Our first whale watching tour from friday harbor is scheduled for saturday, march 4th and we cant wait to get back on the water. There are airplane tours to whale watch from above. Recent sightings vancouver island whale watch nanaimo bc. We also offer the orca whale adoption program through the whale museum. The southern resident orca whales reside on southeast shores of vancouver island. First, the plane fly to sofia main city of vancouver island looking for whales from above, and from there, you get on a boat to get a closer look. Studies of orcas in marine zoological facilities suggest that females become sexually mature when they reach 4. Whale watching from victoria is a fun adventure, especially if you love wildlife and nature. Campbell river whale watching, grizzly bear, wildlife and ocean rapids adventures tours go wild. Whale watching on vancouver island owner direct vacation. An orca whale gives us a great photo opportunity off northern vancouver island in british columbia, canada. The whalereport alert system wildwhales bc cetacean. Orca s vancouver island port mcneil with mackay whaletime. Tofino whale watching tours ocean outfitters, tofino bc.
Orca whale watching vancouver island canada duration. Humpbacks and orcas can be found off the coast of vancouver island, as well as sea lions, porpoises, eagles and lots more. Killer whales orcas, gray whales, humpback whales and minke whales. Orca dreams is situated in the center of the whale watching activity. Whale watching in july and august vancouver island, british. These whales were first seen by the crew who were working on the sea lion. Vancouver island is worldrenowned for its whale watching, and at the heart of the action is the city of victoria. Kayak with whales, go whale watching and wilderness camping on your vancouver island adventure. Embark on a responsible marine tour with prince of whales. Orcas island eclipse charters whale and wildlife tours. Or travel with us to oxford river for some once in a lifetime grizzly bear viewing.
Vancouver island is a great destination for whale watching. Boats and people except researchers arent allowed in the area. Are there any really good spots on vancouver island just to go whale watching from land. Orca whales are a requested sighting and vancouver island is one of the most studied areas in the word for these magnificent creatures. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just around.
Killer whales orcas, gray whales, humpback whales and minke whales ply the waves and perform their watery rituals. Experience some of the best whale watching on vancouver island. Majestic mammals and marine wildlife abound in the waters surrounding victoria, including the orca, or killer whale, and gray, humpback, and minke whales. First in a series of posts about our search for the best location for a seaside sanctuary for captive whales. To report whales please go to the orca network sightings report page, or email orca network. Australia its not all just kangaroos and koalas in australia, but also a great place to meet humpback whales along the east coast. The purpose of orca networks whale sighting network and education project is to encourage observation and increase awareness and knowledge about the southern resident community of orcas j, k and l pods, and foster a stewardship ethic to motivate a diverse audience to take action to protect and. Now, ive been to all these places, in some of these cases numerous times, and have never seen orcas. Where on vancouver island is the best place to go whale watching orcas in the summer. Orcas vancouver island port mcneil with mackay whaletime. Blackney pass, johnstone strait and queen charlotte strait are rich with both humpback whales and orcas. And it has orcas, gray whales and humpbacks along with rainforests full of bears and cougars.
Youll see orca whales, migrating humpback whales and much more. Departing from granville island in downtown vancouver, the wild whales experience allows you to observe whales and the diverse wildlife of the pacific coast in their natural habitat. Studies suggested that the whales are especially sensitive to disturbance when theyre at the gravel beds, which is why its closed off. Newborn killer whale spotted off vancouver island ctv news. Resident orcas appetite likely reason for decline of big. Vancouver to orcas island 5 ways to travel via train, ferry. Aug 10, 2016 several whale watching boats at the western edge of the salish sea off jordan river on vancouver island spotted a group of transient orcas surrounding two adult humpback whales and a calf on sunday.
On vancouver island, youll find reputable whale watching providers to bring you close to the action while respecting the boundaries of these magnificent animals. Whale watching victoria with orca spirit whale adventures. We launch out of tofino in clayoquot sound on the west coast of vancouver island, just minutes from long beach and pacific rim national park. Were planning a visit to victoria and see there are numerous companies there. Vancouver island whale watch vancouver island tripadvisor. Nearby vancouver island is home to a resident pod of nearly 100 orcas and small pods of transient orcas that travel north from baja to alaska along the coastline. Whales are rarely seen from the shore so those who dream of spotting these incredible ocean animals should book a whale watching tour with a reputable, local company. A new university of washington and noaa study points to the recent rise of resident killer whales, and their insatiable appetite for large chinook salmon, as. There is so much to see and do on vancouver island and in british columbia.
Ocean ecoventures is the most centrally located whale watching company on vancouver island with the highest sighting of orcas and humpback whales every year. Weve been offering guided sea kayaking tours around vancouver island for the past two decades. Modeled after the united states national parks junior ranger program, orca rangers must. Whale watching tours are available from the inner harbour of victoria, sidney, tofino, campbell river, and port hardy, as well as most of the communities on the island. Come out and see orca whales, gray whales, humpback whales, porpoises, seals, sea lions, otters, bald eagles and much more. The rates for the boating outfits are a joke about a hundreds bucks a person. Enjoy an orca whale aka killer whales nature tour on orcas islands all weather family style boat and renew your spirit with nature. Whale watching vancouver island news, events, travel. Fisheries and oceans minister jonathan wilkinson says the government is looking at creating new areas of critical habitat off the west coast of vancouver island for southern resident killer whales. You can spot various kinds of whales, like humpback whales, orcas, grey whales, and minke whales. Eagle wing tours humpback whale in victoria bc close encounter. They are home to at least 78 orca whales who travel here every spring. First, the plane fly to sofia main city of vancouver island looking for whales from above. Outer island excursions offer highquality, unforgettable whale watching, marine and fishing charter experiences in the san juan islands of washington state.
In the evening we spotted humpback whales and in the morning we heard orcas rubbing on the pebbles. Members of the public are encouraged to download the whalereport app and. The knowledgable information from captain james was great and was all topped by seeing a pod of orcas. Full day whale watching and wildlife tours vancouver island. One grey whale was reported off saratoga beachoyster river area about 2 weeks ago and over the past weekend, two grey whales were reported near comox. Orcas island san juan safaris san juan island whale. Were in the planning stage of our trip so we can adjust our itinerary. Killer whale watching in vancouver orca whales in canada. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just around the corner. This iconic black and white creature with its tall dorsal fin, almost like a maritime top. Whether watching whales, dipping into hot springs cove, or kayaking to a rainforest trail, people of all ages have enjoyed our excursions since 1986. Southern resident orcas all year, gray whales march to november. Weather and season details the precipitation of vancouver islands east coast is just 700800 mm per year.
See whales and other marine wildlife on a whalewatching tour in vancouver. Humpback whales are one of the largest whales and a breach is an amazing display of nature showing off. Come for the afternoon, or stay a few nights at one of our partner hotels. The trip with vancouver island whale watch was amazing from start to finish.
Killer whale harbour porpoise dalls porpoise pacific white sided dolphin. We have a trained naturalist on board and are waiting to share the adventure with you. Facts about whales whale classification breeding patterns of whales whale migration join us british columbia. Longer tours to ensure maximum viewing time with the whales and wildlife. Whale watching from the shore is an unlikely gamble. Whale watching in and around vancouver island things to. British columbia whale watching in british columbia whaletrips. Wild forests, rugged coastlines, endless beaches, bears and orcas everywhere. Killer whales attract tourists to vancouver island killer whale or also known as the orca whale often transit the waters of discovery passage between vancouver island and quadra island. In the west coast waters near vancouver island and the gulf islands, a large number of orcas reside between here and the san juan islands us. Whale watchers think j51s mother is a 36yearold whale with a good track record with calves. Humpback whales the world over are known for their epic migrations, complex songs, and the acrobatic jumps that earn them their name. When hunting a large whale, a pod of orcas may attack from several angles.
In our opinion this is comparable to the wildebeest migration in tanzania. Kayak with us in johnstone strait, the broughton archipelago, desolation sound and the great bear rainforest. But large, old chinook salmon that orcas crave have mostly disappeared from the west coast. Whale watching british columbia vancouver islands watching. A whale watching trip is a once in a lifetime experience. Until then, we are working through the project list and getting everything ready to go. Several whale watching boats at the western edge of the salish sea off jordan river on vancouver island spotted a group of transient orcas surrounding two adult humpback whales. Wild whales vancouver is located 5 to 10 minutes from most hotels in the downtown area with easy access to granville island.
Jan 12, 2011 orca whale watch at vancouver island in september 2009. To download the full whaleplanner as a graphic, please just click this link and save the graphic on the next page. Feds to create ocean sanctuaries off vancouver island to. The whaleplanner september a whale watching infographic. Minke whales have a similar aesthetic to humpback whales, but are are just. And all over the island the culture of the first nations is alive, totem poles, colorful painted house walls, mystical signs, an insane variety in the smallest of spaces, embedded in a unique and grotesquely beautiful landscape. On the west coast, tofino is a quaint town with an embedded orcawatching. The original version, though, was for microsoft flight simulator and shawn wanted a version for xplane. Orca whales are the fastest marine mammal around vancouver island though its rare to witness the speed like we can with dolphins since dolphins follow cruising boats for short periods of time. We respect the investment our guests make to join us and we are dedicated to making your trip the experience of a lifetime.
The waters around the canadian vancouver island are the worlds pivotal region for meeting orcas. Do i need to go via friday harbor and swap ferries there to get to orcas or is there a ferry from vi that stops at orcas. Every orca spirit tour is led by a certified marine naturalist with deep knowledge of vancouver islands marine wildlife. The sea is home to seals, sea lions, gray whales, orcas and humpback whales. On the west coast, tofino is a quaint town with an embedded orcawatching culture. You can choose from various tours around the gulf and san juan islands. Orca whale watch at vancouver island in september 2009. The population of orca that resides in the waters surrounding southern vancouver island. Sea kayaking, vancouver island, bc, grey wolf expeditions. The following chart is provided as a guide to help you schedule your whale watching tour to coincide with the marine wildlife you would most like to see. There are a few places galiano island s bellhouse provincial park, point roberts in washington state, lime kiln park on san juan island, as others have suggested where once in a while, orcas have been sighted. See whales and other marine wildlife on a whale watching tour in vancouver. Orcas and whale watching from shore on vancouver island. Most of them, however, are too far from human civilization fresh water, power, transport, schools, medical facilities to be practical.
We are located on granville island, 510 minutes from most downtown hotels. This is your chance to sea kayak with killer orca whales or watch them from our boat, the. Chances are youve travelled a long way or youre about to and you want nothing more than to fulfill your dream of seeing whales. Vancouver island bc to orcas orcas island forum tripadvisor.
Board our 30 rigid hull inflatable zodiacs, or one of our high speed covered family cruisers to enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. There are many options for transportation to our office and departure point. Orca rubbing beach vancouver island best time to visit. Looking for the best whale watching on vancouver island. While watching in the waters off northern vancouver island in british columbia, canada, you can not ask for a better photo than this. Before boarding, we ask all guests to checkin at our office.
Resident orcas resident whales along vancouver island are split into two separate communities. Kayaking british columbia, sea kayaking with killer whales. Its the time of year when orcas sometimes gather into a super pod one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth. Orca dreams offers fourday allinclusive tours from our luxury island camp site in the wildlife rich area of northern vancouver island, british columbia, canada. When free willy ii was filmed in the san juan islands, one of our local whale watch operators played the coastal marine patrol and took the cast and crew out for a whale watch tour to see orca whales in their natural habitat.
Orca dreams offers canadas first whale watching camp, with bc packages that include 4 days of luxury camping. Enjoy a scenic 35 minute float plane ride from vancouvers coal harbour to downtown victoria, then start your southern resident killer whale watching adventure with us. From nanaimo, head out in a 23seater jet boat into the salish sea. Whale watching around vancouver island in british columbia is an exceptional experience that will leave you awestruck after watching whales that weigh thousands of pounds frolic in their natural habitat.
These can be kayaking, highspeed zodiac trips, cruises, or even seaplanes. Whale watching tours from vancouver island tourism victoria. There are more whale watching boats here than any other region since victoria hosts more tourists than any other place on vancouver island. Site search in british columbia the whale sanctuary.
Pick the best time of year to spot orcas if you are on the north end of the island from julyseptember, orcas, or killer whales, are often seen in the johnstone strait area. In the fall pacific humpbacks are readying for their winter migration to hawaii. My background is marine science, and ive had the opportunity to study orca, humpbacks, fin whales, and sperm whales from bc to alaska. Both sides of vancouver island afford primo opportunities. The killer whale or orca, is the largest of the dolphins, a predator, feeding on fish, seals, and sometimes whales. Grey wolf sea kayaking expeditions take pride in their authenticity and only hire local professional guides with a minimum of 10 years of outdoors experience on vancouver island. Throughout vancouver island whale watching tour companies generally operate between may and october. Mighty white and black orcas aka killer whales are one of the main attractions in the area.
Should we just plan to do it there or head up to sidney or some other spot. Of all the islands, orcas island or the gem of the san juan islands is considered to be the most beautiful. You can even download the files so you can listen to them whenever you want. Known as the gem of the san juans, orcas is a lush island of rolling hills and tall forests that draw bicyclists and hikers alike. Home to a huge state park, several lakes and various harbors and bays, orcas island holds countless of things to do and adventures to embark on. Whale classification breeding patterns of whales whale migration join us british columbia.
For those visiting vancouver island outside of the summer whale watching season, minke whales, the smallest of the north pacific baleen whales, can be spotted yearround. Interisland ferry service can take you to friday harbor in about 40 minutes be sure to check exact crossing times. Board one of our four vessels at vancouvers unique and historic granville island. We are the most centrally located whale watching company on vancouver island with the highest sighting of orcas and humpback whales every year. Orca whale watching vancouver island canada youtube. From there we will provide directions for boarding your boat. Being on the super fast zodiac boat was fun enough. Whale watching vancouver island is a onceinalifetime exerience. Orca dreams has twenty years of experience hosting people from around the world in the wildliferich waters of johnstone strait and broughton archipelago, off the east coast of vancouver island, british columbia watch surfacing humpback whales, pods of orcas, dolphins, eagles, sea. I will be travelling from vancouver island to orcas in august this year. The number of possible locations in british columbia must be in the thousands.
There are 5 ways to get from vancouver to orcas island by train, ferry, bus, bus and ferry or plane. Well, that is now available and shawn was very pleased to find that is lives up to expectations. Why victoria has the best whale watching on vancouver island. Orca whales can be identified from its pattern on the saddle patch as well as the dorsal fin. These are all typical maneuvers you may expect to see while whale watching off the west coast of vancouver island. Weather and season details the precipitation of vancouver islands east coast is just 700800 mm per. Stubbs island whale watching telegraph cove aktuelle 2020. October 23rd last tour of the season and we saw both orcas and a humpback whale. The deep pacific waters surrounding vancouver island are home to many whales, but none are as protected or beloved as the southern resident orcas. Excursions can be booked on a variety of boats including kayaks, rigid hull zodiacs, or passenger cruise vessels. This is the best place in the world to see orcas, the mr. Around each corner expect to find a stunning view, an artists studio or other island treasure.
Highest killer whale sightings in british columbia. Small personal tour groups, never more than 12 passengers on our boats. Our main objective in founding this center is to create an educational space where visitors and residents of the island can glean knowledge of our diverse ecosystem here in the san juan islands, washington and surrounding areas. Not only will you see orcas and possibly humpback whales, but you will also experience a diversity of other marine and bird wildlife too. These whales are quite used to boats and will often let. There were a number of pacific whitesided dolphin pods observed. Whatever tour you choose, youll have the chance to see orcas, minke whales, harbor seals, dalls and harbor porpoise, bald eagles, ospreys, cormorants, great. A trip to vancouver island is definitely not complete without watching, up close, the magnificent beauty of whales, weighing thousands. With a lot of fantastic orcajumps, it was a great experience. This area is considered the best place to watch whales on vancouver island. Each and every employee will ensure that you leave with memories that last a lifetime.
In our opinion the broughton archipelago with its abundant wildlife and hundreds of islands to explore is one of the finest locations to kayak anywhere on earth. See whales and all manner of marine life in this whale watching expedition. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in rome2rios travel planner. Best whale whale watching discover vancouver island. The port of vancouver, the port of prince rupert, bc coast pilots, bc ferries, the.