Where to go · WHALE WATCHING AND WILDLIFE CRUISES IN CANADA
The 15 best whale watching and wildlife cruises in Canada you can book today, with what each costs, how long it sails and who it suits. Number one is there for a reason, so start at the top.
Review of Victoria’s 3.5-hour Eagle Wing whale cruise, with orcas, humpbacks, seals, boat advice, pricing, and practical tips.
“Went for this trip just to see the whales and yup! I did.. what a fantastic creature..bonus that the weather really nice. Complementary warm clothing that they provide really helps when out in the ocean. Learned lots of informations we heard from the crew. 10 out of 10 would recommend 👍”
Cruise Newfoundland’s Witless Bay Reserve for puffins, whales, icebergs, seabirds, local stories, and practical tips from St. John’s.
“Wear extra layers, as it can get cold on the water. Excellent staff with a great sense of humour. Enjoyed by every age, especially kids. A shame that we saw no whales 😔 but lots of birds.”
Review of St. John's 2-hour whale and seabird tour, with Cape Spear views, heated cabin, local stories, wildlife tips, and honest value advice.
“Great tour Fun knowledgeable guides. Learned about sites and local culture Saw whales and puffins Perfect amount of time”
Review of Cowichan Bay’s half-day whale tour, with small groups, expert guides, Salish Sea wildlife, pricing, tips, and booking advice.
“I went with my 2 daughters 18 & 14 years old. It was very well organized trip, our guide gave us so much information. The best part was when hump Whales were jumping and playing in front of us”
Ride a winter Zodiac from Victoria to spot whales, seals, sea lions, otters, birds, and hear whale calls through a hydrophone.
“This tour was fun and enjoyable, even in the rain! We walked around town, taste tested a range of food and, learnt so much about the history of the area. It felt good to support local businesses.”
Review of Victoria's 3-hour whale tour, with orcas, humpbacks, marine biologists, boat comfort, wildlife odds, price, and practical tips.
“it hard to find the whales, every other boat is doing the same thing. However, it was educational in other aspects and she was very knowledgable, fun and interesting.”
Review of Campbell River’s four-hour whale and wildlife cruise, with route, vessels, wildlife odds, practical tips, price value, and booking advice.
“the weather was rainy and cold - couldn’t see through windows to spot anything for most of the trip, as they were covered with rain from the outside and steam inside. I was disappointed - only saw sea lions, seals and eagles. It was my bucket list trip to see whales and we didn’t see any.”
Review of Campbell River’s 4-hour Zodiac whale tour, with wildlife sightings, small groups, pricing, practical tips, and booking advice.
“Das Erleben der Wale in ihrer natürlichen Umgebung war sehr beeindruckend! Ebenso die Fahrt durch die Insellandschaft!”
Review of Victoria’s 3-hour whale and wildlife tour, with practical advice on boats, sightings, guides, price, weather, and booking.
“Unfortunately due to technical issues they had to change us to another provider, everything was quickly taken care of for as though. We had a fantastic trip and seen many humpback whales.”
Search for orcas, whales, dolphins, and bears on a four-hour Zodiac tour through Campbell River’s Discovery Islands.
“Great, knowledgeable guide. We got to see humpback whales and orcas. Great experience.”
Review of Victoria’s four-hour semi-covered whale tour, with Salish Sea scenery, expert guides, wildlife sightings, value, and practical tips.
“Phenomenal activity I would highly recommend to anyone who loves nature and to anyone who wants to learn more and gain a greater appreciation for the wildlife around the Salish Sea. It was a forever memorable experience! We saw humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, a blue heron, a kingfisher, bald eagles etc... the list goes on. The boat had a warm inside but it also had plenty of room outside for people to sit. The crew were incredible and accommodating, all highly knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife. Special shoutout to Derek, who was outside with us for the majority of the trip. He was an inspiring…”
Cruise from Campbell River on a small Zodiac boat for six hours of whales, eagles, porpoises, lunch, hot drinks, and open-water views.
“Our tour guide/boat captain, Becca. was very knowledgeable & interested that her passengers had a great experience We saw whales, porpoises, tide pools & had a magical experience with hundreds (?) of eagles fishing.”
Ride a fast Zodiac from Campbell River to seek orcas, humpbacks, bears, dolphins, and more on a four-hour wildlife tour.
“We tried to book online and had no success. Went to the office at 8:30 am and met a very friendly receptionist. We mentioned we tried booking online, and the receptionist asked us to wait a minute. She came back to us and was able to book on the first tour if we wanted to book.”
Review of Campbell River’s 7 to 8-hour Zodiac whale tour, with orcas, bears, lunch, gear, guides, price, and practical booking advice.
“What a fantastic experience Brad was very knowledgeable and planned the day to perfection making sure we had the best experience ever.”
Review of Parksville’s 3.5-hour whale tour, with small boats, expert guides, wildlife sightings, practical tips, and honest value advice.
“We saw quite a few whales. Our captain Andy was very knowledgeable, giving all kinds of interesting facts. He was very professional and fun.”
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