Especially in Chatham, the summer and fall seasons are when the seals love to play on Cape Cod.

Seal watching is a curious event and many of us find them irresistible and cute. On the Cape, there are several tours that provide up-close views of these playful and adorable animals.

One such tour is called “Beachcomber Tours.”

Just keep an eye out for the yellow ships!

In Chatham Harbor you will often see yellow Beachcomber boats. This is where Beachcomber Tours offers adventurous Cape Cod Seal Tours. Common locations are the North Beach, Break, and Chatham Light canals.

So you can feel comfortable knowing your family is in good hands: ALL Beachcomber captains are US Coast Guard licensed captains.

Cape Cod Fur Seals

The most common seals you will end up seeing are harbor seals and gray seals. The most abundant seals in New England are the harbor seals. Often found near harbor entrances, they enjoy sunbathing along the beaches and relaxing in the Chatham shoals.

You’ll find that gray seals are rarer in other parts of the country, but here on Cape Cod people have recorded sightings off the coast of Chatham and Nantucket. This is the southernmost breeding ground for gray seals. Did you know that the number of these seals is regulated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service?

The best time to observe seals

On a sunny afternoon, around noon is the best time to go seal-watching, within two hours of low tide. Look, seals can’t move very well on land. When the tide is high, the seals anchor on the submerged piers. However, when the tide is low, the seals are exposed, relaxing on the jetty and basking in the sun.

The Cape Cod Fur Seals are truly one of Cape Cod’s most amazing tourist attractions, so why put off your seal watching tour?