Disclosure: Advertising and affiliate services, including Amazon Associates, help the cost of running my blog. Clicking ads or making purchases through affiliate links may, at no additional cost to you, earn me a small commission. I appreciate your support.
We scan the horizon for the telltale mist that occurs right as a whale surfaces. We collectively hold our breaths waiting for whales to release theirs. Without warning, not three meters away, it happens. A chorus of oohs and aahs break the silence, punctuated by the rapid click, click, click of a dozen cameras. This is the anticipation you can expect on a Vancouver whale watching tour – hopefully paying off if you’re lucky enough to see whales, of course.
Where Is The Best Place To Take A Vancouver Whale Watching Tour?
Since Vancouver is a coastal city in western Canada, you won’t have to travel too far to go whale watching. Most tours leave from the following places:
- Granville Island
- Steveston, Richmond
- There are also tours available from Victoria BC on Vancouver Island
The first two might seem more convenient to visitors to Vancouver. Easy to access from the main areas of Vancouver you’ll likely be staying in, and minimal travel time. However, Steveston is only a 30-40 minute drive from downtown Vancouver. It’s a beautiful little fishing village that, in my opinion, is well worth a visit anyway.
Personally I prefer the tours out of Steveston. Not only do you get to visit a new place around British Columbia, but the manmade rocky spit that creates a sheltered path out from the Fraser River attracts a variety of other sea life such as sealions to see as part of your whale watching tour.
Here are a few tour companies I recommend for a Vancouver whale watching tour:
- PRINCE OF WHALES – Operate from Granville Island in Vancouver, or from downtown Victoria or Telegraph Cove if you’re visiting Vancouver Island. Granville Island tour is partially covered boat only (no Zodiac option)
- SEABREEZE ADVENTURES – Operating out of the village of Steveston in Richmond BC with option to add on a transfer from Vancouver to easily get there.
- WILD WHALES VANCOUVER – Operates from Granville Island and has 3 different vessel types including partially covered and Zodiac style.
- VANCOUVER WHALE WATCH – Operates from Steveston (Richmond) and has both semi-covered and Zodiac options
My favorite so far has been Seabreeze Adventures. Their tours are slightly cheaper than competitors, I was really happy with their knowledgeable staff, and the smaller passenger count was a plus for me.
What Is The Best Month To Go Whale Watching?
While there are often resident whales around the waters of BC all year round, APRIL TO OCTOBER are the best months for whale watching tours.
Outside of this time many of the transient whales migrate to warmer waters such as Mexico and Hawaii, leaving only the resident whales. Therefore the chance of seeing whales is higher during April to October. And that’s why most tour companies only operate during this time.
Since most Vancouver whale watching tours boast a 95-97% success rate, you know they must be doing something right. Boats across all companies are really good at sharing information to give the best chances of their guests seeing whales.
How Much Does A Vancouver Whale Watching Tour Cost?
Vancouver Whale watching tours vary in cost depending on the type of boat you take your tour on. Some may slightly vary with day of the week, elevating prices a bit on popular weekend tours. That said, you can expect to pay between $150 and $200 CAD per person.
Taking a partially or fully enclosed boat tour is often a little cheaper than the high energy, and more thrilling zodiac boats. More on the differences later. But costs aren’t too different. I’d urge you to make your choice based on the boat or tour versus just the price.
On top of the price, you might like to give a tip to your guide. Especially if they’ve been particularly informative and helpful.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: Keep an eye out for special deals if you’re a local. On some of the tours there are BC Resident specials. I was able to get 10% off in this way on a recent tour I took with Seabreeze Adventures.
What Type Of Boat Will I Be On?
Each company has its own boats they use, and there will be differences depending on their fleet. However, with most companies there will usually be at least two main options. Partial or fully covered boats, usually with some kind of viewing platform at the rear or top of the boat; and inflatable Zodiac boats for the more intrepid traveler.
ZODIAC BOAT
A Zodiac boat will require a wetsuit and a tight grip when battling the open sea. But they are so much fun if you’ve got a good sense of adventure.
People with back pain, those who are pregnant, and smaller children might not be the ideal candidates. But these boats will often be able to get a little closer to the whales because of their size. A zodiac boat usually accommodates about 12 passengers.
TOP TIP FOR ZODIAC TOURS: Bring a plastic bag for your electronics, or ensure the pockets on the wetsuit are good. The last thing you want is your phone or camera getting ruined before you can snap a whaley good shot.
SEMI-COVERED BOAT
These boats are a little bigger, often able to accommodate 22-95 people depending on size. You’ll each have a seat in a covered section of the boat with windows that can be opened or closed as desired. There will also be an outdoor space or two for viewing. Most are at the back of the boat, some additional space may be available higher up near the bridge where the captain is.
TOP TIP FOR SEMI-COVERED BOAT TOURS: Sit closer to the back, nearer the door. Not only will you perhaps not bounce around as much when the waves hit the bow of the boat, you’ll be closer to the door. If a whale appears, you’ll want to run outside for photos.
I travelled with Prince of Whales and Seabreeze Adventures most recently. Personally, I preferred the latter which had space for about 25 people onboard vs. the Prince of Whales which accommodated up to 95. I usually enjoy a smaller group tour a bit more, especially if vying for photos.
What Whales Can I See On My Vancouver Whale Watching Tour?
The most common whale sightings around Vancouver are Humpbacks and Orcas. Gray whales and Minke whales have also been spotted in the area though, so you never know what you might see. Sometimes maybe more than one kind of whale.
I took a whale watching tour in Victoria, on nearby Vancouver Island, and was able to see Orcas. However on my Vancouver whale watching tours I haven’t seen Orcas. That said, I’ve always seen Humpbacks which are incredible to see in the wild.
Lucky visitors have often been treated to seeing the occasional Orca enter Vancouver Harbour. Although living here for over a decade I’ve never managed to be around when they show up. One day, hopefully!
With Orcas, there are two types: the Resident Orcas and the Transient Orcas. The names probably give away whether they are around Vancouver year round or not.
Resident Orcas typically live off salmon and other fish. They sometimes get a little closer on tours as they’re used to the boats. But Transients primarily hunt mammals such as seals, and don’t eat the fish. They are a little wilder, and interestingly the type of Orca that sparked the nickname “Killer” whale. As such, boats usually don’t get as close to them on tours.
WHAT OTHER WILDLIFE CAN I SEE ON A WHALE WATCHING TOUR?
Whales are, naturally, the highlight to any Vancouver whale watching tour. However, there’s more to see off our abundantly diverse coastline than whales.
Dolphins and porpoises can sometimes be seen, and often like to swim alongside boats. I’ve even been lucky enough to spot dolphins from the BC Ferries commuter ferry to Vancouver Island in the past.
Keep your eye out for seals, especially as you get closer to shore. Harbour Seals often pop up around Steveston, and even around Stanley Park’s beaches in Downtown Vancouver. If you see a seal out to sea on your whale watching tour, keep your peepers peeled for a transient Orca in search of its next meal.
As well as seals, Vancouver’s coast attracts sealions. Much larger, louder, and often basking on rocks, they can be spotted heading back into Steveston and your boat captain will often slow down for picture taking. Most often these will be California Sealions.
Sealife attracts a lot of birds, so you’ll probably see a heron or two close to shore, bald eagles and fish-loving cormorants or other aquatic birds. There’s no shortage of wildlife around Vancouver, so keep your camera handy for the trip.
Will I See Whales On My Vancouver Whale Watching Tour?
While you can keep everything crossed as you spend three to five hours on a boat, nature isn’t always a guarantee. Sometimes the whales just aren’t out to play, which is unfortunate, but always a possibility.
For that reason, every Vancouver whale watching tour I’ve seen offer return trips if no whales are seen on your tour. I should say, if the boat is unsuccessful in seeing whales. Not if you’re too busy on your phone or looking the wrong way when they appear.
Most tour companies will position their tours as “guaranteed sightings”. This is because they will allow you to come back on tours until you whales. Of course if you’re not local it might not be possible to return, so you do run that risk.
That said, I’ve been lucky on the tours that I’ve taken and seen whales every time. There are over 300 whales typically off the Vancouver coast during peak months. Well-connected boat captains share information on sightings, so you’ve got a pretty good shot at seeing something.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: Take a tour earlier in your vacation in case you don’t see whales and have to return for a make up adventure. Note that you won’t be guaranteed which types of whales you will see.
Vancouver Whale Watching Tour Experience
We’ve covered some of the practical aspects of taking a whale watching tour in Vancouver, so what else can you expect?
SPEED AND SAFETY
You’re on a boat away from shore, safety is a priority. Captains and tour guides will go over safety rules, including moving about the vessel, where to find and how to put on life jackets, and things you should absolutely not do while on the tour.
Any Vancouver whale watching tour will need to get far enough away from the mainland to have a chance of seeing whales. And with only a limited time onboard, that means moving pretty quickly to start.
Once you leave the harbor area, boats can get up to around 20 knots. That’s about 23 mph or 37 kph for us land folks).
Remember to plant your feet firmly apart when standing to brace against any waves or movement. And don’t lean over the side of the boat – even for a better shot. Most importantly, everyone wants a photo but remember no pushing and shoving. Get your photo and move back or leave room for others to share the space. Rotate where possible.
TOUR GUIDE
The tour guides (or naturalists as they might prefer to be called) are so good at not only pointing out the wildlife and telling you all about the area you’re travelling through, but getting deep into the marine biology of it all and peppering in fun facts.
On a recent whales watching tour, my guide was a student from UBC doing her PhD in Oceanography. She showed us her file on all the whales including identifying features and how to spot them.
By the end of the tour we had been able to name a good few of the whales we saw. We could find out their ages and their relationships with each other. Now that’s the kind of person you want guiding you.
COMFORT
If you’re on one of the open air zodiac boats then comfort might be all relative. Though you will have a big puffy waterproof onesie on, which will help guard you against the spray from the water.
Hold on tight as it can get a little bouncy. And no matter which tour you take, wear layers as it can be cooler on the water. On my last tour we were offered earplugs to help with the noise of the boat fighting back against the oncoming waves.
Speaking of waves, seasickness can be a real thing on a Vancouver whale watching tour. If you’re prone to seasickness take a pill before you leave or bring some Gravol or other anti-nausea medicine with you. The guides may have some ginger candies with them to help combat the queasy feeling. Some boats may also provide snacks or drinks.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: If you feel like you’re getting a little sick, focus on the horizon. Looking far ahead instead of on the motion of the boat near you, or even the waves. This will help center you and allows your brain to catch up with the fact you’re moving the same as the boat.
Last thing: bathrooms. On a zodiac boat tour you may be a little out of luck. Or it could be a bit more challenging to reach the very small bathroom if there is one. You might want to be prepared to hold it for the duration of the tour. Those on a semi-covered or covered boat tour usually luck out with a bathroom onboard. It could be a little rudimentary, but whatever works in a pinch.
ETHICAL CONSCIOUSNESS
Seeing whales is cool and all, but how ethical is this kind of tour? And is there a focus on conservation and the effects on marine life?
Well, heading out to sea to spot these animals in their natural habitat is much more ethical than a trip to SeaWorld. Many of us have done that in our past, but knowing what we know now, hopefully we can also agree to prioritize way more ethically conscious animal encounters.
There were two things that made me feel really good about doing a Vancouver whale watching tour. They really showed that the wildlife’s best interests is truly at heart. And both are in accordance with directions from the Pacific Whale Watching Association (PWWA).
- The boats don’t get too close to the whales. They leave a safe distance and kill the engines once they spot the whales. 100-200 meters are the guidelines varying by species of whale. If a naturally curious whale decides to get a little closer that’s just a bonus for those onboard. We had a humpback surprise us by popping up about 2 or 3 meters away from the boat. Magical!
- There’s a time limit you have with the whales. Each boat has one hour max before they need to move on – even if the whales aren’t moving on. But depending on what else is out there that day you may get to stop at more than one group of whales.
VIEWS OF VANCOUVER
The coastal views of BC and Vancouver as you head offshore might be distracting enough to temporarily steal focus from the whales. You might have to remind yourself of the real reason you’re out on the boat. Taking in the beautiful vistas, however, is a nice added bonus of a Vancouver whale watching tour.
If your tour leaves from Steveston, you’ll get to leave via the mouth of the Fraser river. Here you’ll pass wide open spaces, wetlands and fields off in the distance. From downtown Vancouver you’ll have the city on one side, green spaces on another.
Between the huge University of British Columbia lands in Vancouver, and the stunning North Shore mountains, there are more than a couple of reminders of how close wildlife really is to the city. Seeing whales with a city backdrop, sealions and seals with houses in the background. It’s a nice region for a tour.
MEMORIES OF YOUR TOUR
Take your best camera or your phone with a steady hand. Remember to hold tight so you don’t lose it over the side of the boat. Fingers crossed you’ll get some good shots of whales.
Although, it’s also likely you might not get much more than a fizz of water being sprayed in the air. Or maybe the last bit of a tail/fin disappearing under the water.
Fear not – the naturalist tour guides onboard often have a camera to take photos too. On my latest trip with Seabreeze Adventures, our guide Camryn took lots of photos. She happily shared by email with guests afterwards.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: Don’t spend your whole whale watching tour behind a lens/screen. Take a few photos by all means, but remember to put the phone or camera down and just enjoy seeing wildlife in its natural habitat. I guarantee you’ll remember that more than a photo.
When all is done, you may be able to purchase a reminder of your trip from the gift shop. Any Vancouver whale watching tour will probably have something for sale whether it’s just a key chain, or a t-shirt, or a stuffed whale toy so you can take home your own marine pal.
Is A Vancouver Whale Watching Tour Worth The Money?
Having been on a number of whale watching tours, I think you know my answer. I love seeing animals in the wild, having done many other fantastic animal encounter tours including an African Safari. A whale watching tour is a perfect way to spend a morning or afternoon on your trip to Vancouver, and see some real local Canadian wildlife.
Tours definitely aren’t as cheap as they used to be, but with some healthy competition they are all roughly a similar cost. What it often comes down to is the type of boat you want to take, availability and location depending on where you’re staying.
A Vancouver whale watching tour will usually last for 3-5 hours. So spending $150-$180 for that amount of time, to me, is worth it. Lots of tourist attractions in Vancouver are not very cheap – Capilano Suspension Bridge is $70+, Grouse Mountain is $80 and the Vancouver Aquarium is over $40. But a whale watching tour is a unique experience that I would highly recommend.
There’s always a chance you won’t be lucky enough to see whales. That would be surely disappointing, however the guarantee of another tour might soften the blow. But on the high percentage chance you do see Humpbacks or Orcas on your Vancouver whale watching tour…nothing can really beat that.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you ever done a Vancouver whale watching tour, or seen whales anywhere else? What whales would you most want to see in the wild?
The Vancouver area definitely is a great one for whale watching tours. We have had great whale sightings every time we went out searching. We too liked the tours from Steveston. But on Vancouver Island, we got the most amazing trip from Campbell River! I love when the tour companies share information about whale sightings. A great guide for people looking for whales around Vancouver.
I’ve always wanted to go on a whale watching tour. Seems like the one in Vancouver would be a perfect one to go on. I like the 90%+ success rate. And the views also seem amazing!
I haven’t been on a whale watching tour (yet). Thanks for including details about the ethics of these tours. I really enjoy animal encounters, but I am also concerned with the ethics of it all.
Whale watching in Vancouver is on my bucket list! I’ve only done it once in Iceland, it’s great that most companies in Canada allow you to join their tours again until you see whales.
Been wanting to go to Vancouver. Thanks for the tips!
I went whale watching on a recent trip to Iceland and unfortunately we saw nothing ! I’d love to do it again so am delighted to read how many options there are near Vancouver.
This is a very informative read. I like the detail on the types of boats, costs, handy tips and details on other wildlife you may see.
I also really like that you addressed the conservation element as I think given concern now on over tourism and changes in wildlife population, it’s good to address this.
I really enjoyed this post !
I’m definitely liking the sound of this 😍😍😍 I had a failed tour in Iceland and it was a disappointment… the success rate here is definitely piqueing my attention!
I visited Victoria BC many years ago and went whale watching but sadly failed to see anything. And we were in Nova Scotia last month and our planned whale watching trips were cancelled due to bad weather. So it was good to know that you had such a great time! It’s useful to learn that many of the tour operators in Vancouver indicate a 95-97% success rate and offer return trips if you don’t see anything. It also sounds as though whale welfare is paramount, particularly that the boats cut their engines and keep a good distance from the whales. It looks as though you had a whale of a time (if you’ll pardon the expression)!
I need to save up some money for Vancouver, dang it ain’t a cheap destination. $150-200 is steep indeed. At least they allow you to come back for a second tour in case you didn’t see any on the first try. Great reminder for travellers, to maybe book this at the beginning of the stay so there is some room in case for a second trip. I did whale watching in Australia during the pandemic and it took a few tries to get that once in a lifetime experience where the whales come up close to the boat and put on a show. Thanks for sharing so many insights and tips when going out for whale watching in Vancouver and also discussing if this is a safe and ethical experience.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
One of the best things about BC is our incredible nature, it never ceases to thrill me to see the whales in our local waters. While I have been blessed with many whale sightings, a tour is the best way for those wanting to see the whales in their natural setting. I have learned so much from the guides/naturalists on the tours. As you point out, whales are on their own schedule but I have never been on a tour without seeing at least one species of whales.
My most recent tour was on a Prince of Whales tour out of Telegraph Cove. As I live in Steveston, I think Vancouver visitors should choose the Steveston option and plan to spend time exploring the village before/after their journey.
Lyn | http://www.ramblynjazz.com
I’ve wanted to go whale watching in Vancouver for so long. Orcas are one of my favorite animals. It looks like you’ve had great weather on your journey. Beautiful pictures
I was talking to my friend out west, and at one point, we may do an Alaskan cruise (more or less for me to check off Alaska off my states list haha) and whale watching is part of that, but this sounds intriguing as well (and closer to where she lives too!). I like that you point out that it’s not just the whales you’ll see but the other wildlife as well such as dolphins and seals. The phrase “rising tide lifts all boats” comes to mind as a metaphor for this. Even if it gets pricey, it’s worth it just for that alone. Given that the boats stay out of their way, that’s also a nice touch. As a solo traveler, I would definitely consider this!
http://www.redsolotraveler.com
We have plenty of places to see whales in Australia and I love seeing them, so definitely would want to see them while in Canada also.
I’ve been wanting to do something like this for years, since we also have whale watching in Portugal, particularly in the Azores. I haven’t had the chance to see them live yet, but I think it’s an extraordinary sight.
Vancouver is a dream in terms of natural beauty and wildlife. I particularly liked the chapter on ethical awareness, as it’s a subject that always concerns me in animal-related activities.