On our second trip to the San Juan Islands, after having been on an unsuccessful whale watching trip with a kayaking tour the first time around, we decided to try a speedier option. Choosing this company was the right choice! Immediately after getting on the boat we realized that it was going to be our best chance at spotting some whales. The boat is fast! This is good because the captain can zoom between all the good spots around the islands in a matter of minutes. The way these whale watching companies work is a great example of teamwork - a tour boat will stay with a pod of whales until the next tour boat comes. That way the fleet can maintain contact with the whales and increase the probability of sightings. The captains also communicate frequently via radio so that everyone out in the water is aware of where the whales are.
On our trip we saw a humpback whale, a pod of about 6 Transient Orcas, a couple of bald eagles, a harbor seal, and quite a few harbor porpoises in a span of 3 hours. Aside from the animal sightings, you will also get spectacular views of the area from the boat, which is a great opportunity for photographers.
Our tour with San Juan Safaris turned out to be one of the most unique things we've ever done. The staff was super nice, knowledgeable, and professional. They also take conservation and abiding by wildlife protection laws seriously and make an effort to educate their guests on why these things are important, which I think is the biggest value the company brings. I highly recommend booking a tour with San Juan Safaris!