The Seattle Traveler

It’s time for whale watching on Puget Sound!

Some tour operators have already started their whale watching cruises, others will be getting underway soon, but the season is officially underway.

With a little luck, this is the summer you’ll see those magnificent Orcas (there are three pods who migrate to the San Juan Islands during the summer months). But that’s not all you should be looking for on a whale watching tour. You may also see gray whales, minke whales, sea lions, Dall’s porpoises, sea otters, along with lots of other San Juan sea life. And don’t just look down at the water — look up — more than 90 bald eagles call the San Juan Islands home.

Here are a few operators offering whale watching tours:

• Victoria Clipper: This is the same company that operates the high speed ferry between Seattle and Victoria, British Columbia. The Clipper III operates whale watching tours out of Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands.
• Puget Sound Express: This is another tour operator with a great reputation. P.S. Express offers full day and half day whale watching and wildlife tours leaving from Port Townsend (on the Olympic Peninsula), and is proud of being part of the sharing wildlife with visitors long before the wildlife watching movement became mainstream.
• Victoria-San Juan Cruises: Also departing from Friday Harbor, this tour operator boasts eco-friendly vessels that respect the habitat of the wildlife and animals they hope to see. Their website also lists the three pods, and names of the whales within each pod, along with their estimated year of birth.
• San Juan Excursions: The classic 65-foot yacht, Odyssey, operates 3 1/2 to 4 hours tours leaving Friday Harbor. The Odyssey transported cast and crew throughout the San Juan Islands during the filming of Free Willy 2. (One of the resident pods was featured in both Free Willy and Free Willy 2.)

All of the tour operators listed here have a good reputation, with comfortable boats and lots of room. All are Coast Guard certified. They use a professional spotting service and state-of-the-art technology, and the crew is alert to activity in the water. The boats all have bathrooms, and food and beverage are available onboard.

Prices for whale watching tour vary widely, and are based on time of year, duration of cruise, and a number of other factors. Discounts are available, including coupons in tourist guides, special kids free offers, AAA discounts, etc.

I’m already checking my calendar to find a convenient time in May to go whale watching.

Photo credit:  wikimedia

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