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

Thu 24 Oct

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $135.00

Make a reservation

Thu 24 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)

Lisa H

Sep 2019

We took the boat w Erin and Piper. They were both delightful and knowledgeable. We saw 3 pods of orcas, a rarity! And then on our way back to the harbor, we were delighted to also see a humpback whale! The tour was very conscientious of whale protocol and had so much information and respect for the area. A delight!

Response from Host

Sep 2019

Hi Lisa H, Thank you so much for your kind review of your experience on your whale and wildlife tour with Erin and Piper! We are so glad that you enjoyed your time on the water with them, we think they are just wonderful! We love employing passionate and knowledgeable educators like them. It sounds like you had a spectacular day for wildlife in the San Juan Islands, orcas and humpbacks!? Seeing two species of whales is definitely not your everyday trip, but we are so glad that you were aboard to enjoy it! Thank you so much for acknowledging our company's commitment to the conservation and respect to the area. Our crew works very hard to make sure that not only that our guests have a great time, but also that we are doing right by the Salish Sea Marine Ecosystem. We hope to see you again soon! Brian Goodremont and the crew at San Juan Safaris Owner/Operator

dreamingoftravel17

Sep 2019

I had the best Adventure Whale Watch Tour on my recent solo vacation! This company goes out of it's way to make your experience a great one - whales had been pretty sparse the week that I went, but thanks to the great communication between whale watching companies, we heard news that whales had been spotted and we headed off! We got to see a family group of transient orcas (T-18 & T-19's) and even got to observe them hunting. While on the tour, our Captain and Naturalist made sure to make stops along the way to see bald eagles, harbor seals, and of course the beautiful landscape. It's always nice to hear about the natural history and the wildlife that are native to the area before and during the trip as well (: I would recommend this company for any travelers, from families to solo travelers like myself!

Response from Host

Sep 2019

Hi dreamingoftravel17, Thank you so much for your review of your experience out on the water! The T18s are one of our favorite families to see here in the Salish Sea! Those big males are just amazing! We always try to share as much of the local wildlife with our guests as possible and it sounds like you got to see a little bit of everything. We are so happy that as a solo-traveler that you chose to join us out on the water, we hope to see you again soon! Brian Goodremont and the crew at San Juan Safaris Owner/Operator

amanda0027

Sep 2019

We visited San Juan Island in July and took a whale watching tour with San Juan Safaris. The staff was so friendly and knowledgable. We were so impressed with the time they took to tell us about the wildlife and nature. The crew made sure we saw the orcas and they were amazing! I would highly recommend San Juan Safaris to everyone visiting San Juan Island or the surrounding areas!

Response from Host

Sep 2019

Hi amanda0027, Thank you so much for your kind review of your experience on your whale and wildlife tour. We are so happy that you got to see some orcas in your visit! Thank you also for complimenting our staff and our program. We work hard to make sure that all of our guests have a great time out on the water, but also that we cultivate a educational experience. This is an amazing ecosystem to share with our guests! Thank you for your strong recommendation, we hope to see you again soon! Brian Goodremont and the crew at San Juan Safaris Owner/Operator