Flights leave seattle in the morning and return in the early evening, and vary slightly depending on the time of the year. Whale watching tour seattleedmonds puget sound express. Mammaleating orca whales biggs or transient orcas best time to view. Three excellent options for puget sound whale watching or sea life viewing while in the seattle washington area.
Whale watch tours in the san juan islands island adventures. Whale watching seattle and whale watching washington are commonly associated with whale watching in the san juan islands. The two naturalists on board were great knowledgeable, informative, and responsive they even customized a talk. Our 34 hour adventure whale watching tours depart from friday harbor, just steps from the ferry landing. The best orca whale watching is from friday harbor, san juan island. Seattle whale watching tours 2019 clipper vacations.
Certain types of orca whales are also viewable in the winter since the seals are most abundant. Professional naturalists and captains lead educational and fun whale watch tours departing from friday harbor. Port townsend seattle edmonds whidbey island tour details seattle whale watching tours. Theres an option for a ferry to vancouver, then an. They knew what they were doing, and kept in touch with other boats and recognized from previous days where to find hunchback whales. Over the summer there are also humpbacks, minke, fin, sperm, and even blue whales off the east and west coasts.
The whaleplanner january a whale watching infographic. In 2014 we brought the whale hotline online, offering the public a way to report marine mammal sightings from their computers or mobile devices. The san juan islands, located 140 km north of seattle in the heart of salish sea, is the most famous place for orca whale watching. Joining a whale watching tour makes spotting whales of all sorts much more likely. Seattle orca whale watching tours operating from san juan island, just 90 miles north of seattle, the premier location for wild orca viewing in north america. Considered one of seattles best day tours, the whale plane package includes round trip air on a kenmore air seaplane from downtown lake union, seattle to friday harbor for a san juan safaris whale watching and wildlife tour by boat. Tour leaders have resources that help them know where the whales are hanging out each day, but that doesnt mean its the only way to go whale watching. The whale is an albino sperm whale, considered by melville to be the largest type of whale, and is partly based on the historically attested bull whale mocha dick. While we do not guarantee whale sightings on our tours, 20 years of sightings data shows that we do have a 90% chance of seeing whales during the peak months of june september. The best whale watching sites in puget sound you dont need a boat for. With some research and planning, you can go whale watching in seattle and other puget sound cities on your own.
There were 3 guys who led the tour, two named christopher. Best of this weekend in seattle september 28 30 cbs seattle. San juan safaris is pleased to offer military personnel, active or retired, and their family members a 10% discount on all of our tours. Whale watching as an organized activity dates back to 1950 when the carbillo national monument in san diego was declared a public spot for the observation of gray whales. Sep 25, 2012 best of this weekend in seattle september 28 30. Best whale watching locations in puget sound seattle magazine.
Get up close with the orca whales off the san juan islands near seattle on this 4hour whale watching cruise. Maybe its the fact that we feel so small next to them blue whales can weigh an astounding 300,000 pounds or that for most of us, whales arent animals that we get the chance to see every day. The puget sound, an inlet of the pacific ocean, is home to a number of marine mammals like harbor seals, dalls porpoises, sea lions, and otters. The beach is a popular spot for seals and their pups to rest, making it a draw for orcas as well. For northern california whale watching, consider the farallon islands off the coast of san francisco. Seattles first halfday whale watch tour by puget sound. Best time to whale watch in seattle seattle message board. See orcas, humpback whales, and all the majestic wildlife in. Jun 30, 2009 we will be in seattle and all around the area next week.
Id like to go to seattle for several reasons but my main reason would be to whale watch. Whale watching in seattle orca whale watching and gray. See whales and local sealife in the wild, learn from an expert naturalist plus visit beautiful friday harbor in the san juan islands. We have listed below several whale watching boats and charter operators operating out of seattle. Generally whale watching runs from spring through fall, march to october or so, starting with the gray wales, followed by the orcas. Or if you are looking to see orcas, humpbacks and minke whales, the best to see them is from late april to late september on our san juan whale watching tour. Easy day tours from seattle by car and ferry or plane. Our guides and naturalists work to create educational, fun, and engaging tours that. The gray whale will visit on occasion throughout the year, with sightings reaching their peak during march and april when the whales migrate north from mexico to alaska to feed. Id prefer to see orcas and i heard they might be around that area in april. Rudyard kiplings just so stories includes the story of how the whale got in his throat. Whether youre spotting one from the deck of a whalewatching cruise or from the shores of a national park, whales are some of nature. There were probably a few sore heads in seattle after the seahawks demolished the broncos at this years super bowl, but whether its a hair of the dog or a plate of healthy hangoverfighting fare that the doctor ordered, youll find it at the whale wins. While we have wonderful boat tours that give you a great perspective, sometimes the whales schedule doesnt exactly match tour schedules.
Whale watching is mostly a recreational activity cf. Going to seattle in august, like to see the whales. The metro area now has its firstever, halfday whale watching tour. Seattle new technology could help ships and ferries navigate around. For both wildlife lovers and outdoor fanatics, whale watching is a great way to explore the great outdoors in the pacific northwest. Whale watching is most popular april through september and usually focuses on the area around the san juan islands. I want to go whale watching, i was looking into the san juan islands off the coast of washington state, but evidently whale watching sucks in december. In recent years, march may and october november, have had similar sighting success. With a donation or an adoption of a whale you can help to make the world a place where whales and dolphins are free and safe. Enjoy the experience of a lifetime with seattle s only halfday, guaranteed whale watching tour. Orcaspotting expert alisa lemire brooks gives us her favorite places to whale watch.
Puget sound whale watching adventures in washington. Looking for a whale watching or marine wildlife tour from seattle in washington state. They were very informative and explained how they looked for whales. There is something so magical about seeing a whale in the wild.
Get up close with the orca whales off the san juan islands near seattle on this 4hour whalewatching cruise. My dates are flexible but i would prefer to go in april. Best places for whale watching when to go whale watching. Whale watching from land whale watching is a favorite activity in and around puget sound. Orca whales usually pass through the islands in greatest numbers between midmay and midoctober when the salmon runs are strongest, although its possible to spot them through the rest of the year. San juan island is considered the best place to view orca whales because of the large salmon population, which is their primary food source. For more accessible wildlife encounters, head to vancouver island in march and april to see the gray whale migration, or from may through september when the orca are at their most plentiful. Our everett gray whale trips have been running for over a decade. Enjoy the experience of a lifetime with seattles only halfday, guaranteed whale watching tour. Orcas if you grew up hearing about shamu in sea world, then you have a good idea of what a seattlearea orca looks like. A humpback whale is in view from lowman beach, north of the north end of blake island across the. Seattles first halfday whale watch tour by puget sound express jets you up in highspeed comfort to where the whales play bellingham herald.
Whale watching trip from downtown seattle in september. Port townsend seattleedmonds whidbey island tour details seattle whale watching tours. If youre looking for humpback whales then we suggest september through january. At island adventures, we pride ourselves on being the most experienced and dedicated whale watching company in washington state. During the winter of 1978 the phone line was moved to the whale museum where it has been maintained for the last 42 years. Does anyone know if this is a good time to whale watch. We are looking for a whale watching trip on september 23. See orcas, humpback whales, and so much more wildlife in the san juan islands. My birthday is in december and i am pretty set on taking a trip within the same month of my birthday. Seattle orca whale watching 950 westlake ave n, seattle, wa.
Anyone can do that by downloading the whale report app on a. Going to seattle in august, like to see the whales seattle. Seattle to san juan island day trip with whale watching often seen during the spring in the salish sea, mammaleating orcas hunt other marine animals that feed on. Is it possible along any of the island shorelines or onp coastline, etc. Read more about our commitment to responsible ecotourism here. Its no fluke that our tour has been voted the best in the northwest for years. Looking for a unique way to explore the pacific northwest, then look no further. Here are five whale breeds you can spot on a whalewatching tour. Sail through breathtaking deception pass, and travel through the protected waters of the salish sea, while trained naturalists educate passengers about the remarkable ecosystem and its wildlife with a focus on whale and sealife conservation. Aug 11, 2016 after driving 20 minutes north of seattle to edmonds, we board the chilkat express, a decent size boat in a small fleet owned and operated by puget sound express, a business thats been run by the hanke family for the past 30 years. Seattle whale watching guide 2019 clipper vacations. Everett is the best departure in the spring its only 30 miles from seattle and the whales are often right off of the dock. Its also considered the best place to view orca whales.
These verdant islands and the sparkling waters surrounding them make a spectacular setting to view orcas. Answers to your san juan island whale watching tour questions. San juan island is the center of whale watching in the pacific northwest and therefore friday harbor on san juan island is the best location for departing on a whale watch tour in washington state. West seattles day of the whale, and the people it brought to the beach. Monterey bay is also renowned for its whale watching.
The minke whale, gray whale, humpback whale, dalls porpoise, and harbor porpoise are. Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. Available march through october, this fullday whale watching tour package includes a scenic 45minute seaplane flight from seattles lake union to friday harbor marina on san juan island. May 14, 2018 whale watching with puget sound express sponsored if youre from the pacific northwest, you already know that this little neck of the woods is famous for a lot of reasons. Is whale watching possible minus the expensive tours. Whale watching near seattle western prince whale watching.
For the best whalewatching in seattle, enjoy the beauty of san juan island on a whalewatching cruise from friday harbor, a quaint town on the island. Mar 11, 2017 if you are looking to see gray whales which often dive deep to scoop up ghost shrimp, the best time to see them is now through april on our seattle gray whale watching tour. If the fuel price drops to normal levels, island adventures will remove this charge. As the third largest estuarythe other two being san francisco bay and chesapeake bayin the u. Providing high quality tours for over 30 years, we are the longest operating whale watch company in the san juan islands 90 miles north of seattle, and with that experience, we make every one of our tours a unique adventure. The waters just north of seattle are home to some of the largest collection of whales anywhere in the world. San juan island is where the southern resident killer whales live about six months out of the year, from midapril to october. Killer orca whale watching seattle to san juan islands. This special limited season focuses on gray whales that migrate along the west coast, stopping to feed in local waters on their way back to alaska. Our 34 hour classic whale watching tours depart from friday harbor, just steps from the ferry landing.
Port townsend seattleedmonds whidbey island tour details. Biggs orcas differ from the resident orca pods that. Travel inspired cuisine by way of the northwest, the whale wins roasts the very best from local beaches, gardens and farms in its rustic wood fired oven and serves it to share on plates large and small in a light filled, converted warehouse space. See orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, gray whales and all the majestic wildlife in the salish sea on our tour departing from edmonds just minutes north of downtown seattle. Because of the distance and time, you need to allocate a whole day for whale watching.
Each spring, majestic gray whales migrate from the southern waters north to alaska. Unfortunately the clipper doesnt offer daily service that late in september. Nov 27, 2018 with cold water and plenty of prey like salmon to feed on, puget sound is the goto place for whale watching, meaning seattleites dont have to travel far to get a glimpse of these majestic mammals that call the sound their home. The puget sound express whale watching tours leaving from port townsend are offered twice daily in the summer months. The worlds 8 best destinations for whale watching and. Here is another wellknown humpback in the salish sea, and clues to help you identify her nicknames. Guaranteed whale watching tours puget sound express. This west seattle beach is a popular spot for seals and their pups, leading to the presence of biggs or transient orcas. The best whale watching is typically out of anacortes andor in the san juan islands. Regardless of whether its a humpback whale breaking the waves in a striking presentation or a dark whale and her calf tenderly peaking the waters surface, theres something mysterious about any. We are planning a trip to seattle and vancouver in september and would, of course, love. Oct 28, 2012 an amazing pod of orca whales in puget sound, near seattle, wa.
Orca whales surfacing in puget sound, near seattle 10. The sweet smell of homemade blueberry buckle is pervasive. Try whale watching from the shore at alki beach in west seattle, just a short drive or water taxi trip away from downtown. Island adventures guarantees whale sightings on all of our tours and will not compromise your tour due to. Whale watching tour seattleedmonds october 20, 2016. The best time for whale watching in seattle and nearby areas is all year round, however depending on when you come will determine what types of whales you see and how many. Island adventures holds the industrys highest success rate and was the first company to guarantee whale sightings on every tour. A stranded humpback whale died on a west seattle beach sunday morning as hundreds of onlookers watched. Whale watching from friday harbor seattle, usa activities.
Whale watching may sound difficult, but it has the potential to be an amazing experience if done right. Our guides and naturalists work to create educational, fun, and engaging tours that provide our guests with memories to last a lifetime. As industry leaders, we are key members of a proprietary sightings. Vancouver may september catamaran home adventures vancouver vancouver to seattle with. More about kayak whalewatching in the san juan islands. You can choose from a fourhour whale watching excursion, which leaves the port townsend marina at 10 am or 2. In this case, doing it right not only means being patient while spending hours on boat tours in the hopes of catching a glimpse of a whale in its natural habitat, but also making sure that you go to all the right places for that to be possible. Kayak whale watching in the san juan islands, seattle.
We are proud members of the pacific whale watch association formerly known as whale watch operators association northwest. Whale watching from land whidbey and camano islands. Whale watching seattle or victoria eagle wing tours. Going whalewatching in september the seattle times. A whale of a time 20 minutes north of seattle visit seattle. See orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, gray whales and all the majestic wildlife in the salish sea on our tour departing from edmonds. On the central coast, channel islands national park is considered one of the best whale watching spots in the world. The best time of year to view orca whales is in may through september. Usa whale watching in december seattle message board.
Best time for whale watching in seattle near lynwood. Daylong whale watching tours from seattle, around whidbey island, to the iconic san juan islands. With seattle, victoria and vancouver being cities surrounded picturesque bodies. The greatest whale watching value in the state just 30 minutes from seattle. The odysseys multi level wrap around viewing decks provide space, open air, comfort, and lots of warm sunshine. Spend a day with orcas, humpback, minke whales and more as you cruise through the waters of the salish sea aboard five stars sleek, 40passenger vessel on a victoria whale watching adventure. The association has worked with scientists, noaa and industry leaders to assist in writing the whale watching guidelines and best practices.
Along with the acrobatic orcas, we watch whales of several other species on our san juan islands kayak tours. We are planning a trip to seattle and vancouver in september and would, of course, love to go whale watching. Best time to whale watch in seattle seattle forum tripadvisor. When is the best whale watching season in seattle, washington. For the best whale watching in seattle, enjoy the beauty of san juan island on a whale watching cruise from friday harbor, a quaint town on the island. In this picture taken on march 26, 2009, shows a blue whale swimming in the deep waters off the southern sri lankan town of mirissa. Tangled in fishing equipment, the gray whale causing a massive search campaign this week first caught the attention of a ferry captain heading north from mukilteo to clinton in puget sound on friday.
At western prince whale watching, our passion is sharing the natural beauty, whales, and diverse wildlife of the salish sea. They are often called the galapagos of california because of their. Best orca whale watching in the san juan islands and puget sound off the coast of washington state, near seattle. The whaleplanner september a whale watching infographic. At seattle orca whale watching in partnership with san juan safaris we take great pride in providing you with the best orca whale watching and wildlife tours in the pacific northwest. A number of charter boat companies run whale watching cruises and you can find such charters operating out of seattle and from various other ports around puget sound. She is known to have two based on her unique markings. San juan excursions whale watching seattle seattle.
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