Vancouver Whale Watching Tour

Get ready for an unforgettable outdoor experience watching whales along British Columbia’s West Coast! 

Your whale watching adventure begins when you arrive in the charming centre of Stevenston Village, a short drive south of Vancouver. You’ll climb aboard your modern, whale watching vessel and be greeted by your professional naturalist and guide.

Killer Whales come to this region to feed on the salmon that are returning to the Fraser River to spawn. The salmon start to migrate upriver in May and continue until October. There are three pods (families) of Killer Whales that consist of approximately 80 whales who return to this area every year.

Throughout your tour, the naturalist will share insights into Orca behavior, and help you spot a variety of creatures. You’ll have the opportunity to hear the whale calls of any Orcas encountered along the way using on-board hydrophones. Handy photo ID charts will help you identify different species of animals.

Guaranteed Whale Sightings - The chance of seeing whales is about 95%.  If you do not see any whales (Orca or Humpback) you can go again for free until you see whales, for life, no expiry.

A Vancouver Whale Watching Tour is the perfect experience gift for marine lovers in your family whether young or old. Be sure to check this exciting sightseeing tour of your bucket list of fun things to do in Vancouver!

What's included:

• Whale watching tour aboard high-speed open-air and covered zodiac boats.
• A professional wildlife guide on board to provide information and answer questions.
• Hyrophones to listen to Orcas communicating in real time.
• Bottled water and a snack.

When: Tours Daily April - October 

Duration:   3 to 5 hours. Sometimes the whales are close and sometimes they are far.

The Boats: 

• Open Air Boats -  12 passenger open zodiac style vessels built to withstand offshore conditions and offer a thrilling ride.
• Semi-Covered Boats – 45 passenger zodiac style vessels with a semi-covered seating area in the rear. They offer a fast, exhilarating, and smooth ride.
• All the boats have been custom designed for marine wildlife viewing.
• All the boats are equipped with washrooms, navigation & safety equipment, state of the art communication, and Coast Guard and Transport Canada inspected. 

Need to know:

• If you are in downtown Vancouver, a shuttle service is available for an additional fee. The shuttle service can be coordinated when you reserve your tour time with the tour provider.
• There are restrooms on board all the boats.
• Tours not recommended for those suffering from neck/back problems, persons in frail health or pregnant women.
• Children 3 and under are free of charge. They must be accompanied by an adult.
• The tour provider reserves the right to cancel any trip due to weather conditions, mechanical problems or unforeseen circumstances. They reserve the right to substitute vessels.
• It is recommended you dress warmly in layers as it is always colder on the water. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen.
• You may want to pack a lunch or snack, as you may be out on the water for up to 5 hours.    

The Whale Watching Tour from Vancouver takes place at Richmond (Stevenson), British Columbia. VIEW MAP

How To Book Your Experience