Whale Watching Tours
2008 Whale Watching Season - April 1 to October 31
The Killer Whales come to this region to feed on the salmon that are returning to the Fraser River to spawn. The salmon start to migrate up river in May and continue into October. There are three pods (families) of Killer Whales that return to this area every year and they consist of approximately 80 whales. Killer Whales are matriarchal meaning that the eldest female leads the group.
All of our resident Killer whales can be identified by their dorsal fin and saddle patch (area behind the dorsal fin) and have their own names. For example, the head of J pod is named Granny (J2) and is thought to have been born in 1911.
"I just wanted to write a quick thank-you for our wonderful trip on Saturday. It was a great day, and we saw LOTS of whales! The [bus] drivers, office staff and the boat staff were all friendly and helpful, and we really appreciated the service we got. I may contact you later in the summer for another trip! ... We had a great time on our trip, and I'd recommend Vancouver Whale Watch to any other groups, definitely. Thanks again," Mandy from SWAP.ca
Our 3 to 5 Tours
- Discover Orcas, bow riding Dall’s porpoises, sea lions, seals, eagles and more
- Photo ID charts on board for the Killer Whales
- Over 90% success rate sighting whales
- Our Guarantee – Should you not see a whale, come again for free until you do, for life, no expiry
- Travel through the spectacular Gulf and San Juan Islands
- Have a professional naturalist on board who discusses the marine ecosystem and answers questions
- Free all day parking, including RVs
- Complimentary water and snack
- Hydrophones to hear the whales communicating.
Rates & Departure Times
| Boat Type | Adults | Students |
Seniors (60+) |
Children (4-12) |
Infants (0-3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorathor (Semi-Covered) | $120 | $100 | $100 | $75 | Free |
| Lightship 1 (Open Air) | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125* | N/A |
* Children must be a minimum of 8 years of age to ride the Lightship.
A $5.00 fuel surchange per person has been included in the rates above.
| Departure Times | Date | Trip Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00am | April 1 - June 13 | 3 - 5 Hours |
| 9:00am & 2:00pm | June 14 - September 7 | 3 - 5 Hours |
| 11:00am | September 8 - October 31 | 3 - 5 Hours |
- Prices do not include GST (5%)
- Tours not recommended for those suffering from neck/back problems, persons in frail health or pregnant women
- Children 3 and under free of charge (must be accompanied by an adult)
- 48 hour cancellation policy
- Rates and departures subject to change without notice
- We reserve the right to cancel any trip due to weather conditions, mechanical problems or unforseen circumstances
- We reserve the right to substitute vessels
We support WWOANW guidelines for responsible whale watching.
A portion
of proceeds supports local marine
research programs.
