I can't say enough positive things about our experience with Avila Beach Whale Watching. The…read morebooking process was a breeze and directions to the boat super clear. The boat was extremely comfortable and super easy to get on and off. Only 6 people so everyone is able to see the show. Captain Mark is personable, experienced and safety conscious. While you can never be guaranteed as to what you will see, the experience we had totally exceeded our expectations - lots of whales breaching and showing off their flukes and dolphins accompanied us for a while playing alongside the boat. This was my first trip with this company, but it won't be my last!

Truly an amazing experience! We saw countless whales, and at times it felt like there were whales…read moreeverywhere you looked. We saw multiple groups of whales lunge feeding, with whales, sea lions, and tons of birds all feeding together. We also saw lots of dolphins and had a chance to cruise alongside them for a while. Our guide, Mark, was fantastic. He clearly knew the whales and their behavior, always kept us informed about what was happening and where to look, and was happy to answer all of our questions. The highlight came when Mark spotted a whale away from where we were watching and decided to head over to check it out--even though we were already seeing some incredible activity. We're so glad he did. Shortly after we got there, the whale breached right in front of our boat! An unforgettable moment that we never would have experienced without Mark's knowledge and instincts. Our original trip had actually been canceled the day before because of bad weather. While that was obviously disappointing, it was completely outside their control, and we really appreciated how they handled it. They added an extra third trip the following day so they could accommodate us. We also brought our three-and-a-half-year-old along, and he had a great time. He was comfortable throughout the trip and really enjoyed the experience. It may not be for every three-and-a-half-year-old, but it definitely worked great for ours! It was the best whale-watching experience our family could have asked for. It truly couldn't have been any better!

Had a great tour. We booked the tour and were expecting to have others on the boat. Due to a…read morecancellation, it was just my wife and I. We saw lots of wildlife (seals, pelicans, and lots of sea otters) It was a beautiful day and a experience we will remember

I honestly have taken Whale Watching tours all over the globe to always be disappointed over the…read moremoney spent to see a whale and if one surfaced it seemed like a mile away. This experience with Captain Michael Brink was off the charts. This man totally enhances the experience. The vibe is, "this never gets old" and he loves his job and does his best to give you the best experience. Not only did we experience several whales, there were several groups of playful dolphins. When bringing friends back to the central coast, we will likely entertain another Whale Watching tour with Captain Mike.

Lovely day at Morro Bay with this boat ride being a real highlight. We had a group of 10 (including…read more2 children) and there was plenty of space on the boat. We had a morning rental for 2 hours, which I think was more than enough to make a few loops around the bay. The staff member was very courteous and thorough with taking us through how to operate the boat, restrictions on where to go, and making sure we had everything (even provided blankets since it was an overcast day). The boat is easy to handle, and it's pretty easy to follow where you're allowed to go. We saw plenty of wildlife - sea lions, birds, and best of all otters, including a mom and her pup swimming exactly at the boat dock. There is street parking right in front, and a hotel bathroom in the same building. They also provide binoculars for close up viewing. A good way to explore more of Morro Bay!

Mike and Match are such cool dudes. Super friendly and great at taking photos. We had an awesome…read moretime renting their pontoon boats around the bay. Great memories for the family.

We had such a great time, and Ava was wonderful! The tour was fantastic, we saw so many sea otters…read moreincluding mothers with their babies, as well as sea lions and seals. Ava was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so many interesting insights about the animals, and Avila Beach in general. It was a fun and memorable experience, and we would definitely recommend this tour!

A magical way to spend a day on the Central Coast. When you rent a kayak or paddleboard, you can go…read morealong the coast to a private beach. Pull up your board and walk up the stairs to see the ocean from the Lighthouse. It is just breathtaking. There are restrooms, as well. The staff is unfailingly friendly and helpful. They have a map to highlight where you might want to look, and places to avoid. They go over the basics of kayaking and get you started. Highly recommend!

Such a great time! The sea was beautiful and the company amazing…read more I'm so impressed with the service and communication from Captain Isaac. My friend doesn't know how to swim and was nervous about boarding a sailboat. He helped ease her tension by altering the course of the boat to keep in smoother waters. He also briefed us on safety guidelines and gave us advance notice to move to the high side of the boat. She felt safe and really enjoyed herself. Isaac is also a marine biologist; we learned quite a few interesting facts about the marine life and history of the shore. All in all, a memorable experience. Certainly the highlight of our girls' weekend getaway. :) Thank you Isaac for going the extra mile for us!!

We saw more whales than we've ever seen on any trip! Doug was a fantastic captain and chock-full of…read moremarine information. By far the best whale watching trip! Book this trip!

This review is long overdue. My parents were married for 59 years and died exactly 3 years and 12…read morehours to the minute apart from each other. They both wished to be cremated and have their ashes mixed together and scattered in front of Pirates Cove, which is where they shared their first kiss at the end of their first date in 1960. Unfortunately, that area is now a nude beach and it's people no one wants to see naked. Additionally, we had a pretty good sized crew of people coming for the scattering, so little zodiac boats weren't gonna get the job done. I lucked out in 2023 because the start of the fishing season got pushed into May. This allowed us to rent one of patriot charters and accommodate our entire crew for the scattering in a very safe, easy to access (we have many elderly folks with mobility issues) manner. I was concerned there may be an odor because it IS a fishing vessel, but everything was very clean and well kept. The staff were so incredibly considerate of our loss and behaved in an incredibly kind way. Instructions were simple and concise, and we were able to leave right on time, cruising the bay and playing some of Moms and dad's favorite music as we celebrated their journey. Moments after we scattered their ashes, the captain approached me quietly and slipped me a business card with the exact coordinates of where we had sprinkled mom and dad. That was going above and beyond as far as I'm concerned, and it never even dawned on me to ask for that - but I'm sure glad I have it. It is now a very tasteful, small tattoo signifying my parents final resting place. Thank you so much to patriot fishing, I know this wasn't a fishing review, but I can only imagine how good they take care of their fishing customers if this is how they treat grieving families. A million thank yous for your kindness!

we went out with Luke and Ethan. and the captain I'm sorry I forgot his name. it was so much fun!!!…read morethey were so helpful and super nice. we caught our limit. they made burritos and had lots of drinks. whenever you needed help with anything they came over. thanks so much guys!!

The sailing experience was amazing! Terry was a great captain. He really put us at ease on the open…read moreseas and was very accommodating to our circumstances of our children getting seasick. He was able to make the trip fun despite having to change plans. This is a great social distancing activity because he has his section of the boat and the guests have the rest. We will definitely be sailing with him again!

Our small little excursion with Captain Terry was incredible and so much more fun than I had ever…read moreimagined! The short story: you absolutely will not regret going on a trip with Maya Sailing Adventures! It's personal, private, beautiful, fun, easy, and so relaxing. The long story: my sister in law's wedding was postponed due to COVID-19. So the day of her wedding we planned a surprise sailing excursion with Captain Terry. My first impression was that he was incredibly easy to plan with. Everything was up to me. I could bring anything I wanted to make it a special night. It was so easy to plan and get all set up! So we set up a 4 hour sail around the bay for 4 people. After 2 hours he would drop my husband and I off and let my sister in law and her fiancé sail together for the last 2 hours. My biggest concern was that it wouldn't feel private enough for such a special occasion. No reason to worry at all, actually it was incredibly intimate and romantic and very private. If you'd like to chat with Captain, you can, but otherwise he is manning the boat and you are on our own in the front of the boat. It was so private and felt like we were on the boat by ourselves. I set up a charcuterie board and wine tasting with 5 different types of wines. Then we ordered a steak dinner from Windows on the Water and served it to them before they set sail on their own. That's the awesome thing about Maya - it's completely customizable for YOU. We sailed around the bay and relaxed and saw so many otters - mommas and babies! And even a baby seagull! Seeing the animals was so fun. My sister in law and fiancé then went out of the bay and sailed a little bit and saw A WHALE! I was so jealous. But seriously- how amazing? I CANT WAIT to do another trip with Captain Terry. One day, I would like to do the same thing but with only my husband and I... But my sister in law and her fiancé had a wonderful time and so did we. It was one of the best date nights of my life and I can't wait to do it again! You won't regret a sail with Captain Terry and Maya Sailing Adventure!

Honestly - I had such a great time kayaking with Jack last week! I was the only person who signed…read moreup so I got a personal tour. I'm not an experienced kayaker and Jack made sure I was comfortable and knew what I was doing! We saw sea lions, a blue heron, and just had a great time out there on Morro Bay. The water was smooth and we took a little break about an hour in to just stretch out on the sand bar (plus - snack!). All in all, it was a great time. Totally worth what I paid including the tip. Would do it again!

Our Cave excursion was canceled due to strong tide and it could be unsafe so we end up doing the…read moreMorro Bay kayaking which is calm and opposite of kayaking out in the ocean. As a family, we still had a good time.

Central Coast Gondola / Gianetta & Stefano Anastasia are THE VERY BEST!! Such a Fantastic…read moreexperience... the attention to detail, wonderful communication, great personalities, delightful time on the bay, delicious and top quality food, and all around warm/kind/romantic atmosphere! From 1 to 10... TRULY an ELEVEN!! We can't wait to have another special occasion to bring us back.

Where do I start? The gondola itself it intricate and gorgeous. We got a history of it and…read morethoroughly enjoyed learning about it. The gondola was nicely furnished with pillows to make us comfy and it was a truly romantic experience. Stefano stopped halfway on the bay to serenade us and it was so heartwarming, especially the authentic Italian ukulele songs. I accidentally found his company on the internet and it def charmed us. We will be back and recommend for sure!

My dogs had the TIME OF THEIR LIFE here. We arrived on a Friday afternoon and there were plenty of…read moredogs running around. My pups, Honey and Luna, joined in the fun and truly, I've never seen them so happy. We frequent dog parks often which is fine and dandy, however, beach life is a vibe. Even for dogs The location is easy to find and the beach itself is large enough. There are facilities for humans. Definitely a plus! The view was gorgeous with a bunch of boats in the harbor. The other owners were really nice and ultimately, we enjoyed our afternoon here. Next time we come into town, we'll be sure to bring our dogs again.

My absolute favorite dog beach in the area. My dogs live their best life every time here and we…read morealways meet the friendliest dogs and people. There is lots of space on this beach so you don't have to be too close to other groups of people. On the weekdays, it's not super busy so the perfect day to hang out all day on the beach. We enjoy walking back and forth on the beach, and bringing chairs to relax, read and snack throughout the day. :) Always have the best time when we're here. Such a gem in the area!