Vancouver Whale Watching Tour: Orcas & Humpbacks with Free Photos

Watch orcas surface and eagles soar from a heated cabin with floor-to-ceiling windows

A half-day whale watching tour in Vancouver's Salish Sea aboard a 95-passenger catamaran with heated indoor cabin, expert marine mammal guides, and a whale sighting guarantee. The boat carries you through the Strait of Georgia in search of orcas and humpback whales while you stay warm and dry. If no whales appear, you get a complimentary return tour from any departure location. Free high-resolution photos of the wildlife and your group are included.

The experience

The tour runs five hours total. You board 30 minutes before departure and head into the Salish Sea aboard one of the operator's custom-built catamarans: engineered in Canada with both marine wildlife safety and passenger comfort as the design priority. The vessel holds 95 passengers and splits between a heated, enclosed cabin with floor-to-ceiling windows and open-air decks, so you can move between them as the light and weather shift. A captain and crew of three to four marine mammal experts narrate the journey, bringing the animals' behavior and ecology to life as you search the Strait of Georgia's currents.

The boat passes iconic Vancouver landmarks (Stanley Park and the Aquarium, Point Atkinson in Lighthouse Park, Granville Island and its public market, downtown, Kitsilano Beach and Spanish Banks), but the focus stays on the water. Orcas and humpback whales are the main draw. Bald eagles often appear overhead. The cabin stays heated throughout, and complimentary tea, coffee and hot chocolate are available. Two washrooms are on board. A photographer on the crew captures high-resolution images of the wildlife, the landscape and your group during the tour. Those photos are yours at no extra cost.

If the tour doesn't encounter whales, you're guaranteed a complimentary return trip from any Prince of Whales departure location until you see them: a promise that reflects the operator's confidence in the Salish Sea's marine life. The tour operates in most weather conditions, so dress in layers. Infants sit on an adult's lap. Service animals are welcome with proper documentation and a life jacket. Digital language guides are available in English, French, Spanish, German and Dutch.

What’s included

• 95-passenger catamaran with heated indoor cabin and open-air decks.
• expert marine mammal guides (3–4 crew members).
• complimentary tea, coffee and hot chocolate.
• two on-board washrooms.
• free high-resolution photo package of wildlife and your group.
• digital language guides in English, French, Spanish, German and Dutch.
• whale sighting guarantee (complimentary return tour until whales are seen.
• fees apply to the guarantee).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 12:00 and 13:00Last departure this season: 1 Nov

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 95

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Prince of Whales Whale & Marine Wildlife Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this shared tour if you want to watch from a heated cabin on a high-speed catamaran with local guides narrating: ideal when weather is unpredictable or you prefer not to arrange your own vessel.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2).

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 whales am I likely to see on a Vancouver whale watching tour?

Orcas and humpback whales are the primary species the tour searches for in the Salish Sea and Strait of Georgia. Bald eagles frequently appear overhead as well. The marine mammal experts on board explain the animals' behavior and ecology as they're spotted.

Do I need to stay outside on the boat, or can I watch from inside?

The catamaran has both a heated, enclosed cabin with floor-to-ceiling windows and open-air decks, so you can move between them. The cabin stays warm throughout the five-hour tour, and complimentary hot beverages are available inside.

What happens if we don't see any whales?

The tour includes a whale sighting guarantee: if no whales appear, you receive a complimentary return tour from any Prince of Whales departure location until you do see them. Fees apply to the guarantee itself.

Are the photos included in the tour price?

Yes. A photographer on the crew captures high-resolution images of the wildlife, the landscape and your group throughout the tour, and the digital photo package is included at no extra cost.

How long is the whale watching tour?

The tour runs five hours total. You'll need to arrive 30 minutes before departure for check-in, so plan for about five and a half hours from start to finish.

What should I bring or wear?

Dress in layers, as you'll move between the heated cabin and open-air decks, and weather on the water can shift. The boat operates in most weather conditions. Bring a camera if you want your own shots, though complimentary professional photos are included.