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

Tue 22 Oct

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $135.00

Make a reservation

Tue 22 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)

Matt T

Jul 2014

Great adventure. The "naturalists" Heather and Kaitlin were excellent answering many questions about what they do. They really made the trip much more interesting. Something that could have been conveyed better is the rules for the whale watching boats. Not being aware of these rules I was wondering why we didn't get closer. Why we didn't get in front of the whales and let them swim by. Bring a telephoto lens for your camera. A standard lens just doesn't do the job when you have to remain 200 yards away from the whales. A visit to the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor either before or after the boat ride is worthwhile.

Lisa B

Jul 2014

We saw a lot of Orcas and our naturalists were very enthusiastic and nice. It was a fabulous trip!

Timothy A

Jul 2014

We took the whale watching tour for the last day of our honeymoon after 2 weeks in Hawaii and 5 days in Seattle. We really wanted to go whale watching and the reason we booked with this company was that they offer a whale watch + return flight from Seattle. The sea plane flight from Lake Union was a wonderful experience. Whilst Friday Harbor is lovely, you don't need to book the early flight and spend the whole day there. There is still plenty of time in the afternoon (2-3 hours) if you book the 11am flight. We were met at the dock by the tour guide as our plane was a little late. The highlight of the day was the whale watching tour - we saw plenty of orcas and other wildlife (seals, bald eagles, porpoises). This was such a great day, it is up there as one our best life experiences! All with gorgeous views in the background. There are plenty of other cruises, but the staff made this a really easy experience to book and enjoy. Any questions just email them. The staff on the boat are great, some of whom are on University summer placements are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. P.s. Take extra clothes, including hats and gloves. It can get windy and cold, despite the sunny weather. They have blankets, but extra clothing still required at times! Also sun cream and snacks! A camera with a good zoom is great. But to be honest, you can spend half your time trying to get the right photo, you miss things!