Victoria Zodiac Boat Whale Watching: 3-Hour Salish Sea Tour

The zodiac is custom-built for the Salish Sea, and you ride in an open-air boat where nothing sits between you and the water.

A 3-hour whale-watching tour from Victoria's Inner Harbour on a 12-passenger open-air zodiac boat, searching the Salish Sea for whales, seals and marine life with an expert guide and all-weather exposure suits. The tour includes a whale sighting guarantee—if you don't see whales, you get complimentary return trips until you do. Children are welcome from age 7, and the $5 Salish Sea Conservation Fee is built into the price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Whale watching adventure in Victoria

• Meet at Victoria Inner Harbour
• Board the zodiac boat
• Explore Salish Sea for whales
• Spot pinnipeds and marine wildlife
• Cruise past Ogden Point Terminal
• View Legislative Building and Fisherman’s Wharf
• See Empress Hotel and Royal BC Museum
• Disembark at starting point

The Experience

The boat departs from Victoria's Inner Harbour and heads into the Salish Sea, passing the iconic Ogden Point Terminal, the Legislative Building, Fisherman's Wharf, the Empress Hotel and the Royal BC Museum's waterfront buildings as you cruise. The zodiac is designed to get close to marine life without the bulk of a larger vessel—you sit low in the open air, which means you're watching from water level instead of from a deck high above it. An expert guide and skipper navigate the route and call out sightings as they happen.

The tour runs 3 hours and covers what the Salish Sea offers on the day you go: whales, pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), dolphins, porpoises and other marine wildlife. All-weather exposure flotation suits are provided, so you stay dry and warm regardless of conditions. The boat holds 12 passengers, which keeps the group small enough that everyone gets a clear view and the skipper can adjust course quickly when something surfaces nearby.

If you don't see whales during your tour, you get complimentary return trips from any of their locations until you do—no additional fees. The $5 Salish Sea Conservation Fee (part of the 1% For The Planet Initiative) is included in your ticket price. Weather can cancel the tour, but if that happens you'll be offered an alternative date, time or vessel, or a full refund. Participants must be at least 4 feet tall and weigh 50 pounds; children from age 7 are welcome, though anyone with back or neck problems, recent surgeries or serious medical conditions should not book this tour.

What’s included

• Expert guide and skipper.
• all-weather exposure flotation suits.
• whale and marine life watching on a 12-passenger open-air zodiac.
• Salish Sea Conservation Fee.
• complimentary return trips until you see whales (whale sighting guarantee).

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Prince of Whales Whale & Marine Wildlife Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to watch from water level instead of a high deck—the open-air zodiac and small group size mean you're close to the action, and the whale sighting guarantee means you'll keep coming back until you see them.

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Top questions

What marine wildlife might I see on the Salish Sea whale watching tour from Victoria?

The Salish Sea is home to whales, seals, sea lions and other marine life. The tour specifically searches for these animals, and the guide will point out sightings as they happen throughout the 3 hours on the water.

What happens if we don't see whales during the tour?

The tour includes a whale sighting guarantee: if you don't see whales, you get complimentary return trips from any of their Victoria locations until you do, with no additional fees beyond your original ticket.

Do I need to bring my own wetsuit or weather gear?

All-weather exposure flotation suits are provided as part of the tour, so you stay warm and dry on the open-air zodiac regardless of conditions.

How many people go on the boat at once?

The zodiac holds a maximum of 12 passengers, which keeps the group small and gives everyone a clear view of the water and marine life.

Can children go on this whale watching tour?

Children are welcome from age 7. Participants must be at least 4 feet tall and weigh at least 50 pounds, and anyone under 19 will need a parent or guardian to sign the release of liability at check-in.

Is the Salish Sea Conservation Fee included in the ticket price?

Yes, the $5 per person Salish Sea Conservation Fee (part of the 1% For The Planet Initiative) is included in your tour price.