Santa Cruz Whale Watching by Stagnaro Charters

Santa Cruz Whale Watching by Stagnaro Charters Stagnaro Charters presents year-round whale watching trips on Monterey Bay.

See humpback whales & gray whales, dolphins, California Sea Lions, Southern Sea Otters and much more! The Stagnaro family has been serving the Santa Cruz area for over a century, ever since Italian patriarch Cottardo Stagnaro settled in Santa Cruz in 1879. This historical landmark business is still leading the way in ocean fun on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. There is something for e

veryone: Fishing Trips, Scenic Bay Cruises, Whale & Dolphin Watching and Private Parties for any occasion. Whichever your choice, today's fourth generation Stagnaro Charter Boats will surely make your trip fun and memorable.

Our February trips are ready to book! We will be adding March trips soon!Photos by Jim M. (Risso’s) and Sydney (humpback...
01/15/2025

Our February trips are ready to book! We will be adding March trips soon!
Photos by Jim M. (Risso’s) and Sydney (humpbacks)!

Next trips: Sat. 1/18, Sun. 1/19 & Mon. 1/20 at 11am!

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com





Sunday Jan. 12th - Today the birds led us to the whales! We use the term "bird works" to describe a large group of seabi...
01/14/2025

Sunday Jan. 12th - Today the birds led us to the whales! We use the term "bird works" to describe a large group of seabirds flying eagerly in a circle above the water. When we see a "bird works" on one of our trips, we pay attention to it - they are often (though not always) hovering above 1 or more Humpback Whales feeding beneath the surface. Today's "bird works" didn't disappoint - they led us to 4 different feeding Humpback Whales! We also saw a juvenile Humpback Whale tail-slapping and tail-throwing on the ride home!
Photos & text by Naturalist Julie!

Next trips:
Fri. 1/17 at 11am
Sat. 1/18 at 11am
Sun. 1/19 at 11am
Mon. 1/20 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com





1/11/25 We had a great day spending time with half a dozen humpback whales on the Monterey Bay! They were foraging and f...
01/13/2025

1/11/25 We had a great day spending time with half a dozen humpback whales on the Monterey Bay! They were foraging and feeding, accompanied by hundreds of birds. While most of the humpbacks are down in Mexico for their breeding season, we’ve seen an increasing number of “over wintering” humpback whales in our waters. Pre-whaling, humpbacks were documented in the Monterey Bay year round as many (likely non breeding aged individuals) would stay to feed and skip the breeding migration, so it may be an indication of a rebounding population! We also saw many California Sea Lions, and several Southern Sea Otters!
Photos & text by Naturalist Abby!

Next trips:
Fri. 1/17 at 11am
Sat. 1/18 at 11am
Sun. 1/19 at 11am
Mon. 1/20 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com



More from 12/30/24! On our last whale watch from 2024 we had great luck, getting to see some humpback whales and some bo...
01/09/2025

More from 12/30/24! On our last whale watch from 2024 we had great luck, getting to see some humpback whales and some bottlenose dolphins! The california sea lions stole the show though, with one circling the boat and jumping around!
Photos & text by Naturalist Abby!

Next trips:
Fri. 1/10 at 11am
Sat. 1/11 at 11am
Sun. 1/12 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com




1/5/25 What a great first whale watch of the year! We got to spend some time with a few humpbacks, likely foraging, befo...
01/08/2025

1/5/25 What a great first whale watch of the year! We got to spend some time with a few humpbacks, likely foraging, before being surrounded by over a hundred Risso’s dolphins! Some were breaching, and there were even a few mom and calf pairs in the mix!
Photos & text by Naturalist Abby!

Next trips:
Fri. 1/10 at 11am
Sat. 1/11 at 11am
Sun. 1/12 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com





January 5th: We saw Humpback Whales, Southern Sea Otters, California Sea Lions and some very enthusiastic Risso’s Dolphi...
01/06/2025

January 5th: We saw Humpback Whales, Southern Sea Otters, California Sea Lions and some very enthusiastic Risso’s Dolphins breaching!
Photos by James Maughn

Next trips:
Fri. 1/10 at 11am
Sat. 1/11 at 11am
Sun. 1/12 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com





Year in Review: Unique Humpback Whale flukes! They are like a thumbprint and can be used to identify individual whales a...
01/04/2025

Year in Review: Unique Humpback Whale flukes! They are like a thumbprint and can be used to identify individual whales and track their movements from year to year! (See happywhale.com) These photos are from July 2024, but we see Humpback Whales most of the year here!
Photos by Naturalist Sydney!

Next trips:
Sun. 1/5 at 11am
Most Fri/Sat/Sun in January!

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com



January 2nd, 2025: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Amazing looks at 6 Humpback Whales, California Sea Lions and sea birds feeding! Photo...
01/04/2025

January 2nd, 2025: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Amazing looks at 6 Humpback Whales, California Sea Lions and sea birds feeding!
Photos & text by Sydney!

Next trips:
Sun. 1/5 at 11am
Fri. 1/10 at 11am
Sat. 1/11 at 11am
Sun. 1/12 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com




More from JULY 2024:Here is a sample of the Humpback Whale sightings we had in July 2024! (See previous post for more de...
01/03/2025

More from JULY 2024:
Here is a sample of the Humpback Whale sightings we had in July 2024! (See previous post for more details)
Photos by Naturalist Sydney

Next trips:
Sun. 1/5 at 11am
Fri. 1/10 at 11am
Sat. 1/11 at 11am
Sun. 1/12 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com




JULY 2024: Lots of Humpback Whales with massive breaches, amazing lunge-feeding and awesome chin-slaps and pec-slaps! Ou...
01/02/2025

JULY 2024: Lots of Humpback Whales with massive breaches, amazing lunge-feeding and awesome chin-slaps and pec-slaps! Our passengers enjoyed Humpback Whales feeding close to shore for most of July! We also saw Orcas and Minke whales a couple of times! Early in the month we saw some Great White Sharks and later a Blue Shark! We saw Risso’s Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins and Harbor Porpoises! And of course Southern Sea Otters, California Sea Lions and lots of seabirds and jellies!
(I will post the rest of the Humpback photos soon!)
Most Photos by Naturalist Sydney, shark photos by Julie.

Next trips:
Sun. 1/5 at 11am
Fri. 1/10 at 11am
Sat. 1/11 at 11am
Sun. 1/12 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com





June 2024: We saw our first Great White Sharks of the season and continued to see them most of June! Lots of Humpback Wh...
01/01/2025

June 2024: We saw our first Great White Sharks of the season and continued to see them most of June! Lots of Humpback Whales, including many mom/calf pairs. Lots of breaching and the first lunge-feeding towards the end of June! Dolphins: Risso's Dolphins and Common Dolphins! Plus Southern Sea Otters and California and Steller Sea Lions!
Photos by Sydney, except Common Dolphins by Julie!

Next trips:
Daily Thurs. 1/2 through Sun. 1/5 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com




Monday, Dec. 30th - the last trip of 2024! Half a dozen Humpback Whales, large rafts of California sea lions, and lots o...
12/31/2024

Monday, Dec. 30th - the last trip of 2024! Half a dozen Humpback Whales, large rafts of California sea lions, and lots of seabirds.
Photos & text by Naturalist Julie!

Next trips:
Wed. 1/1 at 10am
Daily Thurs. 1/2-Sun. 1/5 at 11am
Most Fri/Sat/Sun in January!

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com



May 2024: We had many days of 20+ Humpback Whales, including “Frosty”! Lots of active behaviors: breaching, chin-slaps, ...
12/31/2024

May 2024: We had many days of 20+ Humpback Whales, including “Frosty”! Lots of active behaviors: breaching, chin-slaps, tail throws! 6 distant Orca’s! We also saw lots of dolphins: 1000’s of Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins! Many seabirds and California Sea Lions, plus Harbor Seals!
Photos by Naturalist Sydney

Next trips:
Wed. 1/1 at 10am
Thurs. 1/2 at 11am
Fri. 1/3 at 11am
Sat. 1/4 at 11am
Sun. 1/5 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com





Get ready for 2025 with a Whale Watching calendar! We have them for sale at the shop or call and we can mail it to you!P...
12/30/2024

Get ready for 2025 with a Whale Watching calendar! We have them for sale at the shop or call and we can mail it to you!
Photos in calendar by Sydney on our trips!

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com
Office: 1718 Brommer St. Santa Cruz, CA.

April 2024: Many great looks at Gray Whales, including our first Mom/calf pair! And active Humpback Whales including bre...
12/27/2024

April 2024:
Many great looks at Gray Whales, including our first Mom/calf pair! And active Humpback Whales including breaches! Plus hundreds of Risso's Dolphins, some Bottlenose Dolphins and Pacific White-Sided Dolphins! And millions of Velellas, a jellyfish, nicknamed “by-the-wind-sailors”!

Photos by Naturalist Sydney

Next trips:
Mon. 12/30 at 10:30am
Tues. 12/31 at 12:45pm
Wed. 1/1 at 11am
Thurs. 1/2 at 11am
Fri. 1/3 at 11am
Sat. 1/4 at 11am
Sun. 1/5 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com





March 2024: We had northbound Gray Whales that were active and breaching! We also had active Humpback Whales including b...
12/24/2024

March 2024: We had northbound Gray Whales that were active and breaching! We also had active Humpback Whales including breaches. Plus ORCAS and a Mola-Mola!

Photos by Naturalist Sydney. (Except close up Humpback taken by Megan)

Next trips:
Thurs. 12/26 at 10:30am (pending conditions)
Fri. 12/27- Sun. 1/5 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com





December 20th: Great looks at 4 Humpback Whales, including CRC-17853 and her calf. The calf is very recognizable because...
12/22/2024

December 20th: Great looks at 4 Humpback Whales, including CRC-17853 and her calf. The calf is very recognizable because of its chewed up tail, which shows it survived an Orca predation event! We also saw California and Steller Sea Lions, as well as, Ancient Murrelets!
Photos & text by Sydney!

Next trips:
Thurs. 12/26 at 11am
Fri. 12/27 at 11am
Sat. 12/28 at 11am
Sun. 12/29 at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com





February 2024: We saw many southbound Gray Whales including a breacher! Also Orcas! Another favorite was Risso’s Dolphin...
12/20/2024

February 2024: We saw many southbound Gray Whales including a breacher! Also Orcas! Another favorite was Risso’s Dolphins! Plus, Humpback Whales, California Sea Lions, Sothern Sea Otters, Harbor Seals and seabirds galore!
Orca & Risso’s photos by Naturalist Abby.
Rest of photos by naturalist Sydney.

Next trips:
Sat. 12/21 at 11am
Sun. 12/22 at 11am
Mon. 12/23 at 11am
Tues. 12/24 at 10:30am
Thurs. 12/26 at 10:30am
Fri. 12/27-Sun. 1/5 all at 11am

Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats
(831) 427-0230
www.santacruzwhalewatching.com





Address

1718 Brommer Street
Santa Cruz, CA
95062

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

(831) 427-0230

Website

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Videos

Humpback whales from our trip on Oct. 14th! Video by naturalist Sam. Next trips: Sat. 11/23 & Sun. 11/24 at 11am. And Tues. 11/26-Sun. 12/1. Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter boats (831) 427-0230 www.santacruzwhalewatching.com #whales #humpbackwhales #montereybay #marinesanctuary #santacruzwhalewatching #dolphins #ocean #santacruz #seabirds #whalewatching

November 10th: 1000’s of California Sea Lions on today’s whale watching trip! Video by Abby. Next trips: Sat 11/16 & Sun 11/17 at 12pm. Fri. 11/22 at 11am. Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats (831) 427-0230 www.santacruzwhalewatching.com #whales #humpbackwhales #montereybay #santacruzwhalewatching #sealions #ocean #santacruz #whalewatching

Video from our Whale Watch on October 6th: An Orca pod including calves! Video by Naturalist Julie S. Next trips: Sat. 10/19 at 12pm, Mon. 10/21 at 11am, Fri. 10/25 at 11am. Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats (831) 427-0230 www.santacruzwhalewatching.com #whales #humpbackwhales #montereybay #marinesanctuary #santacruzwhalewatching #dolphins #seaotters #sealions #ocean #santacruz#marinewildlife #orcas #seabirds #whalewatching

October 14th: Humpback Whales! Video by Naturalist Sam. Next trips: Fri. 10/18 at 11am, Sat. 10/19 at 12pm, Sun. 10/20 at 11am, Mon. 10/21 at 11am. Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats (831) 427-0230 www.santacruzwhalewatching.com #whales #humpbackwhales #montereybay #marinesanctuary #santacruzwhalewatching #dolphins #seaotters #sealions #ocean #santacruz #seabirds #whalewatching

October 11: Orcas again! Aurora’s pod & “Jimmy”. Video by Naturalist Abby R. Next trips: Mon. 10/14 at 11am, Fri. 10/18 at 11am, Sat. 10/19 at 12pm, Sun. 10/20 at 11am. Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats(831) 427-0230 www.santacruzwhalewatching.com #whales #montereybay #santacruzwhalewatching #dolphins #ocean #santacruz #orcas #whalewatching

Video of Orcas! Aurora’s pod seen on our whale watch 10/6/24! Video by Naturalist Abby R. Next trips: Mon. 10/7 at 11am, Fri. 10/11 at 11am, Sun. 10/13 at 11am. Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats (831) 427-0230 www.santacruzwhalewatching.com #whales #humpbackwhales #montereybay #marinesanctuary #santacruzwhalewatching #dolphins #seaotters #sealions #ocean #santacruz #orcas #seabirds #whalewatching

More from our Whale Watch on Sunday October 6th! Orcas including 2 calves! Video by Naturalist Abby R.

October 6th: ORCAS! Aurora’s pod with new two week old calf CA51A5, and Male, Jimmy (who is great uncle and great great uncle to the two calf’s in this pod (CA51A5 and CA51A2A respectively) The calfs we’re playing and breaching. We also had a friendly Humpback Whale! (CRC-12154). Video & text by Naturalist Abby R. Next trips: Mon. 10/7 at 11am, Fri. 10/11 at 11am, Sun. 10/13 at 11am, Mon. 10/14 at 11am. Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats(831) 427-0230 www.santacruzwhalewatching.com #whales #humpbackwhales #montereybay #marinesanctuary #santacruzwhalewatching #dolphins #seaotters #sealions #ocean #santacruz#marinewildlife #orcas #seabirds #whalewatching

Cannot get enough of these friendly Humpback Whales! Two on this video from September 29th! Video by Naturalist Julie S. Next trips: Fri. 10/4 at 11am, Sat. 10/5 at 12:15pm, Sun. 10/6 at 11am, Mon. 10/7 at 11am. Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats (831) 427-0230 www.santacruzwhalewatching.com#whales #humpbackwhales #montereybay #marinesanctuary #santacruzwhalewatching #dolphins #seaotters #sealions #ocean

September 29th: Friendly Humpback Whales again checking us out! Next trips: Mon. Fri. Sat. Sun. Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats (831) 427-0230 www.santacruzwhalewatching.com #whales #humpbackwhales #montereybay #marinesanctuary #santacruzwhalewatching #dolphins #seaotters #sealions #ocean #santacruz #orcas #seabirds #whalewatching Video by Naturalist Abby R.

September 25th: Friendly Humpback Whale playing with kelp! Video by Naturalist Sydney Minges. Next trips: Sat/Sun/Mon! Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats (831) 427-0230 www.santacruzwhalewatching.com #whales #humpbackwhales #montereybay #marinesanctuary #santacruzwhalewatching #dolphins #seaotters #sealions #ocean #santacruz #marinewildlife #orcas #seabirds #whalewatching

September 25th: Another friendly Humpback Whale! This one showing us some flipper, then went upside down and was also playing with kelp! Video by Naturalist Sydney Minges. Next trips: Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon! Santa Cruz Whale Watching and Stagnaro Charter Boats (831) 427-0230 www.santacruzwhalewatching.com #whales #humpbackwhales #montereybay #marinesanctuary #santacruzwhalewatching #dolphins #seaotters #sealions #ocean #santacruz #marinewildlife #orcas #seabirds #whalewatching

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