Imagine one of Canada’s most cosmopolitan cities, nestled at the foot of the rugged Coast Mountains, with the verdant Fraser Valley and the mountain resort of Whistler as its next-door neighbors. Now imagine hanging out with some of our other neighbors; we have some pretty big ones to brag about - 9 m (30 ft) long and upwards of 8 tonnes (9 tons). Here our region’s rivers, coastline and largest city meet the mighty Orca – after all, this is prime whale-watching territory.
Tours depart from Steveston or pick up downtown
Passengers can choose to start their journey either in the historic fishing village of Steveston, located at the mouth of the Fraser River, or from downtown Vancouver. Whatever your departure point, it won’t take long to find what you are looking for. Only minutes after leaving the Vancouver city skyline behind, passengers on whale watching tours are exploring the Strait of Georgia, Fraser River Delta and Gulf Islands – the playground to 85 Orca whales. And plan on seeing more than whales: onboard naturalists will point out harbour seals, sea lions, porpoises and a variety of other marine wildlife.
Best times to watch our whales
Tour participants can choose between travelling in a semi-covered or an open-air zodiac-type vessel when heading out to sea.
May to October is peak whale watching season.
Steveston Village is 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver via Highway 99. You can also get their easily by tour operator shuttle or public transportation.
A few things to remember if you go whale watching:
- Do not disturb the whales and other wildlife
- Approximate time required: 3-5 hours
- Bring warm clothes (layering is best) and a camera but remember that on Zodiac boats, it may get splashed.