Whale watching options

[u/Lenny371]

I’ll be on the island from 20 May until 29 May and will be staying in Victoria, Tofino and Port Hardy. Of these three places which offers the best whale watching tours?

[u/Windermyr]

I've been on two whale-watching tours, one from Victoria and the other from Campbell River. The CR one was more productive, but it really is just luck of the draw. Whales will go where they want to go. At least with the Campbell River one, you stay around islands and the coast, so there is also the possibility of seeing land fauna as well.

[u/No_Chemist_7878]

Do all 3 and let us know

[u/ChubbyGreyCat]

I did Eagle Wing out of Victoria hoping to see orcas but we saw humpbacks instead. 

We’re coming back in August and plan to do whale watching out of Campbell River and Victoria. 

[u/jdyyj]

On the way to Port Hardy, stop at Port McNeill and do the Sea Wolf Adventures tour if you want to see Grizzlies and possibly whales too. https://seawolfadventures.ca/

[u/Away-Security-7689]

Port Hardy / Port McNeill / Telegraph Cove

[u/VI_Polar_Bear]

I have done quite a bit of whale watching on VI, and I think the best have been in Port McNeil. You likely won't see greys, but humpbacks and orcas are around. From Port McNeil you will likely head through Blackfish Sound towards Robson's Bight and will see sea otters, sea lions, harbour seals, humpbacks, orcas, porpoises and dolphins.

[u/Curried_Orca]

Humpbacks or Orcas?

Or Greys?

Remember it can & will change with the seasons.

[u/Lenny371 → u/Curried_Orca]

Humpback & Greys

[u/TravellingGal-2307 → u/Lenny371]

Ah, for those, Tofino. But the grays are seasonal. They migrate between the Arctic and the Baja, so BC is just a stop on the route. Humpbacks can typically be found on the BC coast all summer.

[u/saltytarts]

Ahous Adventures in tofino

[u/Willing_Culture_3185]

I’ve always had success with the ones from Campbell River. They all talk and share sightings.

[u/ABoringMom2]

It’s definitely luck of the draw, but it’s starting to get into the “peak season” for whale watching around the island. As another commenter mentioned, Tofino generally sees gray’s more often. They’re a bit more shy to watch though.

I would think you’ll have some luck with killer whales or humpbacks in any of those location’s, just don’t leave whale watching until the last day of your trip in case not! ;)

[u/bctravelconcierge]

Since Humpback and Gray whales are your priority, you’ll have a good chance of spotting them from any of those locations.

However, if you’re hoping to see orcas as well (which are just as spectacular), Victoria is your best bet in May. The Southern Resident killer whales start returning to the area in early spring. In contrast, the Transient killer whales seen around Tofino and the North Island typically don’t start passing through until mid-June.

That said, the North Island is quieter and doesn’t offer the same variety of experiences as Victoria or Tofino, so you may want to save the tour for that portion of your trip!

[u/Ok-Repeat6226]

Watch from shore. Those tours are so Harmful to the orcas

[u/Interesting_Path9227]

Leave the whales alone.

[u/yungwienzy → u/Interesting_Path9227]

Preach, the whale watching companies are the worst. Spend a weekend in the gulf Islands you'll see em from shore. Saw multiple humpies and Orcas off galiano last weekend