Every November, gray whales embark on an extraordinary, 10-12-week journey south from their summer feeding grounds in Arctic seas to the warm-water breeding lagoons of Baja. Their return north typically begins in mid-February with single whales departing first, mother-calf pairs a month or so later. It’s the longest migration of any mammal, clocking in at approximately 12,000 miles round-trip, and San Diego just happens to have front row seats.

Catching a whale fluke.

^{Courtesy of Birch Aquarium at Scripps}

From mid-December through March, the steadfast parade of gentle gray giants meanders through our waters at two to six miles per hour. They generally travel alone or in pods of two or three, but during the peaks of migration – late December through January and early March through late April – a dozen or more whales may be seen together. In recent years, up to 200 whales have been spotted in one day.

“My favorite aspect of whale watching is the element of surprise,” says Staci Shaut, whale watching coordinator for Birch Aquarium at Scripps. “Gray whales are 45 feet long and have a predictable migration pattern, but you never know where they might surface. When you do see one, it just takes your breath away.”

You can increase your whale-sighting odds by tuning into the whales’ breathing patterns. Start by looking for the plume-like “blow” or “spout” that is released when warm, moist air exhaled from a whale’s lungs meets cool air at the ocean’s surface. A gray whale’s spout reaches heights of 15 feet and is visible for about five seconds. As a general rule, whales will make three to five shallow dives in a row, spouting between each one, before diving for a longer period.

Following a last spout, whales often display their wide fan-shaped tail or “fluke” as they position themselves for a deep dive, one that keeps them underwater for three to six minutes. It’s a great photo if you can catch it. And if luck is on your side, you may witness gray whales leaping or “breaching” out of the water. Scientists haven’t pinpointed the reason behind the behavior, but if one whale decides to take the stage, there’s a good chance others will follow.

On land, ideal whale-watching points include the cliffs at Torrey Pines State Beach, the tide-pool plaza at Birch Aquarium and Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma. The latter two offer educational exhibits, films and plenty of staff on hand to answer questions. Still, your best chance of getting up close and personal with gray whales is by boat. Here, a list of charters around town suited for all levels of adventure:

• Hornblower Cruises and Events offers narrated 3.5-hour whale watching excursions starting mid-December and departing daily at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $32 for adults and $16 for children (4–12 years old) Monday–Friday, and $37 for adults and $19 for children (4–12 years old) on weekends.Discounts available for seniors, groups and military personnel. Tours include educational exhibits, and the boat features binocular rentals, climate-controlled indoor seating and snack bars.

• H& M Landing offers 3-hour narrated whale watching cruises mid-December–mid-March, and 5-hour cruises from December–April.The 3-hour tours depart daily at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for juniors (13–17 years old) and $17.50 for children (2–12 years old). The 5-hour tours depart at 10 a.m. Thursday–Sunday, and include wildlife viewing at the Coronado Islands. Ticket prices are $50 for adults and $40 for juniors and children. Multi-day expeditions to the whales’ breeding grounds in Baja are also available.

• San Diego Harbor Excursion in conjunction with Birch Aquarium at Scripps offers narrated 3.5-hour whale watching cruises December 26–April 4. Beginning this year, guests will have a chance to listen to whales in real-time using technology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Whale Acoustic Lab. Reservations are recommended for either of two cruises that depart daily, one at 9:45 a.m. and another at 1:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $30 for adults Monday-Friday; $35 on weekends. Children receive a daily ticket price of $15. Senior and military discounts available.

• OEX Dive & Kayak Centers offers a 2.5-hour Whale Watching Kayak Tour, December 19–March 28. The one-mile paddle tour launches daily at 1 p.m. from La Jolla Shores. Rates are $60 for a single kayak, $110 for a double kayak, and include kayak rental, paddle, wetsuit, life vest, transportation of the kayak to and from the beach and guided tour.

• Dennis Conner’s America’s Cup Experience offers a 4-hour whale watching tour aboard the sailing yacht America, a historic replica of the world’s first America’s Cup Winner. Tours depart daily at 11 a.m., December 19–April 15. Ticket prices are $65 for adults and $34 for children (ages 12 and under) on weekdays, $85 for adults and $44 for children (ages 12 and under) on weekends, and include complimentary admission into the San Diego Maritime Museum, soft beverages and snacks. Guests are welcomed to bring their own lunch and alcohol for a “picnic on the ocean.”

• Adventure RIB Rides offers a fast-paced whale watching experience aboard an authentic 30’ Navy SEAL Rigid Inflatable Boat (R.I.B.) with a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain. Public tours are offered daily from 9 a.m. to noon, December 19–March 31. Cost is $85 for adults and $70 for children (5-12 years old) plus tax. Private charters for groups up to six are also available.