Vancouver Island Whale Watching Adventure

Everything You Want to Know...About Your Vancouver Island Whale Watching Adventure!

Your visit won't be complete without a Vancouver Island whale watching adventure.

One of THE most amazing outdoor experiences we've ever had as a family is whale watching! If you're booking a trip to the west coast of Canada, whale watching should be on your list! Vancouver Island is one of the best spots in the world to see whales!

Although you can come out for Vancouver Island whale watching as early as mid-March, we'd suggest you save this adventure until about early May, if you can. Most of us Islanders agree that you don't start seeing many until about May.

Graeme, Nolen and I have been out on a couple of great tours, so we'll tell you where to find the best Vancouver Island whale watching adventure! It's an experience you won't forget.

What Kind of Whales Will You See?

Questions you'll want answers to before your Island whale watching adventure: "WHAT kind of whales are we going to see and WHEN should we go?!"

Here are the specifics on the whales you'll see, and when best to see them on your Vancouver Island whale watching trip:

Western Coast- Here you will see most often the Pacific Gray whales and Humpback whales. While some Orca whales (Killer whales) are seen in this region, you will more likely see them on the South and East coast of the Island. The best time to see the Gray and Humpback whales will be anytime between March and September (that's what the tour operators tell us).
Southern or Northern Coast - if you're hoping to see Orcas (Killer whales) for your Vancouver Island whale watching experience, then this is most likely the best area to see them. The best time of the year for Orcas is in the summer months when pods are feeding and traveling together.
Orcas are seen quite often in our Pacific Ocean waters, particularly in the South and Northeast waters off the Island. You may catch glimpses of Gray and Humpback whales, but we have found the majority of these to be off the West coast.

It's always best to go with established and legitimate tours - that's where we come in!

We love this adventure, so we've hand-picked what we think are the best Vancouver Island whale watching tours.

Click on the links below to find out about the tour companies we recommend!

Tofino Whale Watching Tours (western coast)

Downtown Victoria Whale Watching Tours (southern coast)

Port McNeill Whale Watching Tour (northeastern coast)

What To Expect on Vancouver Island Whale Watching Tours

When you do book, keep in mind that whale watching tours tend to be "seasonal."

West Coast tours generally operate from February 15 to October 31.
South Coast tours are from late April, early May to mid-November.
Northeast Coast tours operate mainly during the summer months, June to September.

Each company opens and closes the season at slightly different dates so make sure you check.

Important Note: For pregnant women and those with back and/or neck problems, Vancouver Island whale watching might not be the right adventure for you.

However, there are some tours that are not on Zodiaks (open-style high speed boats). Zodiaks travel at extremely fast speeds and can be very, very rough so you should be in good physical condition. However, some tours are offered on sailboats or cruisers, which would be more suitable.

Do call the tour operator ahead of time to discuss which would be best suited for you.

Most whale watching tours are no less than three hours, so we found it to be a good idea to pack a little bag of dried fruit and nuts in case we get hungry.

We've put together some more helpful tips for your whale watching adventure, so Click Here for our tips on how to have a great whale watching vacation!

Enjoy this unforgettable experience!

Vancouver Island Adventures / Vancouver Island Whale Watching