Cape Cod Whale Watching

Watching these majestic giants rise from the deep and nuzzle alongside a whale watch boat is an exciting and memorable experience. Anywhere between Cape Cod's Plymouth and Provincetown, you can experience a thrilling whale watch adventure. Whale watching crews leave regularly from Plymouth, Barnstable and Provincetown Harbors, most guarantee a sighting. Depending on the port, trips vary in length. No matter where you embark, your cruise will take you to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, the whales' favorite feeding grounds. Each year, beginning in late winter, whales return to The Sanctuary, which encompasses over 600 square nautical miles, about 26 miles east of Boston, 6 miles north of Race Point and 7 miles from Gloucester. Because the water is shallow here, plankton upon which whales feed rises closer to the surface.

During your excursion, you are likely to see humpback, finback and minke whales. Words cannot describe the thrill and awe associated with each sighting. You may see whales breaching (leaping straight out of the water into the air), spyhopping (holding their heads high out of the water as if having a look around) or sounding (executing a dive). Sometimes, a whale will slap the water with its flippers as if greeting you.

Cape Cod Whale Watching Cruises

Highlight your Cape Cod vacation with an unforgettable cruise aboard the Mid-Cape's only whale watch - Hyannis Whale Watch Cruises. Their high-speed, state-of-the-art vessel sails daily - May through October - from picturesque Barnstable Harbor in historic Barnstable Village, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Enjoy summer sunset whale watches, expert commentary from on-board naturalists, private charters, special discount rates for groups and seniors.

Six miles north of Provincetown, Stellwagen Bank is the feeding ground for the humpback whale, minke whale, and fin whale, the three most commonly seen cetaceans. The North Atlantic right whale - the most endangered of all the world's great whales - once found in Cape Cod Bay in huge numbers but now fewer than 350 - may also be seen in these waters. Provincetown is the closest port to this densely populated area than any other port, making it an ideal whale watching departure point.

Cape Cod Whale Watch Package

The Tidewater Inn located on the Mid-cape offers an exciting Cape Cod Whale Watch Package for two people aboard Cape Cod's famous Dolphin Fleet in Provincetown. Your cruise will take you to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, the Atlantic whales' favorite feeding grounds, while learning about whale behavior and their long history off the Cape Cod shores.

This package includes

• Overnight accommodations for two
• Complimentary breakfast at Helen's Diner
• Two complimentary tickets to a whale-watch adventure departing from Barnstable