St. John's Whale Watching Tour: Humpbacks, Icebergs & Cape Spear
Greenland Icebergs & Humpback Whales Tour: See 40-ton giants breach near North America's eastern cliffs
Iceberg Quest operates the only boat tour departing from St. John's harbour, a 2-hour narrated whale watching and sightseeing tour that passes humpback whales, 12,000-year-old icebergs, seabirds including Atlantic puffins and bald eagles, and Cape Spear Lighthouse at the most easterly point in North America. The boat leaves from downtown St. John's within walking distance of hotels, with no shuttle required. Whale sightings peak mid-June to mid-August. Iceberg season runs May to June, though sightings are not guaranteed and vary by year. The tour operates rain or shine with a heated cabin on board, and children from age 2 are welcome.
Step-by-step itinerary
Whale watching and sightseeing tour
- Depart from St. John's harbour
- View St. John's harbour and skyline
- Pass by Signal Hill and Cabot Tower
- See Fort Amherst Lighthouse
- Observe Blackhead Sea Caves and seabirds
- Visit Cape Spear National Historic Site
What’s included
- Experienced guide narration in English.
- pre-departure safety briefing and Transport Canada-required safety equipment.
- heated cabin and restroom on board.
- licensed bar.
- children welcome from age 2.
Times
Next departure: 2 May 2027
Before you book
Operated by Iceberg Quest Ocean Tours
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
You board from the heart of downtown St. John's, the oldest North American seaport, and the boat heads straight out into the harbour. The first stretch passes the St. John's skyline and the Outer Battery's colourful row houses from the water, then Signal Hill and Cabot Tower (the site of the first wireless transatlantic communication) rising from the shore. Fort Amherst Lighthouse and the Blackhead Sea Caves come into view as you move along the coast, where kittiwake colonies nest and bald eagles, northern gannets, and Atlantic puffins frequent the cliffs.
The tour's main draw is Cape Spear, the most easterly land point in North America. You're on the Atlantic Ocean looking at rugged volcanic and metamorphic rock cliffs 213 feet high, with the Cape Spear Lighthouse and Battery standing at the top. The narrated guide walks you through the history of the St. John's port since the early 1500s and the significance of these landmarks. Humpback whales breach during peak season (mid-June to mid-August), and 12,000-year-old icebergs from Greenland glaciers drift through the waters in May and June, though neither sighting is guaranteed and both vary year to year.
The boat has a heated cabin, a licensed bar, and a restroom on board. A pre-departure safety briefing covers all Transport Canada requirements, and the crew provides safety equipment. The tour runs in rain or shine: dress warmly and take advantage of the heated cabin if the weather turns. Infants can sit on an adult's lap or ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed. The maximum group size is 100 travellers, and a minimum number must be met for the tour to operate. If either condition isn't satisfied, you'll be offered a different date, a different experience, or a full refund.
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a free morning or afternoon in St. John's and want to see whales, icebergs, and Cape Spear without arranging your own boat or transport. The 2-hour narrated tour leaves from downtown within walking distance of hotels, and the heated cabin means you stay comfortable even if the Atlantic weather turns cold.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 17 years); Child (2 to 8 years).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What are humpback whales doing when they breach?
A breach is when a humpback whale thrusts its entire 40-ton body out of the water and crashes back down: a behaviour researchers still study, though it may be used for communication, hunting, or play. Peak whale sightings run mid-June to mid-August, though sightings are not guaranteed.
Can I see icebergs on this tour?
Yes, the tour passes 12,000-year-old icebergs that drift from Greenland glaciers. Iceberg season typically runs May to June, though sightings vary each year and are not guaranteed.
Where exactly is Cape Spear and what will I see there?
Cape Spear is the most easterly land point in North America, a rugged coastline of ancient volcanic and metamorphic rock rising 213 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. The Cape Spear Lighthouse and Battery sit atop the cliffs and have guided passing ships for over a century. You view it from the water during the tour.
Is the boat heated if the weather is cold?
Yes, the boat has a heated cabin on board. The tour operates rain or shine, so dress warmly and step inside if conditions turn rough.
How do I get to the boat from my hotel?
The boat departs from downtown St. John's harbour, within walking distance of most hotels. No shuttle is required. Public transportation options are also available nearby if you prefer not to walk.
St. John's Whale Watching Tour: Humpbacks, Icebergs & Cape Spear
2h · EN
from CA$ 160 per person
≈ US$ 116 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.