BC
Whale Watching Adventures
West Coast Vancouver Island
The
West Coast of Vancouver Island
is rugged and wild. Up and down the coast are many Sounds that reach
deep inland forming, bays, coves, inlets and channels. Surf of the
Pacific Ocean pounds against the shoreline cutting deep into the
rock and rides over the sandy beaches, and old-growth temperate
rain forests cover the land. The area is majestic and enchanting.
Tofino
and Ucluelet
are the two favourite northern
gray whale watching communities on the West Coast of Vancouver
Island. People from all parts of the world come here to watch
these magnificent creatures of the deep. During the months of
March and April, more than 20,000 gray whales swim north from
their breeding grounds in Baja California to their feeding grounds
in Alaska. On their way north, the gray whales pass close to shore
in this region of British Columbia. A pod of whales summers over
near Tofino, waiting for the southern migration, so whale watching
is possible during the summer months. To celebrate the migration
of the northern gray whales, every spring the residents hold the
Pacific Rim Whale Festival that attracts thousands of avid whale
watchers.
Sea
otters have been re-introduced in this area of the West
Coast and are slowly making a come back. This small marine mammal
is a protected and endangered species. Look for it in kelp beds
and rocky shorelines.
Humpback
whales,
commonly known for their displays of breaching, are occasionally
sighted in this region. Harbour porpoises, harbour seals, California
sea lions are all part of the marine wildlife in this part
of British Columbia. Marine birds and nestling bald
eagles are often seen as they soar and swoop looking for
food.
BC
Whale Watching Companies: Tours & Charters
Vancouver Island
Eagle Wing Whale Watching: Guided Whale Watching Tours & Wildlife Viewing.Trip Advisor's top-rated whale-watching experience in Victoria since 2007. Killer whales, Grey, Minke and Humpback whales, seals, sea lions & porpoise. As industry leaders, they go the extra mile (or 50!) to give... more
Spirit of the West Adventures: We offer sea kayaking tours to the Johnstone Strait & the largest pods of killer whales on the BC coast – Desolation Sound, Quadra Island, & Campbell River - & guided excursions to explore ancient native villages. Set a course for a one of a kind wilderness a... more
Whale
Watching Adventures in British Columbia
The
coastline of Canada's most western province, is a maze of straits,
sounds, and fjords, hundreds of islands and inlets. Scenery is
unsurpassed, as the blue ocean meets the green forests covering
the mountains, which reach for the sky. Because much of this coast
is uninhabited and accessible only by boat or floatplane . . .
it remains a pristine wilderness. The rich and nutrient filled
waters are home to a great variety of marine wildlife.
