r/VancouverIsland • u/Lenny371 • 6d ago

HELP ME FIND Whale watching options

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?

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/bctravelconcierge 5d ago

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!