Whale Watching · CANADA

The 15 Best Whale Watching Tours in Canada

36 tours  ·  from $95 a head

Two coasts and a river: orca and humpbacks off Vancouver Island, belugas and fin whales where the Saguenay meets the St Lawrence. These 15 compare covered boats against open Zodiacs, which matters more than the price does.

Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos - What you may see beyond whales
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Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

1.Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,000 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $193Our pick

Leave Granville Island on a 95-passenger catamaran with heated cabins, open decks, and naturalist guides such as Petra, Ashley, Wilma, and Megan. Search for humpbacks, orcas, seals, sea lions, and eagles while crew photographers capture wildlife photos for you.

“It was amazing. Well worth the money. Pictures turned out great. The staff were knowledgable,and very friendly. Great memory for our trip to Vancouver.”

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Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Whale Watching Zodiac Tour - Two Zodiac sizes, one close-to-the-water view
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Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Whale Watching Zodiac Tour

2.Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Whale Watching Zodiac Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,716 reviews · 2 hours - 150 minutes · from $98

Spend 2 to 2.5 hours on a 24 or 60-passenger Zodiac in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Bilingual naturalists point out whales, belugas, seals, and porpoises, while the captain searches for the best views. Bring warm layers, gloves, and a hat.

“The experience was fantastic, we saw some whales and seals and penguins. It was a brilliant experience to see the whales so close up. If you are considering the boat vs zodiac don’t, The zodiac is the only option to choose as the boat is completely packed moves slowly and the experience can not be anywhere close to the fantastic zodiac experience that we had. Be aware that it gets really cold so bring warm cloths or layers of cloths to wear one might think it is not necessary but it really means the difference to be warm.”

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Vancouver: Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos - Searching for whales without chasing them
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Vancouver: Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

3.Vancouver: Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,260 reviews · 5 hours · from $188

Join Prince of Whales from Granville Island for a 3 to 5 hour guided cruise on a covered, heated catamaran. Watch for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, and seabirds while guides such as Ashley, Wilma, Victor, or Fawkes explain the marine life. Free professional photos arrive after the trip.

“The staff’s knowledge was outstanding. Amazing customer service. 54 very accurate of the day Pictures for free. Great value add it allowed us to enjoy our time and not worry about getting the perfect picture.”

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Victoria Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos - Searching the Strait for Orcas and Humpbacks
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Victoria Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

4.Victoria Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,259 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $154

Sail from Victoria’s Inner Harbour aboard a spacious catamaran with naturalists such as Megan, Reid, Jessy, and Michael. Watch for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, and eagles from open decks or a heated cabin. Free wildlife photos, hot drinks, washrooms, and a whale sighting guarantee are included.

“Everyone on the boat was so friendly and knowledgeable! They took time to answer all of our questions.”

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Tadoussac/Charlevoix: 3-Hour Whale Watching Boat Tour - Choosing Tadoussac or Baie-Sainte-Catherine
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Tadoussac/Charlevoix: 3-Hour Whale Watching Boat Tour

5.Tadoussac/Charlevoix: 3-Hour Whale Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,179 reviews · 3 hours · from $122

Cruise the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park for three hours aboard AML Cruises’ whale-watching boat. Bilingual naturalist guides, including guides such as Cedric and Chantelle on past departures, explain the wildlife in French and English. Expect belugas, fin whales, minkes, seals, and sweeping fjord views.

“We enjoyed with kids a lot! Beautiful surroundings and we spotted fin whale, belugas and seals. We loved the trip, great views from outside as well as inside. The ship was very comfortable and not over populated, good experience”

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Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise - Searching for orcas and humpback whales
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Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise

6.Victoria Whale and Wildlife Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,729 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $146

Join Eagle Wing from Dallas Road for a 3.5-hour Salish Sea cruise aboard an open boat or semi-covered catamaran. Naturalists such as Derek, Sarah, Joe, and Liam share facts about whales and local wildlife while you watch for orcas, humpbacks, seals, otters, sea lions, and bald eagles.

“We had a great time on the tour. Was able to see a pod of orcas and watch them for about 30-40 minutes.”

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Whale-Watching Tour from Vancouver - Starting in Steveston instead of downtown Vancouver
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Whale-Watching Tour from Vancouver

7.Whale-Watching Tour from Vancouver

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,572 reviews · 3 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $157

Cruise from Steveston into coastal British Columbia waters with Vancouver Whale Watch. You may spot orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and eagles while guides such as James D. and Rhiannon explain what you see. The 3 to 5-hour trip includes free parking and optional hotel shuttle service.

“Wonderful experience seeing humpback whales and sea lions up close. Amazing. The trip lasted about 4 hours”

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Victoria Zodiac Boat Whale Watching Adventure - Why the Zodiac feels different
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Victoria Zodiac Boat Whale Watching Adventure

8.Victoria Zodiac Boat Whale Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 916 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $154

Set out from Victoria Harbour in a 12-passenger open Zodiac with a guide such as Gary, Mark, George, or Raj. Expect a fast, splashy ride, all-weather flotation suits, and chances to see orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, otters, eagles, and more. The boat is exciting, but choppy water and cold air are part of the deal.

“It was excellent and everyone was super helpful! Easy to navigate, useful guide to information and payment. It was a spontaneous trip which was wonderful x”

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From Quebec City: Whale Watching Excursion Full-Day Trip - Baie-Sainte-Catherine and the marine park
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From Quebec City: Whale Watching Excursion Full-Day Trip

9.Quebec City: Whale Watching Excursion Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 863 reviews · 11 hours · from $186

Spend 11 hours traveling from Quebec City to Baie-Sainte-Catherine for whale watching in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Choose a large boat or fast Zodiac, hear bilingual commentary, and look for belugas, fin, minke, and humpback whales with guides such as Patricia and Captain Luke.

“Experience of a life time and great value! The operator provided easy instructions and informative dialogue throughout transport to the launch site. It is quite a long bus ride, but the seating was very comfortable. There were many beautiful sights along the way too. The Zodiac excursion was fantastic! We were provided with waterproof pants and jackets, but be prepared to get splashed and wet from the boat ride. It was quite a warm day, but it is much cooler (-10° Celsius) on the water. There is no proper food stop, so be prepared to bring some snacks/beverages. We were lucky enough to have encounters with a family of Belugas,…”

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Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise - Boarding a catamaran built for viewing
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Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise

10.Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 837 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $94Best value

Join Gatherall’s from Bay Bulls for a 90-minute catamaran cruise into the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. Hear local stories and wildlife facts while watching puffins, seabirds, icebergs, and seasonal whales. The boat has outdoor viewing decks, indoor shelter, washrooms, and room for up to 100 people.

“The crew was friendly, jolly, and very knowledgeable. The captain was experienced, composed, and managed guest expectations well. The boat was faster than O'Brien's due to it being a catamaran. This potentially allowed us to have a more flexible route and stayed longer and closer to the whales. We were extremely lucky to spot 4 whales in a single trip. Seeing them in real life was downright magical and filled us with emotions. And the puffins are cute and their colonies are impressive too! It says 1 hour 30 minutes here but in reality we spent almost 2 hours onboard. Bring binoculars - your experience will be further elevated!”

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Vancouver's Intimate West Coast Whale Watching Experience - Searching the Salish Sea for whales
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Vancouver’s Intimate West Coast Whale Watching Experience

11.Vancouver’s Intimate West Coast Whale Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 698 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $177

Join Wild Whales Vancouver for a three to five hour search through the Salish Sea and Strait of Georgia. A marine biology guide such as Julia, Yaz, or Honour explains the wildlife while a captain works to find orcas and humpbacks. The small group, usually no more than 12 people, keeps the experience personal.

“Be prepared for a long bumpy afternoon on the zodiac but worth it ! We were given full body suits which seemed unnecessary when standing in 22 deg heat but we very quickly were thankful for them 20 mins into the trip when the wind and seaspray is causing a chill . Our afternoon was rewarded with a sighting of 5 orcas and a humpback whale along with a few seals and baldy eagle - bring your binoculars to ensure a good view - due to restrictions a certain distance is maintained from the orcas making them harder to see”

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Victoria: 3-Hour Zodiac Whale-Watching Tour - What the open Zodiac ride really feels like
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Victoria: 3-Hour Zodiac Whale-Watching Tour

12.Victoria: 3-Hour Zodiac Whale-Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 651 reviews · 3 hours · from $140

Set out from Victoria’s Inner Harbour with an English-speaking marine naturalist such as Luke, Josh, or Liam. Your 12-passenger Zodiac brings you close to the Salish Sea, where orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, porpoises, otters, and bald eagles may appear. Full flotation suits help keep you warm and dry.

“We enjoyed the tour with Alex very much. A smooth Zodiac ride, Orcas and great additional insights. Thanks a million.”

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2 Hours Guided Whale and Bird Boat Tour in Bay Bulls - Setting out from Bay Bulls at 11:30 a.m.
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2 Hours Guided Whale and Bird Boat Tour in Bay Bulls

13.2 Hours Guided Whale and Bird Boat Tour in Bay Bulls

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 557 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

From Bay Bulls, your captain and naturalist guide cruise the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve for two hours, pointing out puffins, murres, petrels, dolphins, and whales. Expect local songs, clear wildlife commentary, and the optional chance to be screeched in. Bring warm clothes.

“We were accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, Noah, who even sang folk songs. We were blessed to have a sunny day. Too early for whales or Icebergs but just being on the water and observing seabirds in their natural habitat was well worth it!”

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Victoria Whale Watching Tour on a Covered Vessel - What the three-hour outing is like
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Victoria Whale Watching Tour on a Covered Vessel

14.Victoria Whale Watching Tour on a Covered Vessel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 482 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $136

Join Orca Spirit Adventures for a three-hour whale watching trip from Victoria aboard a covered vessel with indoor seating, washrooms, and an upper viewing deck. Guides such as Ryan, Jake, Briar, and Liam share marine facts while you watch for humpbacks, orcas, sea lions, otters, and eagles.

“The crew was amazing and new there information we explored the whales which was cool and seen a lot of birds and seals and a match with a seal and octopus amazing time”

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Victoria Whale Watch Tour - How the three-hour search works
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Victoria Whale Watch Tour

15.Victoria Whale Watch Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 458 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $126

Spend about three hours aboard SpringTide’s 60-foot Ocean Cruiser, searching the Salish Sea for orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, seals, otters, and eagles. Naturalists such as Katie and Aly explain the wildlife, while a heated cabin, hot drinks, and open viewing decks help you stay comfortable.

“We had a wonderful time, the weather was perfect and luckily we saw 4 different orcas and one humpback whale at the same time. The seal lions were amazing and our crew Jasper, Molly, and Kelly were super friendly”

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New in Canada Whale Watching Tours

★ 4.8Victoria: Whale Watching Tour by Zodiac BoatFrom $138233 reviews
★ 5.0Victoria: Sunset Whale Watching Tour on an Open Scarab BoatFrom $12811 reviews
★ 5.0Sunset Whale and Wildlife Adventure in Cowichan BayFrom $15923 reviews
★ 4.6Campbell River: Salish Sea Whale Watching AdventureFrom $20064 reviews
★ 4.8Campbell River: Whale & Wildlife Discovery CruiseFrom $175143 reviews
★ 4.7Campbell River: 4 Hour Whale & Wildlife Zodiac Boat TourFrom $216133 reviews
★ 4.9Campbell River: 6-Hour Whale Watching Boat TourFrom $24546 reviews
★ 4.8Victoria: 3-Hour Whale Watching TourFrom $123288 reviews
★ 5.0Vancouver Island Zodiac Whale Watching Adventure – Telegraph CoveFrom $169281 reviews
★ 5.0Victoria Sunset Whale-Watching CruiseFrom $138281 reviews
★ 4.5Victoria Whale Watching Cruise with Expert NaturalistsFrom $134305 reviews
★ 4.3Tadoussac/Charlevoix: VIP Lounge OR UpperDeck Whale WatchingFrom $160313 reviews
★ 5.0Vancouver Island Half-Day Whale Watching Tour – Telegraph CoveFrom $153333 reviews
★ 4.5Summer Whale Watching Tour in a Zodiac Boat in VictoriaFrom $144342 reviews
★ 4.8Victoria: Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free PhotosFrom $149387 reviews

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