Our whale watching season usually starts in mid february. This landed me right in the middle of grizzly bear country guiding marine based eco tours in knight inlet. After 35 shallow dives, it regularly shows a tail fluke when diving for deeper waters. The best months for whale watching are august and september.
The whale centre has over thirty years experience in sharing tofino and clayoqout sounds ecosystems with guests from all over the world. Get up close and personal with camera hogs like the humpback, known for launching its 36tonne body up and out of the water for playful breaching. There are two places to whale watch from the pacific rim. Humpback whales love spending their winters in the warm waters off virginia beach.
These can be kayaking, highspeed zodiac trips, cruises, or even seaplanes. Whale watching in tofino and ucluelet bc natural elements. Tofino has a long whale watching season, running from march through to november. Although a few humpback whales can be seen as early as may in the pacific side, t he whale watching season in colombia is from june to october. The magnificent humpback whale is most often seen in the tofino area from may to september. A humpback whale male is famous for its magical song. A reallife encounter with whales is an unforgettable experience, and with more than 30 species roaming the waters off its 202,000km of coastline, canada is prime territory for chasing whale tail. During mating season, the males will sing organized and complex songs with distinct melodies and themes that can be heard over twenty miles away. My favorite of all we would see on tour was the song birds of the ocean humpback whales. Numerous local companies offer whalewatching tours in the clayoquot and barkley sound areas. Whale watching in tofino, whale watching at remote.
A whale watching tour in tofino is a fullon seafari. Over the winter they breed and calve in warm mexican waters then, midfebruary to april moms and calves till june, migrate close by our shore on. Humpback whales this species of whales migrate to tofino from hawaii and mexico. They undergo one of the longest annual migrations of any mammal, travelling up to 8000km per year from breeding lagoons in baja, mexico to feeding grounds in the bering and chukchi seas. Our experienced, local guides will go out continue reading tofino whale watching inc. Humpback may to september and gray whales march to november. We look forward to welcoming you aboard for a clayoquot sound adventure by remote passages. British columbias west coast is known for whales and sea life, but tofino is especially known for whale watching as its part of the migratory path for several types of whales. Numerous local companies offer whale watching tours in the clayoquot and barkley sound areas. Both places can have good whale watching depending on the time of year. Whether whale watching, bear watching, dipping into hot springs cove or sea kayaking to a rainforest trail, people of all ages have enjoyed our excursions since 1986 we look forward to welcoming you aboard for a clayoquot sound adventure by remote passages. Whale watching around vancouver island in british columbia is an exceptional experience that will leave you awestruck after watching whales that weigh thousands of pounds frolic in their natural habitat. Humpback whales attempt to stop killer whale attack planet earth live bbc one duration. Whale watching in tofino is the best location in the world for taking in the breathtaking sights to witness these gentle giants up close.
Bigger than the grays and orcas are the humpback whales, also found in the waters of the clayoquot sound during the summer. Annually we also enjoy record numbers of humpback whales and our summer resident gray whales. For this reason, we plan to do our dive trips to see the whales in august and september of 2020. Best places for whale watching when to go whale watching.
Humpback whales are known to be one of the most playful whales on earth. See whales and other marine wildlife on a whalewatching tour in vancouver. October 23rd last tour of the season and we saw both orcas and a humpback whale. It starts with a mind boggling 20,000 grey whales swimming past our shores in spring on their annual migration from birthing waters by the baja peninsula north to the bering strait by alaska.
Enjoy the norwegian and icelandic winter and combine whale watching orcas, humpbacks and fin whales. We are proud leaders in responsible whale watching, bear watching and wildlife viewing and have a strong passion for educating guests about the wonders and the fragility of clayoquot sound and tofino. The breaches and tail slapping of the humpback whale are a spectacular sight. Big tails reach for the sky, and the curious whales spy. Tofino has a long whale watching season, running from march sometimes late february through october.
When is the best time to see whales whales can be viewed yearround, but the strongest season begins in may, when a mindblowing 20,000 grey whales swim past tofino s sandy shores. We report on weekly sightings of gray whales, killer whales and humpback whales sighted on our whale watching tours on vancouver. And, once youre finished whale watching, you can catch a wave in a different waytofinos one of the best destinations for surfing on the west coast. I was in tofino last september and the whale watching was great. The prime whalewatching season in british columbia is between april and late october.
The trip was excellentwe took the outside route on the way up, and saw seals, sea lions, sea otters, and a whale. Mar 29, 2020 went out with oren on one of the ocean outfitters boats to hotsprings cove. Ucluelet is the place to do it, rivaling nearby tofino for the top spot, as oftentimes the migrating giants opt. Get out on our open vessels to view grey whales, killer whales and humpback whales. Along with grey and possibly humpback whales, you can expect to see otters, bald eagles, harbour seals and sea lions. Book your adventure tour online with jamies whaling station. May 21, 2018 the prime whale watching season in british columbia is between april and late october. Tofino whale watching tours the whale centre, tofino, bc. The tofino whale watching season begins in march with the pacific rim whale festival and lasts into autumn with peak sightings in spring during the gray whale northward migration and throughout the summer months culminating in. For something so big, humpback whales feed on some of the tiniest creatures in the sea.
These enormous, majestic whales are fond of breaching and watching them shattering the surface of the water is a truly unforgettable sight. Watch the power and majesty of a humpback whale shattering the waters surface or the fascination of. We offer a halfday whale watching program that travels to gray whale feeding areas near tofino, and a combination package which includes the thermal pools at hot springs cove our excursions take you through the pristine. This migrating baleen whale forages near shorelines on krill, plankton and tiny fish.
However, almost any season with the exception of winter will find whales putting on a show. Tolles whale watching adventure tofino wildlife tours. Since then, tourism tofino has commissioned a new and improved whale of a time sign that now says goodbye to visitors at the cox bay info centre. In the summer, from about may to september, humpback whales are the name of the game. As well as the sight of them lunge feeding and the perfectly shaped tale. The gray whale migration from baja california, mexico begins to arrive along the west coast of vancouver island in february and continues through late april.
Join us on a wildlife safari for orca, humpback, and grey whales aboard our spacious, high speed, cabinstyle cruisers. Most of the whales included were found within the range of whale watching boats based in tofino or ucluelet. Whale watching tofino and ucluelet bc humpback, grays. My love for marine life has lead me here, with adventure tofino. Humpback whales are the most common to see during the summer out of tofino. We offer a halfday whale watching program that travels to gray whale feeding areas near tofino, and a combination package which includes the thermal pools at hot springs cove. While exploring the rugged coastal shoreline near tofino be ready for more than just whales. Whale watching tofino hug from a humpback whale august. Aug 31, 2011 whale watching tofino canada august 2011. March 15th to october 12th in clayoquot and barkley sounds, we most often view pacific gray whales. The best time to go whale watching in tofino depends on the type of whales you want to see. Launching from tofino takes you into clayoquot sound.
The tofino whale watching season begins in march with the pacific rim whale festival and lasts into autumn with peak sightings in spring during the gray whale northward migration and throughout the summer months culminating in their southbound return in early september. Tofino whale watching tours ocean outfitters, tofino bc. And within this, chances to see them, camera in one hand, binoculars in the other, are almost limitless. The pacific gray whales are a particularly special sight. Killer whales orcas, gray whales, humpback whales and minke whales ply the waves and perform their watery rituals. Tofino whale watching tours west coast aquatic safaris. Ucluelet is the place to do it, rivaling nearby tofino for the top spot, as oftentimes the migrating giants opt for ucluelets sheltered bays over tofinos exposed waters. Apr 01, 2018 humpback whales love spending their winters in the warm waters off virginia beach. Dog friendly excursion w surprise whale pod sighting. Thousands of humpbacks gather in the warm waters to mate and give birth. Whale watching in ucluelet, whale watching at subtidal.
Trip back was on the inside route as the weather had changed. The power of a breaching humpback will take your breath away. There are resident pods of humpback and grey whales, and many migrants also make the trip northward from their rearing water in baja, california to hang out here for the season. Oct 15, 2017 the best time to go whale watching in tofino depends on the type of whales you want to see. Youll see orca whales, migrating humpback whales and much more. Start your whale watching year with ease why not visit hawaii.
A whale watching trip is a once in a lifetime experience. The three most commonly seen large whale species seen in the tofino area are the pacific gray whale, orca and humpback. Wildlife enthusiasts can head to tofino to combine whalewatching with a ground excursion on the beautiful shores of clayoquot sound. In addition to life in the outdoors, heres a little bit more about me. Whether whale watching, bear watching, dipping into hot springs cove or sea kayaking to a rainforest trail, people of all ages have enjoyed our excursions since 1986.
Whale watching vancouver island news, events, travel. Tofino whale watching remote passages, tofino, british. This area is famous for gray whales, but also migrating orcas and humpbacks. Clayoquot sound is very popular with gangs of transient killer whales that are on the hunt for food. Whale watching tofino west coast aquatic safaris, tofino. Our season starts with the longest migration of any mammal, the gray whale. And, once youre finished whale watching, you can catch a wave in a different way tofino s one of the best destinations for surfing on the west coast. Welcome aboard the whale watch plus program remote passages brings many years of experience and a responsible approach to whale watching in tofino on the west coast. Humpback whales are seen throughout our season, with the heaviest sightings between june and september. Grayshumpbacks whales are more prominent in tofino area even though you will miss the annual gray whale migration. Tofino has a long whale watching season, running from march through to late november. Alongside these, there is also the chance to see some of clayoquot sounds other residents, including porpoises, sea otters, steller sea lions, harbour seals, bald. Whale watching in tofino, whale watching at remote passages.
At 1216 meters long, these guys are the largest whales around vancouver island, and they can weigh up to 36,000kgs 79,000lbs. It starts with a mind boggling 20,000 gray whales swimming past our shores in spring on their annual migration from birthing waters by the baja peninsula north to the bering strait by alaska. Theyre intent on their annual migration from the baja peninsula to alaskas bering strait. You can choose from various tours around the gulf and san juan islands. During your trip to vancouver island, it is well worth taking in one of the many tours available along the coast of vancouver island and keeping your full attention on the water. You can spot various kinds of whales, like humpback whales, orcas, grey whales, and minke whales. The whale centre, tofino, bc tofino whale watching, bear. Humpback whales can dive dive to depths up to 150210 meters 500700 feet for up to 30 minutes, but usually dive less than 15 minutes doing dives at more shallow depths. We offer various morning, midday, and afternoon departures. Our whale watching season usually starts in mid february and lasts until the end of october. Recent sightings vancouver island whale watch nanaimo bc. Hopping aboard a specialized whale watching boat is the best way to see these majestic creatures.
Whale watching from ucluelet aside from surfing, whale watching is usually the first thing that comes to mind when picturing a vacation on canadas west coast. Gray whale estrichtius robustus gray whales are usually found in shallow, coastal waters of the north pacific. Oren is obviously highly skilled and knowlegeable about the tofino area. Daily whale watching tours in tofino, british columbia. You can expect to see whales until the end of october. Bears and eagles often come out of the forest to feed on the beaches. If seeing whales in their natural habitat is something you have always wanted to do, then planning a trip to do so is easier than you might think. The humpback whales are the largest visitors, known to migrate to tofino from hawaii and mexico, and the most frequent sightings occur between june and september. Whales can be viewed yearround, but the strongest season begins in may, when a mindblowing 20,000 grey whales swim past tofinos sandy shores.
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