Best place for whale watching in the san juan islands. Of all the activities to enjoy here in the san juan islands, whale watching is one of the most spectacular. Our tours depart from custom kayak docks and are led by naturalist guides. San juan islander news and info about friday harbor and. 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. Whale watching from port angeles, wa located on the olympic peninsula. Our 34 hour adventure whale watching tours depart from friday harbor, just steps from the ferry landing. Peak season is from mayseptember, but that shouldnt stop you from visiting during the offpeak months. It is reported that there are about 17 minke whales that can be spotted regularly throughout the year in the waters around san juan island. Following the whalewatching cruise, step off the boat and onto san juan island for some touring on your own. Visit the whale museum or the sculpture garden at westcott bay reserve.
Watching whales and wildlife on san juan island, near seattle wa. Download the watching whales in the san juan islands brochure. Meet us at our launch site at snug harbor or use our complimentary shuttle from the ferry in friday harbor. No, there are no bridges but you can take your car on the ferry to the other islands. Aug 27, 2011 footage of my trip whale, and wildlife, watching in the san juan islands of washington state on july 17, 2011. Nov 04, 2017 naturalist sarah 11042017 mv sea lion 12.
There are many opportunities to spot whales throughout the san juan islands. Whale watching san juan islands friday harbor whale. Crab fishing gear may not remain in the water on closed days. The islands are also teeming with humpback and minke whales as well as dalls porpoise, seals, otters, blacktail deer and over 100 pairs of bald eagles. San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching whale.
Get up close with the killer whales off orcas island, the largest of the san juan islands near seattle, on this guided, 3. Whale watch tours from the olympic peninsula island adventures. Download our list of washington state whale watching. Port angeles is located directly south of the largest whale watching fleet on the west coast of north america, in victoria bc. San juan safaris is pleased to offer military personnel, active or retired, and their family members a 10% discount on all of our tours. Glad i had on a windbreaker, a beanie, scarf, and gloves. The san juan islands are worldrenowned for both resident and migratory pods of orca whales. The best time to see killer whales in the san juan islands this is one of the most asked questions that we get. Footage of my trip whale, and wildlife, watching in the san juan islands of washington state on july 17, 2011. Learn about the areas vibrant ecosystem from the on board naturalist and tour a charming island town.
Ferry advisory committee fac contact your local ferry advisory committee at fac. The only whale watching tour that leaves direct from downtown seattle. The best time to see killer whales in the san juan islands. Also check out our page dedicated to getting to the san juan islands. Our 34 hour classic whale watching tours depart from friday harbor, just steps from the ferry landing. Whale watching just 90 miles from seattle in friday harbor on san juan island. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor low season.
As you cruise, be on the lookout for whales and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Bellingham whale watching deals in bellingham, wa groupon. Our boats have lots of amenities to make your trip more comfortable, including two onboard restrooms, a large heated cabin with oversized windows, a snack bar with food for purchase, and a customdesigned interior. Our experienced, passionate team of captains and naturalists love to share our vast knowledge of whales, wildlife, and their beautiful pacific northwest home with travelers from near and far. San juan safaris orca whale watching, friday harbor, washington. Wsf reducing anacortes san juans route to 3 boats temporarily. Whale watching trips in the san juan islands seattle washington. Frequently asked questions san juan excursions whale and. Surprise whales in november in the san juan islands. Best prices for kayak tours in the killer whale waters of the san juan islands. San juan classic day sailing whale watching washington.
The best place in the world to see orca aka killer whales, and more. San juan islands whale watching friday harbor whale watching. World class whale watching, scenery, restaurants and more. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor low. It was a group of transient orcas t65as out in the northern san juans.
Most premier whale watching vacation home on san juan island. Our cruises offer a gaurantee that if you do not see whales on you cruise you can come again free of charge. Come aboard for an adventure in the san juan islands or. Whale watching in the san juan islands while my dad was in town visiting me, we decided to go whale watching in the san juan islands. As defined by the seattle aquarium, we are in coreorca whale viewing waters as soon as we leave the marina. Whale watching bellingham washington orca whale watching.
Surprise whales in november in the san juan islands seattle. More than 500,000 people annually go whale watching in the waters of washington and british columbia around the san juan islands. All crab fishing gear must be removed from the water by one hour after sunset on the last day of any fishing period. Following the whale watching cruise, step off the boat and onto san juan island for some touring on your own. Considered the premier location to view wild orca killer whales, the waters around san juan island are ideal for whale watching. Orca whale watching from port angeles, washington on the olympic peninsula. San juan classic day sailing whale watching in friday harbor, wa. Follow the whale trail san juan islands washington. During peak season orcas are encountered on 90% or more of tours.
The minke whale, gray whale, humpback whale, dalls porpoise, and harbor porpoise are the five most frequently seen after the killer whale. Best place for whale watching in the san juan islands washington. Whale watching is a multimillion dollar industry here in san juan islands. There have been more humpback sightings in our waters this winter than ever before. Recently, transient or biggs orca have become more prevalent around the san juan islands than the southern residents. Celebrating our 21st season of whale watching in the san. Find out more about the whales when you follow the whale trail and find ways you can help the whales here. Whale watching in the san juan islands the mandagies. Click here to download all 12 months of killer whale watching data and be. 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. The worlds best opportunity to see wild orcas is right here in the san juan islands, february through. There were several boats of various sizes scattered around the water near the lighthouse. For guided kayak tours, check out members of the san juan island kayak.
Be whale wise san juan islands washington visitors bureau. Climb aboard and choose a seat in the heated cabin with large viewing windows or head outside for a spot on the walkaround deck. A few weeks ago, berty and i went with clipper vacations to experience the salish sea, go whale watching, and explore friday harbor in the san juan islands. A guide to whale watching in the san juan islands, washington. The park faces the islands west side waters where the whales spend time feeding and socializing during summer. The minke whale, gray whale, humpback whale, dalls porpoise, and harbor porpoise are. 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. San juan island whale watching day trip from seattle, wa. Transient or biggs, killer whales aka orca whales can often be seen yearround, as well as steller sea lions, harbor seals, porpoise, bald eagles. Friday harbor, san juan island is the most underrated destination in the pacific northwest. Canadian border we offer a break from the ordinary. Though this is a prime whale watching area, we didnt see any from the house and elected to take a trip with san juan excursions. There is nothing quite as spectacular as the sight of a pod of orca whales along the protected coastlines of the san juan islands.
Orca whales live, play, and raise their young in the waters of the haro strait near san juan island, washington. Reservations suspended through washington state ferries is temporarily reducing service on the anacortes san juan islands route beginning on friday, april 10, due to the mv samish being out of service due to needed rudder repairs. Sea quest pioneered orca whale watching kayak tours in the san juan. Whale watching in the san juan islands is a unique opportunity to gain knowledge. Kayak whale watching in the san juan islands, seattle, washington. A whale tale in seattle san juan islands whale watching. 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. Bellingham wa whale watching excursions orca whale watching cruises bellingham washington. Experience the thrill of seeing orca whales, seals, porpoises and so much more wildlife on one of our whale watching trips off the san juan islands near seattle, washington. 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. Washington state ferry fares to the san juan islands paid at the anacortes. Dec 04, 2019 gorgeous 1400 foot shoreline on salish sea san juan island, spectacular whale watching, sandy fire pit area, fire pit not usable if there is a fire ban and we are cautious as there are tall grass fields in close proximity, unique privacy, lawn to shoreline, sunny deck. This uncertainty makes whale watching this time of year particularly exciting as we have no idea what we might find. Most premier whale watching vacation home on san juan.
Warm summer sun reflects off of downtown skyscrapers as the crew makes final preparations to. Orca whale watching in the san juan islands island adventures. Whale watching in the san juan islands and puget sound. There is a reason so many people come from all over the world to the san juan islands north of seattle to catch a glimpse of the worlds top ocean predator. We ask everyone to follow the be whale wise guidelines and watch all whales from a respectful distance. 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. Best routes for kayak orca whale watching in all of america. Take a whale watching tour aboard a boat seasonal with a member of the pacific. Have a whale of a time in the san juan islands, washington.
Whether you are planning a whale watching tour in the san juan islands or would rather do. Orca whale watching in the san juan islands and puget sound, washington state. Whale watching tours in the san juan islands, washington. If youre serious about seeing orca whales you may want to choose a bellingham wa whale watching cruise operator with a guaranteeyou will see orca whales on your cruise or they will keep taking you until you do. Guaranteed whale sightings see up to 4 whale species on any tour. Feb 23, 2015 whale watching has been on my bucket list for years, and i finally got the chance to check it off my list in washington. About us why choose us about our vessel download brochure contact us our locations. You can also spot humpbacks, minkes, gray whales, steller sea lions, and many other underrated species. Surprise whales in november in the san juan islands porpoises, minke whale, and orcas. Follow the whale trail see orcas in the wild, learn about salish sea wildlife, and enjoy the ride into the whales world the san juan islands are one of the best places in the world to see beautiful blackandwhite orca whales in the wild. Meet at friday harbor in san juan island at your selected time and board the boat for your whalewatching cruise. Whale watching bellingham washington orca whale watching in. Anacortes is our flagship location where island adventures first began back in 1996. Guaranteed whale watching tours from anacortes the worlds best opportunity to see wild orcas is right here in the san juan islands, february through november.
Come aboard for an adventure in the san juan islands or a fun and relaxing evening on bellingham bay. Weekend whale watching trip to san juan islands, washington. Whale watching seattle and whale watching washington are commonly associated with whale watching in the san juan islands. Whether you book a roche harbor or friday harbor whale watching tour, you are all but guaranteed to see orcas, especially during the peak viewing season. You can access san juan, lopez, orcas and shaw islands via the washington state ferry system. The island explorer was designed specifically for whale watching, as opposed to a ferry, dinner cruiser, or converted fishing boat like most of the other tour boats in the area. In season, roughly june through september, travelers flock to the san juan islands, washington, in the hopes of spotting killer whales, gray whales, minke whales and even the occasional humpback. While our success rate is close to 95% on our whale watching tours for the season it was a rare treat to be able to see them on our other tours as well. 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. With your complimentary guidebook in hand, youll have about two hours to explore the quaint town of friday harbor. Coast guard approved security plan, for more information please check security. Along with the acrobatic orcas, we watch whales of several other species on our san juan islands kayak tours. We stayed on san juan island for a week, overlooking haro strait.
San juan island is home to lime kiln point state park a. In the spring, summer, and fall they ply the calm, cold, clear waters of the san juan islands, following the schools of pacific salmon that are returning to the rivers where they were born. There are many whale watching tours available for those that dont have a boat, and for those of us that do, knowing where and when to find the whales is a real plus. If youre serious about seeing orca whales you may want to choose a bellingham wa whale watching cruise operator with a guaranteeyou will see orca whales on your cruise or. Whale watching has been on my bucket list for years, and i finally got the chance to check it off my list in washington. During the peak season, we see whales on 90% of our tours, in addition to a variety of marine wildlife.
San juan safaris orca whale watching eco tour agency. This is the only san juan island that has no ferry hassles to deal with in order to access it. These are the second smallest baleen whale and feed on small schooling fish and invertebrates. Baker, hiking, arts and theatre, charming villages and water adventures like whale watching bellingham whatcom county is a unique area of washington state.
Killer orca whale watching seattle to san juan islands. Download our whale watching wildlife cruises, friday harbor, san juan island, washington brochure, download and print our full color brochure. With magnificent natural scenery, skiing and snowboarding at mt. 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. Not only do numbers tend to be at their highest during these months, but its also the warmest time of year in these parts, which makes for a very. The pacific northwest, exploring san juan islands, washington duration. A locals guide to whale watching in the san juan islands. Whale watching is a unique opportunity to gain knowledge and appreciate killer whales and the other marine wildlife in this region. San juan excursions friday harbor 2020 all you need to. Tripadvisor whale watching from friday harbor seattle.
A whale watching trip from friday harbor is the perfect choice for any vacation in the pacific northwest, and being near the seattle, washington area makes it a great day trip as well. There are a great variety of whales travelling the waters here in the. The mooring lines of the san juan clipper land on the deck of the whale watching vessel. The san juan islands of washington are famous as the top orca whale. There are 36spaces available near the upper tollbooth and another 16 angle spaces near the upper tollbooth. Whale watching in washington washington waterfronts. More about kayak whalewatching in the san juan islands. 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. 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.
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