Great experience from Start to finish. Prompt pick up, informative driver (Paul) and great whale watching. Called in on an amazing wine farm on the way back to Cape Town too, and a penguin reserve.





Boat-Based Whale Watching (Weather Permitting) Begin your adventure with a brief on-land orientation led by our Whale Specialist guide before boarding the purpose-built catamaran at the Hermanus New Harbour. We then head out in search of the “gentle giants,” enjoying superior viewing and comfort on board. Throughout the trip, our friendly, knowledgeable crew provide personal attention while the Whale Specialist interprets marine life and explains whale behaviour as you watch them in action. A professional videographer is on hand to capture the highlights of your excursion. Duration: Approximately 2 Hours and 30 Minutes - Boat Weather Advisory: Start time or pickup time may be adjusted based on weather conditions. All departures are weather permitting and may be rescheduled or cancelled for safety reasons.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $434.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Your guide or driver will meet you outside your hotel. They may also send you a WhatsApp message to confirm the pickup time.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Boat Based Whale Watching from Hermanus lasts about 6 hours.
Prices start at $309 per person for this Cape Town experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $434. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 6:30 AM.
Children aged 3–11 pay from $242, adults from $309.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. Your guide or driver will meet you outside your hotel. They may also send you a WhatsApp message to confirm the pickup time. Pickup points include ONOMO Hotel Cape Town Waterfront, The Village Lodge.
The experience is available in EN, FR.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Specialized infant seats are available
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 37 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Paul polano tours.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Great experience from Start to finish. Prompt pick up, informative driver (Paul) and great whale watching. Called in on an amazing wine farm on the way back to Cape Town too, and a penguin reserve.
Thank you for your fantastic review! It was a pleasure having you with Paul Palono tours. We' re proud to provide memorable Cape Town, and Hermanus whale watching. It was a pleasure helping you discover the beautiful coastline and marine life of South Africa
Thanks you so mush for your wondeful review We're delighted that you enjoyed about providing memorable cape town sightseeing experiences , professional tour guide , and excellent service . We hope to welcome you back to South Africa soon .
Thank you so much, Paul Polano! The whale watching in Hermanus and the tour of the Cape Province were absolutely amazing. Paul was very friendly, punctual, and shared lots of interesting stories and local anecdotes throughout the excursion and the drive. I highly recommend him!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted you enjoyed the Hermanus whale watching and Cape Province tour with Paul. It was a pleasure sharing the local stories and scenery with you. Thank you for recommending Paul Polano Tours!
Whale watching experiences was amazing ..we will love to come back again ..I personally recommend to all because
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the Hermanus whale watching experience. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back for another amazing experience!
Had wonderful experiences with Paul Polano tours whale washing service the mostly great experiences i can really recommend this trip with Paul i appreciated best 👌 service informative tour
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a great whale watching experience with Paul Polano Tours. It’s fantastic to know that you enjoyed the informative tour and our service. Your recommendation truly means a lot to us, and we really appreciate your kind words. We hope to welcome you again soon for another memorable experience! Warm regards, Paul Polano Tours
Highly recommended Paul Polano tours absolutely stunning, especially as the sun began to set over the reserve.we were lucky enough to see several whale watching including whole experience even more magical.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a stunning experience, especially during sunset, it truly is a magical time. Seeing whales during the tour makes the experience even more special, and we’re so glad you were able to enjoy that moment. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we really appreciate your kind words. We hope to welcome you again for another unforgettable experience! Warm regards, Paul Polano Tours
Wonderful time with Paul Polano tours Everything was organized smoothly great experience and whole day felt stress fee. Definitely a 5 Star experience whale wish 🤞 ✨️ and would highly recommend booking through them!!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a smooth and stress-free experience with us. That’s exactly what we aim to provide for every guest. We’re also happy you enjoyed the whale watching experience, it truly is something special and magical! Your 5-star recommendation means a lot to us, and we really appreciate your kind words. We hope to welcome you again for another unforgettable tour! Warm regards, Paul Polano Tours
If you are looking for an extraordinary, seamless, and memorable experience, look no further than Paul Polano Tours. We went out with Paul last week, and it was simply the highlight of our trip. From the smooth pickup to the wealth of knowledge Paul shared along the way, everything was handled with absolute professionalism and a genuine passion for what he does. He knew exactly where to take us for the best views, and we were rewarded with the most magical sighting of a pod of majestic whales swimming in the vibrant turquoise waters. It’s incredibly rare to find a guide who combines excellent value, perfect logistics, and such a warm, engaging personality. Whether you are a local or a visitor, booking with Paul Polano Tours is an absolute must. We cannot recommend him highly enough and will definitely be booking again in the future!
Thank you so much for your incredible and detailed review! We’re truly honoured to hear that your experience with us was the highlight of your trip. It means a lot to know that everything from the pickup to the overall journey met your expectations. Seeing whales in their natural environment is always a magical experience, and we’re so glad you were able to witness such a special moment. Your kind words about the professionalism, knowledge, and passion behind our tours are deeply appreciated. We always strive to provide seamless, memorable experiences, and your feedback truly means everything to us. Thank you once again for your support and recommendation. We look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable adventure in the future! Warm regards, Paul Polano Tours
I had an amazing time when I was there’s it was very wonderful during well watching 🥺 with Paul Polano tour very remarkable very amazing tour guide very present
Thanks for the great feedback.
There are so many “cookie cutter” tours for this activity so it’s important to choose one that stands out, and for all the right reasons.. Paul’s company has significant USPs. Firstly, the journey to Hermanus is stunning, the boat is like a cruise liner compared to most options you’ll get there, and the skipper is a like a de facto whale whisperer … you’re pretty much guaranteed to have an experience like being inside the National Geographic channel. On top of all that, Paul is a gent who is fun to hang out with for the day, as well as him being highly reliable and possessing an encyclopaedic knowledge. If you want a true insider’s take on the history of South Africa, especially the last 80 years in Cape Town, with intriguing anecdotes, and fascinating insights regarding contemporary living across the diverse class and racial spectrum of the country, then you’re not going to get a better grounding than this. If you’re visiting South Africa / Cape Town for the first time and you want a tourist’s experience that stands out from the crowd then select this tour with Paul.
Thanks for the great feedback.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Boat Based Whale Watching from Hermanus | 6 hours | 4.9 (37) | $309 | |
Cape Town Private 8Hour Guided Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Tour | 8 hours | 5.0 (16) | $301 | View |
Private Tour: Hermanus Whale Watching Boat Trip & Wine Tasting | 10 hours | 4.6 (43) | $273 | View |
Whales Watching Hermanus Boat Trip and Private Wine Tour | 9 hours | 5.0 (2) | $217 | View |
Hermanus Whale Watching Shared Boat Trip & Penguins Private Tour | 8 hours | 5.0 (1) | $248 | View |
Whale-Watching Boat Cruise in Hermanus with Wine Tasting | 8–10 hours | 4.0 (1) | $270 | View |
Whale Watching Boat Trip in Hermanus (between June to November) | 8 hours | — | $305 | View |