If you prefer watching whales glide through warm seas to seeing geese endure snowy lawns, consider these four excellent winter whale-watching destinations:
At Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, California, the Pacific stretches right beyond your doorstep. This charming Southern California beach town is appealing year-round, but its winter highlight is the migration of gray and blue whales. The resort features California coastal cuisine at Splashes restaurant and a full-service Aquaterra spa where guests can relax after a day of whale watching.
In Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, The Resort at Pedregal sits on 24 private acres at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Reachable through a private tunnel, the property offers outstanding whale-viewing opportunities and access to responsible marine encounters. Guests can book boat cruises to see whales in their natural environment as they breach, surface with their calves, or travel along migratory routes. The area is also known for seasonal whale shark excursions—these gentle giants can reach large sizes but do not pose a threat to swimmers, and regulated experiences focus on safe, noninvasive observation.
Also on the southern tip of Baja California Sur, Marquis Los Cabos occupies a beachfront setting where two luxurious infinity pools provide relaxed vantage points for spotting whales and dolphins offshore. The resort offers sunset and whale-watching cruises, plus SCUBA and snorkeling options for guests who want an underwater perspective on the region’s marine life.
Known affectionately as “The Del,” the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California, makes the most of whale season with a wide range of water-based activities and sightseeing excursions. Lounge on the white-sand beach with a cocktail, or join in the water with boogie boarding, surfing, paddle boarding, or private sailing lessons—each offers a different way to enjoy the coastal setting and, often, a chance to spot migrating whales.