Nanaimo Whale Watching: Immersive BC Wildlife Tour
4.9
123 Ratings
Nanaimo
Embark on an immersive BC wildlife tour in Nanaimo and witness killer whales, humpbacks, sea lions, and more. Guaranteed whale sightings or your next trip is free!
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • 90 Front St #5 - Your day begins by checking in at our office 45 minutes before your departure time and then you’ll head down to the boat as a group.

You’ll then be introduced to the Salish Sea ecosystem and wildlife as you cruise through the Gulf Islands archipelago in search of whales and other marine life. You’ll learn about the different types of whales that use the Salish Sea, including their natural history, and their roles in the marine food web.

Throughout your adventure, your captain will be in touch with other whale watching companies over VHF radio and will plan your route to maximize the area covered between vessels.

You’ll spend a full hour viewing whales, and your marine naturalist will provide real-time insights into their behaviors. Onboard catalogues are used to identify individual whales, and this data will be collected throughout the season and sent to the Centre for Whale Research, Keta Coastal Conservation, and the BC Cetacean Sightings Network.

Your tour will wrap up with an educational talk on marine conservation focusing on threats to BC orca, and conservation initiatives will be discussed.

What's Included
  • Toilets onboard
  • Binoculars onboard (shared between guests)
  • Anti-exposure suit provided
  • Sunscreen available
  • Captain is certified by Transport Canada
  • Professional guide with academic background in marine biology
What's Not Included
  • The listed price does not include parking, which costs around 7-8 dollars CAD for the day.
  • Lunch is not included.
  • Gratuities
  • Transportation to/from office
Additional Information

Dive into the rich coastal wildlife of BC while navigating through the chain of Gulf Islands to spot killer whales (orcas), humpbacks, sea lions, porpoises, eagles, and more. Your guide, with a scholarly background in biology and a deep-seated love for marine life, ensures a sighting of whales on your trip, else your next trip is on us. Step aboard our zodiac-style vessel designed for 12 passengers to get a firsthand experience of whales and different marine species right from the water level! Your safety and comfort is our priority, so we provide anti-exposure suits to ensure your warmth and protection from the sea elements.

  • Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund.
  • Not suitable for pregnant women.
  • Minimum numbers apply. If there are not enough passengers to meet requirements, there is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation, in which case an alternative date or full refund will be offered.
Location
90 Front St #5
Front Street
Our office is located on Front Street, the seawall along downtown Nanaimo's waterfront.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(123 Ratings)
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Global13402528403
Apr 13, 2024
Do not miss! - The tour was great: we saw whales, sea lions and seals. Amazing. You have to dress very warmly under your suit in April, even when it's sunny.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Qtychmfz6h
Apr 8, 2024
What are you waiting for? Book this experience! - This trip far exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend booking an experience with this team. We saw so many different species on our excursion, from river otters to seals and sea lions, to bald eagles and of course orcas! I had never seen orcas in the wild so imagine my delight when we not only spotted them, but were able to witness a successful hunt! The whole time we had an excellent crew and Val, our naturalist, was extremely knowledgeable and took great pictures that were shared with us. I have done excursions with some of the bigger boats out of Victoria, but I would say this experience was much better. If you’re looking for a small excursion where you can get close to the water in a zodiac this is for you. You’ll put on a fashionable jumpsuit before departing and then take off to see some amazing views.
Review provided by Viator
Jocelynned148
Apr 3, 2024
Amazing Experience! - Amazing trip! Saw many orcas! Staff was very knowledgeable and they honoured their site guarantee we didn’t see any on our first trip out so came back a few days later for free.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jblackman_18
Oct 30, 2023
Must see! Nanaimo Whale Watching Must Do! - This was one of the best TripAdvisor recommendations I have ever taken. If you are staying near Nanaimo, I cannot recommend this tour more. We had an incredibly lucky day, and saw so many humpback whales and orcas. This experience has been on my bucket list, and I am so excited that I was able to meet it. Vanessa is an amazing guide! You can feel her passion for these whales throughout her tour. The exposure suit provided helped aid against the cold very well! Definitely dress warm.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debbiecd9703hi
Oct 10, 2023
An amazing trip - The open boat tour was amazing! Desiree had really great knowledge of the animals and the water and is was really insightful learning whilst spotting whales. We saw so many humpback whales, it was an unforgettable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aleksandra_r
Sep 29, 2023
10/10 - One of the most incredible experiences of my life. The crew was super friendly and knowledgeable. The boat was small but super fast! I was really happy with it and I would encourage anyone to book with them!
Review provided by Viator
Gordon_f
Sep 12, 2023
Awesome Tour - We saw so many Humpback Whales and Orcas! Guide was very informative. Trip was great! Would highly recommend this your company.
Review provided by Viator
Andrew
Aug 26, 2023
You must take this trip …so good - Amazing zodiac trip around the Gulf Islands and Salish sea. Brilliant naturalist Des who worked really well with skipper Tino to create a magical trip. They are clearly passionate and so knowledgeable about the wildlife. In the 4hr trip we tracked a pod of transient orcas led by Holly. We followed them for most of an hour and they were so close. We had two separate sightings of humpbacks ..a lone female Hendricks and then a pair including Snoopy. So beautiful. Really informative narrative and a guaranteed free trip if no whales are seen. Don’t miss this if you are on the Island
Review provided by Tripadvisor
H7118di
Aug 22, 2023
Beautiful orcas - The most incredible 4 hour trip in the zodiac. We spent time with a humpback Nuage and the T65Bs matriline of orcas who were resting and travelling slowly, meaning we got wonderful views of them as they surfaced. Vancouver Island Whale Watch are a very ethical company. They hold other boats to account if they're acting poorly around the whales and will wave their flag at them to ensure that other boats are aware there are whales in the area and to ask them to slow down and keep their distance. Spending time with orcas is always special, and this adventure with VIWW was a true highlight of our trip. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stephanie_h
Aug 18, 2023
We found Orcas - It took a while to find the orcas but the whole experience of boating around the islands, seeing the seals, bouncing around in the waves… was worth it.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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