San Diego, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties. For thousands of years, the Acjachemen lived in harmony with the natural world, viewing the lands and ocean as sacred and...
The Dana Point Whale Heritage Area steering committee has taken several actions to reduce plastic use and carbon emissions, including replacing single-use plastic water bottles with recyclable paper cartons, upgrading their vessels’ engines to “Tier 3” technologies where possible, campaigning to remove plastic waste and mylar balloons, and working with local partners to collect...
Dana Point has earned a reputation as a prime location for whale watching due to the frequent sightings of various cetacean species, including blue whales, gray whales, humpback whales and the pods of dolphins. Daily whale watching trips with multiple companies on a variety of vessels are offered since 1971 when Dana Point Harbor first opened.
The exponential growth in the activity speaks to the incredible experience it offers to enthusiasts from all over the world. Investing in training for guides and captains is crucial for ensuring both the safety of the passengers and the well-being of the marine life being observed. This dedication to professionalism and education likely enhances the overall quality of the tours, providing visitors with unforgettable encounters with these majestic creatures.
Dana Point’s most famous annual event, is a celebration of the annual migration of the magnificent California Gray Whale. The Festival is held in March. From captivating whale-watching excursions to engaging marine conservation talks, marine exhibits, and family-friendly activities the carefully curated program promises an unforgettable experience for attendees of all ages.
The Ocean Institute is a non-profit, world-class education centre. It offers whale and marine life tours and also includes state-of-the-art teaching labs, the spectacular Maddie James Seaside Learning Centre, a historic tall ship, and an oceanographic research vessel. Immersion-based field trips range from one-hour science labs to overnight programs. All programs are designed to maximize immersion, spark curiosity, and inspire a deep commitment to learning.
For those who cannot attend in person, online courses are also offered.
This preserved trail is a part of a trail system that is 3 miles in total and weaves in and around the Dana Point Headlands Conservation area that has beach access, scenic overlooks, and the Nature Interpretive Centre. The Headlands trail also gives the public access to Strands Beach so visitors can explore the tidepools below.
