As the northern resident killer whales travel down the coast to feed on salmon, you will be right there at wildcoasts orca camp. The crew was professional and the guide, andy, was fun and informative. The rarity of local sightings make for an exciting show if one is lucky. A whale watching trip is a once in a lifetime experience. The whaleplanner september a whale watching infographic. Although we can never guarantee with 100% certainty that orcas will be the whale species we see on any given. With their distinctive black and white patterning and huge dorsal fins, a pod of orcas powering through the waves is one of the most impressive sights in the natural world. Vancouver island whale watching highest orca sightings. Every trip is led by a certified marine naturalist whose knowledge and passion for vancouver island s marine wildlife is unequaled in the industry, and every vessel in our fleet is equipped with hydrophones to bring the underwater experience to light. With over 25 years leading sea kayaking and whale watching tours, sea kayak adventures offers incredible orca kayaking tours in. Consistent whale sightings are likely to make this the best season on record, but in a different way than previous seasons. If you have never seen whales before, the waters near vancouver are one of the best places in the world for this activity. This means orcas are at the top of the food chain and nothing is preying upon them.
The 5 best whale watching tours from vancouver 2020. Vehicle access to tofinoucluelet from vancouver includes a crossing with. Frequently asked questions about whale watching in bc. Wild whales 2020 eggbeater creative vancouver whale watching. Sometimes you can see a whale in false creek or english bay. Every trip is led by a certified marine naturalist whose knowledge and passion for vancouver islands marine wildlife is unequaled in the industry, and every vessel in our fleet is equipped with hydrophones to bring the underwater experience to light. Killer whales dont kill people and are in fact the largest member of the dolphin family. Vancouver, british columbia is one of the best places to go whale watching. Last tour of the season and we saw both orcas and a humpback whale. We had a absolutely fabulous time saw at least 5 humpbacks and 2 killer whales and went so close to a seal. Whether its a surfacing pod of orcas, a sea lion feasting on salmon, or the blow of a humpback whale, wildlife constantly makes its presence felt here.
Our mission we aspire to be the best whale watching company in the area by. When is the best time of year to go whale watching in. And within this, chances to see them, camera in one hand, binoculars in the other, are almost limitless. With we try to inspire and give you the best information about whale watching. It was the beginning of the season and we were the only other boat with them, so they were not disturbed. Our 2018 whale watching seas apr 10 2018, 0 comments. Wild whales vancouver is located 5 to 10 minutes from most hotels in the downtown area with easy access to granville island. In addition to the resident whales, thousands of transient whales pass through these waters as part of their migration route. Offshore killer whales will not be the target off whale watching tours as. Frequently asked questions about whale watching in bc orca spirit. British columbia is home to dozens of whale species, 23 to be exact, according to the vancouver aquarium. Spring and summer are the best times to whale watch in canada on both the east and west coast.
Southern vancouver island is the best place to see whales in the wild. Enjoy a scenic 35 minute float plane ride from vancouver s coal harbour to downtown victoria, then start your southern resident killer whale watching adventure with us. Vancouver whale watch was the first whale watching company to operate from the vancouver area, in their 21st year of operation in 2019. The majestic orca has long been the proud symbol of our incredible city. The ride out to find the whales was quite rough, but they did tell us it would be.
British columbia is one of the worlds most famous places for whale watching and the city of vancouver is the perfect place to start your whale watching tour during the summer months, whether you take a trip from downtown or a scenic suburb near vancouver international airport. Best place to go whale watching in british columbia. Vancouvers largest and most experienced whale watching company. Whale watching tour from granville island in vancouver we set off with what we thought was plenty of time to get form west vancouver to wild whales but we had to notify them that we were running late due to traffic. Being that vancouver is the best place to whale watch in canada, you will find a variety of ways to do so. We hope this website will be a good inspiration for a great trip. Small personal tour groups, never more than 12 passengers on our boats. Wild whales vancouver 2020 all you need to know before. Most encounters with offshore orcas are either more than 20 miles of the west coast of vancouver island or up near the queen charlotte islands. Highest killer whale sightings in british columbia.
Whale watching is one of the things you really have to do during your travel in canada. A breathtaking encounter with killer whales in the canadian wild. During this period thousands of whales migrate through these waters. Kayak with orcas in the johnstone strait, the best place in the world to observe killer whales as they feed on salmon off northern vancouver island. Primarily because were seeing more marine mammal feeding killer whales than ever. As most whales are migratory, they visit rich waters for feeding. In addition to orcas, see the other wildlife that we view in the victoria area. You can spot various kinds of whales, like humpback whales, orcas, grey whales, and minke whales. Meanwhile in australia, every year, thousands of humpbacks travel from antarctica to.
The prime whale watching season in british columbia is between april and late october. Whale watching tours from vancouver island tourism victoria. Ocean ecoventures is the most centrally located whale watching company on vancouver island with the highest sighting of orcas and humpback whales every year. Youll see orca whales, migrating humpback whales and much more. Spawning salmons at the rivers during this time attracts whales to this area. In our opinion the broughton archipelago with its abundant wildlife and hundreds of islands to explore is one of the finest locations to kayak anywhere on earth. It can be very close to the beach during high tide. Orca killer whale orca whales discover vancouver island. Whale watching victoria with orca spirit whale adventures. Killer whale watching in vancouver orca whales in canada. Our whale watching tour focuses on magnificent orcas killer whales and majestic humpback whales, and other marine wildlife such as porpoises, sea lions. Should we just plan to do it there or head up to sidney or some other spot. Whale watching vancouver island news, events, travel.
Whale watching in british columbia tour guide canada. Reports of killer whales were plentiful during our offseason and we are expecting this trend to continue. On this kayaking tour you will launch your kayak into the waters of johnstone strait each day in prime killer whale territory. Steveston seabreeze adventures vancouver whale watching. In this file photo taken tuesday, july 24, 2018, provided by the center for whale research, a baby orca whale is being pushed by her mother after. To report whales please go to the orca network sightings report page, or email orca network. Whale watching season april 1 to october 31 vancouver whale watch provides passengers with the adventure of a lifetime through excellent customer service, first class vessels, the highest possible safety standards and added value from an onthewater education of the west coast ecosystem. Wild whales vancouver 2020 all you need to know before you. Each passes through the seas at slightly different times of the year but overall whale watching season is considered to run from march to october. Were planning a visit to victoria and see there are numerous companies there. How to go whale watching from vancouver explore bc. Whale watching in vancouver steveston seabreeze adventures. Killer whales orcas, gray whales, humpback whales and minke whales ply the waves and perform their watery rituals.
This area is considered the best place to watch whales on vancouver island. On the west coast, tofino is a quaint town with an embedded orca watching culture. Orca encounter whale watching in vancouver, canada. When is the best time of year to go whale watching in vancouver. The marine life in the waters of bc is abundant and diverse, but there is no greater creature than the mighty whale. Whale watching season april 1 to october 31 vancouver whale watch provides passengers with the adventure of a lifetime through excellent customer service, first class vessels, the highest possible safety standards and added value from an onthewater education of. Orca watching in vancouver different types of whale watching tours in vancouver. March to october is the season for orcas, minke, grey, and humpback whales. Whale classification breeding patterns of whales whale migration join us british columbia. Every trip is different, as we follow reports of the whales location. The vancouver whale watch company does a very good job of finding whales. After all, our oceans are the largest ecosystems on the planet. With a lot of fantastic orcajumps, it was a great experience.
With over 25 years leading sea kayaking and whale watching tours, sea kayak adventures offers incredible orca kayaking tours in british columbia. May 21, 2018 the prime whalewatching season in british columbia is between april and late october. Jan 12, 2011 orca whale watch at vancouver island in september 2009. Vancouver s largest and most experienced whale watching company. Then watch, awestruck, as these spectacular cetaceans display their intelligence and grace. While it is possible to see whales at any time of the year, there is a peak season from may through october. See whales and other marine wildlife on a whale watching tour in vancouver.
The purpose of orca networks whale sighting network and education project is to encourage observation and increase awareness and knowledge about the southern resident community of orcas j, k and l pods, and foster a stewardship ethic to motivate a diverse audience to take action to protect and. Every trip is led by a certified marine naturalist whose knowledge and passion for vancouver islands marine wildlife is unequaled in the industry, and every vessel. Recent sightings vancouver island whale watch nanaimo bc. Rare white orca whale seen swimming in bc photos killer whales are known to frequent canadian waters, but an extra rare orca made a special appearance recently and people were in awe. Our location wild whales vancouver is situated on granville island, a 510 minute taxi ride from most downtown hotels. This is the best place in the world to see orcas, the mr. Departing from granville island in downtown vancouver, the wild whales experience allows you to observe the diverse wildlife of the pacific coast in their natural habitat. Discover magnificent orcas killer whales, majestic humpback whales, bow riding porpoises, sea lions, seals, bald eagles and more. Many varieties of whales pass through the waters of vancouvers west coast including humpbacks, orcas, grey whales and minke whales.
Nov 03, 2018 orca encounter whale watching in vancouver, canada. I love wildlife videography and photography and was keen to join a whale watching tour on my second visit to vancouver this may. These can be kayaking, highspeed zodiac trips, cruises, or even seaplanes. Make sure you find the right area and season for best chances to spot these kings of the oceans. I joined quite a few whale watching tours in british columbia. Whale watching holidays killer whale watching vancouver. For more information on killer whales and some of the longterm research projects monitoring marine mammals in southern bc, please visit the following sites. Some even come in the winter months for an uncrowded adventure. Telegraph cove, at the northern tip of the island, is often described as the orca capital of the world. Biggs killer whales marinemammal feeding this season continues to be a record one for us in a number of ways. They hunt for seals, sea lions, porpoises and other whale species. During this peak season our sighting success rate is at 9598% for viewing resident orca pods near victoria. This page is about where and when to view these magnificent marine mammals.
The killer whale or orca orcinus orca is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. See whales and other marine wildlife on a whalewatching tour in vancouver. Canadas west coast is know for its large population of orcas. And orca dreams camp is located right in the center of the action. Orca natural history san juan safaris whale watching san.
Meet whale watching tour 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure at. Orca rubbing beach vancouver island best time to visit. Chance of spotting rarer species add an extra thrill to whale watching when whale watching near victoria, keep an eye out for the lesser known minke whale. The most commonly spotted whale in this area is the grey whale, but occasional humpbacks and orcas make an appearance, too. Orca dreams is situated in the center of the whale watching activity. Whale watching british columbia vancouver islands watching. May until october is the prime time to see the southern pod of resident orcas feeding on salmon in the gulf islands and the strait of georgia near. Rare white orca whale seen swimming in bc photos narcity. Most of them have been in the foodrich waters around vancouver island. Orca whale watching vancouver island canada youtube. Theres simply nothing better than a whale watching tour in bc with orca spirit, some prefer viewing beneath the summer sun, while others prefer cooler spring and fall viewings. Steveston village is a destination not to be missed and is home to a myriad of shops and restaurants for all tastes, a perfect location to begin and end your vancouver whale watching adventure. While in vancouver, dont miss the chance to take a whalewatching tour and spot killer whales, porpoises, seals, eagles and other wildlife amid the stunning scenery of canadas southwest coast.
Were fortunate that this place is home to orca dreams. Join your professional naturalist and board a first class, modern vessel for a 3 to 5hour expedition, starting in the picturesque, historic fishing village of steveston and traveling through the. Killer whales have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Although wildlife is the focus of our trip, the scenery along the way is not to be forgotten. Many varieties of whales pass through the waters of vancouver s west coast including humpbacks, orcas, grey whales and minke whales. Thats why were proud to be bcs first whale watching company to watch healthy growing populations of whales, exclusively. There are few sights more thrilling than whales in their natural environment, and the waters off the coast of british columbia are rich with marine life.
We have been avidly watching whale reports and sightings over the winter counting down the days until april 1st. Come for the afternoon, or stay a few nights at one of our partner hotels. We left the harbour on the 28th into some wind and waves, but it was all worth it to see all the wildlife we found that day. What you need to know about whale watching in british columbia. There is a chance of seeing a number of different species of whales including resident and. All three of their vessels are zodiac style one open and two semicovered, customdesigned for marine wildlife viewing, and all are equipped with hydrophones to listen to the whales. Where on vancouver island is the best place to go whale watching orcas in the summer. Paul spong founded orcalab, a small land based whale research station nestled against the evergreen forest of hanson island in the waters of the inside passage of northern vancouver island in british columbia, canada. Jul 16, 2018 many varieties of whales pass through the waters of vancouvers west coast including humpbacks, orcas, grey whales and minke whales. Weve been offering guided sea kayaking tours around vancouver island for the past two decades. Boats usually head to the southern gulf and san juan islands.
Our guarantee should you not see a whale orca or humpback, come again for free until you do, for life. Orca spirits three hour whale watching tours run daily from april through october. The iconic black and white vancouver orca is one of the most popular and sought after sightings on a vancouver whale watching tour. Orca whale taxonomy orca killer whales are the largest mammal in the dolphin family. Westin bayshore hotel, 1601 bayshore drive, vancouver pricing in usd and may vary based on actual travel dates best available rates based on 7day minimum advance purchase. The orcas usually approach the bay to rub against the pebbled beach in shallow water close to the shoreline, in as little as 1. These small baleen whales can be seen around the globe, but are often more elusive in the vancouver island area. We focus on the most interesting whales to watch, the best countries to meet them and the perfect time to go there. We avoid the endangered southern resident orca population, which are typically seen in the busier waters further south. Other locations are granville island and richmonds steveston village. Orca kayaking tour vancouver island sea kayak adventures. Welcome to orca camp home to killer whales and bears. Orca spirit authentic whale watching tours from victoria. During this peak season we boast a greater than 95% chance of spotting whales in victoria, particularly resident orcas, humpback whales, and transient orcas.
Orcas are able to travel more than 100 miles in a day, dive to 900feet deep and can. Back killer whales humpback whales steller sea lions harbour seals bald eagles dalls porpoise harbour porpoise california sea lion. Orcas are the most widely distributed of all marine mammals and can be found in all the worlds oceans. Hop on a whale watching boat from vancouver or victoria or take a tour from more remote locations on vancouver island or up the bc coast. Orca dreams is situated on compton island a half hour boat trip from telegraph cove, on north vancouver island. You can choose from various tours around the gulf and san juan islands. Whale watching around vancouver island in british columbia is an exceptional experience that will leave you awestruck after watching whales that weigh thousands of pounds frolic in their natural habitat. Our two boats found 2 playful humpbacks in the strait of georgia playing in the waves and then got word of a pod of orca that was found just south of them so they headed over to see those animals as well. Apr 10, 2018 our 2018 whale watching season has begun. If you are on the north end of the island from julyseptember, orcas, or killer whales, are often.
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