Get a chance to witness the rich marine life Victoria has to offer up close with whale watching tours and experiences. Engage with marine naturalists to learn more about the whale species, their migration, habitats, and life as you encounter them in the Salish Sea. An exhilarating and educational tour awaits!
It’s one of the main water bodies in the Salish Sea and a prime location for spotting humpback whales and killer whales. It also offers spectacular views of the Olympic Peninsula.
The Southern Gulf Islands are a group of islands located between Vancouver Island and the mainland, known for their rich and diverse marine ecosystems. This is where you will get to see porpoises, sea lions, otters, and other marine animals in the wild.
The Salish Sea is the main water body in Vancouver Island and one of the most biologically rich inland seas in the world. It’s home to multiple species of marine animals, hundreds of islands with varied microclimates, and a wide variety of ecosystems.
Your tour may cover other areas as well, depending on the type of tour selected. These are the most popular regions covered, but they can be adjusted depending on the location of whale sightings and weather conditions.
Your Victoria whale-watching tours come with a Whale Sighting Guarantee, which means if you don’t spot any whales on your tour, you get a complimentary ticket for another tour.
If you’re planning to visit between May and September (the peak whale-watching season), it’s a good idea to book a few weeks in advance. The tours fill up quickly, especially on weekends and around public holidays.
Standard tickets are for shared group tours with fixed routes, while private charters give you the whole boat to yourself. If you're celebrating a special occasion, traveling with a group, or just want a quiet, custom-tailored experience, private charters are the way to go.
Yes, kids are welcome on both catamaran and Zodiac tours, but Zodiac tours have age and weight restrictions. Children under 19 need to get a liability waiver signed by a parent or guardian to participate in the tour.
Your ticket typically includes a spot on the boat, a certified marine naturalist as your guide, and safety gear (like life jackets or Mustang suits, depending on the type of tour).
An intimate and exciting tour on a rigid-hull inflatable Zodiac boat with an expert guide.
Starting point: Downtown Victoria Adventure Centre
Inclusions
Tickets to the whale-watching tour on a Zodiac (open-air boat)
An expert guide on board (Transport Canada certified marine naturalist/skipper)
Weather-exposure suits (Mustang Survival Suit)
Hats
Gloves
Safety goggles
Whale Sighting Guarantee (redeemable for a free tour in case of no sighting)
Exclusions
Guided half-day whale-watching tour off the Victoria coast, a perfect sea adventure.
Starting point: Downtown Victoria Adventure Centre
Inclusions
Tickets to the whale-watching & marine wildlife tour
Guided tour with 3 to 4 certified marine naturalists on board
Complimentary tea, coffee, and hot chocolate
Free photo package (group photos and wildlife photos)
Whale Sighting Guarantee (redeemable for a free tour in case of no sighting)
Exclusions
Staff was friendly and worked hard to find as many sea animals as possible on our short trip. Throughout the trip the naturalists were providing information regarding all the animals in the local environment.
Thank you, very enjoyable! We saw so many whales and seals!
Spot majestic whales, seals, & other marine life in the wild on a half-day adventure tour.
Starting point: Granville Island Adventure Centre
Inclusions
Tickets to the whale-watching & marine wildlife tour
Guided tour with 3 to 4 certified marine naturalists on board
Complimentary tea, coffee, and hot chocolate
Complimentary photo package (group photos and wildlife photos)
Whale Sighting Guarantee (redeemable for a free tour in case of no sighting)
Exclusions
Sunset whale-watching cruise along the Salish Sea with expert naturalists giving insights.
Starting point: Granville Island Adventure Centre
Inclusions
Tickets to a guided whale-watching and marine wildlife tour with 3 to 4 certified marine naturalists
Complimentary tea, coffee, and hot chocolate
Free photo package (group photos and wildlife photos)
Whale Sighting Guarantee (redeemable for a free tour in case of no sighting)
Exclusions
Great way to get an overview of the city. Good information during the tour. I went around the entire route once and then went back and got off and on at various spots.
A very safe and informative way to travel the city. Especially good for tourists who may be unfamiliar with Vancouver. Learn aboit all the good shopping and entertainment venues in the various areas.
We loved our driver Sherry: she told us a lot of interesting and funny stories about Vancouver and its history
We did hop on hop off years ago and it was wonderful. Never an issue of waiting for a bus and then not being able to get on because there were no seats. Yesterday we had multiple instances of a bus arriving only to be told there aren't enough seats. Maybe when you have a surge in ticket sales you should place more buses in use. We understand traffic in town may delay bus arrivals but traffic doesn't impact the fact you over sold tickets.
The tickets were oversold. The buses were filled up and we had to wait for a second bus when we got on the bus we didn't get off for the fear of not being able to make it back on another bus. We won't do it again.
It took a long time to get to different stops. Waited over 1/2 hour at a stop for a bus. Audio was recorded and had frequent interruption to where the sentence would stop and not be completed.
There were too many tickets sold and not enough buses running. Waited for nearly an hour only to be turned away by the next driver with a full bus at our first location. Ended up paying for a taxi to get to Granville Island. Then again waited for nearly an hour to get on the bus and when we got on there was not enough time to get off anywhere else. Should have paid for a private tour.
I never even went as sun run on (and I would of known this becasue???) and could not get to venue, by the time I could it was too late as I had to be somewhere else by 4pm...maybe when you take someones money you should advise them FIRST of impedements!!! also you should know the booking never redeemed for a ticket....I'll never deal with you guys again
bus ride was great, comfortable and safe
Inclusions
24/48-hour unlimited hop-on hop-off tour
Access to Green route
2-self guided walking tours
Audio guide in English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Korean & Mandarin
Mobile app with a detailed map and live bus tracking
Exclusions
Green route
Please click here for the detailed route map and boarding points.
You can join the tour at any stop and hop on and off for the duration of your ticket.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
