Boats allow riders to glide across the water’s surface more elegantly than driving a shark or being towed by a torpedo. Sightsee in style with today's Groupon: for $17, you get a 90-minute Eco Tour from San Francisco Whale Tours (up to a $34 value). The Eco Tour is not a whale-watching tour, so the whale-spotting guarantee does not apply.
San Francisco Whale Tours' captain and crew safely ferry patrons across scenic waterways to explore the wonders of the bay's ecological system. The 90-minute tour focuses on showing guests the myriad marine life found within the famous San Francisco Bay, including bird colonies, harbor seal communes, and sea lion city-states. A knowledge-packed naturalist stands at the ready to field inquiries about everything from the region's natural history to coastal landmarks to the significance of whale-shaped birthmarks. The eco-friendly catamaran boat Kitty Kat can comfortably board up to 49 passengers, and serves as an elegant mobile island for tourers as they absorb views of the Golden Gate Bridge and delicately harmonize with the melodies of San Francisco's iconic fog horns.
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.