Orca Whale Tours from Anacortes
5–6 hour tours May 10 – October 5, 2008
The world’s best opportunity for seeing wild orca whales is right here in the San Juan Islands, departing from Anacortes during the months of May through September.
Opportunities Abound to See Orca Whales
We are incredibly fortunate to be able to watch three resident pods of orca whales (fish-eaters, approx. 90 animals), many groups of transient orcas (the ones that feed on marine mammals), and occasionally another group of orcas called offshores. Our knowledge of Orca whale movements is comprehensive, and our commitment to finding whales for our guests is unsurpassed. Throughout the season we also have a chance to see gray whales, minke whales, and humpback whales, though our main focus and priority lies with finding and watching the orcas.
People travel from all parts of the globe to see our local orca whales. The southern resident orcas that we see on a regular basis have been studied for over 30 years and we continue to learn more about them every season. Our captains and crew have built a rapport with the local researchers, sharing knowledge to aid in protecting the species. Each individual is named and numbered by a photographic identification process and has their own distinct personality. Using our onboard photo-ID guide-books and digital images on a flat screen TV, individual whales can be recognized by comparing the pictures to the actual whale. The orca whales speak their own language using various clicks and whistles to communicate with and each pod (or family) has their own unique dialect - enabling us to tell the pods apart just by listening to them. We can also listen to their conversations by using our underwater microphone (hydrophone).
Our Orca Whale Tours depart from Anacortes. View a map and get directions to this location.
Free with each tour…
With each tour you’ll receive:
- a FREE Wildlife Viewing Guide
- FREE use of our binoculars onboard
- a FREE color calendar poster (after your tour)
- a FREE orca antennae topper (with each parking pass)
Take a look to see what food, drinks and amenities we have available on board.
Spring Season:
May 10 – June 13
daily departures at 12:00 noon
Prices
| $69 | Adults |
| $64 | Discounts—seniors over 65, military, groups of 10+, AAA, students |
| $49 | Children ages 3–12 |
| FREE | Children 2 & under |
Peak Season:
June 14 – September 7
daily departures at 9:30 am and 3:30 pm
Prices
| $79 | Adults |
| $74 | Discounts—seniors over 65, military, groups of 10+, AAA, students |
| $49 | Children ages 3–12 |
| FREE | Children 2 & under |
Fall Season:
September 8 – October 5
daily departures at 12:00 noon
Prices
| $69 | Adults |
| $64 | Discounts—seniors over 65, military, groups of 10+, AAA, students |
| $49 | Children ages 3–12 |
| FREE | Children 2 & under |
Tour Disclaimers
- Reservations are highly recommended. Walk-ups are welcome when space is available.
- Island Adventures runs the longest and most convenient schedule in the whale watching business. Due to seasonal variations of our trip departures, we recommend that you call to confirm the schedule and to make a reservation. Our spring/fall season schedule will sometimes vary according to demand, inclement weather, or private charter bookings. During peak season, scheduled departures often fill early.
- Prices do not include Washington State sales tax, a fuel surcharge of $2-$5, and parking fee of $5 per vehicle.
- We reserve the right to substitute vessels/equipment and add or cancel cruises. 24 hour notice is required on all cancellations or rescheduling. 48 hours notice is required for groups of 10 or more. 10 days notice is required for canceling private group charters.
- Island Adventures is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen personal property onboard any of our tours.