She later studied criminal justice at camosun college. Are there any really good spots on vancouver island just to go whale watching from land. Whale watching in april vancouver island message board. Between may and october, up to species of cetaceans are found in the salty. Ill be in vancouver in the first couple of weeks of april, and am really keen to see some whales. The majestic orca has long been the proud symbol of our incredible city. The best times to visit victoria and vancouver island are march to may and september to november. Southern vancouver island is the best place to see whales in the wild. Can recommend this company they operate from steveston, about 25 minutes from downtown vancouver. Book a vancouver island whale watching tour in a favorable month. The more stealthy marine mammaleating population of killer whales know as transients are also often hunting in the area. On a good day, it is possible to see dozens of whales, and watching these giant mammals play in. Five star whale watching helps you discover the picturesque southern vancouver island, victoria, and the gulf islands, home to the largest population of killer whales orcas in the world.
The whale interpretive centre is home to one of the best collections of marine mammal skeletons in british columbia. On any given day between april and october, you can witness up to 89 orca whales frolicking in the southern vancouver island waterways. We are renting a car from vancouver and taking the ferry to nanaimo. Victoria is one of the top spots for orca killer whale watching on vancouver island but you also have a chance to spot humpback, minke and gray whales. Recent sightings vancouver island whale watch nanaimo bc. Go sea kayaking, salmon fish for dinner, amazing wildlife. In the fall pacific humpbacks are readying for their winter migration to hawaii. Is it too early for storm watching but too late for whale watching. Jessicas love of wildlife, and breathtaking vancouver island, brought her to the bc whale tours team in 2017. Ocean ecoventures offers whale watching, wildlife encounters and multiday expedition style zodiac marine eco tours exploring the remote waters and wildlife of vancouver island. Tourists and locals alike look forward with excitement to vancouver island whale watching expeditions.
Book a vancouver island whale watching tour in a favorable. Whale watching tours from vancouver island tourism victoria. Killer whales are best observed from mid july through the first week of september. See whales and other marine wildlife on a whalewatching tour in vancouver. Looking for the best whale watching on vancouver island. Gray whale estrichtius robustus gray whales are usually found in shallow, coastal waters of the north pacific. While other vancouver island whale watching tours are heading for shore, our experienced captains and crew are going the extra mile or 50 to show you the gray whale feeding beaches, the eagles nests, the hidden coves and all the other delights. January february march april may june july august september october november december.
For the orcas off victoria from april, with an increase in sitings from may you might consider a week. Whale watching from vancouver island is the best place in british columbia to see killer whales and humpback whales in the wild. The only opportunity to see bears in april would be on a wildlife tour which might depart daily for a 4 hour trip, depending on the companies from campbell river. The whalereport alert system wildwhales bc cetacean. Big horns intro 2 by audionautix is licensed under.
Gray whales are most commonly encountered in the spring, apriljune, on our whalewatching tours. A whale watching trip is a once in a lifetime experience. Victoria is located on the southern tip of vancouver island, located 112 kilometers across the georgia strait from the city of vancouver. Three pods of about 80 resident orca whales live around the southern tip of vancouver island and in the gulf islands. The wic was founded in 2002 to provide a venue in which to increase public awareness about the biology of marine mammals and the anthropogenic threats facing their populations. We would be going on the tour october 18th if we book something. Four days in vancouver island whale watching paradise. Whale watching around vancouver island in british columbia is an exceptional experience that will leave you awestruck after watching whales that weigh thousands of pounds frolic in their natural habitat. Whale watching vancouver island from granville island this particular tip was starting from granville island, worth a visit in itself. The salmon start to migrate up river in may and continue into october. Five dead as whale watching boat with 27 on board sinks off. Whale watching dates in the fall, vancouver island, bc. There is a chance of seeing a number of different species of whales including resident and transient orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, and gray whales in addition to other wildlife including but not limited to seals, sea lions, bald eagles, cormorants, and the race rocks. Were planning a visit to victoria and see there are numerous companies there.
Our knowledgeable drivers will give you a guided tour of vancouver and richmond as we take you to our destination, the charming historical fishing village of steveston, locally known as the gateway to the whales. Some accessibility limitations exist due to the nature of the vessel. Both sides of vancouver island afford primo opportunities. These can be kayaking, highspeed zodiac trips, cruises, or even seaplanes. Where on vancouver island is the best place to go whale watching orcas in the summer. Big horns intro 2 by audionautix is licensed under a creative commons attribution license s. They undergo one of the longest annual migrations of any mammal, travelling up to 8000km per year from breeding lagoons in baja, mexico to feeding grounds in the bering and chukchi seas. Full day whale watching and wildlife tours vancouver island. Witness resident killer whales, biggs killer whales, humpback whales, dolphins, bears, wolves, bald eagles and so much more. The best place to kayak with orcas is the north end of vancouver island in johnstone strait. Or travel with us to oxford river for some once in a lifetime grizzly bear viewing. The pacific whale watch association is embracing new regulations set out by the federal. Sep 03, 2018 whale watching vancouver island from granville island this particular tip was starting from granville island, worth a visit in itself.
F all is the time of year where the wildlife is very active particularily the humpback whales and sea lions. Like most baleen whales, gray whales are solitary and do not form lasting social bonds, except for mothers and calves. It will be october though and wondering if we will even see any. Vancouver island is a great destination for whale watching. Meanwhile on vancouver island, canada, the people of tofino and ucluelet. Calves spend 79 months with their mother, nursing and learning migration routes. British columbia is home to dozens of whale species, 23 to be exact, according to the vancouver aquarium.
Hop aboard and experience orcas, killer whales, gray, humpback, and minke whales up close and personal. Come aboard one of our two 40passenger expedition catamarans, each of which combines comfort, speed, safety, and your choice of 3 viewing platforms. The vessel has a maximum seating of 12 passengers and may be closed due to weather. The port of vancouver, the port of prince rupert, bc coast pilots, bc ferries, the. Ocean ecoventures is the most centrallylocated whale watching company on vancouver island. Text by anke junginger, photos by rolf hicker stock photography. Watching killer whales in vancouver is easiest from may to october. Its unusual though maybe 110 or 120 trips i hear a whale announcement. To find out more about the whale watching tours we offer on vancouver island, click here. Whale watching at the san juan islands from victoria bc on vancouver island canada. Whale watching vancouver island news, events, travel. Although wildlife is the focus of our trip, the scenery along the way is not to be forgotten.
Harbour air will fly you from downtown vancouver to downtown victoria in just 35 minutes. Uk 0203 424 6332 download brochure send an enquiry request a callback. Hello, you can go on whale watching tours from victoria year round, and we begin our tours from campbell river in may, as well as stubbs island from telegraph cove. Im planning a trip to vancouver island for 35 days in early october. The pacific rim whale festival in the coastal towns of tofino and ucluelet kicks off an allout celebration of the gray whale migration and life in general on the fabulous west coast of vancouver island. Whale classification breeding patterns of whales whale migration join us british columbia. Ocean ecoventures whale watching tours leaving from cowichan bay, vancouver island. On the west coast, tofino is a quaint town with an embedded orcawatching culture. Eagle wing tours gives you more than just a look at whales, they give you the longest and most comprehensive whale watching tours in the industry. Tickets can be purchased on the river queen or at the vancouver whale watch sales kiosk cash only. You have to go off the west coast of vancouver island typically from tofino to see the migrating grey whales.
Whale watching on vancouver island owner direct vacation. Many humpback whales have been sighted just off of the vancouver island coast, especially in september and october. Luckily, if you are staying in vancouver there are plenty of options to get here. Granville island is really a village, on an island obviously, in the middle of world city vancouver. There are still whale watching tours aoperating until the end of october. As we move into mid september we see fewer resident killer whales however with the abundant sea lion population that moves into the area, we see more transients as sea lions are a favorite food source for his sub. Oct 26, 2015 five britons have died and another person is still missing after a whale watching boat with 27 people on board sank off vancouver island in canada as darkness forced rescue helicopters, planes.
May 29, 2016 whale watching at the san juan islands from victoria bc on vancouver island canada. Humpback whales the world over are known for their epic migrations, complex songs, and the acrobatic jumps that earn them their name. The 30ton giants can be seen from shore, as early as february, with females and calves passing by from mid march, through april and into. Frequently asked questions about whale watching in bc. Killer whale watching in vancouver orca whales in canada. Our company our guarantee conservation download our brochure our gift. Five britons have died and another person is still missing after a whale watching boat with 27 people on board sank off vancouver island in canada as darkness forced rescue helicopters, planes. We offer year round whale watching and marine eco tours. The pacific whale watch association is embracing new regulations set out by. Book a whale watching holiday in canada with canadian affair for the. Out of vancouver, the focus is orca aka killer whales. Whale watching in bc british columbia travel and adventure. Oct 21, 2010 ocean ecoventures whale watching tours leaving from cowichan bay, vancouver island.
Whale watching holidays orca watching canadian affair. Ocean ecoventures offers daily whale watching tours departing from cowichan bay, only 45 minute south of nanaimo. October 5th 6 humpback whales in the strait of georgia. From the capital of vancouver island victoria, the best whale watching. Spring and fall are the best times to view large numbers of. Experience some of the best whale watching on vancouver island. We would appreciate some suggestions as to places to stay and what activities we should do in this limited time.
Gray whale migration passes vancouver island vancouver. Our 34 hour whale watching tours depart daily from downtown nanaimo bc, april through october. My husband and i will be in victoria for a few days and were considering doing a whale watching tour. The whaleplanner september a whale watching infographic. Vancouver island in october british columbia forum. August 2011 edited august 2011 in help advice forum. The best page i have found for whale season off tofino is from jamies whale watching. The region sees some of the countrys mildest weather and the driest summers, so while you might. For some of the best whale watching in bc, head on the whale watch plus tour. These are all typical maneuvers you may expect to see while whale watching off the west coast of vancouver island.
You can choose from various tours around the gulf and san juan islands. Whale watching group supports new vessel rules ctv news. To download the full whaleplanner as a graphic, please just click this link and save. Whale watching in july and august vancouver island. Should we just plan to do it there or head up to sidney or some other spot. Youll see orca whales, migrating humpback whales and much more. Best whale whale watching discover vancouver island. I was thinking of 1 night in victoria then moving on. Bc whale tours victoria aktuelle 2020 lohnt es sich. Board our 30 rigid hull inflatable zodiacs, or one of our high speed covered family cruisers to enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. The resident fish eating orcas are usually not reliably seen until midjuly the last few years it has been between july 7 and 14. The marine life in the waters of bc is abundant and diverse, but there is no greater creature than the mighty whale. Ocean ecoventures offers daily whale watching tours departing from cowichan bay, only 45 minute south of nanaimo we offer year round whale watching and marine eco tours.
Campbell river whale watching, grizzly bear, wildlife and ocean rapids adventures tours go wild. Tofino whale watching tours ocean outfitters, tofino bc. My plan is to head towards tofino, and do a boat tour which will hopefully coincide with the grey whale migration. Vancouver, we offer a wide variety of marine wildlife experiences that range from three hours long to a halfday. At orca dreams you have only to peek outside your tent for something to catch your eye a soaring blue heron, a breaching whale, the fluke of a humpback. The waters surrounding the island serve as a playground to many types of whales, including orcas, humpbacks, and grays, which we normally get to see only in the movies or in ocean parks. Is there anything similar to discovery coast ferry. Our crew bc whale tours victoria whale watching tours. Located in the heart of the southern resident killer whales and biggs killer whales travel areas, cowichan bay offers a relaxed experience away from the hustle and bustle. Our coastal wilderness is home to killer whales, humpback whales, sea lions, porpoises, seals, eagles, and more.
Whale watching in june vancouver island forum tripadvisor. Members of some 260 fisheating orcas known as the northern residents are often in the area in pursuit of salmon. The most celebrated residents of vancouver island north are its marine mammals. Whale watching in october victoria forum tripadvisor. I think i heard someone saw a whale from an oak bay beach once. Travel through the spectacular gulf and san juan islands. Five dead as whale watching boat with 27 on board sinks.
Members of the public are encouraged to download the whalereport app and. Hi im planning a trip to vancouver island for 35 days in early october. This ensures the highest sightings of killer whales on vancouver island every year. Were in the planning stage of our trip so we can adjust our itinerary. Every trip is different, as we follow reports of the whales location. The west coast of vancouver island is another great place for whale watching. Vancouver, british columbia is one of the best places in the world to see whales between march and october, when thousands of the majestic mammals migrate through the waters surrounding the canadian west coast city. While the chances of seeing many whales is less than at peak season, there is still the possibility, also, you will see the other marine wildlife. You can spot various kinds of whales, like humpback whales, orcas, grey whales, and minke whales. Well take you through the salish sea ecosystem to see whales and other marine life in their natural habitat. We work with remote passages marine excursions to offer our guests the chance to experience the ultimate whale watching adventure in british columbia. Whale watching in april vancouver island forum tripadvisor. Whale watching british columbia vancouver islands watching. This is the best place in the world to see orcas, the mr.
The discovery coast ferry looked amazing but runs summer only. These 22,000 graceful whales are slow swimmers but are wellknown for their acrobatic breaches and tail slapping, as well as their singing skills making them quite a stunning sight to see in the wild. Observe these fascinating marine mammals in their natural habitat as. The rates for the boating outfits are a joke about a hundreds bucks a person. Home 2018 april 28 whale watching on vancouver island. Telegraph cove on vancouver island, the orca capital of the world. If youre catching the ferry tofrom the island you might see whales.
Vancouver island early october suggestions needed please. British columbia and particularly vancouver island is a brilliant location to spot orcas. Oct 29, 2017 whale watching group supports new vessel rules. The whale interpretive centre, telegraph cove, british. Prince of whales whale watching tourism vancouver island. Our whale watching tour focuses on magnificent orcas killer whales, majestic.
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