A pair of humpback whales feeding outside of victorias harbour. Being on the super fast zodiac boat was fun enough. We are located on granville island, 510 minutes from most downtown hotels. Best whale whale watching discover vancouver island. Whale watching tours from vancouver island tourism victoria. Killer whales are best observed from mid july through the first week of september.
This halfday whale and wildlife adventure tour gives you a chance to explore the salish sea with a professional guide. With unrivalled beauty, vancouver island s scenery and aboriginal culture will ensure a journey of excitement and discovery, leaving you with loving memories to last a lifetime. Read on for everything you need to know about spotting these graceful marine mammals in british columbia. Vancouver whale watching deals in vancouver, bc groupon. Killer whale watching in vancouver orca whales in canada. Experience some of the best whale watching on vancouver island. Orca dreams offers fourday allinclusive tours from our luxury island camp site in the wildlife rich area of northern vancouver island, british columbia, canada. Youll travel by highspeed catamaran with heated indoor cabins and outdoor decks, and scan the water for whales, seals, porpoises, sea lions, and many species of marine birds. Killer whales orcas, gray whales, humpback whales and minke whales ply the waves and perform their watery rituals. Mackay whale watching is a familyrun company which works out of port mcneill, near the north tip of vancouver island some 280 miles from victoria taking small vessels into the johnstone. From a cedar strip canoe, i was resting at a point betwn grebe islets and eagle harbour, offshore about 1 km in west vancouver. In addition to there being more orcas at the north end of the island you also have excellent opportunities to see humpback hales, dalls porpoises, white sided dolphins, seals, sea lions, eagles, sea birds and bears. Southern vancouver island is the best place to see whales in the wild.
The killer whale or orca, is the largest of the dolphins, a predator, feeding on fish, seals, and sometimes whales. Whale watching from vancouver to victoria prince of. If you could recommend the best whale watching tour company located on vancouver island, what would it be. Whale watching vancouver island is a onceinalifetime exerience. Whales and wilderness glamping in british columbia, canada. Were in the planning stage of our trip so we can adjust our itinerary. In 4 uur tijd hebben we zowel killer whales als southern resident killer whales gezien. Many of the whale watching tour companies also offer black bear and grizzly bear excursions. We view transient orca pods, migrating humpback whales, grey whales and other marine animals that reside in our coastal waters. Onboard catalogues are used to identify individual whales, and this data will be collected throughout the season and sent to the centre for whale research, keta coastal conservation, and the bc cetacean sightings network. This family owned and operated company is sure to deliver a world class marine wildlife viewing experience. The northern area of vancouver island has a very rich marine ecosystem with killer whales, humpback whales, dalls porpoise, pacific whitesided dolphins, steller sea lions and more. The ride can get a little bumpy if we encounter waves or the wakes from large boats. I was on onea few years ago but it was from vancouver island.
We found amazing wildlife and whales on vancouver island. Our 34 hour whale watching tours depart daily from downtown nanaimo bc, april through october. Whale watching in july and august vancouver island. Whale classification breeding patterns of whales whale migration join us british columbia. Eagle eye adventures is the most reliable whale watching tours company in canada. Tofino whale watching tours ocean outfitters, tofino bc. So, that said, have you tried shopping around to make sure thats the cheapest price you can find. Hop aboard and experience orcas, killer whales, gray, humpback, and minke whales up close and personal. The knowledgable information from captain james was great and was all topped by seeing a pod of orcas. Luckily, there are a number of boat trips to areas where you can see 30ton marine mammals majestically glide through the open waters of canada. We provide whale and grizzly bear tours, and great bear rainforest tours. The largest whales around vancouver island, the humpback whales vary between 1216 meters 3952 ft and can weigh as much as 36,000 kilograms 79,000lbs. Known as the place to go for the best whale watching in british columbia, vancouver island offers amazing opportunities to witness wild marine life.
Sep 03, 2018 whale watching vancouver island from granville island this particular tip was starting from granville island, worth a visit in itself. One of the most exciting vancouver island activities is whale watching. Were going to be traveling around the island for two weeks so were not dependent on any specific location. British columbia and particularly vancouver island is a brilliant location to spot orcas. In just over an hours drive you can hop on a killer whale watching tour at campbell river.
Sustainable whale watching in nanaimo, vancouver island, bc. Vancouver, we offer a wide variety of marine wildlife experiences that range from three hours long to a halfday. Discover amazing wildlife and whales on vancouver island. Vancouver island whale watching tour with stunning shots of orcas and humpback whales. There are many options for transportation to our office and departure point. Whale watching vancouver island why visit parksville. Whale watching vancouver island news, events, travel. Eagle wing whale watching in victoria british columbia canada at fishermans wharf. Telegraph cove on vancouver island, the orca capital of the world. Best place to go whale watching in british columbia. Book a whale watching holiday in canada with canadian affair for the. Or travel with us to oxford river for some once in a lifetime grizzly bear viewing.
Watch for wildlife along the scenic coast of vancouver island on a 3hour boat tour from victoria with an experienced marine naturalist. The trip with vancouver island whale watch was amazing from start to finish. Take in unparalleled views of the surrounding islands while you learn about marine wildlife from your knowledgeable guide. See whales and other marine wildlife on a whalewatching tour in vancouver. This final stop was a good way to round out our look at the wildlife and whales on vancouver island. Youll see orca whales, migrating humpback whales and much more. British columbia is home to dozens of whale species, 23 to be exact, according to the vancouver aquarium. I do not want to knock victoria as there is good viewing around there and if travelling further north is difficult time wise it is a good choice. Why victoria has the best whale watching on vancouver island. Experience remote wilderness, unforgettable wildlife and lively cosmopolitan cities in one easy adventure. From the capital of vancouver island victoria, the best whale watching tours of canada departure. Go whale watching, and explore butchart gardens in victoria, vancouver island on this day trip from vancouver.
A 4k video in a super high quality of area28 with english comment. May 29, 2016 whale watching at the san juan islands from victoria bc on vancouver island canada. Its unusual though maybe 110 or 120 trips i hear a whale announcement. The majestic orca has long been the proud symbol of our incredible city. Our whale watching tours are located off the southern coast of victoria, british columbia on vancouver island. You can spot various kinds of whales, like humpback whales, orcas, grey whales, and minke whales. Whales and wilderness glamping in british columbia, canada kayak the realm of the orca and humpback whales imagine beautiful, big white tents set against the backdrop of towering fir trees and the blues and greens of the ocean lapping at your doorstep. There is a chance of seeing a number of different species of whales including resident and transient orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, and gray whales in addition to other wildlife including but not limited to seals, sea lions, bald eagles, cormorants, and the race rocks.
Whale watching on vancouver island breakaway vacations. Amy watkins is a vancouverbased travel and lifestyle journalist who loves canadas west coast. On vancouver island, youll find reputable whale watching providers to bring you close to the action while respecting the boundaries of these magnificent animals. However, if you truly want the best place for whale watching then head to the north end of the island. Recent sightings vancouver island whale watch nanaimo bc. Before boarding, we ask all guests to checkin at our office. There are fewer northern vancouver island whale watching companies than elsewhere in b. This customizable roundtrip adventure will take you from downtown vancouver to victoria aboard a custombuilt catamaran, embarking on a 4hour, fullyguided whale watching and marine wildlife viewing tour part 1.
Whale watching holidays orca watching canadian affair. These can be kayaking, highspeed zodiac trips, cruises, or even seaplanes. Parksville qualicum beachs central location makes it the perfect base for whale watching vancouver island. Whale watching in april vancouver island forum tripadvisor. This is the best place in the world to see orcas, the mr. From there we will provide directions for boarding your boat. Both sides of vancouver island afford primo opportunities. 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. The marine life in the waters of bc is abundant and diverse, but there is no greater creature than the mighty whale. Were planning a visit to victoria and see there are numerous companies there.
Gray whale migration passes vancouver island vancouver. Where on vancouver island is the best place to go whale watching orcas in the summer. The most common whales we can see around vancouver island are orca killer whales, humpback whales and pacific gray. Victoria is good for orcas but heading further north to telegraph cove andor port mcneill is better for viewing orcas and other wildlife. Humpback whales are equipped with a baleen which resembles thick strands of long hair which acts as a strainer to filter out plankton, krill, herring and other small fish. Why you should go whale watching in november sustainable. We respect the investment our guests make to join us and we are dedicated to making your trip the experience of a lifetime. If you have time to spare, consider combining whale watching with a visit to the charming city of victoria on vancouver island. The only opportunity to see bears in april would be on a wildlife tour which might depart daily for a 4 hour trip, depending on the companies from campbell river. Gray whale migration passes vancouver island gray whale off vancouver island, british columbia, canada each spring, some 20,000 gray whales travel passed the western shore of vancouver island, british columbia, en route to their summer feeding grounds in the bering sea and chukchi sea. Please note, this date is tentative as this global issue is evolving and we are adjusting daily with new information. Prince of whales whale watching tourism vancouver island.
Vancouver to orcas island 3 ways to travel via train, ferry. Chances are youve travelled a long way or youre about to and you want nothing more than to fulfill your dream of seeing whales. My plan is to head towards tofino, and do a boat tour which will hopefully coincide with the grey whale migration. They swim among bcs gulf islands and the san juan islands of washington state. If seeing orcas is a priority, please keep these dates in mind when you book your tour with us. Schedulerates vancouver island whale watch nanaimo bc. Big horns intro 2 by audionautix is licensed under a creative commons attribution license s. Luckily, there are a number of boat trips to areas where you can see 30ton marine mammals majestically glide. If youre catching the ferry tofrom the island you might see whales. This oneway adventure will take you from vancouver, bc, canada to victoria, bc, canada aboard a custombuilt highspeed catamaran, embarking on a 4hour, fullyguided whale watching and marine wildlife viewing tour.
A whale watching trip is a once in a lifetime experience. Hop aboard one of our adventurous open boston whalers or a comfortable, heated cabin cruiser. If you could recommend the best whale watching tour company located on vancouver island. Vancouver whale watch was the first whalewatching company to operate from the vancouver area, in their 21st year of operation in 2019. Hello, you can go on whale watching tours from victoria year round, and we begin our tours from campbell river in may, as well as stubbs island from telegraph cove. 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. Vancouver whale watching fodors travel talk forums. 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, making it the perfect and a popular place to whale watch in canada. After viewing whales, onboard snacks will be provided, courtesy of vancouver island whale watch. On our whale watching trip, leigh spoke about the work done to rescue and care for injured whales.
Allinclusive tours for whale watching and wildlife. Vancouver island is worldrenowned for its whale watching, and at the heart of the action is the city of victoria. The whales are found in the salish sea, the body of water that separates vancouver island from the mainland. Whale watching season is very popular and tourists come from far and wide to see these magnificent creatures up close.
See whales and other marine wildlife on a whale watching tour in vancouver. I know whale watching isnt cheap, but in victoria at least, i seem to recall that even within the same harbor though theyre not too close physically there are actually two totally seperate. Whale watching vancouver island from granville island this particular tip was starting from granville island, worth a visit in itself. Campbell river whale watching, grizzly bear, wildlife and ocean rapids adventures tours go wild. Bc whale tours victoria aktuelle 2020 lohnt es sich. These are all typical maneuvers you may expect to see while whale watching off the west coast of vancouver island. I think i heard someone saw a whale from an oak bay beach once. Swim with dolphins in mexico, caribbean and jamaica at dolphin discovery up to 42% off. The whaleplanner september a whale watching infographic. Vancouver island whale watch, nanaimo, british columbia. 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. Start the morning in comfort with spectacular views of georgia strait from the luxurious heated inner cabin featuring floor to ceiling windows.
If seeing whales in their natural habitat is something you have always wanted to do, then planning a trip to do so is easier than you might think. The whale centre, tofino, bc tofino whale watching, bear. 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. Whale watching in july and august vancouver island, british. All three of their vessels are zodiac style one open and two semicovered, customdesigned for marine wildlife viewing, and all are equipped with hydrophones to listen to the whales. The whale centre offers safe and educational tofino hot springs tours, whale watching tours, tofino bear watching tours, bird watching tours and private tours in tofino on vancouver island. Weather conditions in this area can be extremely variable. Orca spirits three hour whale watching tours run daily from april through october. During your trip to vancouver island, it is well worth taking in one of the many tours available along the coast of vancouver island and keeping your full attention on the water.
Where to see whales in coastal bc spirit of the west. Granville island is really a village, on an island obviously, in the middle of world city vancouver. You can get there by seaplane, ferry, or the whale watching boat itself. Tours not recommended for those suffering from neckback problems, persons in frail health or pregnant women. 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. On the west coast, tofino is a quaint town with an embedded orcawatching culture. Ocean ecoventures whale watching cowichan bay 2020 alles. Looking for the best whale watching on vancouver island.
How to go whale watching from vancouver explore bc. During this fast moving crisis and after some time and thoughtful consideration vancouver whale watch has suspended tours until may 15th. Swim with dolphins in mexico, caribbean and jamaica at dolphin discovery up to. Threehour wildlife whale watching tour for one or two from five star whale watching up to 34% off. You can choose from various tours around the gulf and san juan islands. Should we just plan to do it there or head up to sidney or some other spot. Our coastal wilderness is home to killer whales, humpback whales, sea lions, porpoises, seals, eagles, and more. Humpbacks are the largest whale to frequent vancouver island waters. Well take you through the salish sea ecosystem to see whales and other marine life in their natural habitat. Whale watching british columbia vancouver islands watching. Humpbacks live in all major oceans and are migratory, spending summers in cooler feed rich waters and mating and calving in warmer tropical and subtropical waters.
This is your chance to sea kayak with killer orca whales or watch them from our boat, the. Many tours leave from victoria on vancouver island, but if you want to see whales from vancouver, you have options. The ocean off northern vancouver island sees great upwellings of cold water, which means there are lots of nutrientsand therefore lots of food for these amazing creatures. The return journey consists of a 35minute oneway seaplane flight from victoria to vancouver. Whale watching in vancouver, canada the ultimate guide. Because the season is slowing down, there are less boats on the ocean. Ill be in vancouver in the first couple of weeks of april, and am really keen to see some whales. Here are three reasons why you should go whale watching in november.