The whale trail runs from british columbia to washingtons olympic. Whale watch tours from the olympic peninsula island adventures. You will be joined by additional participants on this excursion. Staff onboard were really knowledgeable and the backdrop of the mountains in washington state was just spectacular. Beginning just this year one company started to operate a whale watch tour out of downtown seattle in winter only. This vessel carries up to 49 passengers, with two decks and a fantastic view from the roof.
Whale watching kalaloch lodge at olympic national park. But for those who prefer a closer look, friday harbor offers a total of 15 tours, including. Whale watching in washington washington whale watching tours. These killer whales are the most researched marine mammals in the world, and whale watch naturalists know the whales individual nicknames and family histories back to the early 1970s. While resident and transient orca can be found in puget sound almost any time of the year, march and april features the addition of gray whales, and.
San juan excursions whale watching washington whale. The smithsonian magazine names port angeles, washington as one of the countrys top whalewatching destinations. You can also spot humpbacks, minkes, gray whales, steller sea lions, and many other underrated species. Three excellent options for puget sound whale watching or sea life viewing while in the seattle washington area to read the. We use the san juan clipper for our gray whale watching tours as well as our orca tours in the summer since the our three viewing decks provide 360 views and indoor and outdoor whale watching. Whale watching tours from san juan island in seattle. Click here to download all 12 months of killer whale watching data and be sure to zoom in to see. Download the watching whales in the san juan islands brochure. Port townsend is also the launching point for whalewatching tours aboard the puget sound express. Download our whale watching wildlife cruises, friday harbor, san juan island, washington brochure, download and print our full. Seattle whale watching san juan safaris san juan island. Allinclusive tours for whale watching and wildlife. In fact, the first whale trail sign on washington s outer coast was dedicated at kalaloch.
The san juan islands are a favorite pacific northwest vacation spot and washington state is one of the most popular whale watching regions in the world. Our whale watching tour focuses on magnificent orcas killer whales, majestic humpback whales, and other marine wildlife such as porpoises, sea lions, seals and bald eagles. Whale watching tours whale watching april 1 to october 31. We are proud members of the pacific whale watch association formerly known as whale watch operators association northwest. Port angeles is strategically located for the best whale watching opportunity on the beautiful olympic peninsula just minutes from olympic national park, hurricane ridge, ediz hook, and the washington coast. Our guides and naturalists work to create educational, fun, and engaging tours that. The blackfish iv is the newest addition to our custom designed whale watching vessels. Updated february 12, 2020 tours depart oak harbor and langley. Transient or biggs, killer whales aka orca whales can often be seen yearround, as well as steller sea lions, harbor seals, porpoise, bald eagles. In washington, whale watching boils down to the waters around vancouver island. Humpback whale watching in washington state island. Since our very first tour in 1996, island adventures has had some truly spectacular encounters on the water, but we can easily say, without hesitation, that whale watching in washington has never been more exciting. Marine naturalists will interpret wildlife sightings and professional captains will maneuver the boat for prime viewing. Island explorer 4 is the favorite boat for many of our guests.
Boat charters san juan islands western prince whale watching. This collection of whalefocused museums, parks and launching points run all the way. Jun 30, 2009 is it possible along any of the island shorelines or onp coastline, etc. See orcas, humpback whales, and all the majestic wildlife throughout the salish sea on our tour out of edmonds just a few minutes north of seattle. Spend a day with orcas, humpback, minke whales and more as you cruise through the waters of the salish sea aboard five stars sleek, 40passenger vessel on a victoria whale watching adventure. While resident and transient orca can be found in puget sound almost any time of the year, march and april features the addition of gray whales, and boat tours are one of the best ways to see the whales. Welcome to the wild west of whale watching in washington. Our experienced, passionate team of captains and naturalists love to share our vast knowledge of whales, wildlife, and their beautiful pacific northwest home with.
October and november are the best time to see 80,000pound humpback whales as they migrate from the cold alaskan waters to tropical destinations like hawaii. Everett orca whale watching san juan safaris san juan. Our guides and naturalists work to create educational, fun, and engaging tours that provide our guests with memories to last a lifetime. If you want to extend your whale watching experience, there are also a number of whale watching tours out of the san juans from friday harbor and orcas island. San juan island whale watching day trip from seattle, wa. San juan cruises has three whale watching tours a deluxe whale watch including a free salmon lunch and friday harbor visit, a halfday whale watching tour with a free lasagna lunch, and an evening whale watching tour that includes our delicious lasagna and caesar salad dinner. Orca whale watching from port angeles, washington on the olympic peninsula. Port angeles is a premier whale watching destination located just outside the popular olympic national park. With a top speed of 42 knots that is almost 50 mph.
Here are a couple of ways to add whales to your san juan island trip. As the summer begins, any of the north american coasts are a great option. Whale watching at olympic national park my olympic park. I saved up some money and purchased a ticket on a sightseeing tour boat that was based about an hour and a half from my home in tacoma. Whale watcher on san juan island by christopher livesay. The island explorer 4 is the little sister to the island explorer 5 the island explorer 4 is 85 long, 22 wide with many of the same great features. Leave from port angeles or port townsend for short transit times and long whale watching times. Magnificent orca or killer whales live in the san juan islands yearround, and this is the best place in the world to see them in the wild. As far as marine wildlife is concerned, gray whales are just the tip of the iceberg. Tourists can whale watch any time of year in washington, but you should time your visit for the peak seasons of specific species. Port angeles whale watch company tours are a great value for such a world class experience. Whale watching in washington washington waterfronts. Info for sea kayaking tour, kayaking washington, killer whale kayaking, kayaking with orcas, san juan island sea kayaking and san juan island kayak. San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching.
Tours are also launched at port townsend eastern entrance to the puget. Humpback whales are one of the most beloved and recognized whales in the world. If you do not specify a hotel pickup location from this list, you will be confirmed for meeting the tour at the no hotel general pickup location. Takes you on a gentle walk along our rugged cliff tops for 2 to 3 hours, with our experienced whale watching tour guide who will take you to all the hidden coves and inlets that the whales love to frolic in.
Anacortes is the perfect departure point for guaranteed whale watching and wildlife cruises. Quebec, british columbia, new england, washington and oregon are among the. Thrill to the sights of whales, porpoises, eagles, otters, seals, deer and many varieties of sea birds in their natural habitat. Found in all the worlds oceans, few whales can boast as successful a comeback story as the humpback whale, whose signature songs and images have become a symbol of marine conservation. Guaranteed whale watching tours puget sound express. Come aboard for an adventure in the san juan islands or a fun and relaxing evening on bellingham bay. Because of its prime location on the puget sound, whale watchers dont need to rely solely on boat tours for sightings. The killer whales come to this region to feed on the salmon that are returning to the fraser river to spawn. Gray whale watching near seattle, washington island adventures.
Follow the whale trail san juan islands washington visitors. The clipper operates from downtown seattle but they arent primarily a whale watching tour. Tours are 34 hours long and depart just steps from the ferry terminal in friday harbor. Whale watching from washington has never been better. Are there whale watching boat tours that leave from downtown seattle.
Whale watching tours depart daily from orcas and san juan island allowing an opportunity for viewing the whales in the wild. Three excellent options for puget sound whale watching or sea life viewing while in the seattle washington area. To read the entire content of this whale watching tours page, please go to. That allows us to cover lots of ground so to speak and show you as many of the whales and other animals that call the san juan islands home as possible.
Island adventures whale watching in seattle, wa and san. Whale watching adventures in anacortes, washiington. Whale watching for one, two, or four at orcas island whale watch up to 59% off. Seattle whale watching tours the seattle metros only halfday whale watching tour. Kayak whale watching in the san juan islands, seattle, washington. Get up close with the orca whales off the san juan islands near seattle on this 4hour whale watching cruise.
In recent years, the surrounding waters have become one of the leading destinations for viewing humpback whales in north america. The whaleplanner june a whale watching infographic whaletrips. Ny whale and dolphin watching adventure cruise xperience. Thats because whale watching in olympic national park offers the unique opportunity to see majestic gray whales as they migrate from their breeding grounds in baja california up the coast to the bering strait, and back again. Download our brochure whale watching trips, wildlife cruises. Read more about our commitment to responsible ecotourism here. Visit washington dc, take a whale watching vacation to washington dc, and enjoy a whale watching trip in washington dc. The puget sound is home to a few species of whales, including humpback and orcas. Is whale watching possible minus the expensive tours.
Sea kayaking tour, killer whale kayaking, washington. Still, the terrain is beautiful, there is other wildlife to experience we saw seals, a bald eagle, lots of cool jellyfish, some waterfowl, interesting seaweed and kelp and the majestic scenery is breathtaking. Whale watcher on san juan island travel in washington. The association has worked with scientists, noaa and industry leaders to assist in writing the whale watching guidelines and best practices. Our experienced, passionate team of captains and naturalists love to share our vast knowledge of whales, wildlife, and their beautiful pacific northwest home with travelers from near and far. Our team of highly qualified crew set us apart from the competition. See orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, gray whales and all the majestic wildlife in the salish sea on our tour departing from edmonds. Whale watch tours in the san juan islands island adventures. Whale watching cruises are one way to spot large marine mammals, but there. Seattle whale watching tours go whale watching in seattle. The blackfish iii is great for whale watching and custom charters. Whale watching in the san juan islands is a unique opportunity to gain. We boast more than 100 years of combined experience in the islands and have led excursions for hundreds of thousands of satisfied guests over 24. The shores and waterways of washington state is filled with aquatic life like the minke, humpback and the california gray whales.
San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching whale. When is the best time for port angeles whale watching. I know the tours are best but with 4 people and all the other stuff to buy along the way you have to pick and choose as you know. 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. The san juan islands provide one of the best opportunities for whale watching washington has to provide, offering protected waters and a huge variety of wildlife, which include our three pods of resident orca whales. Venturing out onto the water to get up close well, within reasonyou dont want to get too close and personal with the sounds largest residents is an exciting day activity that you can do from a few points in and north of seattle, and its a great way to get in touch with what the area is all about. With 3 us coast guard approved whale watch vessels and departures throughout the day, there is sure to be a tour that fits your schedule. Is it possible along any of the island shorelines or onp coastline, etc. All the ones i have seen leave from orcas island or anacortes area, and unfortunately i am only in seattle for a short amount of time but dont want to miss out on orcas whale. Your eticket will include a phone number that you must call 24 to 48 hours prior to the tour to reconfirm the pickup time and specific location where pickup occurs. Washington states best whale watching value and best spot north of seattle to see gray whales in the wild. The ny whale and dolphin watching adventure cruise experience gift certificate is valid for one participant, unless additional are added onto the certificate.
Kalaloch is among the best places in the world to watch one of natures biggest attractions. Visit washington, take a whale watching vacation to washington, and enjoy a whale watching trip in washington. Whale watching cruises san juan cruises bellingham. Guests this experience is not suitable for nonpaying guests. For guided kayak tours, check out members of the san juan island kayak.
Orca spirits three hour whale watching tours run daily from april through october. More than 500,000 people annually go whale watching in the waters of washington and british. Take your best shot at kayaking with killer whales near seattle, wa. Enjoy the experience of a lifetime with seattles only halfday, guaranteed whale watching tour. Port angeles is strategically located for the best whale watching opportunity on the beautiful olympic peninsula just minutes from olympic national park, hurricane ridge, ediz hook, and the. Whale watching tours from anacortes the san juan islands provide one of the best opportunities for whale watching washington has to provide, offering protected waters and a huge variety of wildlife, which include our three pods of resident orca whales. What they do is ferry people to friday harbor, then depart from there again to whale watch for 2 12 hours, then come back to friday harbor where everyone spends a couple hours in town. Whale watching seattle and whale watching washington are commonly associated with whale watching in the san juan islands. Every trip is led by a certified marine naturalist whose knowledge and passion for vancouver islands marine wildlife is unequaled in the industry, and every vessel in our fleet is equipped with hydrophones to bring the underwater experience to light. Port angeles whale watch company tourstourism tour. Gila river rafting, birding, and eco tour for one, two, or four at pacific nw float trips up to 47% off. Island adventures holds the industrys highest success rate and was the first company to guarantee whale sightings on every tour. Whether you are planning a whale watching tour in the san juan islands or would rather do some. Download our list of washington state whale watching.
The whale watching tour was an adventure of its own and we ended up seeing three humpback whales for about 45 mins. Whale watching in washington is one of the top things to do on a visit to the main city of seattle or the popular san juan islands. Get up close with the orca whales off the san juan islands near seattle on this 4hour whalewatching cruise. San juan island is the center of whale watching in the pacific northwest and therefore friday harbor on san juan island is the best location for departing on a whale watch tour in washington state. Youll also find sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, and even might orcas at several vantage points in olympic national park. Fantastic trip wasnt just about the orcas although they were brilliant.
On your whale watching excursion you may also see a variety of other wildlife such as, bald eagles, puffins, porpoise, sea otters, and numerous harbor seals, but everyones favorite is the. Imagine being able to contemplate an enormous mammal of 40, 50 or even 60 feet long, think about the sensation of touching its skin, head or fins, freshen up with the sea breeze while it unexpectedly blows water through its blowhole and luckily appreciate its majesty at jumping over the water simulating the touch of the sky, without any doubt that would be an exceptional experience. At seattle orca whale watching in partnership with san juan safaris we take great pride in providing you with the best orca whale watching and wildlife tours in the pacific northwest. Types of tours most whale watching tours involve getting onto boats of various sizes that carry anywhere from 20 to 100 people. See orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, gray whales and all the majestic wildlife in the salish sea on our tour departing from edmonds just minutes north of downtown seattle. Our prices are season dependent, so they increase based on how close they are to our peak season summer. Whale watching bellingham washington orca whale watching. Whatever tour you choose, youll have the chance to see orcas, minke whales, harbor seals, dalls and harbor porpoise, bald eagles, ospreys. Oregon the best tips for whale watching in oregon whaletrips.
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