Tours/Cape Town/Shared Hermanus Boat Based Whale Watching and Penguin Adventure
Shared Hermanus Boat Based Whale Watching and Penguin Adventure
5.0(10)Cape Town6 hours
VIATOR5.0(5)TRIPADVISOR5.0(5)
+25 photos
At a glance
Duration
6 hours
Price from
$113 / person
Location
Cape Town, South Africa
Rating
5.0 / 5 · 10 reviews
Languages
EN, FR
Group
Small group, up to 50
Cancellation
Free cancellation
Hotel pickup
Available
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Paul polano tours
Description
Important: Whale watching boat ticket (USD 95 per person) is not included and must be purchased separately at the whale watching office before departure. This tour price includes shared return transportation from Cape Town, hotel pick-up and drop-off, bottled water, and an experienced tour guide.
Experience one of the world's best whale watching destinations with a seamless shared tour from Cape Town. Travel comfortably with an experienced local guide, enjoy a scenic journey along the beautiful Overberg coastline, and spend 2 hours on a purpose-built catamaran searching for southern right whales, humpback whales, and Bryde's whales (seasonal). You may also encounter dolphins, Cape fur seals, African penguins, and a variety of seabirds. To make the day even more memorable, the tour also includes a visit to the African penguin colony at Betty's Bay, giving you the chance to experience two of the Western Cape's most iconic wildlife encounters in one unforgettable day.
Tour Options
Shared Hermanus Boat Based Whale Watching and Penguin Adventure
Pickup included
What's included
Included
Experienced Tour-Guide
Shared return transfers between Cape Town and Hermanus
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Bottled water
Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
Whale watching boat ticket is not included and must be purchased directly at the office .
Gratuities
Meals and Drinks
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup is available from selected hotels and accommodations within a 15 km radius of Cape Town. Please be ready at your pickup point at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time. Final pickup details will be confirmed the day before your tour.
Guests staying outside this radius will still be accommodated with the same pickup arrangement. Please note this is a shared transfer and may include multiple stops along the route.
Traveller Ratings
5.0
10 reviews
5
10
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0
Important Information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Shared Hermanus Boat Based Whale Watching and Penguin Adventure lasts about 6 hours.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $113 per person for this Cape Town experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Pickup is available from selected hotels and accommodations within a 15 km radius of Cape Town. Please be ready at your pickup point at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time. Final pickup details will be confirmed the day before your tour.
Guests staying outside this radius will still be accommodated with the same pickup arrangement. Please note this is a shared transfer and may include multiple stops along the route. Pickup points include ONOMO Hotel Cape Town Waterfront, The Portswood Hotel.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN, FR.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 50 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Specialized infant seats are available
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(10)
A
Aleece_B
September 14, 2026
10/10 day, guide and experience
Paul was literally the greatest guide we could’ve asked for in Cape Town all the way to Hermanus. He was professional, knowledgeable and went above and beyond to making the day special. We got so LUCKY and saw so many whales and dolphins. We also got a chance to see penguins and baboons while driving to the whales. Could ask for a better day, please make sure to book with this group! You won’t be disappointed.
Operator response
Thank you for such a wonderful review. We’re thrilled that your journey from Cape Town to Hermanus was such a memorable experience, from the whales and dolphins to the penguins and baboons along the way. Paul will truly appreciate your kind words. Thank you for choosing Paul Polano Tours and for your recommendation.
J
James_H
September 9, 2026
Best day ever!
This tour began with whale watching and we were not disappointed! 5 to 6 Right Wales off the bow at one time! It was pretty much continual visual stimulation! We were overwhelmed with the amount of whales and how they were uninterested in us! Paul was a great guide and took us all around, including
Betty’s Bay where we encountered local African penguins in habitat! Quite a drive and he was able to point out a very wide range of information about every town as we pass through! Very excellent tour!
Operator response
Thank you for sharing such a fantastic review. We’re delighted that the whale watching exceeded your expectations and that you enjoyed seeing the penguins at Betty’s Bay along the way. It’s wonderful to hear that Paul’s local knowledge added to the experience and made the journey through the different towns even more enjoyable. We truly appreciate your support.
M
Michael_W
September 6, 2026
A wonderful day
Paul was an excellent guide, driving us to the Penguins along the way to the Whale Watching boat in the lovely town of Hermanus, explaining history and locations from a very local perspective - much appreciated. But do note that the start time you choose is for the start of the boat tour, your hotel pickup time will be 3 hours before that. For example, we chose the 9am tour so we left the hotel at 6am, and returned to the hotel about 3pm. We had brought snacks for lunch, so Paul kindly stopped at the nearby winery where we did a wonderful tasting paired with chocolate. Made for a very relaxed trip back.
Operator response
Thank you for the detailed review. We’re glad you enjoyed the journey to Hermanus, the penguin stop, and the local insights Paul shared along the way. We’re also pleased the winery stop added a relaxing touch to your return journey. We truly appreciate your feedback and support.
W
William_R
September 3, 2026
Paul is great!
Paul is kind and excellent at his job. He will take care of you! Ask and he will make it happen. Great breakdown of the places visited. Truly fun time and highly recommend! Hermanus is beautiful and whales are easy to spot.
Operator response
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re so pleased to hear that you had a memorable day in Hermanus and enjoyed the whale watching. Your kind words about Paul and his service are greatly appreciated. It was a pleasure having you with us.
T
Tae_C
August 22, 2026
Excellent guide.
Paul was an excellent guide. He made sure we were well taken care of during the trip. I would recommend him.
Operator response
Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a pleasure having you on our whale watching tour. We’re glad you felt well taken care of and truly appreciate your recommendation of Paul Polano Tours. We hope to see you again!
N
Navigator60121748711
August 5, 2026
Memorable experience in Cape Town
Another amazing day exploring Cape Town with wonderful experiences. Thanks you for trusting Paul Polano tours offers South Africa adventure whale watching
Operator response
Thank you for the great feedback.
T
Trail56233689600
July 20, 2026
Best experience in Capetown
Very good experience with Paul Polano tours excellent 👌 meeting highly recommend him. Hermanus whale washing experience incredible Paul the tours guide is really nice friendly 😊
Operator response
Thank you for your wonderful review. We’re glad you enjoyed the Hermanus whale watching experience with Paul. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We hope to see you again!
D
Dreamer31407184193
July 18, 2026
Professional tour Guide I would like to recommend this trip
Wonderful experience with Paul Polano tours ! EVerything very excellent I really enjoyed the atmosphere was great and whole day felt stress - free.Definily a 5 - star experience and I would highly recommend booking through them!
Operator response
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re delighted you had a relaxing and enjoyable experience with Paul Polano Tours. Your kind words and 5-star recommendation mean a lot to us. We hope to see you again!
N
NorthStar60841339924
July 17, 2026
I really enjoyed this service
The most amazing experience in hermanus with Paul Polano tours including whale watch great service I like to recommend in cape town I really enjoy it super
Operator response
Thank you for the great review. We hope to see you again in Cape Town!
S
Sightsee01667455900
July 10, 2026
Absolutely amazing
Excellent experience! We had an amazing time from start to finish. The tour was well organized, the guides was friendly knowledgeable, and made the day enjoyable. Everything ran smoothly, and we saw some incredible sights highly recommended for anything visiting Cape Town Paul Polano tours
Operator response
Thank you so much for your kind review. We’re really happy to hear you enjoyed your Cape Town tour with Paul. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We hope to see you again!
Compare similar tours in Cape Town
Lowest price: Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Penguins Day Tour from Cape Town — $57
Best rated: Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Penguins Day Tour from Cape Town — 4.9 (3,739 reviews)
Shortest: Whale Watching from Gansbaai — 2 hours
Tour
Duration
Rating
Price
Shared Hermanus Boat Based Whale Watching and Penguin Adventure
