There are few experiences that compare to the exhilaration of seeing a whale in its natural habitat. Vancouver, Coast and Mountains is one of the best and most beautiful places in the world to watch Orca whales in the wild.
On a guided whale watching tour you can get close enough to see the signature markings of the Orca whales: the one-of-a-kind white patch around the base of the fin, the white belly, and the white patch behind their eye. These creatures can be up to 9m/30ft) long and weigh upwards of 8 tonnes/9 tons.
Whale Watching Tours
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 as well.
Steveston Village is 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver via Highway 99. You can also get there easily by tour operator shuttle or public transportation.
Best Times for Whale Watching
May to October is peak whale watching season and tour participants can choose between travelling in a semi-covered or an open-air zodiac-type vessel when heading out to sea.
Whale Watching Tips:
- Do not disturb the whales and other wildlife - disturbing Orca whales is a federal offence
- Whales should be approached from the side and boats should not get any closer than 100m/328ft
- 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
- Passengers should observe boating safety and not lean too far overboard. Do not swim with, touch or feed marine life.