Public Whale Tours Advance purchase required. Tours usually sell out! To check availability and buy tickets: San Francisco Farallon Islands Whale Watching San Francisco Bay & Coastal Expedition Or to purchase by phone, call Zerve at: 800-979-3370 or 212-209-3370 (Int'l)

Whale Watching Cruises to the Farallon Islands Trip Route

The cruise departs from San Francisco's World Famous Fisherman's Wharf on an exciting adventure 27 miles off shore. We will be heading underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and cruise west farther than the eye can see! You will have the opportunity to take in the beautiful shoreline and bright blue waters that hold so much amazing marine and wildlife.

In the event that we are unable to make the grand voyage to the Farallon Islands due to severe weather, we would love to take you on our extended San Francisco Bay and Coastal Expedition.

About the Farallon Islands

The Farallon Islands are a group of islands and rocks found in the Gulf of the Farallones, off the coast of San Francisco, California, USA. They lie 27 miles outside the Golden Gate, 20 miles south of Point Reyes. They are visible from the mainland on clear days. The islands are officially part of the City and County of San Francisco.

The islands were initially exploited for bird eggs and fur seal skins, and then used as a lighthouse station and a radio station. They have been protected in the Farallon National Wildlife and Wilderness Refuge, established in 1969, and contain the largest seabird colony in the U.S. outside of Alaska and Hawaii. The islands are in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, which protects the feeding grounds of the Wildlife of Refuge.

Marine and Wildlife

The Farallon Islands are an important reserve protecting a huge seabird colony. Twelve species of seabird and shorebird nest on the islands; Western Gull, Brandt's Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Pigeon Guillemot, Common Murre, Cassin's Auklet, Tufted Puffin, Black Oystercatcher, Rhinoceros Auklet, Ashy Storm-petrel, and Leach's Storm Petrel.

Five species of pinniped come to shore on the islands, and in some cases breed. These are the Northern Elephant Seal, Harbor Seal, Steller Sea Lion, California Sea Lion, and Northern Fur Seal.

The many whales that have been sighted on our trips include Blue Whales, Humpback Whales, Gray Whales, and Sperm Whales.

There have also been sightings of Dalls Porpoise, Risso's Dolphin, Northern Right Whale Dolphin and Orca along our trip.

It is also not uncommon to see White Sharks as they migrate to the Farallon Islands and feed.

San Francisco Bay and Coastal Expedition Trip Route

On this trip we head underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and head north past Fort Cronkite, Muir Beach, Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Double Point, waterfalls, the Point Reyes National Seashore and to the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Our naturalists will guide you along the coastal trip as with the Farallon Islands trip pointing out landmarks and amazing sea mammals, sea birds, and wildlife along the way.