Skirted with protected areas, Monterey Bay teems with wildlife, including otters, seals, dolphins and whales. Areas around the bay are protected marine lands with dynamic ecosystems that you can explore on foot. Consider enjoying the bay's crisp waters on one of the beaches hugging the coastline or visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium. A drive along the coastal road is another way to see the area that provides views and plenty of opportunities to pull off for photos. To visit Monterey Bay and other attractions in Monterey, use our Monterey travel planner.
Create an itinerary including Monterey Bay
Unable to display map at this time. Please try again later.
© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors
Monterey Bay Tours
Monterey Bay Reviews
-
We took this in our first outing in the area. The drive was breathtaking. Many places to stop and pull over. Lots to do and see in the area. Plan on coming back. more »
-
Be prepared for it to be chilly and very windy. We were there in July and you needed jeans and a jacket to stay comfortable, but the scenery is gorgeous. more »
-
Monteray was a disappointment it was very touristy and was overrun with tourists. Wasn't my cup of tea but some folks like places like this more »
-
Always a good place to visit. Although it's a very touristy place, there's not much traffic in the varied beaches which is always nice if you're trying to get away for a bit.
-
Harbor master is the friendliest on the west coast...easy to dock.... and where on the west coast can you dock a 40’ Boat for $23 a night...... love this harbor and staff....
-
Very beautiful whale watching experience! We went on July 29 at 3:30 PM tour and we saw so many whales breaching, splashing, and feeding. Also, we saw sealions, pelicans, seagulls, and jellyfish!!! What an amazing adventure!
-
Very nice area. We really enjoyed our whale watching trip on Princess. The Lovers Point Inn was nice enough. We would like to stay longer get next time to try to see more, there was a lot we missed.
-
This is a bay located on the coast of central California, south of San Francisco. It is recommended to the tourists as an important landmark and this is no accident – this is a place with spectacular ocean life. Here you will find whales, seals, sharks and many other sea creatures. Cold waters of the bay are full of food for marine life and that’s what makes them hang around. The biggest attraction here are killer whales, known as Orka. They are the largest and most powerful predators that live on the planet today. Sometimes tourists become witnesses of the impressive hunting strategies by killer whales and their victims that range from young seals to sharks, or even whole whales!
Places to stay near Monterey Bay
Plan your trip to Monterey
-
Get a personalized plan
A complete day-by-day itinerary
based on your preferences -
Customize it
Refine your plan. We'll find the
best routes and schedules -
Book it
Choose from the best hotels
and activities. Up to 50% off -
Manage it
Everything in one place.
Everyone on the same page.
Popular
©
©
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey
Visit for: 3h 30min
17-Mile Drive
Monterey
Visit for: 2h 30min
Old Fisherman's Wharf
Monterey
Visit for: 2h
Side Trips
©
Point Lobos
Carmel
Visit for: 3h
Seventeen Mile Drive
Carmel
Visit for: 2h 30min
Carmel River State Beach
Carmel
Visit for: 2h 30min
Kid Friendly Attractions
©
©
©
Dolphin & Whale Watching
Monterey
Visit for: 3h
Breakwater
Monterey
Visit for: 1h 30min
Del Monte Beach
Monterey
Visit for: 1h 30min
Hidden Gems
©
©
Monterey Peninsula Recreational Trail
Monterey
Visit for: 2h 30min
Dennis the Menace Park
Monterey
Visit for: 2h 30min
Jacks Peak County Park
Monterey
Visit for: 2h 30min
Plans to Monterey Bay by other users
13 days in United States
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
November, popular sights
PREFERENCES: November
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
60 days in San Francisco
BY A USER FROM SWITZERLAND
January, relaxing, beaches, shopping, slow & easy, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: January, relaxing, beaches, shopping
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Slow & easy
22 days in California
BY A USER FROM UNITED KINGDOM
September, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: September
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
20 days in West Coast
BY A USER FROM INDIA
April, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: April
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
17 days in California
BY A USER FROM BELGIUM
August, teens, kids, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, wildlife, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: August, teens, kids, outdoors, relaxing, beaches, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
20 days in California
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
May, teens, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: May, teens, outdoors, beaches, historic sites, museums, shopping
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
48 days in California & New York City
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
April, outdoors, historic sites, museums, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: April, outdoors, historic sites, museums
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
3 days in Palo Alto
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
November, historic sites, museums, popular sights
PREFERENCES: November, historic sites, museums
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular sights
PACE: Medium
22 days in West Coast
BY A USER FROM INDIA
December, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: December
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Medium
15 days in San Francisco
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, shopping, slow & easy, hidden gems
PREFERENCES: December, culture, outdoors, relaxing, shopping
ATTRACTION STYLE: Hidden gems
PACE: Slow & easy
7 days in San Francisco
BY A USER FROM PORTUGAL
November, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: November
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
16 days in San Francisco
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
June, outdoors, wildlife, popular & hidden gems
PREFERENCES: June, outdoors, wildlife
ATTRACTION STYLE: Popular & hidden gems
PACE: Medium
View more plans
Are you the owner of this business?
Click here for promotion tips.
