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

Sat 26 Oct

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $135.00

Make a reservation

Sat 26 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)

Quirsten

Mar 2019

In short, the experience I had with the San Juan Safaris team was wonderful. The naturalists on board, Sarah and Erick, were so knowledgable and I appreciated how respectful they were of all the wildlife we saw. On our cruise we saw bald eagles, seals, sea lions, dahls porpoises, and to my delight the southern resident killer whales! Spending time with the southern residents was nothing short of magical. Witnessing their social behaviors was amazing and really puts into perspective how important it is that changes are made to help save them. They were so joyful, spy hopping, jumping, slapping their tales, it was amazing to see and it was lovely to be in their company. The San Juan Safaris team was so respectful of the whales and I really appreciated that they educated us on the minimal effect we were having on the whales and what we could do to help them. This was markedly different from other whale watches I've been on, you could tell the crew was very passionate about the whales and protecting them, they're out there to spread there love and appreciation and to advocate on behalf of the entire ecosystem. If you are looking for the best whale watch of your life, go with San Juan Safaris.

Response from Host

Apr 2019

Thank you so much for joining us out on the water! We loved sharing this ecosystem with you, and thank you a for acknowledging that we advocate on behalf of the entire ecosystem! We think that Sarah and Erick are pretty great and we're so happy that you enjoyed their narration. That day we had such an amazing encounter and I'm glad that we were able to respectfully share the magic of the Southern Resident killer whales and the Salish Sea with you. Come see us again if you're back on San Juan Island.

watchingbirds

Mar 2019

My wife and I came to the islands for a long weekend and booked a classic whale-watching expedition with these guys. From the moment we hit the confirm button, everything was so smooth, so customer-service oriented, so lovely. I got a call within a few days to make sure we didn’t have questions and that we understood all the policies. Literature was sent to make sure we knew what to bring (layers!!!! and binoculars) and when to arrive, etc. It was all very clear and organized. The morning of, we showed up early for boarding passes and got directed to some breakfast spot recommendations. Yummmmmmmm. Then we boarded around noon with very clear instructions about what to do, what not to do, what we may or may not see. Erick was our naturalist onboard and he was great— super chill but still very excited about his job and very knowledgeable, too. Captain Matt was also chill and the ride felt so safe, from start to finish. It was comfortable, too. And we saw whales!!!!! We got to watch a pod of five orcas for at least an hour. It felt very above-the-board, too— like the crew respected the creatures and got us as close as possible, without impeding on them. They also made sure to stop for other great sights, like bald eagles and seals and ENORMOUS Steller’s Sea Lions, and also some crazy-looking sheep on an island that used to be a hunting reserve. All in all, a delightful day spent with conscientious people who just want to bring their incredible backyard to as many curious people as possible. So worth it.

Response from Host

Apr 2019

Wow it sounds like you had the perfect island day! We loved sharing all of the wildlife of the Salish Sea with you, and we are so happy that you had a great time! Thanks for coming to see us out here on San Juan Island, if you're ever in the area again we'd love to get you back out on the water.

SilverSister48

Mar 2019

My sister and I went on a whale watching cruise on March 23. Not only did a pod of orcas appear, but we saw sea lions, harbor seals, porpoises, and bald eagles. What a wonderful day! The crew, Sarah and Erick and our captain Mike were just terrific...upbeat and enthusiastic, and all about educating us about the wildlife we saw and the need to protect the orca population. Highly recommend this company! From the minute we walked in to the office, we were impressed by the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. Worth every penny!

Response from Host

Apr 2019

Thank you so much for joining us on the water, we loved sharing the magic of the Salish Sea with you! So glad that you enjoyed your time with our crew and so happy we were able to share the wildlife of our region with you! Come see us again if you're ever in the area.