Private California Coast Tour - Whale Watching, Morro Bay & Hearst Castle
Trade the vines for ocean views and join us on a breathtaking journey along California’s Coast. Set out on the water in the morning to watch whales breach beside playful dolphins and sea lions, or spot sea otters drifting through Morro Bay.
After your ocean adventure, unwind over a delicious lunch, either overlooking the Pacific or in the charming, art-filled town of Cambria.
Then step into another world at Hearst Castle, a hilltop masterpiece of art, architecture, and history, where Hollywood royalty once gathered amid marble statues, opulent pools, and sweeping coastal views.
California Coast Beyond Wine – Whale Watching & Hearst Castle
Experience the best of California’s Central Coast and do something other than wine tasting on a fully customizable private day with your own local guide. We’ll pick you up from Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, or Pismo Beach and take you wherever you want to go, from the rugged coastline to charming towns and scenic lookout points.
Start your day with a whale watching adventure in Morro Bay, where you might see breaching whales, playful sea lions and dolphins, or drifting sea otters. Relax over an ocean-view lunch, or explore the artistic town of Cambria.
After lunch, head up the coast to the legendary Hearst Castle to enjoy its art, architecture, and history, imagine Hollywood royalty gathering amid opulent rooms, sparkling pools, and sweeping views. You may even spot wild zebras, and if you’re up for it, we can check out the elephant seals.
This fully customizable tour puts you in charge, whether you want whale watching, Hearst Castle, coastal hikes, scenic spots, wine tasting or more.
Please make tour reservations as early as possible, as this popular tour books early and is subject to ticket availability for Whale Watching and at Hearst Castle.
- Venture out by boat in Morro Bay to see whales, sea lions, dolphins, and sea otters
- Ocean-view lunch or eat in the charming artistic town of Cambria
- Enjoy a scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway and California’s coastal mountains
- A Hearst Castle guided tour of the Grand Rooms (not private and operated by California State Parks)
- Optional stops for coastal hikes, elephant seals or Paso Robles wineries, breweries & distilleries – fully customizable
- Knowledgeable, friendly and experienced local guide
- Family Friendly trip
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.
- Professional Concierge Service
- Itinerary Consultation
- Door-to-Door Pick Up & Drop Off
- Whale Watching Ticket (not private)
- Hearst Castle Grand Rooms Tour Ticket (not private)
- Complimentary bottled water on the bus
- Purchases and tasting fees at the venues visited (tasting fees can be prepaid to create an all-inclusive experience)
- Lunch
- Full-Itinerary Planning (we can make all reservations on your group’s behalf for an additional fee)
- Seasickness Medication (available for purchase on the boat)
- Gratuity for your guide
Children of all ages are welcome on the tour though drinking alcohol is not permitted for those under the age of 21. This tour is not recommended for children under the age of 8 years old. Please bring a valid photo ID.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring layers as the weather is subject to sudden changes. Often, the coastal weather can be cool with some fog and the afternoons can be much warmer with lots of sunshine. It’s also a good idea to bring sunscreen.
This tour offers pick-ups in Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo as well as Paso Robles. Additional fee applies for pick up and drop off over 15 miles from downtown Paso Robles.
The whale watching boat operates daily, with departures seven days a week, depending on weather conditions.
For a charter or private tour a $200.00 or 20% deposit, whichever is greater, will be charged upon confirmation of the booking. As long as we have not received the deposit, the charter or tour is not confirmed and your requested date will not be held.
Reviews from Our Guests
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a good idea to bring layers, since the coastal weather can be much cooler than Paso Robles and there may be some fog in the mornings. It’s also a good idea to bring sunscreen.
You’re on the boat for 3 hours, so make sure to bring water and snacks on board, and don’t forget your camera!
Wear comfortable shoes, as The Grand Rooms Tour is 60 minutes long and includes approximately 160 steps, both up and down, and a 2/3-mile walk.
Whales can be seen any time of day, but mornings often offer calmer waters, making the boat ride more comfortable and whales easier to spot.
Whales can be seen in Morro Bay most of the year, with the best sightings typically from January through November. Gray whales are most commonly spotted during their migration from January to May, while humpback whales are often seen from May through November, with summer being the peak season. While December is generally less reliable, there are still good opportunities to enjoy whale watching outside the peak months.
Absolutely, you will have the flexibility to choose which Hearst Castle tour you’d like to experience!
Our tours are completely private and tailored to your group’s preferences.
The Grand Rooms tour of Hearst Castle is the recommended option for first-time visitors and provides a great introduction to Hearst Castle and its creator, William Randolph Hearst. This tour highlights the magnificent Casa Grande, including the Assembly Room, Refectory, Morning Room, Billiard Room, and Theater, as well as the beautiful grounds.
If you’re interested in exploring other tours or even combining multiple tours, we can certainly accommodate that. Feel free to visit Hearst Castle’s website to explore their various tour options, or reach out to our Toast Tours concierge for personalized recommendations based on your interests and group needs.
The tours at Hearst Castle are not private for your group, so you will be with other guests.
Your tour with Toast Tours will be in a private vehicle with a guide/driver.
Get in touch with us here for more details and to plan your perfect Hearst Castle visit!
If you want! The tour will be private for your group so we can include time to watch the Building the Dream video, if you want.
“Hearst Castle – Building the Dream” is a movie that was produced exclusively for the Hearst Castle Theater. Breathtaking original cinematography combined with vintage clips and stills from the 1920s and 30s allows the construction and history of the Castle to come to life on a five-story screen.
This movie lasts 40-minutes and is screened every 45 minutes starting at 9:00 am.
This is the companion film to daytime Castle Tours and is included in the ticket price.
If you want to include time to watch this film, be sure to let your tour concierge know, since it will add about an hour to your overall itinerary.
That’s up to you!
Once your tour is confirmed, your Toast Tours concierge will discuss the various options with you.
Some favorites include dining at a seaside location while sipping wine and enjoying a delicious deli lunch or visiting the local charming town of Cambria, where you can choose to eat lunch at a local restaurant suited to your taste.
We can also head back over to Paso Robles Wine Country and dine at one of the many excellent winery restaurants located there.
So many great options!