Whale Watching in Tofino, BC

Tofino Guarantees Whale Sightings

Watch Gray Whales, Humpacks and Orcas

Dear Tofino-Longbeach:

We are interested in going whalewatching. We are in Tofino the 19, 20 and 21 of May 2007. Do we have to pre-book the whale watching or is it okay to book at the same day we like to do the whale watching?

Thank you

Many people come to the Tofino and Ucluelet area to whale watch. The area has resident and transient pods of orcas or killer whales. The migrating gray whales come along the coast twice a year and at any time you may spot a breaching humpback!

And it is true: most whale watching companies guarantee whale sightings when you sign up for a trip. No, they don't fee the whales to make sure they are always there - silly goose. They simply give you a complimentary trip if you don't see any whales on your outing. Truth be told, if the company says that there are whales around Tofino, you'll probably get to see at least one.

Land based whale watching

Take a high powered set of binoculars to the beach and you will sometimes be able to see the gray whales feeding. Great clouds of sand and debris come up from the bottom as these magnificent creatures take it in their mouths and exp ell the water through the baleen.

Take a flask of coffee, a chair and your spotting scope and set your self up at Amphitrite Point Lighthouse in Ucluelet and you may well be able to observe a humpback or gray whale breaching.

Some fine land based whale watching can be done from the trail down to schooner. Take your binoculars and your time. If you are lucky you may even see a ferocious killer whale or orca actually grab a seal or sea lion off the rocks and drag it in to the water and eat it!

If you must you can get in a bothersome little boat and buzz around bothering these peaceful creatures. Many operations in either town will take you in safety and comfort on a whale watching tour polluting the whales and our own environments with their smelly oil and gas.

Latest Whale Watching Question:

Quoting Joanna F.

Can anyone tell me what is the best time of year for whale watching in Tofino?

Thank you!
Joanna F.

Read the answer here

Tofino Whale Watching FAQs