Whale watching san juan islands friday harbor whale. A locals guide to whale watching in the san juan islands. To help make the most of your time on san juan island, we have produced a helpful map with information about our whale watch tours as well as points of interest around friday harbor and san juan island. San juan islands whale watching tours orcas, lopez, shaw. More than 500,000 people annually go whale watching in the. Using sightings data to predict the decrease in whale sighting days near the san juan islands, we. Kayaking in the san juan islands with professional guides. Follow the whale trail san juan islands washington visitors. 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. Whale watching june 18 july 9 july 9, 2009 uncategorized bellingham, friday harbor, orca whales, san juan islands, victoria, whale watching admin we seem to have hit the peak season for orca. You can also spot humpbacks, minkes, gray whales, steller sea lions, and. We had an amazing whale watching tour our boat captain and guide were very knowledgeable. Until then, we are working through the project list and getting everything ready to go. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just around the corner.
Whale watch tours in the san juan islands island adventures. Most of the san juan islands whale watching tours originate out of san juan island, with friday harbor and roche harbor being the primary points of embarkation. With 3 vessel sizes and 2 departure locations, there is sure to be a vessel that suites your needs. Here, whale watching season spans from march through october, when. We made stops in the historic town of roche harbor to explore the san juan. We set sail on the 65foot odyssey and made our way out into the salish sea. Orca whale watching in the san juan islands island. There are many whale watching tours available for those that dont have a boat, and for those of us that do, knowing where and when to find the whales is a real plus. Our san juan island kayak tours are designed as orca. Starting this saturday, march 9th we will be heading out into the san juan islands to look for orcas, whales, and the incredible wildlife of the.
Magnificent orca or killer whales live in the san juan islands yearround, and this is the best place in the world to see them in the wild. We found a playful, active humpback on saturday, just north of saturna island in the canadian gulf islands, and sunday was. San juan islands whale watching friday harbor whale watching. The calm waters near the san juan islands are one of the best places in the world to view wild orcas. Seattle whale watching to the san juan islands duration. Bring your car over to friday harbor on the washington state ferry one of the worlds best ferry rides and then drive to the harrison house suites. San juan island is the center of whale watching in the pacific northwest and. Transient or biggs, killer whales aka orca whales can often be seen yearround, as well as steller sea lions, harbor seals, porpoise, bald eagles. Take a whale watching tour aboard a boat seasonal with a member of the pacific. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just. Download the watching whales in the san juan islands brochure. I know there are many companies and types of tours.
Sea quest kayak tours and whale watching trips 41,388 views. Whale watching seattle and whale watching washington are commonly associated with whale watching in the san juan islands. We have the highest orca whale sighting ratings in the san juans throughout the spring and summer, and we pride ourselves in finding the whales when others cant. Baleen whales of the san juan islands humpback whale, gray whale, and minke whale. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor low. Magnificent orca or killer whales can be seen in the salish sea around the san juan islands year round. San juan island outfitters verified update listing. Regular updates and photos from our san juan island whale watching and wildlife tours.
Begin your journey in seattle, where youll board the ferry for a puget sound cruise. Our first whale watching tour from friday harbor is scheduled for saturday, march 4th and we cant wait to get back on the water. When is the best time for port angeles whale watching. Named as one of the 10 best whale watching destinations in the world, the san juan islands are known around the globe as the place to spot these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. After dragging myself away from the piles of books, i headed out with my family to explore more of san juan island. The victoria clipper ferry does daytrips to friday harbor and back, searching the sea for whales and other marine life around the san juan islands in the afternoon, we got off the boat to explore friday harbor for a few hours. Our 2017 season kicked off with decent weather, but excellent whale sightings. Coast guard approved whale watching vessels from san juan island near seattle, wa. The waters of washingtons san juan islands support a great diversity of. Locals answer your frequently asked questions about the san juan islands.
San juan safaris, located in friday harbor on san juan island, is in the perfect location to provide you with. The worlds best opportunity to see wild orcas is right here in the san juan islands, february through. Admire the expansive views of unparalleled beauty on your way to san juan island. For more information on things to do in san juan island, download our. Most premier whale watching vacation home on san juan. San juan island is in the middle of the southern resident orcas federally designated critical habitat and summer feeding and socializing grounds. Those of us who live here in the san juans know that the opportunity to see whales exists pretty much all year round, but there are definite seasons when the whales are more likely to be about. The 2017 whale watching season is underway san juan cruises. Kayak whale watching in the san juan islands, seattle, washington. The srkw are here in the san juan islands mid april to about first part of october. Orca whale watching tours reservations san juan outfitters. You can also spot humpbacks, minkes, gray whales, steller sea lions, and many other underrated species.
The salmoneating southern resident killer whales srkw primarily feed on a diet that is more than 85% chinookspeciessalmon. There is nothing quite as spectacular as the sight of a pod of orca whales along the protected coastlines of the san juan islands. After a brief stop in beautiful friday harbor, we cruise into the open waters of the salish sea to search for our blackandwhite orca locals. Whale watching tour at friday harbor in san juan islands. The san juan islands of washington are the best place in the world to view. Abounding with natural beauty, endless activities, and beautiful places to explore, san juan island is the perfect place to relax on a day trip or weekend. Orca whale watching in the san juan islands, washington. Be whale wise san juan islands washington visitors bureau. Find your own rocky bluff, explore beaches and tide pools, watch for whales, or picnic and play in the nearby meadows. San juan island 90 miles north of seattle is the best place for orca whale watching as we are located in the heart of salish sea. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor low season take a scenic cruise from seattle to friday harbor, where you will embark on an exciting day of whalewatching and sea life. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor high season take a scenic cruise from seattle to friday harbor, where you will embark on an exciting day of whalewatching and sea life.
Our first whale watching tour from friday harbor is scheduled for saturday, march 4th and we cant wait to get. The day before, we embarked on a san juan island whale watching expedition from friday harbor with san juan excursions. Killer whale kayaking tours san juan islands kayak with orcas. Our vessels are the fastest in the san juans so we can travel throughout the san juan islands, into the gulf islands of canadian waters, and visit whales wherever they go no. For guided kayak tours, check out members of the san juan island kayak association. San juan safaris, located in friday harbor on san juan island, is in the perfect location to provide you with the thrill of seeing orcas in their natural habitat. San juan island is home to lime kiln point state park a. The killer whale or orca orcinus orca is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. San juan safaris offers one of the bestorganized and most professional trips in san juan islands in their new, fast 55foot boat, departing from friday harbor.
Whale watching in the san juan islands the mandagies. San juan island whale watching season update the best there. They tend to favor the waters right off the west side of san juan island. Orca whale watching in the san juan islands island adventures. Whale watching in the san juan islands is a unique opportunity to gain knowledge. Humpback whales, minke whales, and, gray whales also call the region home. Our analysis focuses on boat and landbased whale watching in san juan county. Orca whales range through the san juan islands the most between march and. Whale watching san juan islands, popular tourist attractions.
Click here to download all 12 months of killer whale watching data and be sure to zoom in to see the details. San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching. The waterways surrounding the san juan islands are considered the best place in the world to observe orcas killer whales in the wild, and the best location in the islands to access those waters is san. Get up close with the killer whales off orcas island, the largest of the san juan islands near seattle, on this guided, 3.
245 743 1278 445 1043 813 1215 620 112 1485 903 926 86 639 1128 105 234 157 615 1087 205 1377 348 121 522 1325 1524 516 1024 1410 995 1509 851 1079 1407 1312 69 463 146 608 625 825 1269