Whale Watching from Friday Harbor

Overview

The best orca whale watching is from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, just an easy day trip adventure from downtown Seattle. The San Juan Islands are considered the "jewel" of the Pacific Northwest, located in the Puget Sound.

City: San Juan Islands

Mon 28 Oct

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $135.00

Make a reservation

Mon 28 Oct

Starting at $135.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Whale Watching Cruise

Local taxes

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
For maximum safety children under 2 should be in a harness carrier strapped to a parent and remain in the cabin
"Special Limited" tour not recommended for child aged 13 and under
Restrooms are available on board the boat
Face masks required for travellers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
50% capacity on vessels

What To Expect

San Juan Island

San Juan Island is considered the best place to view orca whales because the salmon, which are their prime source of food (about 95% of what they eat), travel up and down the west coast of San Juan Island and outlying areas. Take this Whale watching tour and see orca whales which has been viewed on over 90% of the tours with the possibility of spotting minke, humpback and gray whales to be higher. What is the best time to see orca whales? Anytime. They are out and about all day. You will be guaranteed see marine mammals and come back with memories to last a lifetime! Enjoy the beauty of San Juan Island on an exclusive Whale Watch Cruise from Friday Harbor. Sail aboard the fast, new 55 foot MV Sea Lion (with windowed, heated cabin, which seats up to 24 guests). 40 or fewer guest aboard this comfortable boat with walk around deck.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (660)

ndeiters79

Jan 2018

Sarah M our Marine Naturalist / Tour Guide / Entertainer was AMAZING! Second only to seeing two Orca's and a Humpback Whale, she was the best part of this tour. We enjoyed our boat ride, saw amazing wildlife and had our breath taken away from us when we saw Orca's in the wild. Additionally, we took a sea plane to Friday Harbor and learned a lot about the area from Sara. She was a great resource for everything we wanted to know about Orca's and the Pacific Northwest. If you are staying in Seattle, WA for the weekend, I highly recommend this be part of your weekend plans. Above all else, the entire experience from the sea plane, to breakfast in the harbor, to the breathtaking views, to the whales, it was and exceptional trip!

mtTravlr

Nov 2017

i think i had low expectations going in thinking that we were kind of "off season", but boy o boy, what a great afternoon. we were a group of twenty something, including 2 bundled up babies and their intrepid parents! LOL. the staff are very knowledgeable, professional, enthusiastic, and friendly. the naturalists, rachel and sarah, were top notch, and full of infectious enthusiasm and endless facts. no question could stump 'em!. our skipper brian got us out and back safely and successfully; and the boat, the sea lion, was spotless, solid, and comfortable. to my amazement we caught up with a small humpback and a pod of orcas on our afternoon excursion. these people know what they are doing and seem to really like doing it as well. the highlight of the trip was an immature orca swimming up to, and alongside the boat, upside down, checking us out. he swam the whole length of the boat and surfaced up by the bow. that was truly an amazing experience. lucky for us, the rain held off and we endured just a short drizzle. but this time of year its cold out there and i did freeze my butt off (my fault, didn't have my regular cold season gear) but it was worth it! thanks san juan safaristas for sharing your knowledge, your passion, and the layers of blankets. thanks also for being good stewards and educators. i really enjoyed spending my afternoon with you, learning, and getting close up to such an amazing ecosystem and its fabulously charismatic megafauna! no regrets.

Response from Host

Nov 2017

Many thanks for sharing a review of your November 25th whale watch & wildlife tour, and for letting us know we created a memorable experience for you and your family. I enjoyed having you on the water. And thank you for your kudos for naturalists Rachel & Sarah. We take a lot of pride in have the best crew and naturalists in the region. We work very hard for our guests, and I'm glad it shows. That was transient orca T2C2 "Tumbo" that gave us a great look! Please visit us again when you find yourself in the San Juan Islands! Brian Goodremont Owner & Captain San Juan Safaris

Michael K

Nov 2017

Had an amazing morning in the San Juans. Was lucky enough to see my first orca (well, a whole pod of them actually!), Even before seeing the whales, this trip was a great time. We were zooming around the Sound getting glimpses of the mountains and the wildlife, including sea lions, porpoises, and seals. Our guide Lauren was very knowledgable and I learned a lot about orcas and the ecosystem in the San Juans, making the experience that much more fun!

Response from Host

Nov 2017

Many thanks for your kind words, Michael! Glad to hear that we helped make your trip to the PNW memorable. We'll be sure to pass on your kudos to Naturalist Lauren! Thanks again, Michael, and please do look us up again when you find yourself in the San Juans. Brian Owner & Operator San Juan Safaris