Top Vancouver Island Water Tours

Experience an up-close encounter with northern Pacific marine life on a 3-hour whale watching cruise off Victoria’s coast. Travel out into the open ocean aboard a comfortable, motorized boat to look for native species like humpback whales, gray whales, orcas, elephant seals and sea lions in their natural habitat. Learn about local marine ecology from a naturalist guide, and take in fantastic views of Vancouver Island in between animal sightings.

Immerse yourself in some of British Columbia’s s most spectacular seascapes—and enjoy an active way to explore—on this small-group, half-day Ucluelet Harbour kayaking tour. Pick from several convenient start times, meet your guide on the waterfront, and get acquainted with your gear. Then, set off on the water. You’ll learn about the region’s history and biodiversity, look out for wildlife like bears and eagles, and otherwise soak up the scenery.

Make the most of your time in Victoria and combine sightseeing and food and drink tasting on this small-group guided tour. Discover highlights such as Chinatown, Bastion Square, and Market Square, enjoy a ferry ride around the harbor, and sample local bites, cocktail, and craft beers, while learning more about the city’s history and culture from your guide.

Participants embark on a leisurely journey hopping between waterfront pubs and bars, savoring local brews and delicious Victoria inspired cocktails along the way. What sets this crawl apart is the mode of transportation: instead of walking or driving between venues, attendees board charming harbour ferries to navigate the waters, enjoying scenic views of the city skyline and iconic landmarks. Led by fun and knowledgeable guides, this Pub Crawl promises not only a delightful culinary adventure but also a memorable exploration of Victoria's breathtaking waterfront. Whether you're a visitor looking to experience the city from a unique perspective or a local eager to discover hidden gems along the harbour, this tour offers a refreshing and unforgettable taste of Victoria's vibrant culture. Join this public tour and make some new friends in your new favourite city!

FOOD, WINE and SPECTACULAR SCENERY. We LOVE this revised tour to REFLECT COVID-19.Join Island Time Tours for a lovely relaxing adventure exploring the Cowichan Valley. We visit 3 (4 if time permitting) of the prettiest vineyards and do our own thing to avoid any line-ups. We offer you a wonderful experience at each vineyard.. First stop includes bubbly with orange juice (optional) w/ fresh warm bake goods. Relax, inhale and take in this beautiful countryside. LUNCH is filled with afternoon tea delights with WINE served weather permitting in the great outdoors. Dessert w/wine complete this tour at another picturesque vineyard. Great food, award winning wines and spectacular beauty. Let's go!

Take a sweet-smelling stroll through Victoria’s famous Butchart Gardens, spanning 55 acres (22.2 hectares) of beautifully designed flower beds, lily ponds, footbridges, and thematic landscapes. With a convenient pickup location and a flexible return shuttle schedule, it’s an easy way to experience one of Victoria’s most popular attractions. Visit during summer or holiday season evenings to witness special luminous displays that add an extra touch of enchantment to the gardens.

Soar over downtown Victoria and surrounds on a thrilling, 20-minute seaplane flight! Take to the skies right from the water and enjoy an unforgettable aerial perspective of the harbor, coastline, Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains towering in the distance. With a maximum of fourteen passengers, it’s an intimate, small-group ride navigated by an expert pilot.

Admire native marine wildlife in the waters of British Columbia on this 3-hour whale-watching adventure in Victoria. Hop aboard your open-top boat in Victoria Harbour and cruise out into the rolling waves with your guide. Your vessel, a zodiac speedboat, is built with stability in mind and remains buoyant even in rough seas. Cruise through the Haro Straight to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Watch the water for sightings of humpback whales, minke whales and orcas breaching the waves, and learn of their life cycle and migration habits.

Explore Victoria's history and culinary scene on this walking tour of the British Columbian city. Follow a guide to highlights such as the Parliament Buildings, the Inner Harbor Causeway, Trounce Alley, Bastion and Market squares, Fan Tan Alley, the Harmonious Gates of Interest, and the Victoria Public Market. Along the way, stop for between food tastings of craft beer, chocolate, tea, tapas, cheese, bread, olive oil, and other local products.

Share the waters with whales, orcas, and more on a wildlife watching tour. In addition to animal sightings, the aquatic adventure also offers great views of the San Juan and Gulf Islands, plus the Howe Sound. Stay warm inside the cabin, where you can purchase snacks and drinks. Your ticket comes with a whale sighting guarantee, with a free tour should you not spot any whales.

Trade your cruise ship for a whale-watching vessel on a 3-hour shore excursion from the port of Victoria. Travel into the open waters of the northern Pacific Ocean to spot native marine life including orcas, humpback whales, harbor seals and minke whales. Learn about British Columbia’s amazing aquatic ecosystems from onboard naturalist guides, who will help point out passing species along the way. It’s an exciting and educational voyage for the whole family!

Discover why British Columbia is one of the best places in the world to see whales and other marine wildlife on this 3-hour tour with Eagle Wing Tours at Victoria’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Hop aboard a comfortable semi-covered or open boat and help support Eagle Wing’s many conservation, education and research activities! Let certified and knowledgeable naturalists be your guides to the stunning wildlife and natural history of the Salish Sea. Watch for seals, sea lions, otters and porpoises as well as bald eagles and a mind-boggling assortment of marine birds. Hoping for something bigger? There’s always a chance to see humpback, killer, minke or grey whales!

Discover some of British Columbia’s most scenic and unspoiled stretches of land and water—and admire its wealth of wildlife—on this small-group, half-day boat tour. Choose from morning or afternoon tour times, and make your own way to Campbell River, where you’ll hop aboard. You can look out for orcas, humpback whales, grizzly bears, dolphins, sea lions, and more, and will learn all about the region’s history and habitats from your guide’s commentary.

Take in the dramatic beauty of Discovery Passage and the wild strength of grizzly bears on this small-group cruise and sightseeing tour. Cruise to Toba Inlet with a certified naturalist captain and scan the waters for wildlife, before a welcome to the land by your Klahoose First Nation guide. View grizzly bears along the river and enjoy a lunch on land.

See grizzly bears in the wild on a small-group boat trip to the traditional territory of the Homalco First Nation. Raised viewing platforms offer safe, up-close viewing opportunities, while trained bear guides help spot wildlife. Round-trip transport aboard a covered vessel ensures a comfortable trip in any weather, with lunch, hot drinks, and snacks provided.

Spend the afternoon getting up close to humpback whales, orcas, and other large marine wildlife with this half-day, small-group whale watching tour from Campbell River. Keep your eyes peeled as the high-speed Zodiac cruises around the local inlets, bays, and tidal rapids around Vancouver Island. All safety equipment provided, including warm survival suits.

Get up close and personal with the ocean and its incredible marine wildlife during this whale watching excursion from Victoria. Climb onboard a Zodiac boat equipped with padded bench seats and cruise the sea at up to 35-knots while your marine naturalist explains the area and animals around you. Head for the Juan de Fuca and Haro Strait and lookout for humpback whales, otters, seals sealions, and birds.

Booking with WWA ensures that you book with a local and sustainable carbon neutral, small business. Our guides have a diverse skillset with many years of experience locally in the tidal rapids and are very passionate about the wildlife we see in our waterways. We look forward to sharing this beautiful seascape with you.

Dedicate a morning to whale-watching in Desolation Sound and the Salish Sea with this small-group, family-friendly experience. You'll head out to look for whales on a high-speed zodiac boat, with plenty of stops along the way to take pictures and see historical sites. As an added bonus, snacks and soft drinks will be served to all.

This small-group experience gives you the whole day to tour the Salish Sea, Discovery Passage, and Johnstone Strait in a speedy Zodiac boat. Stay cozy in provided floater suits, toques, gloves, and goggles as you spend the day searching for some of the abundant wildlife of the coastal waters, including humpback whales, bears, sea lions, and Pacific white-sided dolphins. Your tour will focus on finding orcas, but highlight the diverse beauty of the coast.

This half-day tour takes you through Discovery Passage and the narrow Johnstone Strait in search of humpback whales, orcas, bears, and sea lions. While sighting all animals isn't guaranteed, your guide will share details about the natural beauty of the region on this small-group tour.

Reel in halibut, salmon, and much more on an 8-hour chartered fishing tour from Vancouver. You can leave your tackle box at home, as all necessary gear and bait is offered at no additional cost. Allow your captain to navigate the coastal waters of the Barkley Sound to find the prime fishing spots. While waiting for a tug on the line, keep your eyes peeled for eagles, sea lions, whales, and other local wildlife.

Observe our coast awaken from winter! Join us on our Spring Discovery Tour as we travel to mainland inlets in our covered vessel to see several waterfalls in all of their glory. As we cruise the shorelines, we will keep our eyes peeled for different types of wildlife as they return and awaken from the long winter. Witness sea lions, sea birds, and Orca! View the first Humpback Whales of the season as they make their way back to our northern waters! Watch bears forage along the shore for crabs, mussels, oysters, and more! On this 7-8 hour tour, we will travel throughout the islands surrounding Campbell River and make our way to the various inlets of British Columbia’s mainland coast, while searching for wildlife along the way.