British Columbia Whale Watching

Whale watching is very popular in British Columbia providing amazing experiences enjoyed by many with various tours and excursions on open-air and covered vessels. Here's your guide to whale watching on BC's west coast and around Vancouver Island.

Sightings may include orcas (killer whales), minke, gray and humpback. There are resident orcas in southern Vancouver Island, as well as transient whales migrating along the BC coastline from and to Alaska and Mexico. Sitting safely in a boat it can be quite a humbling experience getting up-close to these large, majestic mammals. In BC efforts are made to encourage environmentally safe practices with guidelines for responsible whale watching in order to provide maximum respect and safety to these creatures, while sustainably protecting their environment. Local guides are constantly keeping an eye out for pods and their movement along BC waters so that you are guaranteed to see the whales when you head out onto the water. The best time for whale watching is between May and October. Guided tours are offered on open-aired zodiacs or small cruise vessels. Whales aren’t the only creatures you will encounter on these expeditions, other wildlife such as porpoises, seals, and sea birds are common sightings.