Whale Watching in Vancouver

Each year from March to October, thousands of whales migrate through the waters near Vancouver, making it one of the world’s best locations for prime whale watching. See our photos below to get an idea of what you’ll see on your upcoming whale watching trip.

A number of tour operators offer whale watching expeditions around the Gulf and San Juan Islands, so you can spot pods of whales from a high-speed zodiac, fully-equipped cruiser, kayak or seaplane. Click here to see a list of tour operators.

Many varieties of whales pass through these northern waterways, including humpback whales (shown), orcas, gray whales and minke whales.

Make sure to bring a pair of binoculars on your trip, because in addition to whales, it’s quite common to spot a range of seabirds, such as brown pelicans, harlequin ducks, Pacific loons, tufted puffins and bald eagles.

When it comes to whale watching tours, orcas are often considered the main attraction. The waters around Vancouver Island host large resident pods of nearly 100 killer whales, as well as small pods of transient orcas that travel across wide ranges of coastline.

From May to October, it’s prime viewing time to see southern resident orcas feeding on migrating salmon in the Strait of Georgia and the Gulf Islands. The late summer months, however, are ideal for spotting northern resident orcas, which feed in the Johnson Strait.

From sea lions and otters to dolphins and birds, British Columbia’s remote coastal areas are rife with a wide range of marine creatures. Keep an eye out — and your camera ready.