Top 4 Orca Watching Tours in the USA

1.Orcas Island Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 442 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $119Our pick

From Orcas Island, join a 3.5-hour cruise with a captain and naturalist such as Phil, Ginny, Drew, or Sheila. Fast boats cover wide water in search of resident orcas, humpbacks, gray and minke whales, plus seals, sea lions, otters, and eagles. Dress warmly and plan around the ferry.

“Being new to the area & unfamiliar w/the ferry system, we excitedly booked a tour w/out taking in to account the ferry schedule & travel. The employees went above and beyond in giving us an opportunity to make a tour & it all worked out! The captain (Drew) & crew (Sean, Sophia & Katie) were diligent in finding whales to make sure everyone on board had a good experience! They're all so knowledgeable & nice! We had a great time. Would highly recommend.”

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2.Orca Cove Sea Kayaking

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 322 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $175Top rated

Ride a fast boat from downtown Ketchikan to Orca Cove, then paddle 1.5 to 1.75 hours among rainforest islands and quiet coves. Guides such as Lucas, Matt, David, and AJ lead groups of up to six. Gear, dry bags, drinks, and smoked salmon are included.

“Amazing excursion, worth every penny for this experience, we ended up going out just 2 of us with Lucas as our guide who was very knowledgeable of the wildlife and surroundings went above and beyond taking great pics of us so we could just relax and enjoy our surroundings, on our way back at end of trip Devon even stopped and let us take some awesome video’s of a humpback he had spotted , recommend this trip , also lovely salmon dip made by Matt I polished off !”

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3.Kenai Fjords Orca Quest Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 137 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $165

From Seward, Captain Tammy and the crew take you through Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park in search of orcas. This four-hour cruise uses recent sightings rather than a fixed route, with binoculars, onboard narration, warm drinks, and a hydrophone for listening to whale calls.

“It was a great day for being on a boat in Steward. What a lovely town. During our boat ride we did not encounter any orcas but the captain did a great job of showing us all kinds of other wild and marine life, like Humpbacks, porpoises, seals, birds. The boat ride was very relaxing. A lot of people, including myself, took a nap. Food options are good and not too expensive - for today’s prices. If you are paying by credit card they open up a tab and hold your card. Everyone moves about the boat freely to capture a sighting of wildlife with the philosophy of having designated…”

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4.Seward: Resurrection Bay Orca Quest Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 66 reviews · 4 hours · from $165

Spend four hours cruising Resurrection Bay with Major Marine Tours during the best orca season, roughly mid-May through mid-June. Your captain follows current sightings and explains orca behavior, whales, glaciers, and local wildlife. Expect indoor seating, outdoor decks, binoculars, hot drinks, and a chance to hear orcas through a hydrophone.

“We had a marvelously sunny and clear day with plenty of humpback whale sightings. Captain Tammy was really superb, and contributed excellent information about the waters, the town of Seward, the sea life, etc. The boat was very comfortable, and the tour, though expensive was well worth it - the best day of our cruise through Alaska!”

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