Victoria

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Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure from Victoria

Victoria, Canada

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Overview

Marvel at the majesty of Canada’s marine wildlife on this 3-hour whale-watching adventure in Victoria. Hop aboard your boat, a semi-covered vessel built specifically for whale-watching trips, and cruise through the Haro Strait with your guide. Watch the waves from the open sun decks or stay protected from the spray in the heated indoor cabin. Stop off at points of interest through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Listen to fascinating commentary from marine naturalists on board, and admire the beautiful orca, humpback whales, and minke whales you find.

Multiple times offered throughout the day
See native wildlife in their natural environment
Informative, friendly and professional guide

What's Included

Captain and expert crew of 3-4 guides/naturalists
Free photo package of your trip & wildlife, with personal photos of you and your loved ones
Two washrooms
Lifetime Whale Sightings Guarantee - new free tour from Vancouver or Victoria until you see whales!
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
5 per person Salish Sea Conservation Fee (1% For The Planet Initiative) is included in price
Downloadable tour guides in: English, Spanish, French, German and Dutch
Kids coloring books and educational guides

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Excludes taxes and fees for Lifetime Whale Sighting Guarantee

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

812 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T3, Canada
Please check-in 30 minutes prior to departure time at Prince of Whales Whale Watching located below the Visitor Information Centre in the Inner Harbour (812 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T3).

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, an alternative or full refund will be offered
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
Service animals allowed with proper documentation and life jacket
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 95 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

sheriewhitehead

This was our favorite whale watching trip to date. The boat is beautiful - new and clean. There was more than enough seating and you never felt crowded. The speakers/photographers were amazing. She would answer any questions and give interesting facts about what we saw. We saw a grey whale, porpoise, and a family of orca. We highly recommend and would even do the same tour again!

Reviews

5.0

1,491 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 1,491 reviews

Our whale watching afternoon

Nancy_H, May 2024

Seeing Noah, the killer whale that one of our guides told us generally travels with his mother, but occasionally goes out on his own. This was one of those days. So majestic! Crew was great, too.

Response from Host, May 2024

Wow, thank you for the wonderful review! It is so exciting when we get to see an orca we recognize, there really is something magnificent about knowing who these majestic beings are and getting to spend time with them. We are so glad you enjoyed your time with us and that our crew was able to share their knowledge with you! We would love to have you join us again!

The crew was friendly and...

Brenda_T, Apr 2024

The crew was friendly and gave us a lot of information on the pod of orcas we saw. They photos they took for us were amazing.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for taking the time to share these words with all of us here at Prince of Whales. We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your whale watching trip and we hope that the photos will help you remember the experience until we can see you again on another exciting adventure!

Great and wonderful.

Tigris_Z, Apr 2024

Very good staff and very good trip. We have seen a lot especially otters holding the urchin, looks so funny. Thanks and it’s a must go.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for your five star review. It's amazing to hear that you were able to see some otters out on the water! Hopefully we can see you again later in the season for another adventure!

We saw 4 orcas and...

Nancy_L, Mar 2024

We saw 4 orcas and learned about them from Rajan, Michael and Reid. Snacks on board for purchase, free tea and hot chocolate.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Thank you for the lovely review Nancy! We are so glad you saw some orcas on your trip! We hope to see you again in the future!

Fabulous

suzette_n, Nov 2023

Algebra was a great guide, informative and entertaining! Saw 14 humpbacks, seals birds. Very comfortable boat!!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

It's fantastic to hear you enjoyed the tour and spotted so many humpbacks! Thank you for your kind words about Algebra. We look forward to your next visit!

Incredible interaction with nature!

Gary_E, Oct 2023

Algebra and Jaime were so engaging and knowledgable! Captain Richards and First Mate Lindsey kept a respectful distance from the whales yet gave all passengers optimal viewing opportunities for Killer and Humpback whales.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Gary, thank you for your valuable feedback, and for shouting out your lovely crew! We hope you learned a lot and gained more passion for marine wildlife, meanwhile enjoying a relaxing afternoon at sea. Very cool to see both species! Hope to sea you again whale soon!

Incredible Experience!

Laura_S, Oct 2023

Our Captain Shawn and First Mate Lindsey were excellent and made sure we were able to see all the wildlife in the area. Our Naturalists Michael, Algebra and Maddie were phenomenal. They were entertaining, incredibly knowledgeable and great at getting people involved and encouraged guests to ask questions and learn about the sea life we were lucky enough to see at a close distance. They even give you a free hot beverage, and take beautiful professional pictures (so you don’t have to!) and send them to you for free after the tour within 24hrs. We were blown away by the care, involvement, education and professionalism of the entire crew. I would highly recommend this tour for your whale watching experience in Victoria, BC!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

We're thrilled to hear that you had a remarkable experience with us and that our team's passion and knowledge made your whale watching tour memorable. Providing engaging information and ensuring our guests have a fantastic view of the sea life is something we pride ourselves on. We're also glad to know that the complimentary hot beverage and the professional photographs were the cherry on top of your day. Thank you for choosing us for your adventure and for recommending our tours. We look forward to welcoming you aboard again in the future!

A Wonderful Educational Experience

Orlando_S, Oct 2023

We had an outstanding time on our half day whale watching tour. The staff did an awesome job. They explained the safety features, areas of interest and provided nice tidbits of the whales behavior. We got some incredible views of the humpbacks and of the lighthouse. It was a great way to spend the afternoon.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Thank you very much for leaving a review! We're happy to hear that you had a great time on your tour and that you got to see some humpback whales! We agree, whale watching is an incredible way to spend the afternoon, and we're happy you chose us to be your tour operator. Thank you for joining us!

Wonderful afternoon

Kathy_A, Oct 2023

The crew was very knowledgeable and friendly (Rajan, Michael and Lyla). Saw lots of whales. Overall a wonderful experience.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hi there, thank you so much for the 5 star review! We are thrilled to hear you were able to enjoy your experience to the fullest while learning lots from our crew, we will be sure to pass along the kind words! We hope to see you back on board with us sometime soon! Thanks again for choosing Prince of Whales.

Algebra, Micheal and...

Mariejoelle_H, Oct 2023

Algebra, Micheal and Lyila were amazing. They provided fantastic informations, it was great for the kids and we saw so many whales. A family of Orcas, some humpback whales and sea Lions! Very cool

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Thank you so much for the review. I am so glad you had such a good time and that your found your crew knowledgeable and informative. We hope to sea you again next season.

Whale watching

AnnaNaylaE_A, Sep 2023

The entire crew were very professional, knowledgeable and accommodating. We got to see the Orcas, Humpback Whales and Sea Lion. Thank you to alll the Staff of Prince of Whales.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hello Anna! Thank you for leaving us such a lovely 5 star review! We are glad you enjoyed your tour with our passionate and knowledgable crew and got to see so many of our beloved marine inhabitants here in the Salish Sea! We hope you will enjoy the complimentary photos from your trip for many moons and thank you again for coming out with us!

Must Do!

Tamie_R, Sep 2023

This was one of the best experiences on our trip! The staff were well trained, extremely knowledgeable and skilled, and truly enjoy what they do. They were eager to spot whales and other sea life and excited to share lots of information and answer questions. Very fun and enjoyable!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Whale hello Tamie! Thank you for your lovely 5 star review and claiming us a Must Do! We feel very honoured and are over the moon that you had a fantastic experience with us! We are glad you loved our knowledgable and friendly crew as much as we do and hope your free photo package will keep your memories alive for a long while!

Best Whale Watch Ever!

Lisa_M, Sep 2023

Our crew were fabulous and we saw Orcas (killer whales), hump back whales and seals. We would highly recommend the Half-Day Whale Watching Adventure from Victoria with Prince of Whales Whale Watching.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Whale hello Lisa, thank you for your 5* review! It sounds like you had an amazing trip! Seeing Orcas, humpbacks and seals in their natural habitat must have been a truly unforgettable experience. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback about the crew; they play a crucial role in making such adventures enjoyable and informative. It's experiences like these that create lasting memories and a deeper appreciation for the incredible marine life in the Salish Sea's waters. Thank you again for joining us! All the best

Great Trip

Mark_D, Sep 2023

Very knowledgeable staff - educational trip & amazing views of the animals. We were lucky to see unusual breaching behavior from the Orca & lunge feeding with Humpbacks.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Thank you so much for your review Mark! It sounds like you had a fin-tastic tour!! Breaches are quite rare, as well as observing humpbacks feeding! We hope that you enjoyed your hot drinks and the beautiful photo package that you must have received after your trip and hope to see you again in the future! Best fishes

Orcas!

Edmund_A, Sep 2023

Orcas very active. Very informative crew, including Jesse. Captain knew where the whales were. Went by lighthouse. Crew took nice photos of it all and shared with passengers.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hi there! Thank you very much for your 5 stars and kind words! We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your whale watching tour with us and hope to see you again in the future! All the best

Best Whale watching cruise ever!

Kaye_N, Sep 2023

This was a wonderful tour! Comfortable and roomy catamaran. Indoor and outdoor viewing. Clean bathrooms, free hot beverages and small snacks for sale. Great crew! Captain kept us on the animals. Close enough to awe us, yet respectful of their space. We saw Orca families, Humpback Whales, Sea Lions and more. The 3 mates were all educated marine naturalists who were informed, funny and kind. I’m profoundly hearing impaired, and they kindly took turns wearing my hearing aid mic so that I could participate as well!! What a blessing that was for this HOH person. I am sincerely thankful! Lastly, there is a photographer on board and they email you photos of the animals you saw! This tour can’t be beat! I highly recommend!!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Thank you so much for your amazing review! We are glad to hear that you had such a great time on board. The combination of a comfortable and spacious catamaran with both indoor and outdoor viewing options, clean facilities, and complimentary hot beverages is the best way to enjoy whale watching. It's also heartwarming to know that the crew went above and beyond to accommodate your hearing impairment, ensuring you didn't miss out on any of the incredible marine life and naturalist insights. And the added bonus of receiving photos of the animals you encountered is a fantastic way to remember this special day! Thank you again for choosing us and best fishes!

A wonderful excursion! ...

Donald_L, Sep 2023

A wonderful excursion! Saw Killer Whales and humpbacks. The crew was fantastic and attentive and the captain was great at getting us to the most advantages points for viewing.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you Donald for leaving us a 5 star review! We really appreciate you taking the time! We are glad you had a wonderful excursion and got to see killer whales and humpback whales! We are also happy that you found our crew as fantastic as we do and we hope that you will enjoy your complimentary pictures as well! All the best to you and until hopefully another time ;)

Exceptional

jmgroom1311, Sep 2023

An absolutely amazing day out. Very informative detail about the wildlife and nature. Staff were very friendly and helpful!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you so much for the great review! Its lovely to hear you found our staff so friendly and accommodating!

Whale Watching - Vancouver Island

Fiona_L, Sep 2023

A must do trip. This was a well organised trip with informative guides plus someone who took the photos for you, so you could concentrate on seeing the whales and orca. We saw Orca, humpback whales, sealions and seals. Plenty of room on the boat so everyone could see the wildlife.

Whale festival

SatyajitN_g, Sep 2023

Lots of whales to see. Knowledgeable staff. Good pace. Great pace saw lots of whales up close. And seals

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you so much for the great review. So happy to hear that you were able to see a diversity of different wildlife on your tour.

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