3-Hour Whale Watching Tour Victoria

Victoria Inner Harbour and Wharf Street

Victoria sits on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, and its Inner Harbour is the elegant front door of the city. Floatplanes land and take off between small ferries and pleasure boats, the domed stone Parliament Buildings of 1898 face the water, and a lively promenade with street performers runs below the grand hotel on the shore. Wharf Street, where you check in for this tour, runs along the old waterfront between heritage warehouses that once served the fur trade and the gold rush.

Arrive at least 30 minutes early, check in at the office at street level between Fort and Yates Streets, and use any spare time to walk the harbour causeway. If you are wondering how to get to the Inner Harbour, it is a short walk from most downtown hotels, and parking garages nearby fill up in summer, so leave extra time if you drive.

The Salish Sea: orca country

The Salish Sea is the inland sea shared by British Columbia and Washington State, made up of the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Its cold, nutrient-rich water supports salmon, herring and the whole food chain above them, which is why Victoria whale watching is famous. Two kinds of orca live here: the fish-eating resident orcas, which travel in close family groups, and the Bigg's orcas, which hunt seals and sea lions and are now seen most often.

Every trip is different because the boat goes where the animals are. The naturalists use reports from other boats and their own knowledge of the area, and they explain how to tell males from females by the tall dorsal fin, how the families are identified and why boats keep a respectful distance. Sightings are frequent in the main season, but these are wild animals and nothing can be guaranteed.

Humpback whales, seals and seabirds

Humpback whales have made a remarkable comeback in these waters after almost disappearing in the twentieth century. They arrive in growing numbers from spring to autumn to feed before migrating south, and their tall blows, curved backs and raised tail flukes as they dive are among the great sights of a Victoria whale watching tour. On calm days you may hear them breathe before you see them.

The rocky islets and kelp beds along the coast also shelter harbour seals hauled out on the rocks, noisy Steller and California sea lions, quick Dall's and harbour porpoises and many seabirds, from cormorants and gulls to bald eagles perched on the shoreline trees. Your guides point them out and explain how each fits into the life of the Salish Sea, so even the time between whales is full of things to watch through your camera or binoculars.

On board: the motor yacht and the views

The boat is a stable motor yacht built for comfort on the open water. Inside, a heated cabin with large windows and a washroom keeps you warm on cooler days; outside, a walk-around deck and upper viewing areas give 360-degree views, so you can move to whichever side the animals appear. An on-board sound system lets you hear the commentary wherever you stand, and hot drinks are served during the trip.

Away from the city, the views open up to the forested shoreline of Vancouver Island and, on clear days, the snowy peaks of the Olympic Mountains across the strait in Washington State. The best time to go whale watching in Victoria is from May to October, when the weather is calmer and humpbacks are most common, but orcas can be seen in other months too. Bring layers: it is always cooler on the water than in town.