The best whale watching place anywhere on the planet these are the words of captain ian roberts, who has led these unforgettable trips for the. Frequently asked questions about whale watching in bc. Whale watching in bc british columbia travel and adventure. Box 2482 1801 cowichan bay rd cowichan bay british columbia canada v0r1n0. Whale watching is one of the things you really have to do during your travel in canada. Canada s atlantic coast from the atlantic provinces, follow in the footsteps of the regions maritime heritage to venture out into the north atlantic or the gulf of st. By then all the operators have been out since morning and have figured out where the pods are clustering that day. Combine 2 popular local attractions into one and go on a whale watching safari from vancouver to victoria. The first whales of the season have been spotted in victorias port phillip bay. Their fierce predatory style won them the nickname of killer whale in spite of the fact that orcas, both in the wild and in captivity, show incredible curiosity, awareness and gentleness toward people.
Get up close and personal with camera hogs like the humpback, known for launching its 36tonne body up and out of the water for playful breaching. Whether you choose a naturalistled, marine ecologythemed boat cruise, a tour that combines whale watching with a trip to butchart gardens, or a seaplane tour that drops you off at a ship for whale watching, youre sure to remember your experience. Theoretically, you could meet orcas in the waters of british columbia all year long, but the main season is from may to september. Dec 14, 2009 join david roberts and james rogers, as they guide a group through the waters off of victoria, british columbia, to experience the thrill of whale watching. Prince of whales is focused on sharing the beautiful and breathtaking coastal waters of british columbia, its vibrant wildlife, and its rich history. The rugged beauty of the west coast is something that should be experienced with victorias boutique whale watching company. Combine hiking with whale watching in one of the best locations in the country to watch whales from the shore.
With all that coastline, there are plenty of places to go whale watching in canada. The rarity of local sightings make for an exciting show if one is lucky. And the best time to see them is often julyseptember, although tours run as early as may and as late as october. Bc whale tours victoria all you need to know before. Toprated victoria, british columbia whale watching tours 2020. In victoria, there are numerous companies that offer whale watching tours.
Watch whales and other diverse marine species on the salish sea on this 3. We walked to the harbor and decided last minute to book a whale watching tour with a company that we found while walking, orca spirit, it was the best tour i ever took it was a 3 hour zodiac boat ride and we saw a bunch of whales, our captain ed was so knowledgeable. There are three orca pods totaling over 80 whales in victoria s waters alone. Guaranteed whale watching program victoria bc eagle. The reserve is canadas first marine protected area and home to an abundance of rare marine life.
From may to early october, whales migrate from antarctica along the victorian coastline to the north, to warmer waters near queensland. Click through our online calendar booking service to choose your summer daytrip dates. We are happy to hear you enjoyed your time on the water with us. Some even come in the winter months for an uncrowded adventure.
Whale watching, nature and wildlife, victoria, australia. Boats from victoria and vancouver, bc, will help you seek not just the killer whales but also minkes, humpbacks, pacific whitesided dolphins, and stellers sea lions. The rugged beauty of the west coast is something that should be experienced with victoria s boutique whale watching company. During our busy summer season juneseptember we do recommend you book a week head of time. Prince of whales whale watching victoria 2020 all you. Prince of whales adventures bcs best whale watching. As such, visitors to the province capital will find it easy to add a whale watching experience to the itinerary, at least during the. These small baleen whales can be seen around the globe, but are often more elusive in the vancouver island area. Read the page whale watching canada, to check when to view orcas. Day whale watching tours in victoria, bc eagle wing tours. Victoria, bc is the best place on earth to view whales. Whale watching victoria adventures prince of whales.
Aug, 20 combine hiking with whale watching in one of the best locations in the country to watch whales from the shore. Victoria, bc is the best place on earth to view whales in the wild. Whaletrips british columbia whale watching in british. Its whale watching season visit victoria media hub. Jane mclean is an ontariobased travel writer who has covered canada for more than 10 years. Orca spirit adventures victoria 2020 all you need to know. Make sure you find the right area and season for best chances to spot these kings of the oceans. With over 70 whales belonging to these families, transient orcas, and humpback whales youll have plenty of opportunities for an encounter with these magnificent creatures. Our whale watching tours located off the southern coast of victoria, british columbia consist of viewing transient orca pods, migrating humpback whales, grey whales and other marine animals that reside in our coastal waters. Five star whale watching is the fairmont empress hotel inhouse whale watching company, and as a guest of the hotel we have a special offer for you. If you havent already, be sure to check out the photos taken on your tour they are free to download on flickr. Victoria whale watching tours sea king adventures inc. If youre eager to get on the water, tour companies in cape breton highlands also offers zodiac and catamaran excursions.
There are about 90 whales in the group consisting of 3 pods. Being february in canada i knew it would be cold but didnt expect the trip to be sunny and flat. A major whale migration occurs in mid winter off the west coast of vancouver island near tofino and ucluelet, when approximately 20,000 pacific grey whales leave the baja peninsula to journey north to alaska, cruising past vancouver island enroute. Whale watching victoria bc book your whale watching. Take an express cruiser boat through the gulf islands, keeping your eyes peeled for orca whales, and then spend the day exploring victoria before catching a seaplane back to vancouver.
Theres simply nothing better than a whale watching tour in bc with orca spirit, some prefer viewing beneath the summer sun, while others prefer cooler spring and fall viewings. As we move into mid september we see fewer resident killer whales however with the abundant sea lion population that moves into the area, we see more transients as sea lions are a favorite food source for his subspecies of orca. Up and down the coast of british columbia, from victoria to port hardy on vancouver island, from vancouver to the bc gulf islands, and up to haida gwaii queen charlotte islands. We hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in victoria. Youll see orca whales, migrating humpback whales and much more. They hunt for seals, sea lions, porpoises and other whale species. Through the internet, we found several companies offering whale watching tours, with several types of ve. Take your seat on board or stand out on deck, and head out onto the waves with your guide. The area around victoria is well known for their southern resident killer whale orca populations. Come for the afternoon, or stay a few nights at one of our partner hotels. Theres something to be said about the peace and quiet of a tourist town in the offseason, and the beauty of victoria from the water on a crisp winters day is unrivaled. Sep 03, 2018 when putting together the plan and itinerary for our 20 canada trip, one of the things that were on top of the priority list right from the start was whale watching.
Hang in there, the flowers will be out in bloom soon enough. Make multiple wildlife stops and enjoy worldclass interpretation and personalized service from your naturalist guide and expert crew. It sounds like you had incredible encounters with both killer whales and humpback whales and with other local marine wildlife. Although wildlife is the focus of our trip, the scenery along the way is not to be forgotten. If this does occur we have a whale guarantee program, which means that if you do not see whales on your first trip with us then you will receive a 20% cash refund and free trip via standby on your next adventure with us. Ensure that company you chose has qualified staff, the knowledge of our orca naturalists is more than a requirement. Enjoy two favorite victoria tours in a single day with this greatvalue combo package. Discover the natural wonders of the pacific northwest and southern canada with an exhilarating adventure from seattle to vancouver and victoria, bc. Whale watching from victoria british columbia, canada. From the commencement of our tour you will see the snow crowned olympic mountains virtually soar from the sea bed.
Time your trip to the great ocean road region between june and october for whale watching at logans beach, victoria s southern right whale. As victoria s longest running family owned and operated whale watching company and first catamaran company, we have built up victoria as a world class destination for whale watching. Victoria canada victoria british columbia banff quebec pvt canada visit canada ontario western canada alaska cruise how to spend a weekend in victoria, british columbia, canada, a 48hour itinerary featuring whale watching, cycle tours, museums, great food and drink. Every trip is different, as we follow reports of the whales location. April to october join our comfortable 61 ft covered. British columbia whale watching is something that any and all outdoor enthusiasts should enjoy, and there is plenty of time to enjoy it in this region known for its excellent wildlife. Go during the peak season of julyaugust for the best chance of spotting humpback and fin whales. The whales have been spotted out the front of roro cafe just near the searoad ferries terminal and the research director from the dolphin research institute confirmed they are the first whales spotted in the bay. Catamaran excursions launch from victoria s inner harbour. Call or click to make a reservation now and mention you are staying at the empress hotel to get a special rate. Whale watching tours from vancouver island tourism victoria.
As most whales are migratory, they visit rich waters for feeding. Island adventures whale watching 1801 commercial avenue anacortes, wa 98221 united states 360 2932428. Whale watching is a popular activity for residents and visitors to victoria, canada. As victorias longest running family owned and operated whale watching company and first catamaran company, we have built up victoria as a world class destination for whale watching.
Chance of spotting rarer species add an extra thrill to whale watching when whale watching near victoria, keep an eye out for the lesser known minke whale. Better yet, choose a location that is in more protected waters such as johnstone strait and the broughton archipelago or near victoria. Nov 01, 2016 the best whale watching place anywhere on the planet these are the words of captain ian roberts, who has led these unforgettable trips for the last 5 years. Tours can be done straight from telegraph cove with stubbsisland, multi day tours or kingfisher kayak tours. Setting the bar high for the local whale watching industry we have been inspiring and educating guests.
If reserving on line please use the promotion code emp1. Watch breathtaking southern right whales and blue whales as they make their annual migration to victoria s coastal waters. In this season, all major cruise companies begin to offer boat trips to see the migr. The romans called it orca, meaning demon from hell. Meet the orca whale orcas are highly intelligent and social animals, traveling in groups called pods. If winter whale watching doesnt quite sound like your thing, the summer season is just a few months away. We went on this tour in october and saw a number of humpback whales and large numbers of two types of sea.
Choose your victoria whale watching adventure just a short cruise from downtown victoria, an ocean wilderness awaits. Tenzing gives us a very personal encounter with nature without being disruptive to the marine environment. The main whale watching destinations are in british columbia on the west coast and in newfoundland, quebec, new brunswick, and nova scotia on the east coast. Cruise from vancouver to victoria and discover native canadian wildlife in its natural habitat on this 4hour oneway whale watching cruise. She came into our hands some twenty years ago and was repurposed as a wildlife viewing vessel. Enjoy a scenic 35 minute float plane ride from vancouvers coal harbour to downtown victoria, then start your southern resident killer whale watching adventure with us. Tenzing gives us a very personal encounter with nature without being disruptive to. There is no seagoing experience quite like watching, closeup, a sleek whale weighing thousands of pounds frolic like a child in its natural habitat. Occasionally they are spotted while whale watching in british columbia. Its common name, recognized by many people, is killer whale originally called whale killer by spanish whalers. Whales choose to give birth and raise their calves just off the victoria coast. I assume youre hoping to go whale watching out of victoria. Only adding to the allure is the fact that there are a variety of whale types that visitors to the regions coast can expect to see.
Join our mailing list and receive periodic uptodate tour information, special vacation offers and more. Chances are youve travelled a long way or youre about to and you want nothing more than to fulfill your dream of seeing whales. Here are four criteria for choosing the best whale watching tour for you. Victoria bc whale watching is just one of the options on vancouver island, and if you find yourself on the mainland, virtually anywhere along the coast can make a prime viewing base.
Our company utilizes stateoftheart, custom designed, locally built vessels that are leading in the industry for safety. A reallife encounter with whales is an unforgettable experience, and with more than 30 species roaming the waters off its 202,000km of coastline, canada is prime territory for chasing whale tail. Majestic mammals and marine wildlife abound in the waters surrounding victoria, including the orca, or killer whale, and gray, humpback, and minke whales. From our downtown departure locations, we offer industryleading whale watching tours in vancouver, victoria, telegraph cove, and seattle. Join david roberts and james rogers, as they guide a group through the waters off of victoria, british columbia, to experience the thrill of whale watching. Why victoria has the best whale watching on vancouver island vancouver island is worldrenowned for its whale watching, and at the heart of the action is the city of victoria. The best whale watching on the planet victoria, bc, canada. Leave the crowds behind on our custom made vessels specifically designed for comfort, speed and safety that carry only 12 guests at a time. Whale watching holidays vancouver island, bc canada. Offshore killer whales will not be the target off whale watching tours as they live too far from shore. Please note conditions apply for more details check out our whale guarantee page. Bc whale tours victoria aktuelle 2020 lohnt es sich. Travel along victoria s spectacular southern coastline and watch humpback whales, southern right whales, blue whales and orcas as they make their annual pilgrimage from the feeding grounds of antarctica to give birth and raise their calves in australias warmer waters.
Orcas, humpback, minke and gray whales are in their natural habitat on this exciting 3hour whale watching tour. Victoria is a very convenient place to go whale watching from, as it is a hub of tourism for vancouver island. This cruise is covered by the whale guarantee program whale sightings are guaranteed during peak season. Whale watching dates in the fall, vancouver island, bc. Whale watching in british columbia tourguide canada.
While the pods may be out there 247, you have a better chance of your boat actually finding orcas if you go out later in the day. Looking for the best whale watching on vancouver island. F all is the time of year where the wildlife is very active particularily the humpback whales and sea lions. Five star whale watching is the fairmont empress hotel in house whale watching company, and as a guest of the hotel we have a special offer for you. Voyage into the open waters of the northern pacific on a 3. If thats the case, then only orcas killer whales can be seen out of victoria. This page is about where and when to view these magnificent marine mammals. Wild whales 2020 eggbeater creative vancouver whale watching.
Hop aboard your cruise boat in vancouvers coal harbour. Travelers to victoria have a number of whale watching tour options that offer the chance to view whales in their natural habitat. See whales and other marine wildlife on a whale watching tour in vancouver. About bc whale tours leave the crowds behind on our custom made vessels specifically designed for comfort, speed and safety that carry only 12 guests at a time. Other aquatic neighbours include sea lions, seals, porpoise and many marine birds. Victoria, bc v8v 4x5 canada 250 3848008 five star whale watching 645 humboldt street victoria, bc v8w1a6 canada 250 3887223. Join five star whale watching for the adventure of a lifetime an experience that you will never forget. Tenzing is a us navy whaleboat built in 1982 for shiptoshore usage.