Vancouver Whale Watch Large Zodiac Tour with Guide
Recommended by 92% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Vancouver, Canada
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Scout for an incredible array of marine life during this half-day Vancouver whale-watching cruise. Once on-board the comfortable vessel, you can look out for orcas, humpback whales, seals, porpoises, and eagles. The region is renowned for attracting whales, offering a 95% success rate with sightings. Best of all, enjoy spectacular scenery set amidst the Gulf and San Juan Islands, and see views many other visitors to the region miss.
- Have the best chance of spotting whales and other marine wildlife
- See some of the region's most spectacular coastal scenery
- This tour makes exploring beyond city limits hassle-free
- Shuttle option for round-trip transportation from downtown Vancouver
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Restroom on board
- Granola Bar
- Yellow windbreaker jackets
- Naturalist guide
- Live commentary
- Orca Ranger activity book (receive a special badge, become an Orca Ranger)
- Our whale guarantee (if we don't see whales, come back for free - does not expire, non-transferable)
- Gratuities optional
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Vancouver Whale Watch12240 Second Ave #210, Richmond, BC V7E 3L8, Canada
Arrival at our office is required one hour before your tour. Check in at our office to receive your boarding pass. Boats depart promptly on time. #210-12240 Second Avenue Richmond BC V7E 3L8
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Explore the incredible marine life near Vancouver during this half-day whale watching cruise in search of orcas and much more. If you’re a nature lover or simply looking for a way to immerse yourself in the scenic beautiful of the western coast of Canada, this excursion is a great option.
Start your whale watching trip with pickup from select Vancouver hotels (if option selected) or by meeting at Steveston, where your boat departs. A shuttle transports guests from convenient hotel locations in Vancouver, and free parking is available for those arriving by car.
Then, climb aboard your sleek, modern whale-watching vessel. This tour travels out into the waters of coastal British Columbia. The area for your excursion is renowned for the orca pods that come to feed on marine mammals throughout the year, and humpback whales that visit during the summer months to feed in the temperate-rich waters. During your tour, you can also look out for porpoises, bald eagles, shore birds, seals, and sea lions.
Finally, the tour ends when you return to shore and your original departure point.
Start your whale watching trip with pickup from select Vancouver hotels (if option selected) or by meeting at Steveston, where your boat departs. A shuttle transports guests from convenient hotel locations in Vancouver, and free parking is available for those arriving by car.
Then, climb aboard your sleek, modern whale-watching vessel. This tour travels out into the waters of coastal British Columbia. The area for your excursion is renowned for the orca pods that come to feed on marine mammals throughout the year, and humpback whales that visit during the summer months to feed in the temperate-rich waters. During your tour, you can also look out for porpoises, bald eagles, shore birds, seals, and sea lions.
Finally, the tour ends when you return to shore and your original departure point.
1
Vancouver Whale Watch
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Joyce_A
What a phenomenal tour. Captain James and James, the naturalist, were just great. So knowledgable and professional. Saw lots of humpbacks as well as Orcas. And as an added bonus seal lions, seals and even a stork. James, the naturalist, was very informative and welcomed any and all questions. I highly recommend this tour.
Reviews
4.6
based on 1,614 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Arefin_C, Jul 2026
Great tour overall. We saw three different pods of orcas and a humph back whale. The tour lasted nearly four hours. Captain glenn, Mindy, dind were very knowledgeable and shared lots of great knowledge.
Lauren_V, Jul 2026
We saw about a dozen humpback whales, a once in a lifetime experience and definitely worth doing while in BC!
Julie_J, Jun 2026
The crew was very informative and amazing at making it fun.
We saw everything from whales to sea lions and seals !!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the five star review. We are very happy to hear that you experienced so much and that our amazing crew elevated your experience even further. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future!
Graham_N, Jun 2026
We were so lucky. We saw 3 pods of Orca playing in the water, then headed off as a grey whale had been spotted. We were lucky enough he was still there. We saw lots of sea lions and cormorants and then headed off again to see a humpback whale. What an amazing day. The guide was so informative and it was all well organised. I would definitely recommend
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the five star review. We are so glad that you got to see so many orcas, as well as a humpback and a grey whale, as well as other marine life! These creatures are magnificent and we're so happy to hear that your guide enriched your experience further.
Kathleen_s, Jun 2026
Our trip was fabulous. Many sightings. Humpback and killer whales, a harbor seal and a stoic bald eagle. Our naturalist, Maggie was extremely knowledgeable and willing to answer all our questions.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for the five star review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience and were able to see and learn so much. We hope to welcome you again on a future tour!
Leon_M, Jun 2026
This tour was great. We seen a few different killer whale pods, a beautiful humpback whale and seals. Our tour guides Captiam Roy, Brandon and James were friendly, knowledgeable and just really awesome.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the 5 star review! We are so happy you enjoyed your tour with us and appreciate your kind words of our staff and crew. We hope to welcome you again soon!
Kimley_S, May 2026
Dress in layers as it can get cold and windy on the boat. The water was rough so if you know you get sea sick then think about taking something for motion sickness with you. We saw quite a few whales, it was very good
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your review, we do always recommend dressing in layers as it can be 10 degrees cooler on the water. We also provide free coats for extra layers as well as ginger for motion sickness. We are very happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour with us and saw whales.
Tushita_C, May 2026
I’ve been with this tour group before. The last time we had an incredibly close encounter with a few humpback whales. This time they had the right information and ensured we got to see a pod of 4 orcas!
Brandon and Brandon the guides were very knowledgeable, kind and patient.
Would return!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words of our crew, we will pass this on to them. Thank you for sharing your experience with Vancouver Whale Watch!
Andrea_H, May 2026
This was on my bucket list, to see whales in their natural habitat. The captain made sure to track the whales and stop and turn to give everyone that chance to get pics and good views. It was an incredible experience while also protecting the integrity of the wild life.
Response from Host, May 2026
We think it's awesome to be part of your bucket list! Thank you for your review and for choosing Vancouver Whale Watch!
Adam_W, May 2026
Great experience, great crew, and great to see beautiful wildlife in their natural habitat, highly recommended!
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your great experience with Vancouver Whale Watch and our awesome crew, and thank you for your high recommendation of our tour.
Nicole_H, Apr 2026
We had a great time on the trip. Saw sea lions, harbor seals, a juvenile humpback and a large male orca supposedly named Noah. Bring layers to keep warm. There is a bathroom on board. Was super fun and relaxing. If you have time, definitely plan some extra time before or after the trip to walk around the wharf. Some fantastic seafood restaurants and cute little shops. Could have spent more time there.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Sounds like a fabulous trip and seeing so many different animals on your tour. Steveston Village is so great, with it's shops and restaurants happy to hear you enjoyed it and your tour with us, Thank you!
Lisa_P, Apr 2026
Its worth going to Richmond on the shuttle rather than just getting in a Harbour tour boat because its such a cute little village by the wharf! The bus driver was so informative and hilarious and they are so welcoming when you get there! The guids on the boat were so involved and informative they took their time to let us really enjoy when we found both the orcas and the Grey whale! The boat ride was fun too and seeing Stanley Park from the ocean was cool too:) 😎 what a fabulous experience my son and I had we will cherish those memories and that day for a lifetime! THANK YOU
Sincerely,
Lisa and Jasper!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
So great to hear that you enjoyed our round trip shuttle service, our knowledgeable drivers are always eager to make the trip a memorable one. We are so lucky to call Steveston Village our home, known as the gateway to the whales! Thank you for sharing your fabulous experience with our crew and tour!
Ipshita_R, Dec 2025
I have been to several wildlife watching experiences and this one has the most action I could imagine. Highly recommend
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your recommendation and review, sounds like a fabulous day viewing the wildlife! From our crew thank you for choosing Vancouver Whale Watch!
Johanne_A, Oct 2025
We saw 2 types of whales at 2 separate locations.
The crew was great.
The ride was safe and ppretty smooth.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank so much for joining us! We're really glad you got to see both orcas and humpbacks! That's always such a special day out on the water. It's great to hear you felt safe and enjoyed the smooth ride too!
I'll make sure to share your kind words with the crew. We hope we get to welcome you back out with us again one day!
Gina_G, Oct 2025
Our experience was amazing. Our guide and captain were excellent, friendly and knowledgeable. We saw 3 humpback whales, Orcas, sea lions and eagles. This tour was everything I hoped for and more. The little town was adorable too. Plan some time to explore and get something to eat before or after your tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you Gina,
We're thrilled you had such an amazing experience and got to see so much wildlife, 3 humpbacks and orcas, what a day! Our crew really do love sharing these moments and we're glad you had time to explore and enjoy the town too.
Hope to see you again for another great adventure!
Jude_K, Oct 2025
Such a good trip ! Well worth the money . We were lucky enough to see the Killer whales , Humpback whales , Seals and the bald eagle .
Would imagine if you weren’t lucky enough you who’s be very disappointed !
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hi Jude,
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. Wow, you definitely got to see so much wildlife! How amazing! We're sure glad to hear the tour did not disappoint and hope to welcome you back out on the water again in the future!
Laura_M, Oct 2025
It was an amazing experience and the group size was not to big. Perfect to be able to take pictures and video of the whales. We were the only boat in the area; which was nice.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hello Laura,
We're thrilled you had a great time on the tour! We hope you got some wonderful photos and videos of the tour.
We hope to get to welcome you back out with us on the water again next season!
Kathryn_H, Oct 2025
We had an absolutely amazing whale watching trip. We saw humpbacks, orcas, sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagle plus many other marine birds.
The vessel was comfortable even though the weather was a bit wet. Captain and crew were great. I highly recommend this outstanding company.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hello Kathryn,
Thank you for your kind review! We are so happy to hear you had such an amazing tour filled with the many varieties of wildlife that our BC coast has to offer!
We do hope to welcome you back out with us on the water in the future.
Tara_F, Sep 2025
Great relaxing day! Saw a lot of wildlife! If I had one complaint it would be that the top deck only allowed 12 people and there were at least 10 that camped out the entire time which made it difficult for anyone else to go up. Our tour guide was great very knowledgeable and we got to see some amazing whales and sea lions! Must do when you visit the area and Steveston Village is a great coastal town.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Tara,
Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed the wildlife sightings and had a knowledgeable guide to make the day memorable.
We truly appreciate your feedback regarding the top deck. While space up there is limited, we do kindly remind guests to be mindful of others who would also like the chance to go up so that everyone can enjoy the view. We'll continue to keep this in mind to make the experience as fair and enjoyable as possible for all our passengers.
We hope to welcome you back on the water with us again.
Jennifer_H, Sep 2025
Amazing experience! Captain and guide were very knowledgable and let us stay near some humpback whales who were playing around out boat for a while. Great experience!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Jennifer,
Thank you for taking the time to write your review. We're happy to hear you had such a great time on the tour and you got to see some humpback whales! How amazing! We do take such pride in our guides and are glad you found them knowledgeable.
We hope you'll come back out with us again in the future.
Lina, Sep 2025
We so enjoyed ! Unbelievable beautiful nature ! And guide guy was so funny and made my day ;)) 🩷
Thank you
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Lina,
Thank you for your review. We are sure happy to hear you had such a great time on the tour and you enjoyed the commentary of your guide also.
We do hope to welcome you back again in the future!
Joyce_A, Sep 2025
What a phenomenal tour. Captain James and James, the naturalist, were just great. So knowledgable and professional. Saw lots of humpbacks as well as Orcas. And as an added bonus seal lions, seals and even a stork. James, the naturalist, was very informative and welcomed any and all questions. I highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Joyce,
Thank you for the kind words. Wow! It sounds like you had such an amazing trip, seeing so much of our wildlife that we have to offer. We will be most sure to pass on the nice words to James.
Here's hoping we get to welcome you back out with us in the future.
Mackenzie_P, Sep 2025
Very fun and exciting. Saw two hump back whales and different types of seals. The whales did a lot of showing off. Even though the weather was not too nice, the experience was great.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Mack,
Thank you so much for your review. Even though the weather was not too nice, getting to see humpback whales is always such a treat for the eyes! We are glad you got to experience that with us and we do hope you choose to join us again in the future.
George_W, Sep 2025
Wonderful experience seeing humpback whales and sea lions up close. Amazing. The trip lasted about 4 hours
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello George,
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We are delighted you got to see humpbacks and sea lions! It is always incredible to see wildlife in their natural habitat.
Susan_W, Sep 2025
Great time. Saw humpback whales, one breached. Lots of flukes. Bit of a long journey after that to the Gulf Islands to see seals and sea lions. Overall a good experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Susan,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. It is such an incredible experience to be able to witness a humpback whale breaching! We are glad to know you also got to see the harbour seals and stellar sealions at the gulf Islands, they are quite impressive!
We hope to welcome you back on the water with us again.
Tim_H, Sep 2025
Expect the water to be pretty choppy. Make sure you take a coat with you because it’s about 10 degrees cooler on the water than on shore. It’s a wonderful experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Tim,
Thank you for your review. We are so glad you enjoyed your whale watching our with us. Thank you for sharing helpful advice for future guests.
We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you on board with us again!
Nancy_J, Sep 2025
We were fortunate to view humpback whales as a few different locations, as well as seals and sea lions. One family member is elderly and disabled. For her, the boat was disappointing as it wasn’t the one pictured, with windows and forward facing seats. Whenever a whale was spotted, people would rush to one railing or the other, blocking her view. Since she’s unable to get up without her walker (not allowed on board), she saw no whales until near the end of the trip when a pair surfaced right beside her side of the boat. Four of the five in our party were happy with the experience, but we don’t recommend it for anyone with limited mobility.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Nancy,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Our captains do ensure to rotate the boats to make sure everyone gets to see the whales and sea lions.
We are pleased to hear that your family member got a great viewing with the whales.
Steven_B, Sep 2025
A wonderful experience. The Captain and guide seemed to work diligently to locate whales. We were lucky enough to see both humpback and orcas.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Steven,
It's wonderful to hear your had such an amazing experience with us! Our captains and guides work hard to locate the whales on each tour and we're happy to know that they were able to come across not one, but two species of whales on your trip. How amazing!
Claudio_C, Sep 2025
It’s a great opportunity to see whales in their natural habitat. The weather was beautiful which added to the adventure.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello,
Thank you for your kind words. We're delighted you enjoyed your time on the water with us and that the weather made the experience even more wonderful.
We hope to have you back out with us again in the future!
Miranda_L, Sep 2025
We had a wonderful time on the whale watch! We saw 5 humpbacks and tons of sea lions and harbor seals. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Miranda,
Thank you for your kind review! Wow! 5 humpbacks?! That's amazing! As well as seeing the ever so cute harbour seals and sassy sea lions. We're happy to know you had such a great day out with us and hope to welcome you back again in the future.
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