San juan orcas was also established to offer help identifying individual orcas. San juan cruises has three whale watching tours a deluxe whale watch including a free salmon lunch and friday harbor visit, a halfday whale watching tour with a free lasagna lunch, and an evening whale watching tour that includes our delicious lasagna and caesar salad dinner. San juan outfitters is widely considered san juan islands premier sea kayak and whale watch tour company. To start with, the san juan islands are the best place in the usa to spot orca or killer whales and bald eagles, after alaska. Come aboard natsilane, named after an orca whale legend, a 30 albin fast express cruiser, and enjoy a comfortable heated cabin, with indoor and outdoor seating, restroom and snack bar. The most wonderful ways to whale watch in the san juan. We set sail on the 65foot odyssey and made our way out into the salish sea. Whether you book a roche harbor or friday harbor whale watching tour, you are all but guaranteed to. Whale watching in the san juan islands the mandagies. Whale watching guidelines san juan safaris san juan. Posted by sherrie on thursday, june 7, 2012 2 comments. Best place for whale watching in the san juan islands. You can also spot humpbacks, minkes, gray whales, steller sea lions, and many other underrated species. Although they cant guarantee themmany boast a 90% viewing rate during the peak season of may through septemberthe captains are in constant communication with their spotting network in order to do their best at finding.
This deal cannot be combined with promotion codes or other discounts and is valid on whale watching tours only. Whether youre a pacific northwest native or a visitor to the region from around the world, a whale watching excursion in the san juan islands is an experience youll never forget. Transient or biggs, killer whales aka orca whales can often be seen yearround, as well as steller sea lions, harbor seals, porpoise, bald eagles. San juan island and the town of friday harbor offer several options for transportation. Southern resident killer whales north of the san juans. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor high season take a scenic cruise from seattle to friday harbor, where you will embark on an exciting day of whalewatching and sea life exploration. The day before, we embarked on a san juan island whale watching expedition from friday harbor with san juan excursions. The salmoneating southern resident killer whales srkw primarily feed on a. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor low season take a scenic cruise from seattle to friday harbor, where you will embark on an exciting day of whalewatching and sea life exploration. Its been a very bleak season for the whales, jeanne hyde with friday harbors whale museum said.
San juan island whale watching season update the best there. A locals guide to whale watching in the san juan islands. San juan island is the center of whale watching in the pacific northwest and therefore friday harbor on san juan island is the best location for departing on a whale watch tour in washington state. Whale watching in the san juan islands whale watching. San juan excursions won firstplace honors for best whale watching in 2009 from cityvoters. In addition to hosting the worlds only whale museum the san juan islands are also home to washington states hidden treasure. Until then, we are working through the project list and getting everything ready to go. Following the whalewatching cruise, step off the boat and onto san juan island for some touring on your own.
Download our whale watching wildlife cruises, friday harbor, san juan island, washington brochure, download and print our full. Join captain hobbes who grew up on the water in england and has been operating whale watch tours and passenger vessels in the san juan islands for 12 years. In the early season, ferry times can differ during weekdays and weekends. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor low. Soak in the natural beauty of the pacific northwest aboard the finest whale watching vessel on the entire west coast, the island explorer 5. There have been more humpback sightings in our waters this winter than ever before. Riding the ferry is always a chance to see the whales, but not a huge one. A vessel should approach an area of known or suspected whale activity with extreme caution. Considered the premier location to view wild orca killer whales, the waters around san juan island are ideal for whale watching. Whale watching is a unique opportunity to gain knowledge and appreciate killer whales and the other marine wildlife in this region. Whale watching cruises san juan cruises bellingham. Download our brochure whale watching trips, wildlife cruises.
San juan island whale watching day trip from seattle, wa. Our first whale watching tour from friday harbor is scheduled for saturday, march 4th and we cant wait to get back on the water. We began our journey with a search through the inner san juan islands as we tried to locate an early morning report of whales in that region. You may choose to take a seasonal shuttle, moped, or scoot coupe may. Humpback whales, minke whales, and, gray whales also call the region home. Most of our trips along the west side of san juan island have resulted in whale sightings, but your best and most assured way would be to go on a whale watching tour boat, of which there are many. Today we encountered one of, if not my favorite matriline of orcasthe j16s. We didnt find whales, but we did find wind, eagles and steller sea lions. Our cruises offer a gaurantee that if you do not see whales on you cruise you can come again free of charge.
Orca whale watching is a huge draw to the islands, but they have plenty more to offer visitors great food, outdoor activities and beautiful scenery. San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching. We had an unforgettable trip which included sitings sic for all three pods, and a huge number of whales the entire time. The calm waters near the san juan islands are one of the best places in the world to view wild orcas. The san juan islands are one of the best places in the world to see orca whales in the wild. Baleen whales of the san juan islands humpback whale, gray whale, and minke whale. The salmoneating southern resident killer whales srkw primarily feed on a diet that is more than 85% chinookspeciessalmon. The afternoon tour is great because you dont have to get up early, and you end your day with whales and some pretty incredible lighting for photographs. Whale watching off the san juan islands life beyond borders.
Be whale wise san juan islands washington visitors bureau. San juan island 90 miles north of seattle is the best place for orca whale watching as we are located in the heart of salish sea. It was a group of transient orcas t65as out in the northern san juans. Join us on the new and fast, 55ft vessel sea lion for a naturalist guided tour. Orca whales range through the san juan islands the most between march and october and you can expect to see them on the vast majority of our tours during that time, although we do have sightings throughout the year. This website, san juan orcas, was established to help spread awareness of the endangered southern resident orcas and to arm people with the knowledge of how to help save these amazing marine mammals from extinction. San juan safaris, located in friday harbor on san juan island, is in the perfect location to provide you with the thrill of seeing orcas in their natural habitat. Most of the san juan islands whale watching tours originate out of san juan island, with friday harbor and roche harbor being the primary points of embarkation. Go on a whale watch tour with mayas legacy whale watching, one of the few outfitters open year. The waters surrounding the islands are home base to several orca family groups, most notably the salmoneating southern resident j, k and l pods as well as marine mammaleating transient orcas. Magnificent orca or killer whales live in the san juan islands yearround, and this is the best place in the world to see them in the wild. Those of us who live here in the san juans know that the opportunity to see whales exists pretty much all year round, but there are definite seasons when the whales are more likely to be about. Coastal cruising in a local panga boat or sailboat will take you along the shoreline, viewing the many small bays, inlets and beaches while coastal cruising you may see some of our marine wildlife and get to do some whale watching, and view some turtles swimming, dolphins cavorting, and rays. Come aboard for an adventure in the san juan islands or.
Popping head up to have a look around whale watching off san juan island at sunset whale watching san juan islands facts. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just. Just a 90mile drive from downtown seattle, anacortes is a convenient starting point for your wildlife adventure no ferry required. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just around the corner. San juan outfitters is best known for its high quality whale watch and wildlife tours, focusing not only on showing our guests orca killer whales, but a wider variety of wildlife as well. The mooring lines of the san juan clipper land on the deck of the whale watching vessel. This reputation developed from a commitment to the highest level of guest service, and our 2 exclusive sea kayak and whale watch facilities at roche harbor and friday harbor on san juan island. Yesterday was a great day we saw whales on all 5 of our cruises, including our deluxe and express whale watching tours, the sucia island picnic cruise, the evening crab dinner cruise and a private charter. The waters of washingtons san juan islands support a great diversity of wildlife and baleen whales are the largest of all marine species we see on our san juan islands kayaking tours.
There are many opportunities to spot whales throughout the san juan islands. Download the watching whales in the san juan islands brochure. Of all the times ive been on the ferry and out in the sound and san juans on my sailboat, ive seen orcas exactly twice in 15 years. San juan islands whale watching friday harbor whale watching. Because our trips start in friday harbor on san juan island, where 90% of the regions whale sightings occur, and because of our boats travel at minimum 18 knots with passengers, we are usually able to get to the whales, spend time with the whales, and spend time viewing other wildlife during the 3 to 4 hour time allotted per tour. For guided kayak tours, check out members of the san juan island kayak association and. If youre in the area, one of them is sure to be convenient for your own whale watching plans. Whale rocks and long island was the place to be if you were a. Not only did we see several orcas, but also spotted a gray whale, a humpback whale, seals, and a cluster of stellar sea lions on a rock outcrop. San juan del sur nicaragua has a beautiful coastline, most of which can only be seen from the ocean. During the peak season, we see whales on 90% of our tours, in addition to a variety of marine wildlife. Whale watching tour at friday harbor in san juan islands.
Of all the activities to enjoy here in the san juan islands, whale watching is one of the most spectacular. Seattle whale watching to the san juan islands duration. Here, whale watching season spans from march through october. Get up close with the killer whales off orcas island, the largest of the san juan islands near seattle, on this guided, 3. Visit the whale museum or the sculpture garden at westcott bay reserve. Five whale watching tour companies are situated in various islands of the san juans, prime whale feeding and habitat. Boatbased whale watching tours getting out on the water with a local whale watch tour operator will give you the best chance at seeing whales in their natural habitat. For more information on things to do in san juan island, download our free. With your complimentary guidebook in hand, youll have about two hours to explore the quaint town of friday harbor.
More than 500,000 people annually go whale watching in the waters of washington and british columbia around the san juan islands. Discover san juan islands whale watching clipper magazine. Whale watching tours in the san juan islands, washington. An amazing evening whale watching and spotting transient whales on the san juan islands with san juan island whale and wildlife tours. Orca whale watching in the san juan islands island adventures. Led by naturalist guides and captains, climb aboard a blackfish fleet vessel and travel through some of the most picturesque scenery in the pacific northwest searching for orca. During peak season orcas are encountered on 90% or more of tours. Anacortes is our flagship location where island adventures first began back in 1996.
Whale watching and sunset sailing in san juan del sur. You want to look at travel from anacortes to friday harbor. Baleen whales completely lack teeth and filter small prey such as plankton, worms, and. The victoria clipper ferry does daytrips to friday harbor and back, searching the sea for whales and other marine life around the san juan islands in the afternoon, we got off the boat to explore friday harbor for a few hours.
Peak season is from mayseptember, but that shouldnt stop you from visiting during the offpeak months. Orcas island eclipse charters whale and wildlife tours. Not only are they made up of very charismatic individiuals, but they also provide me with a lot of great teaching points to talk to guests about, thanks to their diverse social dynamics. Jawdropping scenery, rich local ecology and the chance to view a magnificent orca or humpback whale in the wild. The san juan islands are worldrenowned for orca research and whale watching and there are two different types of orcas.