Whale Watching & Hearst Castle Tour, California Coast
Create your own private Central Coast day with whale watching, Hearst Castle, and a local guide
Ideal For
Up to 15 people
Includes
Private transport, guide, planning
Highlights
Set your own pace on a private California Coast day with transportation, local guidance, and itinerary planning. Combine Morro Bay whale watching and Hearst Castle with stops that suit your interests.
- Look for whales, sea lions, dolphins, and sea otters in Morro Bay
- Explore Hearst Castle's Grand Rooms on a guided California State Parks tour
- Customize stops for coastal hikes, elephant seals, wineries, breweries, or distilleries
- Travel the Pacific Coast Highway and coastal mountains with a local guide
Itinerary
Your private guide and driver will pick you up from Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, or Pismo Beach early in the morning, giving you the advantage of calmer waters and a higher chance of spotting whales, sea lions, dolphins, and sea otters in Morro Bay. As you drive along the scenic Santa Lucia Mountains and the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, enjoy stunning coastal views and fascinating stories about the region from your guide.
After your morning adventure, unwind with a leisurely lunch, choose from a restaurant overlooking the marina in Morro Bay, a winery with ocean views, or the charming town of Cambria, where you can stroll galleries and boutique shops.
Next, travel up the coast to the legendary Hearst Castle, and keep an eye out for wild zebras along the way. At Hearst Castle, your guide will pick up your tickets and you’ll hop on a shuttle, provided by the State of California, which takes you up the mountain to the castle. Once up there, you will begin your guided Grand Rooms Tour, allowing you to enjoy the splendor of the Castle as Hearst and his guests would have.
After your castle visit, you can drive a little further north to see elephant seals, and if you’re lucky, you might spot a massive male, up to 16 feet long and over 5,000 pounds.
Finally, enjoy a scenic drive back to your accommodations, reflecting on a full day of coastal adventure, wildlife, and iconic California sights.
What's Included
- Private vehicle and guide
- Itinerary planning and reservations
- Chilled bottled water
Important details
- Bring a valid photo ID
- Alcohol is not permitted for anyone under 21
- Children under 8 or shorter than 4'9" require a car seat or booster seat supplied by you; without one, they cannot board
- Whale watching departures depend on weather conditions
- Tasting and activity fees, meals, extra vehicle time, and guide gratuity are not included; an optional deli picnic lunch is $25 per person
- An additional pickup and drop-off fee applies for properties more than 15 miles from downtown Paso Robles
- Dogs must remain with you, stay off vehicle seats, and not be left unattended; you are responsible for any damage or additional cleaning charges
Cancellation Policy
For private tours, cancellations more than 14 days before departure forfeit the deposit. Cancellations within 14 days are charged the full tour amount at the quoted hourly rate and minimum hours.
FAQs
Arrive at your scheduled start time. Tour time begins at the scheduled time, and extra time is subject to guide and vehicle availability and charged in 15-minute increments at the quoted hourly rate; this charge is not included in the listed price.
Specific itinerary changes requested after confirmation may incur an additional modification fee not included in the listed price.
Changes in group size may change the hourly rate and may mean some planned wineries cannot accommodate your group.
Meeting details
Pickup/drop-off at your accommodations
Related locations
Hearst Castle
Admission included<p>Perched high on a Santa Lucia Range hilltop above the California coast, Hearst Castle invites you to step inside one of the most extraordinary private residences ever built in the United States. Architect Julia Morgan and publisher William Randolph Hearst spent decades assembling this Mediterranean Revival landmark.</p><p>Walking the grounds of Hearst Castle, you move through terraced gardens, ornate guesthouses, and grand assembly rooms filled with European art and antiques gathered from across the world.</p>