Gulf Island Whale Watching
Departures from Hope Bay on Pender Island, Lyall Harbor on Saturna Island and
Horton Bay on Mayne Island, offer some of the most beautiful scenery and abundant
natural wildlife in the world. From this strategic location, in the middle of the Orcas
summer range that extends from Victoria to Vancouver harbor, combined with the
vessel’s high speed, whales are easily spotted in their natural habitat. As a member of
a large and extensive spotting network we can reliably pinpoint the whales location
most days.
Aboard the boat your Captain and Naturalist are available to answer questions and
will provide a wealth of information on the local whales and wildlife as well as
interesting stories and facts about the local area.
On rare occasions the resident Orcas head out to the open West Coast waters where
no boats can find them or weather conditions are too rough, unsafe and just too
uncomfortable to view whales. Should this occur we focus on looking for the transient
Orca pods, which may be anywhere in the sheltered Gulf Island waters. Such trips
allow a closer look at the amazing shorelines and abundant wildlife of the islands.
Time permitting, we dock at the Saturna Island Winery one of the most beautiful
spots in the Gulf Islands. Here is a wonderful opportunity to stretch your legs, do a
little beach combing or play in the sand. You may also enjoy a 10-minute scenic walk
through the vineyard to the winery.
The three to four hour whale watching trips depart July and August and are
scheduled on a demand basis when a minimum of eight passengers have shown interest
in a tour. Please call 250-539-3211 to see when the next tour is scheduled.
Complimentary bottled water, juice boxes and Granola bars are provided
Cruise may be rescheduled due to weather, mechanical issues or unforeseen
circumstances. Whale watching tours are subject to safe weather conditions and are not
recommended for pregnant women and persons with neck or back problems.


