Vancouver Sunset Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Vancouver, Canada
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Soak up the beauty of British Columbia's Salish Sea and spot some of the many wildlife species that make their way here on this sunset whale-watching cruise from Vancouver. Learn about the native marine life as your comfortable catamaran cruises the water in search of whales and enjoy the spectacle of the sun setting over the Salish Sea.
- See whales and marine life in their natural habitat
- Benefit from the expert crew's insights into whales ans more
- Receive photos from your tour directly in your email
- Travel on a spacious and comfortable high-speed catamaran
What's Included
- Free Photo Package Featuring Wildlife!
- 95-passenger vessel featuring indoor, heated cabin with floor to ceiling windows and open air decks
- Captain and expert crew of 3-4 guides/naturalists
- Whale Sightings Guarantee—complimentary tours from all locations until you see whales (fees apply).
- Complimentary tea, coffee & hot chocolate
- Two washrooms on board
- Downloadable tour guides in: English, Spanish, French, German and Dutch
- Kids coloring books and educative guides
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Excludes taxes and fees for Lifetime Whale Sighting Guarantee
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1666 Duranleau St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Y1, Canada
Please remember to check-in 30 minutes before your adventure, At 1666 Duranleau st on Granville Island behind Bridges restaurant. We will not hold the boat for late guests.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
1
Prince of Whales Whale Watching
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infants must sit on laps
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Operates in most weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, an alternative or full refund will be offered
- Service animals allowed with proper documentation and life jacket
- Email address to receive wildlife photo package
- Check-in 30 minutes before departure time
- Prince of Whales reserves the right to ask that the credit card used in the booking be presented at check-in, and/or photo ID be presented.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 95 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Natalie_H
It was a lovely excursion. We saw Orcas and Humpback Whales as well as seals and bald eagles. The commentary provided was really informative. The crew were excellent. Would really recommend this trip.
Reviews
4.9
based on 474 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Alain_T, Jul 2026
Incredible experience! A "must do" activity, will do this again next time we are in Vancouver, totally worth it.
Vanessa_C, Jul 2026
Beautiful experience on July 14. We spotted quite a few whales and one came right up near the boat. 😭 Also got to see seals, bald eagles, blue herons and even some deer. The boat ride was nice and chill as well. Thank you to our crew who were great and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review, Vanessa! We're so glad to hear you had such a beautiful experience with us and were able to enjoy incredible wildlife sightings, including whales, seals, bald eagles, blue herons, and even deer. It’s amazing to hear that a whale came so close to the boat and created such a memorable moment. We're also happy to know you enjoyed the relaxing journey and that the crew helped make your day both informative and enjoyable. Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales, and we hope to welcome you aboard again for another amazing adventure!
Colette_S, Jul 2026
It was an amazing experience. The crew was awesome! The Captain was an exper and knew exactly where and was determined to find us all whales! The naturalists/whale experts were so knowledgeable and so friendly and you could just tell how much they loved what they were doing and wanted to share with us! Even if we hadn’t seen a whale, it was a beautiful catamaran ride all the way over to the islands and back. But of course we saw everything you could imagine, including a bald eagle perched high top a tree! Highly recommend this Tour!!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your 5-star review, Collette!
We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing experience and that our captain and crew helped make your tour so memorable. It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed both the wildlife sightings and the beautiful scenery along the journey. We're also thrilled that you were able to see so much incredible wildlife!
Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing Prince of Whales. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon for another adventure!
Andrea_D, Jul 2026
We were fortunate to have such a stellar crew of naturalists , captain and photographer. It made for a fun and informative experience. We were so lucky to see sea lions , seals, porpoise and bald eagles but the best part was seeing so many humpback whales slapping the water their flippers to attract other humpback whales , coming up for air and spraying water from their blowhole and the best part was when one came out of the water on the side of the boat to catch a look at us ! I had no idea they were so inquisitive. Everyone on the boat was in awe of these gentle giants .
I would highly recommend this experience .
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your 5-star review!
We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your Sunset Whale Watching tour and that our crew helped make it such a fun and informative experience. We're also thrilled to hear that you saw such a fun variety of wildlife and got to witness so many amazing humpback whale behaviors firsthand.
Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing Prince of Whales. We hope we can welcome you aboard again soon for another adventure!
Joann_C, Jul 2026
We had a great time on our whale watching tour! Our naturalist. Thomas, was incredible! We had our six year old son with us and Thomas was so attentive and responsive to his questions. He even gave him a junior naturalist workbook and helped him with some of the answers. We saw a great amount of Orcas. The staff was knowledgeable about the wildlife and shared interesting information. We would recommend this to anyone visiting the Vancouver area!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great time on your whale watching tour and that Thomas made such a positive impression. It’s so lovely to hear how engaged and attentive he was, and we’re glad the junior naturalist workbook added to the experience. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Thomas and the rest of the team. Seeing so many orcas is truly special, and we’re so happy you were able to experience that with us. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you aboard again soon!
Bradley_T, Jun 2026
Absolutely fantastic experience! Our captain, Rowan was persistent in tracking down a huge pod of 10 orca. He kept us at a safe distance while we watched them play, slap their tails, jump out of the water, and call to each other for a full 45 minutes! Caitlin, Fawkes, and Tobin identified the whales by name (using Vlad’s incredible photography) and then explained the whales’ entire family lineage! We also saw a handful of humpbacks, which the crew ID’d by their tail flukes as whales seen as far away as Hawaii and Mexico, a bunch of seals/sea lions, and 4 bald eagles! You couldn’t have scripted a better experience. Prince of Whales does it right!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the 5-star review, Bradley. We’re so glad to hear you had such an incredible sunset adventure.
We’re delighted to hear that your guides helped bring the encounters to life by sharing the stories of the individual whales and their family lineages.
Thank you for your kind words, and we hope to welcome you back soon for another adventure!
Rachel_K, Jun 2026
It is windy and it gets cold even when it is warm. Bring layers. Sit in the back if you get motion sickness.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you so much for the 5-star rating, Rachel! We’re really glad you had a great experience and enjoyed seeing the wildlife along the way. We also really appreciate you sharing your helpful tips for future guests. Conditions on the water can definitely be windy and cooler than expected even on warm days, and layering is always a great idea. Sitting toward the back is also a great suggestion for anyone who may be prone to motion sickness. Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you aboard for another adventure soon!
paul_w, Jun 2026
Orcas and Hump back whales. Two pods of Orcas interacted with the hump backs for over an hour, leaping out of the water on several occasions. The crew were superb our guide Jake was very informative and provided an excellent running commentary as events unfolded. Sean our captain for the day took us safely through rough seas to witness this amazing event. Thanks to first mate Stephen who took the time to show me the engine room and the two Volvo Pentas at the end of the tour. Belu and Petra were very helpful and ensured we were well taken care off. All in All a wonderful experience and the highlight of our Canadian adventure
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the 5-star review, Paul. We’re so glad to hear you had such a fantastic afternoon on the water and were able to witness such extraordinary wildlife activity.
We’re delighted to hear that your guide's commentary helped bring the experience to life as events unfolded. It’s especially wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the chance to learn more about the vessel as well as the wildlife around you.
Thank you for your kind words, and we’re honored to have been a highlight of your Canadian adventure. We hope we can welcome you back soon for another adventure!
Donna_P, Jun 2026
Captain did a great job stopping when whales were found. Ship was clean and all workers were pleasant and accommodating. Definitely a must do to see the area both land and sea. Vancouver is beautiful!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the great review. We’re glad you had a great experience and appreciated the captain’s efforts in finding the whales. It’s also wonderful to hear the crew and vessel met your expectations. We agree! Vancouver is truly beautiful from both land and sea. We appreciate the recommendation.
Brenda_B, Jun 2026
The crew was knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic about sharing information about the safety of the boat, the Salish Sea, and the specific whales that were observed throughout our trip. The boat was comfortable, and the experience was well organized. I highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear you had an unforgettable sunset whale watching experience and enjoyed learning more about the Salish Sea and the whales along the way. It’s great to know the crew’s knowledge, friendliness, and enthusiasm helped make the trip so engaging, and that you found the vessel comfortable and the experience well organized. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back soon for another adventure.
Laura_J, May 2026
Make sure to dress in layers. Don’t worry if you don’t get up top for viewing there are staff around the boat to chat and share information with you.
Jonah was amazing! He answered all our questions and made sure we were ready for the whales.
We saw so many whales, and even when ones were still active they went to make sure we saw different ones.
The boat was clean and comfortable!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so glad to hear your sunset whale watching adventure was worth every penny and that you had such a great experience on board.
That is a great tip about dressing in layers- it can be chilly out on the water!
Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you aboard again soon for another adventure!
Dan_R, Aug 2025
I am not sure how this company gets away with calling this a sunset cruise when you don’t get to see the sunset on the boat. The ticket indicated that the tour would be five hours, but it returned in 3 1/2 hours which was one hour before the 8 PM sunset
In addition to whale watching, one of the main reasons I booked the cruise was to be out on the water in a boat to see the sunset- but this did not happen. When I asked one of the crew members on the boat why we were returning before sunset, he commented that they felt we had been able to see whales on the trip so they were returning earlier due to this. Suggest that Viator require this company to remove the word “sunset”from there advertised tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. Our tours are advertised as approximately 3-5 hours as the duration varies, depending on where the whales are during the excursion. We do take our return travel time into consideration and we only spend about an hour with the whales, ensuring we follow all Pacific Whale Watch Association guidelines as we do not want to affect the natural behaviours of the whales. Our last tour of the day is called our Sunset tour, as we do our best to see the sunset on our return to dock, but with the later sunsets in the evening at this time of year, this may not always be possible and the main focus of the tour is always the whales. We truly appreciate your feedback as it helps us to provide the best experience possible. We hope you had a lovely visit to the area!
Brendan_K, Aug 2025
We had such a beautiful night on the sunset cruise! Seeing three orcas surface at the same time is a moment I will never forget. Plus we saw humpback whales as well. This was a very special night!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for the marvelous review! You have painted such a beautiful picture of what you can experience out on the water, and what a beautiful moment you have shared with the orcas you saw! Then to see the majestic humpback whales is so wonderful. We hope we will get to welcome you back again for more enchanting excursions!
Sam_H, Aug 2025
An excellent experience worth every dollar that we paid. The staff on board the boat were knowledgeable and approachable, answering questions and giving us so much interesting information about the wildlife we saw. We were fortunate to see two pairs of humpback whale mothers with their calf as well as a golden eagle and seals. It is great to receive the photo package afterwards as it means you can enjoy being in the moment when the animals are spotted. Be warned, it definitely does get nippier out on the water so even in Summer/when it seems sunny on land, take layers and sunglasses!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thanks so much for joining us, Sam, and for the five stars :) We're delighted to hear of your varied sightings and that you learned lots about the local wildlife. It's great that you felt you could immerse yourself in the moment since our lovely naturalists were taking professional photos. You're certainly right about the wind on the water! We hope you had a fintastic visit!
Keith_M, Aug 2025
Returned to Vancouver from a cruise and was running slightly late due to a bad experience with a hop on hop off bus. I sent a message and they called me back and had my tickets ready. They advised they would be leaving at 1600 sharp. We made it right on time and I even got a second call while I was talking with them to determine exactly what building we needed to check into. We made it just in time. I definitely appreciate the follow up and assistance to get there!
The boat is mostly covered but has some great open viewing areas. The wildlife experts were very helpful in identifying and helping point out the sightings. After about an hour boat ride we arrived and were immediately seeing the first whale. We watched that whale for about 20 minutes with 5-6 separate encounters. We then drove a few minutes to view a mother and pup group of whales. We followed this group for about 30 minutes with a dozen or more encounters.
Then we drove between some islands and found an adult bald eagle and a juvenile bald eagle. Lastly before heading back to dock we went reef are and saw several large groups of seals and sea lions.
Great experience and would definitely recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We're so glad you made it, Keith! It sounds like your evening became a lot more relaxing once you made the sailing, what with the gorgeous views from the water and majestic wildlife encounters. We hope this offered a new perspective of the city and helped you learn lots about the local wildlife. Hopefully the photos you received help to make the memories last!
CL_T, Aug 2025
Fantastic! Easy to book and convenient location at Granville Island. Friendly staff with excellent knowledge of the wildlife we saw. Wonderful experience seeing a pod of Orcas.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Amazing to hear that you had a five-star time with us! Viewing Orcas certainly is a memorable experience. It sounds like you gained some new knowledge on these magnificent creatures. We hope you had a fintastic visit!
Pamela_K, Aug 2025
It was fabulous, we spent over an hour with an Orca family which included a two week old calf! The guide Victor was entertaining and extremely knowledgeable. We would 100% do it again and recommend to all!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thanks so much for joining us and for the five stars, Pamela! It sounds like a very special outing you had! Great to hear it was quality all-around. We would be thrilled to have you back on board some day whale soon!
Jessica_S, Aug 2025
Incredible experience! Seeing orcas outside captivity is a bucket list item for me, and very healing!! It took a bit for them to come out, and we only got to see one humpback for a second but I'll take it and support these excursions that aren't forcing the animals to do anything and are informing us about them.
It was also great getting photos - so feel free to tuck your phone away and be present in the moment!!
Pro tip for my motion sickness friends: I took a Gravol (Canadian Dramamine, if you're from the States) an hour beforehand. While it does make me very drowsy, I had some caffeine and was so distracted by the fun experience (went with friends) that I still had an awesome time and did not have any motion sickness issues!!! And the waters were ROUGH as it was high winds that day.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled that seeing orcas in the wild was a bucket-list moment for you and that you appreciated the opportunity to observe the animals naturally. It’s great to hear you enjoyed the photos and could fully be present in the moment. Thanks also for the motion-sickness tip, your advice will be helpful to future guests braving the rougher waters.
Jonathan_F, Aug 2025
Made everyone stand outside in the sun to give full brief before getting on the boat.
Had previously been told would do brief inside before allowing anyone to relocate outside seating.
Another boat came past which made it impossible to hear anything.
When told the person delivering information I received negative attitude for the remainder of the trip.
Melanie_R, Aug 2025
The tour was great! Very knowledgeable guide who explained a lot of things to us. We were lucky enough to see 3 whales. One came extremely close to the boat! They provide free professional pictures of the tour as well.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for joining us! We’re so glad you enjoyed the tour and had the chance to see not just one, but three whales, especially one up close! We’re happy you enjoyed the commentary from your guide and the complimentary photos to remember the day.
Paloma_J, Aug 2025
It was a 3 hours experience super chilled but filled with information and we got to see some animals!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for joining us! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the relaxed pace and the informative part of the tour, and that you got to spot some wildlife along the way. We hope to see you on another adventure soon!
Rachelle_K, Aug 2025
We had a great time and saw lots of wildlife! Ashley was tremendous. So knowledgeable and helpful. We saw a large pod of orca with at least one baby. We saw a humpback whale breach in the distance then followed it for a bit. Also saw seals and lots of birds. Nice boat. Very comfortable. Go up top for the best ride. They warned us it would be cold but it was a gorgeous day. Also it says 5 hours but we were done in 3 becuase we saw so much. Dont miss it!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
We’re so happy to hear Ashley made such a great impression with her knowledge and help. It sounds like you had an amazing day spotting orcas, humpbacks, seals, and birds, all on a comfortable boat with great views. We appreciate your tip about the cold and the extra bonus of finishing early thanks to the wildlife sightings! Hope to see you again for another unforgettable adventure!
triciamaas, Aug 2025
Very knowledgeable and fun crew…safety comes first. Highly recommend. Kids loved the complementary hot cocoa. Clean bathrooms.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for leaving us a review! We are glad to hear you felt safe during the tour and the kids could enjoy the hot cocoa. We will be sure to pass along the kind words to our crew for you! Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales.
Natalie_H, Jul 2025
It was a lovely excursion. We saw Orcas and Humpback Whales as well as seals and bald eagles. The commentary provided was really informative. The crew were excellent. Would really recommend this trip.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thanks so much for your kind words—it sounds like nature really put on a show for you! We’re also so glad the commentary added to your experience and that our crew helped make it a smooth and memorable outing. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you aboard again someday!
Yeet_H, Jul 2025
Amazing experience! A superbly organized tour with a professional and knowledgeable team. Sebastian, Tom, Luke, Ashley and Jonathan were welcoming and passionate about what they were doing as well as looking after us and sharing their deep knowledge of the wildlife. Highlight was seeing the humpback whales and even more impressive was how they identified the names of the whales! Highly recommend this trip - one of our best experiences. Thank you Prince of Whales team !
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for this incredible review and recommendation! Our crew will be thrilled to know their wealth of knowledge and passionate energy helped made your trip extra special. We'll make sure to pass your kind words along to them and hope to see you again soon for another unforgettable adventure!
Amie_C, Jul 2025
Excellent experience. We saw so many whales! Guides were very knowledgeable. We even turned around when there was a report of a humpback as we were heading back to the city.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
We're thrilled you got to see so many whales and that our guides’ knowledge made the trip even better. Turning around for that humpback sighting shows how committed we are to giving our guests the best possible adventure. Hope to welcome you back on the water soon!
Eun_R, Jul 2025
So rich experience with a knowledgeable tour guide and surroundings. Thank you so much for the safely briefing, and educational help
Response from Host, Jul 2025
We're glad to hear you enjoyed the rich experience and found the safety briefing and educational information valuable. We'll make sure to share your appreciation with the guide. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable adventure soon!
Shannon_J, Jul 2025
Well advertised as a killer whale watching but killer whales are very hard to find. Saw humpback whales and sea lions.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. While we do advertise our tours with the hope of seeing orcas, you’re absolutely right—they are wild animals and can sometimes be elusive. We’re glad you still had the chance to witness humpback whales and sea lions, and we hope their presence added something special to your trip. We truly appreciate your understanding and hope to welcome you back for another chance to spot those iconic orcas!
Kim_G, Jul 2025
Amazing passionate staff! They were as excited to be on the water as all of us! Super knowledgeable!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re glad our passionate staff’s excitement and knowledge helped make your experience special. Being out on the water with enthusiastic guides really makes all the difference. We hope to see you again for another adventure soon!
Joshua_H, Jul 2025
The whole experience was awesome! We saw humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, and seals! The crew was fantastic as well! Jake was commenting on the wildlife that we saw and he was very knowledgeable and did a great job!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for taking the time to leave us 5 star review! We are glad you could see so many different animals during your tour, how exciting! We will pass along your kind words to Jake and the crew! Thank you for choosing Prince of Whales.
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