 Whale watching, JF Bergeron photo
Whale watching tours also proliferate in BC: count on a stellar adventure, be it zipping in a high-speed, open-air zodiac to whale feeding grounds, or watching from the side of a sturdy cruise ship.
Whale sightings are so common along the BC coast that many tour operators provide a guarantee that you will see whales, or the next excursion’s free.
Be awed by the whales and BC's amazing scenery
Think dramatic, windswept shores, endless miles of wave-lapped, sandy beaches, islands, hidden coves, swirling currents.
And of course, there are the whales: Orca. Gray. Minke. Humpback. Thousands migrate along the BC coastline en route to Alaska or back to Mexico. Pods of Orcas (killer whales) even reside in southern Vancouver Island’s protected, marine-life-rich coastal waters.
Be on the lookout as well for porpoises, seals, sea lions, seabirds and more. On many guided tours, onboard naturalists and marine biologists will help explain these fascinating marine ecosystems.
Whale-watching opportunities near Vancouver and Victoria
There’s not too many places in the world where you can walk to the downtown harbour of a capital city, don a marine suit, board a high-speed zodiac and be sighting whales within minutes.
You can in Victoria; whale watching is just a short, convenient launch from Vancouver, too. Feeding grounds are located close by BC’s two major cities.
Unforgettable excursions on Vancouver Island and in Northern BC
BC boasts hundreds of kilometres (miles) of remote inlets and a craggy coastline, particularly along Vancouver Island and in Northern BC.
Whale-watching operators here take you to secluded spots where whales thrive, but are much too remote and harsh for human settlement.
Stellar whale-watching spots include:
• Robson Bight Ecological Reserve (northern Vancouver Island)
• Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada (west-central Vancouver Island)
• Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
• Prince Rupert (Northern BC)
Whether in Vancouver, Victoria, on Vancouver Island or in Northern BC, choose from a selection of excellent whale-watching operators by visiting our Whale Watching listings page.
A few of the larger companies around the regions include, but aren't limited to:
• Stubbs Whale Watching, located in Telegraph Cove, started BC’s first whale-watching outfit in 1980. Since then, the province’s whale-watching industry has flourished.
• Jamie’s Whaling Station & Adventure Centres (Tofino, Vancouver Island)
• Prince of Whales Whale Watching (Vancouver and Victoria)
• Prince Rupert Adventure Tours (Northern BC)
During peak season, choose a departure time that works for you, as well as boat size, which vary from zodiacs to cruise ships loaded with amenities, comforts and covered viewing areas.
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