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 Oct

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $135.00

Make a reservation

Sun 27 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)

Katherine C

Sep 2018

Best whale watch I’ve ever been on. My friend and I are visiting San Juan Island for only a few days, so there is much to do with little time to do it. We went on a whale watch aboard the speedier raft with naturalist Sarah and Captain Gabe right after getting off our ferry. We loved it so much we booked another trip right away! My favorite part was the variety of wildlife we saw so quickly- resident and transient orcas, sea lions, seals, porpoises, and even bald eagles! Sarah is extremely informative and obviously loves her job. I have been on many whale watches in Hawaii and New England, and the knowledge this company provides really takes the cake. Service was top-notch from check-in until we departed the boat. Super clean and well-maintained vessel. Our second trip was with Captain Gabe and Naturalists Marianna and Jordan. Again all service was exceptional. If you want to spend your money with a company that obviously cares about the wildlife and San Juan itself, go with these guys. And don’t forget to tip your crew, they deserve it ;)

Response from Host

Oct 2018

Hello Katherine! Thank you so much for your positive words! We aim to provide the best product we can- from our reservation staff and check in process, knowledgeable naturalist, experienced captains, and clean and comfortable vessels we want your experience with San Juan Safaris to be exceptional! We will be sure to pass along your kind words to our team! Thanks again, Brian Captain & Owner San Juan Safaris

Kendrick K

Sep 2018

This was hands down one of the coolest boat tours we have ever been on! My wife & I did the high speed adventure tour aboard The Kestrel for our honeymoon excursion and it definitely exceeded our expectations! First off, our naturalist Alexandria was very informative and fueled the boat with her positive energy! Captain Mike kept us safe and knew all the best spots to take us in order to see such amazing wildlife. Not only did we have a perfect day weather wise, we also were lucky enough to see every animal we were hoping to. Bald eagles, seals, sea lions, harbor porpoises, and of course... ORCAS in the wild! You name it, we saw it. Really incredible trip and we would highly recommend it!

Response from Host

Oct 2018

Hi Kendrick! Wow! We are so glad you decided to celebrate your honeymoon with us! We are so happy to have exceeded your expectations! That is our goal for each and every trip and we are so pleased to hear Captain Mike and Naturalist Alexandria did just that- we will be sure to pass along your kind words to them. Thanks for your review, Brian Captain & Owner San Juan Safaris

Adam K

Aug 2018

We took a tour on the Sealion Boat which provided both indoor and outdoor space. The captain and naturalists were both helpful and friendly. Our tour spent about two hours before finding five pods of Orcas well into Canadian waters. Though a safe distance was required by law the Orcas swam pretty close to our boat. We were able to watch them both swim and blow towers of air but also to jump out of the water and play. The value cannot be over stated of having an authentic experience of viewing these creatures in the wild especially in light of how captive orcas mistreatment has been documented. We went with our young child and with friends with their two young children. The crew was very accommodating, no strollers are allowed on board, so it becomes a bit of a long day for the little ones. But he indoor space was perfect for napping. Make sure to bring snacks and drinks on board as well, there is a market up the street from the boat.

Response from Host

Sep 2018

Thank you for your testimonial, Adam! We enjoyed having your families on board. Our #1 goal is to create a memorable wildlife viewing experience. And it sounds like we succeeded. To future guests - we love hosting families with small children! Getting the next generation of marine naturalists excited about wildlife is one of our greatest rewards. Many thanks again, Adam! Brian Owner & Captain San Juan Safaris San Juan Island, WA