When and where to see whales
Pick your month, then find the place. Or pick the place and see when to go.
This month (November): In season: Hawaiʻi, Maui, Los Cabos, Mexico, Monterey Bay, California| Place | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HawaiʻiHumpbacks | Peak | Peak | Peak | |||||||||
| MauiHumpbacks | Peak | Peak | Peak | |||||||||
| Los Cabos, MexicoGray and humpback | Peak | Peak | Peak | |||||||||
| Monterey Bay, CaliforniaGray, humpback, blue, orca | ||||||||||||
| Juneau, AlaskaHumpbacks | Peak | Peak | Peak |
PeakIn seasonUnlikely
The short version
Winter: Hawaiʻi
Humpbacks come to breed and calve, November to April. Peak January to March.
Winter: Los Cabos
Official season December 15 to April 15. Gray and humpback whales are most common.
Any month: Monterey
Gray whales in winter, humpbacks most of the year, blue whales in summer.
Good questions
When is the best time to go whale watching?
It depends on where. Hawaiʻi and Los Cabos peak January to March. Juneau peaks June to August. Monterey Bay has whales in every month, with different species by season.
Where can I see whales in summer?
Juneau, Alaska (April to September, peak June to August) and Monterey Bay, California, where humpbacks pass through from January to November and blue whales show up in summer.
Where can I see whales in winter?
Hawaiʻi and Los Cabos, Mexico. Both peak from January to March.
Where this comes from (checked November 6, 2026). Whales do not read calendars; seasons shift year to year.