Canada · WHALE WATCHING CRUISES

Whale Watching in Canada: The 15 Best Trips

40 tours  ·  from $95

Orca and humpbacks off the Salish Sea, belugas and blue whales in the St Lawrence, and a season that closes in both places. These 15 compare covered boats against zodiacs on price, time on the water and how honest each one is about sightings.

Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos - What you may see beyond whales
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Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

1.Vancouver Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,000 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $193Our pick

Sail from Granville Island aboard a 95-passenger catamaran with heated cabins, open decks, hot drinks, and naturalists such as Ashley and Petra. Watch for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, eagles, and seabirds, then receive free wildlife photos after the cruise. Allow about five hours.

“The ship was clean and covered many Km2. Qe saw stellar seals but no whales..rhey told us we can get future excursion for free as long as we show up. We might do that.”

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Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Whale Watching Zodiac Tour - Picking the right departure point
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Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Whale Watching Zodiac Tour

2.Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Whale Watching Zodiac Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,716 reviews · 2 hours - 150 minutes · from $98

Cruise the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park in a 24 or 60-passenger Zodiac with a bilingual naturalist guide. Look for humpback, minke, fin, and beluga whales, seals, and porpoises, then enter the Saguenay Fjord if time and weather permit.

“Loved the Zodiac boat! You get to go really near to the whales!”

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Vancouver: Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos - How the wildlife search works
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Vancouver: Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

3.Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,260 reviews · 5 hours · from $188

Join Prince of Whales from Granville Island for a 3 to 5-hour cruise aboard a covered luxury catamaran. Watch for orcas, humpbacks, seals, and seabirds from three viewing areas, while guides such as Ashley, Victor, or Wilma explain the wildlife. Free photos and hot drinks are included.

“What an amazing experience! We saw 2 humpback whales and 2 groups of orcas!”

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Victoria Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos - Crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca
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Victoria Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

4.Victoria Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,259 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $154

Set out from Victoria’s Inner Harbour aboard a spacious catamaran with 3 to 4 naturalists, heated indoor seating, open decks, and free wildlife photos. Look for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, and eagles while guides such as Megan, Reid, Jessy, and Janae explain the Salish Sea.

“We really enjoyed this whale watching excursion. Megan, Eden, and especially Janae was so informative and answered all of our questions. And to have pictures sent to us made it even more special. I highly recommend this excursion.”

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Tadoussac/Charlevoix: 3-Hour Whale Watching Boat Tour - Choosing Tadoussac or Baie-Sainte-Catherine
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Tadoussac/Charlevoix: 3-Hour Whale Watching Boat Tour

5.Tadoussac/Charlevoix: 3-Hour Whale Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,179 reviews · 3 hours · from $122

Join AML Cruises for a three-hour bilingual cruise through the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Naturalist guides such as Cedric and Chantelle explain the whales in French and English while you watch for belugas, humpbacks, minkes, fins, seals, and porpoises from indoor or open-air decks.

“We paid a little more for the VIP opytion. Excellent experience. We were looked after very well and lunch was an impressive selection of local produce and was delicious. We watched 3 humpback whales feeding together which was an incredible sight. A shame that we then did not have enough time to see any belugas in the fjord.”

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Victoria Zodiac Boat Whale Watching Adventure - Three hours in the Salish Sea
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Victoria Zodiac Boat Whale Watching Adventure

6.Victoria Zodiac Boat Whale Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 916 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $154

Set out from 812 Wharf Street with a skipper such as Gary, Mark, George, Raj, or Megan on a 12-passenger open Zodiac. Expect close-to-the-water views, fast turns, sea spray, and chances to see orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, otters, and eagles.

“Was great saw whales, seals, and sea lions. Instructor was great knew what he was talking about. Would go again.”

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From Quebec City: Whale Watching Excursion Full-Day Trip - Baie-Sainte-Catherine and the launch area
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From Quebec City: Whale Watching Excursion Full-Day Trip

7.Whale Watching Excursion Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 863 reviews · 11 hours · from $186

Travel by comfortable bus from Québec City to Baie-Sainte-Catherine, then choose a large viewing boat or fast Zodiac on the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Guides such as Patricia and Captain Luke provide bilingual commentary, while the water may reveal belugas, fin whales, minke whales, humpbacks, seals, and more.

“If your spending a few days in Quebec City with out a car take a day and go on the whale watching tour. Well run and worth the time spent.”

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Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise - Bay Bulls and Bull Head set the scene
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Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise

8.Newfoundland Puffin and Whale Watch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 837 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $94Best value

Take Gatherall’s catamaran from Bay Bulls into the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. Expect live naturalist commentary, puffins from mid-May to mid-September, icebergs in May and June, and the best whale chances from mid-June to mid-August. Hotel transport from St. John’s is available for an added fee.

“Great day of fun and adventure! New and unique experiences with the added bonus of interacting with enjoyable people..”

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Vancouver's Intimate West Coast Whale Watching Experience - Orcas, humpbacks, and the luck factor
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Vancouver’s Intimate West Coast Whale Watching Experience

9.Vancouver’s Intimate West Coast Whale Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 698 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $177

Set out from Granville Island with a marine biology guide such as Julia, Yaz, or Sarah, then search the Salish Sea for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and birds. The small boat carries up to 12 people, and the trip lasts about 3 to 5 hours, depending on wildlife and sea conditions.

“Be prepared for a long bumpy afternoon on the zodiac but worth it ! We were given full body suits which seemed unnecessary when standing in 22 deg heat but we very quickly were thankful for them 20 mins into the trip when the wind and seaspray is causing a chill . Our afternoon was rewarded with a sighting of 5 orcas and a humpback whale along with a few seals and baldy eagle - bring your binoculars to ensure a good view - due to restrictions a certain distance is maintained from the orcas making them harder to see”

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Victoria Whale Watching Tour on a Covered Vessel - The three-hour search for whales
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Victoria Whale Watching Tour on a Covered Vessel

10.Victoria Whale Watching Tour on a Covered Vessel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 482 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $136

From Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Orca Spirit Adventures takes you out for about three hours aboard a covered vessel with indoor seating, washrooms, and outdoor viewing decks. Marine naturalists such as Ryan, Briar, Liam, and Jake explain whale behavior while you watch for humpbacks, orcas, sea lions, eagles, and more.

“Don't be fooled by the name. We spent ages looking for this place and then decided to go into Orca Spirit Adventures who told us we were in the right place. We also weren't aware of just how far away it was from the cruise ship, so would advise getting a cab. However, despite missing our original trip we were quickly offered a replacement trip for the afternoon which we accepted. The trip itself was great. Captain George, Bria and Rhyan were very knowledgeable . Captain George took us to all the places, whales and orcas were sited. We had a brilliant encounter with a pod of orcas, it was…”

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Victoria Whale Watch Tour - What the Ocean Cruiser is like
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Victoria Whale Watch Tour

11.Victoria Whale Watch Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 458 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $126

Cruise Victoria’s Salish Sea aboard SpringTide’s 60-foot Ocean Cruiser for about three hours. Naturalists such as Katie, Aly, and Ian explain the whales, while Captain Jasper and the crew search for orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, seals, otters, and eagles. Choose a morning or afternoon sailing.

“Perfect weather, saw several orcas and the crew was very knowledgable and really friendly and attentive. Could not rate this experience high enough. Defiantly a must do.”

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Vancouver Sunset Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos - Finding orcas, humpbacks, and smaller marine life
Evening Experiences, Photography Sessions, Tour Reviews, Vancouver Tours, Whale Watching, Whale Watching Cruises, Whale Watching Cruises in Vancouver

Vancouver Sunset Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

12.Vancouver Sunset Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 454 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $193

Cruise from Granville Island aboard the 95-passenger Salish Sea Catamaran in search of orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, and eagles. Guides such as Jill, Ashley, and Sebastian share wildlife facts while a photographer captures free high-resolution images sent by email.

“It was a 3 hours experience super chilled but filled with information and we got to see some animals!”

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Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Whale Watching Tour - What the two-hour route actually feels like
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Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Whale Watching Tour

13.Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Whale Watching Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 437 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $101

Spend about two hours searching for up to 13 whale species in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Choose a large observation boat with washrooms and shelter, or a faster Zodiac with waterproof gear. Guides explain whale behavior in English and French, and a free repeat tour is offered if no whales appear.

“Amazing trip on a zodiac boat, wich gives you an opportunity to get closer to the whales and seals. We saw several types of whales , swimming seals, amazing views. Great experience highly recommended”

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From Victoria: Whale Watching Trip on Covered Boat - Finding orcas, humpbacks, and smaller sea life
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From Victoria: Whale Watching Trip on Covered Boat

14.Whale Watching Trip on Covered Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 427 reviews · 3 hours · from $132

Cruise from Victoria with marine naturalists such as Jake, Liam, and Sophia, watching for orcas, humpbacks, seals, sea lions, and birds. The covered boat offers indoor and outdoor viewing, hot coffee and tea, bathrooms, hotel transfers, a conservation fee, free photos, and a second trip if no whales appear.

“Fabulous experience, we saw many humpbacks and other wildlife, our guide, Bella, was extremely knowledgeable - would recommend highly.”

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Québec City: Whale Watching Tour with Bus Transportation - Baie-Sainte-Catherine: the practical pause before the cruise
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Québec City: Whale Watching Tour with Bus Transportation

15.Whale Watching Tour with Bus Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 426 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $191

Leave Québec City at 9 a.m. for Baie-Sainte-Catherine and the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. Choose a roomy AML Grand Fleuve boat or a fast zodiac. Expect bilingual commentary, about three hours each way by coach, cold river weather, and a real chance of seeing whales, seals, belugas, and more.

“It indeed has a very high chance of seeing the whales; in fact, we even saw a pair of whales swimming. But if you pick the "Zodiac Cruise" like I did, don't entirely rely on the jacket and pants provided, be prepared that there will be a chance that you will get REALLY wet. I mean, soaking wet, as if you had just taken a shower. If you're planning to bring in your camera like I did. Your backpack will obviously be soaking wet. Get a fully waterproof one. But it's totally worth it. I had a fantastic photo shoot with the whales, despite some of them being out of…”

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New in Whale Watching Cruises

★ 4.7Tofino: Whale Watching Tour with Nature GuideFrom $13730 reviews
★ 4.6Telegraph Cove: Whale Watching Adventure with Free PhotosFrom $149130 reviews
★ 4.8Telegraph Cove: 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour in a Zodiac BoatFrom $165109 reviews
★ 3.9Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Whale Watching Tour & Bear ObservationFrom $144123 reviews
★ 5.0Port Hardy: Sea Otter and Whale WatchingFrom $27619 reviews
★ 4.9Campbell River: Whale Watching and Wildlife Viewing Day TourFrom $29123 reviews
★ 4.6Campbell River: Kayaking and Whale Watching TourFrom $3608 reviews
★ 4.7Whale Watching Marine Wildlife ExcursionFrom $11319 reviews
★ 4.9Campbell River: Whale Watching Cruise with LunchFrom $23020 reviews
★ 4.6Campbell River: Salish Sea Whale Watching AdventureFrom $20064 reviews
★ 4.6Campbell River: 6 Hour Zodiac Whale Watching Tour w/ LunchFrom $26131 reviews
★ 3.8Campbell River: 6 Hour Covered Whale Watching Tour w/ LunchFrom $27511 reviews
★ 4.9Campbell River: 6-Hour Whale Watching Boat TourFrom $24546 reviews
★ 4.9Nanaimo: Whale Watching Semi-Covered Boat TourFrom $18248 reviews
★ 5.0Whale Watching Nanaimo Open Boat TourFrom $187194 reviews

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