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San Diego Small group activities

Our most recommended San Diego Small group activities

La Jolla: Sea Cave Kayaking Tour with Guide

1. La Jolla: Sea Cave Kayaking Tour with Guide

Discover San Diego's Marine Protected Area, home to a variety of fish, birds, dolphins, turtles, sea-lions, and whales. With the help of an experienced guide, explore the famous Sea Caves of La Jolla and paddle inside Emerald Cave in a double kayak. Watch sea lions sunbathing on the rocks and swimming in the sanctuary. Marvel at the bright orange garibaldi as they stand out among the vibrant green sea grass and numerous other fish swimming around and delighting the eye. In the summer and fall months, tour groups will often see harmless leopard sharks, and you may also find grey whales in their migration during the winter. You might even see dolphins cruising alongside your kayak before you make your way back and prepare to surf your kayak back to shore.

San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise

2. San Diego: Whale and Dolphin Watching Cruise

Embark on a marine life adventure on a dolphin and whale watching tour off the coast of San Diego. Keep a lookout for gray whales, blue whales, common dolphins, and more as you glide over the Pacific Ocean's dark blue waters. San Diego is one of the best locations to watch whales year-round. Gray Whales migrate winter-spring from feeding grounds in Alaskan waters to calving lagoons in Baja California and back. In summer, the legendary Blue Whales, the largest animals on Earth, commonly feed off-shore of the San Diego coast.  You may also spot Fin, Blue, Humpback, and Minke whales during the summer whale watching season. Additionally, you'll often see pods of Dolphins including Risso’s, Common, Pacific White-Sided, and Bottlenose Dolphins. Your captain will also highlight other wildlife such as Sea Lions, various fish like Mola Mola (Sunfish), and a variety of marine birds such as Herons, Terns, Pelicans, and Gulls.  View these extraordinary mammals in the wild on this spectacular cruise. The expert crew will help you locate these creatures and additional marine wildlife, such as dolphins and sea lions. Learn about marine life and local environmental efforts from professional captains and whalers who work at the San Diego Natural History Museum.  You may even spot a whale calf traveling with its mother as they return from the Arctic. This is a fantastic and exhilarating journey for all age groups. Guaranteed whale or dolphin sighting. If you don't sight some type of whale or dolphin during the cruise, you'll be issued a pass that's good for another San Diego whale watching or harbor cruise. San Diego is quickly becoming one of the world’s best whale watching locations. The city is home to whales, dolphins, and sea birds, and features one of the world's most beautiful coastlines.  Enjoy live educational narration from captains and trained naturalists employed by the Natural History Museum.  Watch blue whales and dolphins in comfort on a large, fast, and stable boat!

San Diego: Drive Your Own Speed Boat 2-Hour Tour

3. San Diego: Drive Your Own Speed Boat 2-Hour Tour

Ideal for those with a free spirit and sense of adventure, but who don't want to miss out on a guided tour, this 2-hour excursion combines the best of both worlds. You will be the captain of your own speed boat, all the while following a trained, knowledgeable guide as they keep you informed via the 2-way communication system that’s mounted in each boat. Hear the guide’s witty, yet historical narration as you cruise the harbor, seeing such luminous sights as the Russian submarine at San Diego Maritime Museum, the USS Midway and the skyline of downtown San Diego. Exhilarating and spontaneous, with laugh-out-loud moments, the thrill of driving your own boat, as well as the safety of having a skilled guide introduce you to the highlights makes for a perfect combination. Even the sea lions will give you a cheer!

San Diego: Private Sun Cruiser Duffy Boat Rental

4. San Diego: Private Sun Cruiser Duffy Boat Rental

Be the captain of your own private Duffy boat for the afternoon as you cruise along the smooth waters of San Diego's beautiful Mission Bay. Bring your family along for a spectacular day on the water. Enjoy your own music, food, and drinks to make your experience extra special. You may encounter some local wildlife, such as sea lions, migratory birds, and maybe even dolphins. At 21 feet with room for up to 10 guests, the Sun Cruisers are the best choice for your Mission Bay outing. Everyone can come along, with no boating license required to operate this eco-friendly water cruiser. Duffy Boats are as easy as driving a golf cart and go 5-6 mph. Glide through the calm waters of Mission Bay at your own pace. Each Sun Cruiser comes equipped with pillows, tables and a built-in ice cooler for any snacks or beverages you bring along. There are enclosures to protect in the case of unpredicted rain, and a sound system with Bluetooth that you can connect to your device.

Carlsbad Village: 3-Hour Local Food Tour

5. Carlsbad Village: 3-Hour Local Food Tour

The tour sets off from the heart of downtown Carlsbad Village, where your 3-hour culinary adventure begins. Navigate the picturesque streets of the village with your local guide and discover its diverse history, architecture and culture. Stroll down some of the most famous streets in Carlsbad, home to a wonderful concentration of museums, restaurants, and iconic landmarks, uniquely mixed with shops, art galleries and vibrant street murals. Along the way, stop at 8 different eateries, popular with the locals, and taste the flavors of Carlsbad. The food samplings on this tour are sure to stimulate your salivary glands, and satisfy your appetite for a lunch that is chock-full of variety. Each tasting is served from a locally-owned specialty food store, and ethnic or locavore-style eateries. Some of the stops on the tour include one of Carlsbad’s most romantic restaurants and a dessert haven with recipes passed down through generations. There’s also time to delight your taste buds with a sampling of California’s award-winning wines at one of the village’s urban wineries.

San Diego: Classic Yacht Sailing Experience

6. San Diego: Classic Yacht Sailing Experience

Embark on a scenic adventure in San Diego and experience the thrill of sailing aboard a unique 1904-styled Friendship sloop. Take in the beauty of San Diego Harbor on a guided tour and learn about traditional sailing techniques on a one-of-a-kind vessel. Gaze at the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier and other local landmarks.

San Diego: Private 2-Hour Sailing Tour for 3-6 People

7. San Diego: Private 2-Hour Sailing Tour for 3-6 People

Enjoy a private sailing tour on San Diego Bay with the opportunity to customize your tour to your personal desires. On your 2-hour trip, you will be able to bring along up to 5 other passengers as you relax and cruise along the water in style. Once out on the bay, you have the option of choosing the sights you want to see or simply trusting the captain to take you to the best spots. As you travel along, either the captain or a crew member will inform you of what you are seeing. Meanwhile, you will be able to simply relax and enjoy a variety of light snacks and drinks on board. You may also take the opportunity to learn about sailing and get a chance at the helm, where you can hear the sound of water along the hull as you pass the city in silence and tranquility.

La Jolla: Guided Snorkeling Tour

8. La Jolla: Guided Snorkeling Tour

Interact with marine animals at a safe distance and spend the day on this beautiful reserve with experienced snorkel experts to guide you. You will see marine life such as sharks, exotic fish, dolphins, seals, turtles and a multitude of sea life swimming amongst them. With four microhabitats to swim through, you will find a wide variety of underwater flora and fauna. With a small group, you’ll get a much more intimate experience of life underneath the water, with one of our guides and local lifeguards accompanying you while you swim. Guests must have a basic level of swimming to participate in this activity. As this is an introductory tour, families with younger children (age 5+) are also welcome, as well as people who feel more comfortable being guided in their snorkeling.

San Diego: Sidecar Wine Tasting Tour

9. San Diego: Sidecar Wine Tasting Tour

Ride in an open sidecar on this guided wine tour of San Diego. Feel the wind in your face as you take in the beautiful California scenery, visit popular wine tasting rooms to try local wines, and learn about the city's fascinating history from your guide. Meet your guide and hop in for a ride throughout Downtown San Diego. Hear the interesting history behind the sights you pass on your way to each tour stop and enjoy the rush of riding a motorcycle while sitting safely in the sidecar. Make stops at local wine tasting rooms, where you can experience the urban wine scene. Learn about each wine you try and decide for yourself which is your favorite. Depending on your tour, the locations you visit might include Pali Wine Co, Bottlecraft Liberty Station, and M Wine House.

San Diego Bay: Signature 2-Hour Sailing Tour

10. San Diego Bay: Signature 2-Hour Sailing Tour

Cruise San Diego Bay in comfort and luxury during this signature 2-hour sailing tour. Set sail from Harbor Island to see the great San Diego Bay and all its beauty. Sit back and enjoy two full hours of pleasure aboard a beautiful classic sailing yacht. Marvel at breathtaking views of the San Diego skyline. See incredible sights such as giant ships that line the harbor, the majestic Coronado Bridge, and full-sized aircraft carriers. Maybe even catch a glimpse of harbor seals, seagulls, pelicans, dolphins, whales, and all sorts of other marine wildlife that call San Diego Bay their home.

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What people are saying about San Diego

Fantastic trip out to sea! Saw hundreds of dolphins and a handful of grey whales! Including a 2 day old baby!

Super great host and knowledgeable. Definitely an experience to remember

Had a blast with Isabella and Cali and the setting was beautiful!

So relaxing! Beautiful sunset colors and festive coastline.

The Captain was very skilled and the views were amazing!