Whale Watching · SAN JUAN ISLANDS
The 4 best San Juan islands whale watching tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it stays out and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason, so start there.
From Friday Harbor, you’ll cruise the Salish Sea aboard the 55-foot MV Sea Lion, with a heated cabin, restrooms, and a walk-around deck. Naturalists share information as the crew searches for orcas, humpbacks, minke and gray whales, plus seals, sea lions, and bald eagles.
“Well conducted trip -excellent vessel and crew. Saw Killer whales and a humpback. Nothing negative to report.”
Join Outer Island Excursions from Anacortes for a 3 to 4 hour search for orcas, humpbacks, gray whales, and other wildlife. Fast boats, naturalist guides, and a 98 percent whale sighting rate make this a strong choice for a Pacific Northwest day on the water.
“Came from Kitsap. We had a great time. The crew was very nice, attentive, and knowledgeable. It was nice to have interior seating for when it got chilly and the views were still great from inside. The San Juan’s are so beautiful that it would be worth the trip even if we didn’t see the whales and other wildlife. We took the Port Townsend Ferry. Make a reservation and show up 30 min before sailing. We had to rush back to catch the ferry home and almost didn’t make it. There is not much on that side so if we had missed it we would have been bored and starving…”
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.”
Departing from Orcas Island, this 3.5-hour whale watch searches for orcas, humpbacks, seals, porpoises, eagles, and other wildlife. Guides such as Sheila, Phil, Brock, Tiffany, Jim, and Brooke have led memorable trips, but you must plan carefully around ferries and confirm the departure point.
“We had a 1:00 PM reservation for whale watching boat trip and a 7:30 AM ferry reservation to the island. The ferry system had a boat down so the 7:30 ferry was canceled. The next ferry to the island wasn’t until 3:15 later that day. I call the place and spoke to the owner and explained the situation. The exact words were “the ferry being down was not his problem” and refused to refund my money. This place was a complete ripoff and the owner was very arrogant about the whole situation. Stay away from this we whale watching your company.”
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