white star tours cape cod

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Travel Guide

Enewsletter sign-up, cape cod travel guide, deals + ​packages, cape cod tours.

Need direction checking out the sites?  From trolleys and trains to boats and off-road vehicles, our expert tour guides can show you around and make you an expert on the region! Boat and dune tours are available to show you the Cape Cod you can’t reach. Here's a great 3-day itinerary on Cape Cod , which helps you pack a bunch of really fun stuff into a short stay.

THE 10 BEST Cape Cod Tours & Excursions

Cape cod tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Private Tours
• Walking Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Photography Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Wine Tours & Tastings
• Multi-day Tours
• Helicopter Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Martha's Vineyard Daytrip from Boston with Round-Trip Ferry & Island Tour Option

2. Martha's Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour from Boston

3. The Anne Hutchinson Tour of Provincetown

4. Provincetown & Cape Cod High Speed Ferry to/from Boston

5. Cape Cod Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

6. Mayflower Trolley Tour!

7. National Seashore Tour with Guided Hike

8. Portland, Maine Madness Scavenger Hunt

9. Cape Cod Kayak Rentals in the Great Marsh

10. Truro Cape Cod Lighthouse and Highland House Museum Tour

11. Wine and Wine Jelly-Sauce Tasting on Plymouth Bay

12. Cape Cod Provincetown 1-Day Tour from Boston

13. Provincetown Prowl Scavenger Hunt

14. Kayak The Creek Nature Tour

15. Cape Cod Explorer Tour

16. Day Tour of Plymouth and Cape Cod from Boston

17. Cape Cod Caper Scavenger Hunt

18. Private Open-Air Pedicab Tour in Provincetown

19. Massachusetts Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tours Bundle

20. Private Guided Night Photography Tours on Cape Cod (for one photographer.)

21. Cape Cod Sunset Private Charter

22. Spend the Day on Buzzards Bay Sailing and Powerboat Excursions

23. Cape Cod Helicopter Tour

24. Provincetown Scavenger Hunt: The Crown Jewel of Cape Cod

25. Cape Cod and Provincetown Private Driving Tour

26. MA Cape and The Island Tour

27. Private Province Town Pedicab Tour

28. Cape Cod Sunset Kayak Tour

29. Plymouth Puzzling Adventure

30. Private Professional Vacation Photoshoot in Cape Cod

What travelers are saying.

Great White Shark Sightseeing Tours | Cape Cod

Great White Shark Sightseeing Tours 

Capt. Mike Hogan and the Salty Cape Crew join Capt. Cullen Lundholm, of Cape Star Charters, on a Great White Shark sightseeing expedition on the backside of Cape Cod.

With the rise of Great Whites in the waters around Cape Cod, tourists and locals alike are left feeling a lot of the same emotions – shock, wonder, terror and absolute amazement – as these “gentle giants” are almost sure to cruise by your boat, whether you see it or not!

Capt. Cullen Lundholm is now offering these adventure tours to those brave enough to get up close and personal with the Great Whites. With an experienced guide and a hired spotter plane, you’re almost guaranteed to see these apex predators in their natural habitat. Contact Capt. Lundholm today to book a trip that is sure to be unforgettable!

Related Posts

Sight Casting Topwater Tuna Getting Under Aggressive Birds and Targeting Slow Feeding Tuna  The season we all have been…

Rigging the Poon Harpoon  Gifted to Capt. Mike Hogan over 10 years ago by the late founder and president…

 Capt. Mike’s offshore rigging bag is comprised of every rigging component you could possibly need for a day of…

The Tuna Grade Epoxy Jig  The 40z Hogy Tuna Rigged Epoxy Jig is a very large epoxy jig that…

Hogy Offshore Sand Eel Jig  “The specific jig we’ll be fishing today is the 8oz Sand Eel Jig with…

Slow Pitch Tuna Jigging | Harness Pro Tail Eel  A couple of weeks ago, Capt. Mike Hogan and the…

We spent 15 minutes on the phone with Capt. Terry Nugent to discuss casting to topwater tuna with the Charter…

Slow Jigging the Hogy Harness Jigs for Giant Bluefin Tuna East of Chatham Capt. Mike Hogan and the Hogy Crew…

 Capt. Mike from Salty Cape and Hogy Lures steams out East of Chatham aboard his 28′ Contender for an…

CAPE COD FISHING SPOTS, REPORTS AND VIDEOS - STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

White Star Tours

Location & hours.

Suggest an edit

26 E Lancaster Ave

Reading, PA 19607

You Might Also Consider

Triglide Travel

Established in 2023, Triglide Travel, based in Southampton, serves Montgomery County, PA, Chester County, PA, as well as surrounding areas, acting as the trusted travel advisor for people who seek extraordinary journeys. Our travel… read more

in Travel Agents

Belizareht Transport

Freight shipping company Thad offers a costumise solution to any job read more

in Public Transportation

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about White Star Tours .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

Our group went to Lancaster to Sight and Sound and some other plays . We had a great time . The bus driver was very respectful and courteous . If I go on another trip for 3 days I will pick this company.

The tour was nice but the bus was horrible. They sent a bus knowing that they were having trouble with the air conditioning system. It was either 40 degrees or 100 degrees. No in between. Many of us are sick now. When I went to find out about the Wi-Fi the driver took his phone and teetered it on the steering wheel while diving in heavy traffic on 95 for about 3 minutes. We found that there was no password but the driver didn't know that and was trying to look stuff up on his phone. Very dangerous and illegal. Many seats were broken and the bus leaked from the roof where there was a taped up area. If our church uses white star tours again I'll stay home.

I just got home from the worst bus trip I have ever taken. White star was horrible in planning and the bus broke down so it delayed our trip 4 hours! From beginning to end the trip was a disaster! I will never use them again.

Stay away from this company!! I went on a bus tour to Mackinac Island, Michigan this week, it was the worst experience I've ever had. This company changed our hotel stay while we were on our way to where we were scheduled to go. Instead of the nice hotel we had booked, they changed it and put us in a motel, yes a motel a $90.00 a night motel. The itinerary was absolutely horrible! Out of the six days trip, we were on the bus 4 days. Meals and restaurants were scheduled too close to each other or the schedule was changed last minute. I cannot even give this company a star, but that's the lowest choice I have.

On a recent trip to Canada, I found it to be nothing but a huge disappointment. For one, the bus driver did not know where he was going....had no sense of direction. Never was able to have us leave our destination on time. The tour that we were scheduled was nothing but a waste of time. Going to Toronto to see China Town is not something that anyone wanted to do. No place to eat lunch or shop. Might as well have visited NYC!!!! I would NEVER recommend this tour company ever.

This company is absolutely clueless. They contacted my restaurant to feed their bus tour wanted me to comp their driver and give their driver free food as if it was 1994 and he picked this place when in fact he did not. When they were told they were gonna pay for the bus driver they said, well we don't know if this changes things will get back to you. Gave me two days notice. The check I received was not including the driver... bunch of thieves! I can choose to charge a bus driver, and they can choose not to do business, but they do not get to choose to be crooks. This company is trash! Run,run,run

My Finger Lakes, NY tour was an incredible waste of the $ 500+ it cost. It scheduled visits for the days the parks were not open. Pennsylvania Grand Canyon access and the Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Parks were scheduled to be closed on our tour dates. A wine tasting at a winery over an hour from our isolated ( nearest business was a car wash then a Goodwill .3 miles away) hotel was just that ; taste the wine we have poured as fast as you can and visit our store. No winery involved. No info about wine. No vines nearby to look at. Nothing. Drink up at 10AM and buy our stuff. Lunch on our own at a supermarket. Didn't see a lake except occasionally through trees along the highway for two of the three days! Only one meal was good. And that was rushed because the time allotted was shorter than the staff could handle. Poor scheduling. We spent more time riding the bus on highways than visiting places. We zigzagged across New York just out of sight of the lakes. Get someone on your staff who can use mapping apps and read websites for days places are open!

I will NEVER travel with white star tours again. We were suppose to be picked up at Summersville WV on august 9 at 8am. Bus broke down or wasn't even scheduled. We FINALLY got a bus around 2:30 pm. Then that bus dropped us off at 11:30 pm at our hotel. We were suppose to make it there at 4 or 5 pm. Next day(august 10) we had a different bus and driver. He told us we would not have him the next day. Next day,august 11, a bus showed up at our hotel. But we didn't know if it was going to or not. The very nice lady that was in charge of our trip, didn't even know a bus was gonna show until it did. Someone should have contacted the lady doing the trip, when they knew the bus wasn't going to show on Wednesday at the schedule time. Instead of her having to try to contact whoever at white star. From the way this whole thing was handled our group was VERY low on the priority list. Expectations for this business is very low for probably everyone that was on this trip. Everyone that traveled with this group were pleasant and no one really ranted, but everyone there agreed they would NEVER travel with white star tours again. Most everyone in this group was elderly. I was the youngest one ( in my 50s). They probably don't know how to use fb or any social media to tell you what a pain in the Butt this trip was. How inconsiderate of this company to jerk around a bunch of elderly ppl with health issues I don't know completely all about. One lady was on a portable oxygen. Some ppl had trouble walking around using canes. There was at least one older gentleman with the start of dementia that would get irritated about certain things. Maybe some of you all can related if you have older family members or friends with medical issues. Then image them getting jerked around by the incompetence of your company. Would you want to send them off on a messed up tour that we paid for??? Probably not.

Motorcoach picked us up for a 6 day tour of Nashville from Harford County Maryland. The coach air conditioning froze up in about an hour and a half to 2 hours. No air, no cup holders, no window blinds, no liquid from the upper windshield washer, some trash in rear of bus. A miserable experience. We called White Star and they sent another bus overnight. They transferred all our bags and the second bus was nicer but the bathroom door moved when unoccupied and the front roof vent leaked when it rained. The driver was angry with us the WHOLE trip. He would not speak to folks getting off and on the coach. He never offered a hand to anyone getting off or on the coach. He never even stood nearby. He never assisted with only 2 rollators in luggage compartment. He never held an umbrella at the door for us. He did not pick up at all itinerary stops if he thought we could walk. It was too much for some guests. He missed 2 exits and if we made any suggestions on the route he said it was dangerous and could cause an accident. The only positives were he got ice and water for us when I asked and he helped with movies, cd's playing and bluetooth connection for phone. He did offer to pick up another coach at Hagerstown or look for repairs in Nashville. That would have been traveling in 80 degree weather with no air for 2 days. We opted to stay on course and not stop to get another bus due to time constraints. But it became obvious we could not stand the heat in the motorcoach. It was a very bad experience. The last thing involved the tour guide in Nashville. All our tickets were to be delivered and waiting for us upon arrival at the Opryland Hotel. None of our 3 sets of tickets were there. I had to call White Star and then he delivered them to us. Not convenient as it should have been. Ticketed Grand Ole Oprey seats were on far side of theater near the front. We viewed on TV screen.

Our hotel Mariner Resort in Cape Cod was a complete disaster. Our trip was Sept. 2023 n the hotel had terrible rooms, very noisy exhaust fan in the bathroom, oh and by the way you had to turn it on because it was hooked into the light in the bathroom only one switch. Very noisy air conditioner rattled all night. The beds are on a platform and creaked all night when you moved around. TV always blacked out had to call for assistance 3 times. And finally the toilet stopped flushing and when we called they said no one could come until after 9 am we fixed ourselves. My last comment is that the service is terrible and lacks enthusiasm, it seems they look annoyed when asking for help. The last straw was we were told to put our luggage in front of our door by 7:00 am for pick up to be brought out to the tour bus. Luggage was still in front of door at 8:30 so we took it ourselves. Bus was leaving at 9:00. The only good thing about our trip was our driver, Lee. He was fantastic, very gracious and pleasant. Anytime I go on a tour I will make sure it is not with White Star Tours you definitely need to improve on what hotels you recommend.

5 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Line Limousine

Arrive in style with Line Limousine. Our luxurious fleet and professional chauffeurs ensure a premium experience for any occasion. From weddings to corporate events, trust Line Limousine for elegance, comfort, and exceptional… read more

People Also Viewed

Conestoga Tours

Klein Transportation

Colebrookdale Railroad

Refreshing Mountain Retreat and Adventure Center

Andrew’s Transportation

Westlake Tours

Hershey Trolley Works

Reading & Blue Mountan & Northern Railroad

Londonderry Limousines, Ltd

Best of Reading

Things to do in Reading

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Things to Do

Transportation

Other Places Nearby

Find more Tours near White Star Tours

Find more Travel Services near White Star Tours

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

(508) 896-3300

• Gift Certificates

Authors: Marco & Angelo

We own the Candleberry Inn, a boutique bed and breakfast in central Cape Cod. We're glad to share our recommendations on all the great things to explore throughout Cape Cod.

9 Cape Cod Shark Tours & Experiences This Year

Over the last decade or so, there has been an increase in the number of great white sharks that migrate to Cape Cod waters. While some people feel shock and terror as a result, others are amazed and curious about these giant fish. If you’re in the latter category, you might want to see the sharks for yourself.

Get our free Cape Cod Vacation Guide, full of the best things to do in Cape Cod. The best activities, restaurants, museums, events, views, and much more!

Luckily, you can choose from a variety of Cape Cod shark tours — all of which make safety a priority.

What You Should Know About Great White Sharks

You already know that great white sharks are marine predators, but you may enjoy your Cape Cod shark tour more if you’re armed with more unique facts. First of all, they aren’t the mindless killing machines as portrayed in the 1975 film “Jaws.” In fact, only 33% to 50% of the average 100 annual shark attacks worldwide are attributed to great whites.

Despite that, great whites are the biggest predatory fish on the planet, growing to an average 15 feet long and weighing more than 1 ton on average. Some of them grow longer than 20 feet and weigh 2.5 tons or more. They have several rows of up to 300 triangular teeth, too.

In general, great whites prefer cool water along coastlines, like around Cape Cod. Regardless, there’s been a rise in shark sightings because the seal population has climbed over the years. As the sharks mature, they develop a bigger appetite, and their favorite prey becomes seals and other small marine mammals. That’s why most great white shark attacks on humans aren’t fatal, and any fatal attack is likely because the marine predators mistake people for prey, according to research.

In appearance, great white sharks are slate gray on top, which helps them blend in with the rocky sea floor. Their bellies are white, which is where the name comes from. Shaped like torpedoes, they have powerful tails and can swim up to 15 mph and completely breach the surface of the water — similar to whales — while feeding.

Rising Interest in Cape Cod Shark Adventures

Thousands of people have been interested in Cape Cod shark tours for decades because “Jaws” was mainly filmed from Martha’s Vineyard. But with the shark population increasing since 2010, the shark ecotourism game has changed.

In summer 2018, there were two great white shark attacks off the coast — one of which was fatal, the first in the state since 1936. Since then, officials have improved equipment and training for first responders and lifeguards to keep public beaches safe. When sharks are spotted close to the shore, swimming beaches temporarily close.

Meanwhile, many businesses and charter boat operators have started to embrace Cape Cod’s great white shark reputation. Some businesses have amped up the availability of shark-themed merchandise — such as clothing, jewelry, popular stickers, and more. Charters are now offering boat tours alongside fishing, seal, and whale watching excursions. A state marine biologist told Associated Press that this shark tourism industry could be beneficial for studying the fish, as long as the tours are done responsibly.

And they are. Most Cape Cod shark tour operators stay at least hundreds of yards offshore to avoid changing the fish’s natural behavior and encouraging them to swim into shallow water near beaches.

Best Cape Cod Shark Tours & Adventures

With these great white shark details, you can really enjoy a shark tour. All of the tours below are only available between July and November because that’s the time of year great whites are in Cape Cod waters.

While great white sharks may be the focus of many tours, other sharks that swim around the peninsula include blue, mako, porbeagle, and thresher sharks.

Dive Bounty Hunter

There’s only one operator (that we know of) that offers shark cage diving operations off Cape Cod — Dive Bounty Hunter . Departing from locations in South Yarmouth, Nantucket Island, and Martha’s Vineyard, the company has a super strong cage that it custom built for viewing sharks from underwater. Masks, snorkels, and wetsuits are provided, but you can use your own gear as well. Those who don’t want to get into the water, though, can still get a good view of the powerful silhouette from the boat cockpit. Each trip lasts more than 6 hours dock to dock.

White Shark Tours Cape Cod

Operating from Sesuit Harbor in South Dennis and Bass River in South Yarmouth, White Shark Tours Cape Cod with Captain Cullen Lundholm offers private charters to observe sharks in their natural habitat. A spotter pilot flies over the 27-foot Conch boat to assist with sightings and offer the best great white shark viewing experience possible. The company boasts seeing multiple sharks within meters of the boat on each trip, which lasts about 3 hours.

Jail Break Fishing Charters

Offering two different Cape Cod shark tours, Jail Break Fishing Charters operates out of Saquatucket Harbor in Harwich Port. The Bluefin Tuna/Shark Tour takes you on a fishing excursion for bluefin tuna, one of the most aggressive and fastest fish in the ocean. Shark fishing is allowed too, just not for great whites. The Great White Shark & Seal Tour, though, takes you on a sightseeing tour of these marine creatures and doesn’t include fishing.

Stick N’ Rudder Aero Tours

For a look at great white sharks from the sky, book a flight with Stick N’ Rudder Aero Tours , which flies from Chatham Municipal Airport. This 55-minute sightseeing flight covers the lower region of Cape Cod and Monomoy Island, but it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll see the giant fish. However, you’re guaranteed to see gorgeous beaches, lighthouses, and seals.

BlueWater Entertainment

From Chatham, the world’s premier destination for viewing great white sharks, BlueWater Entertainment offers shark tours alongside its whale watching, fishing, and other boat cruises. You have the option between taking the tour with a spotter plane or not. Paying the extra for the spotter plane, though, greatly improves the chance that you’ll see great whites and other sharks.

Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

Located in Chatham, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy has a few shark-related boat adventures. The Receiver Excursion is a 1-hour cruise in Chatham Harbor that involves retrieving a shark receiver and analyzing the data to see if a tagged great white has passed through the area. The Private White Shark Expeditions give you the opportunity to see the apex predators and learn about them.

The AWSC does more than offer shark watching tours. It’s a nonprofit shark research group dedicated to educating people about sharks, as well as improving proactive shark safety measures and researching these fish. You can take an in-depth look at great white sharks at the Shark Center, which has interactive exhibits, virtual reality experiences, and video displays.

Monomoy Sportfishing

Of the many charter boat operators on Cape Cod, Monomoy Sportfishing in Chatham has the most experience running great white shark tours. As a matter of fact, it’s the peninsula’s original Great White Shark cruise business. The company works with a professional spotter pilot. During the 2-hour tour, the boat captain can communicate privately and in real-time with the spotter pilot to get as close to the sharks as safety allows.

Although seeing great whites isn’t guaranteed, Monomoy Sportfishing boasts a more than 99% success rate. And, if you want to see more than great white sharks, it offers a 4-hour combo tour with whale watching.

Down Cape Charters & Boat Rentals

From Harwich, Down Cape Charters & Boat Rentals offers Cape Cod shark tours through Shark Alley. This area is a stretch of open Atlantic water along the coast of Nauset Beach, Chatham, and Monomoy Island. Every cruise lasts about 2 hours on the Bellamy, a U.S. Coast Guard inspected vessel. An experienced, licensed captain and a private spotter aircraft lead the hunt for the great white predator.

A naturalist guide provides interesting facts along the way about shark anatomy and physiology, conservation efforts, and the peak shark sightings over the last 10 years. Also, the tour includes viewing the seal colony population and learning about the delicate balance between seal conservation and the safety of the public.

Dragonfly Sportfishing

Dragonfly Sportfishing is another operator that offers Cape Cod Great White Shark Tours with assistance from a private spotter plane. Before each 2.5-hour tour, Captain Mike Bosley and his team assess sea conditions, recent sightings, and weather to give you an accurate probability of seeing these marine predators. If you want to extend your time on the 23-foot SeaCraft, you can for an additional per-hour fee.

Staying Safe While Swimming in Cape Cod Waters

Cape Cod shark tours offer the best experience that you can safely get with great whites. However, it’s possible to see these predatory fish from dozens of beaches along the outer arm of the peninsula. Nauset Beach on Cape Cod has the most shark sightings, so it’s wise to know if a shark is nearby when you’re in the water.

Essentially, sharks could be nearby if you see a patch of dark water with white dots flying up in the air. This indicates that a school of fish is in a feeding frenzy. The commotion and resulting bloody chum can attract investigative sharks.

If you’re nearby, you could be mistaken for food. You should remain calm as you head to shore, sticking near other people as you do. Sharks are more intimidated by groups of people (and prey). If a shark is coming at you aggressively (which is very rare), use any objects nearby — like rocks or Boogie boards — to strike sensitive spots on the shark, such as the eyes and gills.

Getting Rest for Your Excursion at Candleberry Inn

When you plan a trip to such a popular vacation destination and want to enjoy Cape Cod shark tours, you need your beauty sleep. Our beds at Candleberry Inn feature Matouk bedding, so a good night of sleep is practically guaranteed. Every morning, we serve a first-class breakfast to give you energy for your adventures ahead. On top of that, our central location in Brewster is within a short drive of many things to do on Cape Cod .

Share this post

Your Ultimate Guide to Whale Watching on Cape Cod

30 Best Spring Things to Do on Cape Cod in March, April, & May

19 BEST Cape Cod Things to Do in Brewster MA

Cape Cod’s Complete Guide to Visiting Crosby Mansion in Brewster MA

13 Fantastic Spots for Shopping in Brewster MA

Your Complete Guide to Brewster Historical Society Attractions, Events, & More

• Last Updated October 12, 2023

The Candleberry Inn Cape Cod Bed and Breakfast. A boutique bed and breakfast inn in Cape Cod. Awarded Best of the Best in the United States by TripAdvisor.

• Accommodations

1882 Main St Brewster, MA 02631, USA

[email protected]

Copyright © 2024 — Candleberry Inn Cape Cod Bed and Breakfast. All rights reserved.

• Accessibility

Website & Marketing Powered by Red Oak Local

Cape Cod Sportfishing at its finest

Book your cape cod sportfishing trip with cape star charters.

meet your captain

Captain Cullen Lundholm is a seasoned sportfishing captain based out of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

fishing trip options

We primarily target Bluefin tuna and striped bass using a number of different techniques including live bait fishing.

cape cod sportfishing

Cape Cod is a world-renowned destination for many extremely sought-after species of sport fish.

Charter Options

Sportfishing Charters

From spring haddock, Black Sea bass and early-season stripers, to the larger mid-summer striped bass and the elusive giant bluefin tuna, Cape Star offers a variety of charter options.

White Shark Tours

Captain Cullen also offers White Shark eco tours from mid-July through November where you can view the sharks in their natural habitat up close and personal.

Find out what sets us apart

Contact INfo

GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH "THE" SHARK

Call us now to book a tour of a lifetime:

774-283-2186

Join us on a private tour viewing Cape Cod great white sharks in their natural habitat. You will be amazed watching these sharks along side the boat in the shallow waters of the Cape. The cold waters surrounding Cape Cod with tons of seals and fish makes a great habitat for these amazing sharks. 

Main Location: 

Bass River Boat Ramp

220 South St, South Yarmouth, Ma 02664

*NOTE THAT OUR DEPARTURE LOCATION DOES CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER AND OUR ABILITY TO TRAILER THE BOAT ALL OVER CAPE COD. WE ARE ABLE TO USE FOUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS*

Our captains Matt and Ben have been on the water their whole life. Growing up around Cape Cod they have great knowledge of the waters. Over the years they have seen a drastic growth in the white shark population and have become vastly interested in it. Between fishing charters and shark tours both captains spend numerous hours on the water and have a great passion for the outdoors.

Tour Details & Pricing

On your tour, you are guaranteed * to see at least one cape cod great white shark, although the majority of our customers are able to view five to ten plus sharks in one outing..

The Cape Cod White Sharks that we view vary in size from smaller sharks in the range of 8-10 feet long, to much larger sharks pushing 20 feet long. Once leaving the dock, we will run across one of Cape Cod’s inner waterways.   Occasionally, we will be able to spot sharks inside of the bays, although the vast majority of the Cape Cod Great White Shark viewing will take place on the outer beaches of Cape Cod.   The waters in which we view the sharks will vary in depths from 4 to 15 ft.  The underwater white sandbar tidal flats give us a beautiful viewing point for these sharks. Our Cape Cod Great White Shark tours are an excellent way to view not only the Great White Sharks, but also the diverse aquatic ecosystem of Cape Cod.  On your trip you will likely see many ocean dwelling birds, feeding fish, seals, and other wildlife in addition to the pinnacle of the trip: the North Atlantic Great White Shark. Great White Sharks are a protected species and we treat them as such.  We are viewing them in their natural habitat and do so in a way that we do not disturb them.  We often times get close to the sharks without interrupting them, but if a shark’s behavior shows any sign that it feels threatened or uneasy, we will back off and search for another shark. We recommend wearing polarized sunglasses on your trip for a better viewing experience. We also suggest you pack sunblock, a snack or lunch, drinks, a camera, and that you dress in layers. If you have any additional questions please use the contact page to reach out. * So far, we have had an excellent success rate, but if for some reason no sharks are observed during your trip you will receive a 50% discount off the cost of your tour. **Please note, all tours are subject to suitable weather conditions.

Cape Cod Trip Cost

Nantucket trip cost, trip duration, number of passengers, launch locations.

Bass River 220 South St., South Yarmouth, MA 02664

Sesuit Harbor 74 Cold Storage Road, Dennis, MA 02660

River Road 99 River Rd. Orleans, MA 02653

10 Massachusetts whale and shark tours to go on this summer

• Published: Aug. 13, 2022, 6:35 a.m.

Paulie, a great white shark, has been detected multiple times this year near Outer Cape Cod beaches. (Photo courtesy of Atlantic White Shark Conservancy).

• Will Katcher | [email protected]

The waters off the coast of Massachusetts are teeming with marine life. White sharks with names such as Heath Ledger and Fruit Loops swim daily by popular Cape Cod beaches. In Boston Harbor and off the coast of Plymouth, whales have spent recent weeks splashing around and sometimes sailing through the air.

Seeing photos of the colossal fish and mammals can be awe-inspiring. Seeing the creatures up close is something else entirely.

Whale watches have been a popular excursion for decades, bringing the public to the high seas in search of whales in their natural habitat. But as sharks — notably great white sharks, also known as white sharks — have grown in population and prominence in recent decades, shark tours have increasingly drawn visitors hoping to catch sight of the toothy predators.

These 10 shark and whale tours are all operating in Massachusetts this summer.

North Atlantic right whales sighted in Cape Cod Bay on March 21, 2021 (Center for Coastal Studies)

New England Aquarium Whale Watch — Boston

Run partnership with Boston Harbor City Cruises, the New England Aquarium’s whale watch sets sail from Boston for Stellwagen Bank .

The 840-square-mile preserve, New England’s only national marine sanctuary, sits between Cape Ann and Cape Cod and is a top spot for spotting whales in their natural habitat. The area is home to humpback whales, finback whales, minke whales, pilot whales and critically endangered right whales — along with white-sided dolphins, sea birds and other ocean creatures.

Tickets are $65 for adults with discounts for seniors and children. If there are no whales spotted on the journey, guests receive a free ticket to a future whale watch.

Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises — Hyannis

For around three to four hours any day of the week, hop on board the Whale Watcher and set sail for Stellwagen Bank.

Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises began operating in 1980, and their captains have a combined half-century years of whale watching experience. Throughout the trip, the staff provides an entertaining and educational experience, the company said, answering questions from guests and sharing in the experience as they search for whales. Trips run daily — once in the morning and once in the afternoon — through mid-September, after which they go to once-a-day.

Tickets are $73 for adults, with discounts for seniors, children and active military members.

A whale breaches the water near a whale watch tour run by the Dolphin Fleet, based in Provincetown, Massachusetts, June 26, 2007. (Photo by Kim Hojackni, via the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism).

Dolphin Fleet — Provincetown

Provincetown’s signature whale watch company has operated for nearly 50 years.

Their primary whale watching spots are also in Stellwagen Bank, near its southern edge close to Cape Cod. “P-town” is closer to the sanctuary than other parts of the state, making for a shorter travel time and a longer period of whale watching. The trip lasts about three to four hours, during which the trip naturalist will discuss the sights visitors see in the ocean around them. Guests can also check out the science center onboard each Dolphin Fleet boat, where they can track the boat’s trip and learn about whales and their habitat. Trips run throughout the day during the summer and into the early fall.

Tickets are $70 for adults, with discounts for children and seniors. If no whales are spotted, the company provides a ticket for a future trip.

Captain John Boats — Plymouth and Provincetown

Heading out from Plymouth or P-Town, the three or four hour tour will sail for Cape Cod Bay or Stellwagen Bank bank in search of humpback, finback, minke, right and pilot whales.

The trip is led by a marine biologist, who will teach guests about the ecosystem and animals around them and answer questions throughout the day. The program has even been adopted as a science curriculum in some schools, the company said. Trips from Plymouth run daily through the end of August but continue on some days a week into October. Provincetown tours run only in July and August.

Tickets are $70 for adults, with discounts for seniors and children. Whales are spotted 99% of the time, the company said, but tickets to future whale watches are provided if the trip does not spot a whale.

Whale watchers on Stellwagen Bank, a marine sanctuary between Cape Cod and Cape Ann. (Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism via Flickr Creative Commons).

BlueWater Entertainment — Chatham

Some people prefer a more private whale watching experience . Launching from Chatham, BlueWater Entertainment may provide it.

Up to six people can join Chatham native Capt. Matt Mendoza for a two-and-a-half-hour whale watch tour, though bigger groups can be booked on a multi-boat trip. The price will be a bit steeper — $950 for the group — but from a smaller boat, the experience puts guests closer to the water and all it holds.

In search of great whites and other fearsome fish

And then there are the shark tours.

Cape Cod has slowly and tentatively embraced its shark community as the population of marine predators rises, even in the wake of a 2018 fatal attack in Wellfleet. Stores sell keychains and bumper stickers bearing white sharks. Clothing companies print great whites on hoodies and t-shirts. And a growing cohort of charter boat operators now offer white shark tours, taking tourists and locals out in search of the creatures, just as they might on a whale watch, the Associated Press reported last summer.

Great White Sharks spotted along Nauset Beach and Cape Cod National Seashore on August 12, 2021, in Chatham, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald) MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Shark tours are far more expensive than a whale watch excursion. According to the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, there are no tour guides comparable to the whale watch companies that take dozens of people out on large boats at a time. Shark tours are primarily a business of independent captains operating on their own boats for smaller groups.

But for those with a hunger to see a great white or other species of shark in their element, these tours may be the answer.

Mindi Moran, of Portland, Maine, watches a great white shark swims past while on shark watch with Dragonfly Sportfishing charters off the Massachusetts' coast of Cape Cod, on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) AP

Dragonfly Sportfishing — Orleans

In a two-and-a-half-hour charter, guests onboard saw six sharks cruising through the water, some of which would venture toward the surface, allowing a closer view, according to the AP .

“It’s awe-inspiring, really,” Michael Simard said after his tour. “I didn’t realize how graceful they were. It does put it into perspective that this is their element, and we just share it with them.”

For a group of up to six people, trips cost $1,600. The cost includes a small companion airplane flying above, keeping an eye out for the distinctive shadow of a shark, and directing the boat’s captain below. The use of a spotter plane is common practice for some, but not all, of the shark tour companies on the Cape.

Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a top nonprofit studying and tracking sharks off Cape Cod, also offers chartered tours in partnership with local captains.

Accompanied by one of the AWSC’s naturalists, guests participate in what the organization calls “citizen science” — logging white shark sightings, using a hydrophone to determine if a shark has already been tagged and recording observations to share with researchers.

Trips for groups of up to six people run run until mid-October and cost $2,500.

Iceland, a great white shark, swimming off the coast of Cape Cod. (Photo courtesy of Atlantic White Shark Conservancy).

Down Cape Charters — Harwich

This tour focuses on “Shark Alley,” a stretch of ocean off the coast of the Lower Cape, between Monomoy Island in Chatham and Nauset Beach in Orleans.

Seals frequent the area, making it a hotbed of shark activity as well. On the tour, guests learn about shark anatomy and physiology, conservation efforts and the jump in shark population in recent decades, while also taking sight of the also-growing seal population.

Private charters for the three-hour tour range from $1,950 for up to six people to $2,650 for up to 14. Group expeditions cost $295 per person. Both tours use a spotter plane.

A nine foot great white shark swims beneath the harpoon boat, Ezyduzit, off of the eastern point of South Monomoy in Chatham, Mass on Saturday, July 31 2010. After a spotter plane saw the great white swimming near South Beach Friday, officials closed the eastern shore of the beach to swimming for the weekend. The swimming closure stretches from south of Lighthouse Beach to Monomoy Island. (AP Photo,Wendy Maeda, Pool) ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chatham Shark Tours — Chatham

Billed as Cape Cod’s first white shark tour , the company operates out of Chatham in the heart of the region’s white shark and seal habitats.

As with other private charters, this tour utilizes a spotter plane to get “right on the sharks,” its website said, adding: “When we say ‘on the sharks’, we mean you can’t safely get any closer!” Tours run a little more than two hours and cost $1,950. But for $2,750, guests can embark on a combo whale-and-shark tour.

Jail Break Fishing Charters Great White Shark and Seal Tour — Harwich Port

Despite the name of the company, this tour is not for fishing.

This is a tour for getting out on the ocean and spending a serious chunk of the day in search of the creatures that call the waters off Cape Cod home. Guests will spend six hours tour combing the Atlantic Ocean near Monomoy Island for white sharks, seals and humpback whales.

Tours run for $1,200 or $1,100 in cash and can carry up to six people. To book, visit the company or call Capt. Seamus Muldoon at 508-237-3962.

A bonus option: Cape Cod Shark Diving

For the bravest among us: Cape Cod Shark Diving offers both cage dives and open water dives .

Guides take participants out in search of blue sharks, mako sharks, basking sharks and great whites, all of which can be found in the waters off the Cape and Islands. No dive certification or experience is necessary.

For $325 per head, guests can book up a dive trip for a group of up to six people. Pickups are available on Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, as well as in Fairhaven.

Related Content:

• Cape Cod sharks: Which were detected near beaches this weekend? Scarface and Cow were frequent visitors
• Best Massachusetts beaches: 10 top spots to visit on Cape Cod, North Shore and South Shore this summer
• Massachusetts ideas for adrenaline junkies: 10 best places to get your blood pumping

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Harry Connick Jr. Lists Cape Cod Retreat for $12.5 Million

By Michelle Duncan

Just in time for summer buyers, singer and actor Harry Connick Jr. is bidding adieu to his Cape Cod vacation home. According to the Wall Street Journal , the Grammy-winning jazz musician and his wife of 30 years, model Jill Goodacre Connick, are asking $12.5 million for the 1960s-built mansion in the Massachusetts town of Chatham. The couple purchased the shingle-style home for $5.6 million dollars in 2006 and typically spent the summer and early autumn at the property with their three daughters.

The 5,300-square-foot abode sits on a 1.3-acre bluff along the Oyster Pond shore, a saltwater basin that flows into Nantucket Sound. Large French doors and double-hung windows offer sweeping views of the water from almost every room in the house. The pair made extensive renovations to the original structure, including a new kitchen, family room, and primary suite, which includes a space where Connick Jr. would work on his music.

The five-bedroom house, which is being sold fully furnished, has a typical coastal New England aesthetic with white walls, clean lines, and minimalist furniture. Pine planks pave the floors and matching reclaimed wood is featured throughout—including kitchen counters—to create a seamless feel between the old and newly renovated sections.

The home’s lawn and pool sit on the edge of the bluff between the house and the pond. A staircase and a lengthy gangway lead from the lawn to a private dock below.

Don't miss the AD PRO-exclusive workshop—Photo Finish: How to Showcase Your Project

Connick Jr, who is also a seasoned actor, best known for his roles in the 2007 film P.S. I Love You and as Debra Messing ’s TV husband in the hit sitcom Will & Grace , is currently on tour. He stars in the upcoming Netflix movie Find Me Falling .

More Great Celebrity Style Stories From AD

After Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Ignited a Conversation Around Race and Genre, Looking Back at the Spaces Where Black Country Music Thrived

We’re Enamored With the Design in Ripley —Here Are Our Top 5 Favorite Details From the Thrilling Netflix Series

Inside Benny Blanco’s Eclectic LA Home, Which Doubles as Hollywood’s Favorite Hangout

15 Pictures of the Most Glamorous 1950s Celebrities at Home

Windsor Castle: Inside the 1,000-Year-Old History of the Royal Residence

20 Years After Mean Girls , Regina George’s Bedroom Still Reigns Supreme

Inside Bad Bunny’s Houses: Tour Where the Latin Superstar Lives

The 8 Prettiest Celebrity Wedding Venues

Not a subscriber? Join AD for print and digital access now.

Browse the  AD PRO Directory to find an  AD -approved design expert for your next project.

By Stephanie Sporn

By Maya Ibbitson

By Charlotte Collins