You’ll rarely run out of things to see and do when spending your vacation in Provincetown. After all, this is perhaps Cape Cod’s liveliest community, and its days and nights are full of activities for all ages.
While you could spend your entire vacation entertaining yourself without much trouble, embarking on a tour at some point during your stay is also a consideration. These tours can take you over land or into the ocean, depending on your preferences, and will give you access to an experienced guide along the way.
How you choose to spend your vacation is up to you, but Provincetown is home to some unique features that make it a great place to explore.
Here’s a look at some of the most popular tour operators in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Whale Watching Tours
Some of the most sought-after tours departing from Provincetown are the whale watching vessels. These fleets leave Provincetown Harbor from the MacMillian Pier and generally head north to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. From there, viewing humpbacks, right whales, fin whales, minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises is remarkably common.
The largest of these tour operators is Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch, a company with four large boats and up to 12 departure times per day. This operator offers a whale sighting guarantee and has a very high success rate, as well.
Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch has an onboard concession, and the tours take three or four hours to complete, giving you plenty of time to get a sighting in. An experienced naturalist will guide you through the outing and point things out along the way.
SeaSalt Charters is a smaller tour operator offering whale watching voyages from Provincetown. They have private and shared tour options available and also provide fishing charters. You can combine your private whale watching excursion with a deep-sea fishing trip, too.
Keep in mind that SeaSalt Charters only has a single boat, so you’ll need to book well in advance if you have your heart set on using them.
Fishing Tours
Another option for doing some deep-sea fishing from Provincetown is Chas’n Tails Fishing Charters, which operates from a 28-foot custom ROS Downeast with an enclosed cabin and plenty of space for your entire group.
The crew will supply your bait and tackle, so you don’t have to bring anything with you to the Cape, and they’ll even clean and fillet your catch at the end of the day. That way, you can return directly to your vacation rental and cook up the freshest fish imaginable.
If you take their tuna-catching trip, there’s a good chance you’ll see some whales on your excursion, too, because the vessel heads to the Stellwagen Bank. Chas’n Tails Fishing Charters also does sunset cruises into Provincetown Harbor, allowing you to end your day in style.
Tour the Dunes
Art’s Dune Tours has been in operation for about 75 years and has provided countless Provincetown visitors with memorable experiences in that time.
The company offers daily tours of the Cape Cod National Seashore’s protected dunes. These trips are their most popular option. The journey only takes about an hour, so you can quickly experience this one-of-a-kind landscape before carrying on with your day.
Other tours available through Art’s Dune Tours include their sunset tours to Race Point Beach, including dinner and a bonfire, and their dune and water tours, which combine the traditional dune tour with kayaking, sailing, or speed boating.
No matter which excursion you select through Art’s Dune Tours, you can trust that your day will be a memorable one.
Sailboat Tour
Dog Gone Sailing Charters operates a sailboat out of Provincetown Harbor that will take you on a few different cruise types, depending on your preferences.
Available options include a one-and-a-half-hour trip around the bay, a sunset cruise, a half-day excursion into Herring Cove, or a full-day trip that will take you to the Stellwagen Bank or Wellfleet.
If you love sailing, this tour operator might be an option for you.
Making the Most of Your Trip to Provincetown
There’s an abundance of activity in Provincetown, and you might find yourself too busy to take one of these tours. However, they’re well worth making time for because you’ll get to see some things that most other Cape Cod visitors fail to experience.
Few locations allow you to get up close to humpbacks and right whales with regular frequency or enjoy a bonfire on the dunes overlooking the ocean. Provincetown’s tour operators provide both of those adventures and many more.
Provincetown is unique not only because of its vibrant Commercial Street but also the natural features surrounding it. Booking a vacation rental in this magical part of the world offers you the unprecedented opportunity to get to know this one-of-a-kind community.
