Canada · PACIFIC COAST WHALE & MARINE WILDLIFE
33 reviewed
Resident and transient orcas, humpbacks from July, sea lions all year. Below are the 15 best whale trips out of Vancouver, Victoria and Tofino, with boat type, time on the water, what happens if nothing shows, and what each costs.
Vancouver whale watching from Granville Island on a heated catamaran, with free wildlife photos, expert naturalists, and hot drinks.
“The ship was clean and covered many Km2. Qe saw stellar seals but no whales..rhey told us we can get future excursion for free as long as we show up. We might do that.”
Zodiac whale watching in Tadoussac with bilingual naturalists, waterproof gear, and possible Saguenay Fjord cruising, 2 to 2.5 hours.
“Loved the Zodiac boat! You get to go really near to the whales!”
5-hour Vancouver whale watching from Granville Island on a heated catamaran, with free photos, onboard narration, and a whale-spotting guarantee.
“Very knowledgeable & excellent idea giving us their photos via email.”
Victoria whale watching on a spacious catamaran with heated cabin and free high-resolution photo package, naturalist talks, and whale guarantee.
“I’ve always hesitated to do a whale watching tour for fear of being one of those heartless boats that chases and harasses the animals. So I was very pleased to see that this tour operator explained why they were not getting too close and other things they did to ensure the whales’ safety and comfort. The naturalists on board were really knowledgeable about not just whales in general but about the specific pod we were watching. Although we kept our distance, one of the whales swam right up to the boat and then passed underneath a few times. It was beyond thrilling. The boat had a variety of spots to…”
3-hour AML Cruises whale watch from Tadoussac, with bilingual naturalist spotting, Saguenay Fjord views, and a whale-spotting guarantee.
“We paid a little more for the VIP opytion. Excellent experience. We were looked after very well and lunch was an impressive selection of local produce and was delicious. We watched 3 humpback whales feeding together which was an incredible sight. A shame that we then did not have enough time to see any belugas in the fjord.”
3.5-hour Victoria whale and wildlife cruise with a certified naturalist, a whale sighting guarantee, and free return if none.
“This experience was excellent! The staff incredibly knowledgeable and the captain fantastic. We were lucky enough to see many humpbacks, sea lions and other wildlife. Definitely a highlight of our trip to Victoria!”
Orcas and humpbacks off Vancouver, with a strong sighting rate, comfy boat time, and optional shuttle or parking for an easy day.
“We had a wonderful time on the whale watch! We saw 5 humpbacks and tons of sea lions and harbor seals. Highly recommend.”
Victoria Zodiac whale watching from the wharf, 12 guests, open-top boat and float suits. Rebook if you miss whales. About 3 hours.
“Words can’t express how amazing this experience was. Gary was informative about all the animals and the wildlife. We saw humpbacks, orcas, seals, cormorants and a bald eagle. Can’t thank him enough for fulfilling a life’s dream I have waited 40 years to fulfil. Loved it!”
Full-day whale watching from Quebec City to the Saguenay Fjord. Choose boat or Zodiac, with expert guides and scenic Charlevoix views.
“we got to see 2 Fin whales over and over and a Beluga whale with her baby. It was a perfect day on the water. Beautiful!”
Atlantic puffins, whales, and Iceberg Alley come together on a 1.5-hour catamaran cruise from Bay Bulls near St. John's.
“How small the puffins are!! The vast number of species of birds. The guides were very knowledgeable, ever so friendly & helpful.”
Small-group whale watch from Granville Island with marine biologists, hunting for orcas and humpbacks. Then stroll Public Market.
“Great fun, good organization and prep and Hannah and her skipper added so much to our enthusiasm! We saw so many orcas and at least 2 humpback whales playing, dancing and flirting with another boat. My grandkids were delighted!”
Zodiac whale-watching from Victoria with Orca Spirit, open 12-passenger ride, flotation suits, hydrophones, and a whale guarantee in 3 hours.
“Amazing experience! We saw roughly 10 humpback whales, including some doing their iconic breach above the surface multiple times. We also got a unique opportunity to see one of the humpbacks during a feeding frenzy on a school of fish while hundreds of birds were trying to get the scraps. Lastly we did see two sealions watching the show with us. Tour guide uses an app that communicates sightings with other boats so its quite rare to not see any wildlife at all. This was our first time on a zodiac as we are used to being on a bigger boat during these tours. We got a little wet but…”
2-hour boat tour from Bay Bulls in Witless Bay, spotting puffins, petrels and possible whales with onboard narration.
“Sadly there were no whales but we did see dolphins, and puffins. Fortunately it was nice calm water. Great, friendly, knowledgeable crew.”
Victoria whale watching on a covered boat with indoor warmth, outdoor 360-degree views, and marine naturalists. 3 hours, flex departures.
“The crew was exceptional and they worked so hard to find us a wildlife. They were very friendly and knowledgeable.”
SpringTide’s Victoria whale watch in the Salish Sea, 3 hours on a 60-foot cruiser with heated cabin, drinks, and expert spotting.
“Great staff and well organized. We saw 3 humpback whales and a family of orcas! Would definitely recommend.”
