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

Sun 27 Apr

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $135.00

Make a reservation

Sun 27 Apr

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

What To Expect

San Juan Island

San Juan Island is considered one of the best place to view wild orca whales because the surrounding nutrient rich water of the Salish Sea. These nutrients draw all types of marine animals, including large marine mammals like orcas. Take this Whale watching tour and see orca whales, during peak season we have a 90-95% success rate of spotting orca, minke, humpback and gray whales. What is the best time to see orca whales? Anytime. They are out and about all day. Aside from whales, many other marine mammals like harbor seals and stellar sea lions, as well as various sea birds, bald eagles and some unique terrestrial mammals are all common sightings! You'll definitely 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 (728)

amosjlynn

Nov 2015

Our trip was amazing.... we had the pleasure of seeing three types of whales (Minkes, Humpbacks, and, of course, Orcas) on our boat trip. The captain, Mike, did an amazing job of showing us many of the natural sites in the San Juan area. Our naturalist, Rachel, was very informative about the area and the natural life around the islands. She was very enthusiastic and definitely shared our excitement. Of course, seeing the whales was so exciting and it was definitely a day to remember. Great job San Juan Safaris :)

MSMcC319

Nov 2015

I went on a sunset tour in June that was amazing! We were on the Sea Lion, sailing from Friday Harbor. From beginning to end this was a top notch experience and well worth every penny. The person who took my reservation was very helpful in letting me know where to be and when. She also made recommendations on what to bring - like extra warm clothes since it's cooler out on the water. The naturalists, Mike and Erik, greeted us on land and escorted us to the boat where we met Capt. Mike. All three were very professional, safety conscious, and excited about sharing the animals and scenery with us. We saw eagles and seals as we cruised along hoping to see orcas. The naturalists were great in teaching us about what we were seeing - without being over powering. The highlight for me was definitely seeing the orcas! One of the reasons I picked San Juan Safaris is there stated commitment to respecting the animals and the environment. I was very impressed. When we saw the orcas and they turned and started coming toward us, Capt. Mike immediately turned off the engine. They were still a good distance away but we could see them clearly. Evidently they could see us too. As we were siting there with the engine off one spy hopped to look at us - and then swam over to the boat and circled the boat to look at us!!! Capt. Mike, the two naturalists, and another naturalist from San Juan Safaris (Sarah) also on our boat just for the ride were just as excited as we were. On the way back to the harbor all three naturalist were happy to answer our questions and share their wealth of knowledge. They were able to identify which whales we had seen and showed us the ID charts. The boat is well equipped with safety gear, blankets, rain gear, whale / other animal guide books, binoculars. My family spent almost the whole time out on the front open deck. There is also a covered deck in the back with very good visibility and an enclosed cabin with windows where a couple of people went to stay out of the wind. The boat is big enough to feel sturdy and safe while small enough to be personal. I hope to go back to San Juan Island again next year and will definitely make reservations for another trip with San Juan Safaris!! Thank you to everyone there for making this trip so great!

Becca B

Nov 2015

This trip was fantastic! I was able to go on two different tours and both boats were great. The naturalist were very knowledgeable and friendly. We saw whales and a lot of other wild life. I would definitely book again.