For over 20 years, san juan safaris has been offering the highest quality whale watching tours with a focus on. This location allows us to access all the major waterways the whales travel, and we often view whales within the haro. Considering a trip out to the san juan islands sometime in the future and beginning initial prep phases. Our first whale watching tour from friday harbor is scheduled for saturday, march 4th and we cant wait to get back on the water. Orca whale watching is a huge draw to the islands, but they have plenty more to offer visitors great food, outdoor activities and beautiful scenery. The calm waters near the san juan islands are one of the best places in the world to view wild orcas. On this san juan cycling tour you ferryhop between four islands. Humpback whales, minke whales, and, gray whales also call the region home. Weaning occurs between 6 and 10 months after birth. During your approximately fourhour cruise, youll travel among the spectacular natural beauty of the.
The island explorer 4 is the little sister to the island explorer 5 the island explorer 4 is 85 long, 22 wide with many of the same great features. More than 500,000 people annually go whale watching in the waters of washington and british columbia around the san juan islands. Humpback whale singing has been studied for decades, but scientists still understand very little about its function. The waterways surrounding the san juan islands are considered the best place in the world to observe orcas killer whales in the wild, and the best location in the islands to access those waters is san juan outfitters exclusive marine adventure center at roche harbor. Mayas legacy whale watching friday harbor, san juan island.
Enjoy our full day san juan island whale watching tours puget. One of my favorite places to go in the summer is the san juan islands. We each have our favorites, mine is san juan island for its access to the water, and much more for heavier duty hiking, orcas. Ferry to orcas island san juan islands forum tripadvisor.
The killer whale or orca orcinus orca is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. On august 12th, we encountered a humpback whale heading down san juan channel but soon after, we got a report of transients coming up san juan channel. In addition to hosting the worlds only whale museum the san juan islands are also home to washington states hidden treasure. The monument was created from existing federal land by president barack. My five year old daughter is absolutely obsessed with killer whales, so obviously we have a golden.
San juan islands whale watching tours are a great way to see all kinds of wildlife. There is a ledge or overhang on the west side of san juan island. There is nothing quite as spectacular as the sight of a pod of orca whales along the protected coastlines of the san juan islands. San juan safaris offers one of the bestorganized and most professional trips in san juan islands in their new, fast 55foot boat, departing from friday harbor. See orcas in the wild on a small group whale watching tour with mayas legacy whale watching at friday harbor, san juan island, 90 miles north of seattle. Newborns are to 16 ft 4 to 5 m long and grow quickly from the highly nutritious milk of their mothers. Mayas legacy whale watching is located in friday harbor on san juan island washington, just 90 miles from seattle.
Whale watching seattle and whale watching washington are commonly associated with whale watching in the san juan islands. Footage of my trip whale, and wildlife, watching in the san juan islands of washington state on july 17, 2011. San juan islands whale watching report 5142011 san. That includes the whale tours by kayak, day kayak tours and overnight kayakcamping tours. San juan outfitters is known for its low guide to guest ratio kayak tours. You can also spot humpbacks, minkes, gray whales, steller sea lions, and many other underrated species. Western prince whale watching is located in scenic friday harbor on san juan island, just 90 miles north of seattle. Exploring friday harbor and san juan island clipper vacations magazine july 26, 2016, 5. This is enough time to explore the town, taking in the shops, artist galleries and museums that make this town the hub of activity in the san juan islands. Whale watching from shore, photography by kathleen ballard southern resident killer whales by ken rea, spirit. Assuming youre going in the summer months, id get there an hour to 90 minutes in advance of the sailing you wantbut consult the wa state ferries website for a couple sundays before your trip to see what they are advising click on the anacortes terminal youd take the next available ferryit wouldnt make sense to wait until the next one that doesnt stop on the way if thats not the. A day watching for whales and other sea creatures around the san juan islands. We wondered if the humpback would get spooked or harassed. Whale watching in the san juan islands whale watching.
The salmoneating southern resident killer whales srkw primarily feed on a diet that is more than 85% chinookspeciessalmon. Print a map san juan safaris san juan island whale watching. On our deluxe whale watching tour we make a stop every day in friday harbor, usually from about 11. The san juan islands are worldrenowned for orca research and whale watching and there are two different types of orcas. Orca whales range through the san juan islands the most between march and october and you can expect to see them on the vast majority of our tours during that time, although we do have sightings throughout the year. San juan islands whale watching tours orcas, lopez, shaw. National monument located in the salish sea in the state of washington. In the summer months, the waters around the picturesque san juan islands play home to about 90 wild orcas, and san juan excursions has managed to get the majestic mammals to appear for photo ops and autographs on about 95% of all its tours. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just. Discover san juan islands whale watching clipper magazine. Were enjoying a glorious late spring in the pacific northwest, and as of may 11, 2012 we are running our full day port townsend san juan island whale. These transients were the t46s and we all held our breath to see what would happen when the humpback and orcas crossed paths.
Baleen whales completely lack teeth and filter small prey such as plankton, worms, and. Soak in the natural beauty of the pacific northwest aboard the finest whale watching vessel on. Best orca watching vessels in the san juan islands. San juan outfitters owns the exclusive kayak facilities at roche harbor, san juan island and kayak facilities in friday harbor, san juan island. Whale watching in the san juan islands postcards to seattle. Western prince has provided quality san juan island tours since 1986. Be whale wise san juan islands washington visitors bureau. Blog and whale reports san juan cruises whale watching. May 14, 2011 bellingham, san juan islands, whale watching dalls porpoise, friday harbor, minke whales, san juan adventure, san juan cruises, san juan islands, stellar sea lions, whale watching admin today ended up being a great day in the san juan islands, with rain only coming for. These three orca whale families come to the san juan islands each year may through september in search of their primary food source, the chinook. San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching. San juan island 90 miles north of seattle is the best place for orca whale watching as we are located in the heart of salish sea. There are many whale watching tours available for those that dont have a boat, and for those of us that do, knowing where and when to find the whales is a real plus.
San juan orcas was also established to offer help identifying individual orcas. The monument protects archaeological sites of the coast salish peoples, lighthouses and relics of early european american settlers in the pacific northwest, and biodiversity of the island life in the region. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just around the corner. Of all the activities to enjoy here in the san juan islands, whale watching is one of the most spectacular. Orca whale watching in the san juan islands island.
This website, san juan orcas, was established to help spread awareness of the endangered southern resident orcas and to arm people with the knowledge of how to help save these amazing marine mammals from extinction. San juan island is in the middle of the southern resident orcas federally designated critical habitat and summer feeding and socializing grounds. There are a great variety of whales travelling the waters here in the. San juan safaris, located in friday harbor on san juan island, is in the perfect location to provide you with the thrill of seeing orcas in their natural habitat. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and other species of dolphin. Local tour companies leave from the three largest islands daily and can also be chartered. Whale watching san juan islands friday harbor whale. Killer whales have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Until then, we are working through the project list and getting everything ready to go. Whale watching in the san juan islands mayas legacy whale. Optimal whale watching time of year san juan islands. San juan island is the center of whale watching in the pacific northwest and therefore friday harbor on san juan island is the best location for departing on a whale watch tour in washington state.
Very intrigued by the kayak whale tours and was wondering if there is a time of year where there are more whales ala maui and weather that allows for these tours thanks for any input you can provide out there. Whale watching, kayaking and hiking can also be arranged. Orca whale watching tours reservations san juan outfitters. Orcas island eclipse charters whale and wildlife tours. Something ive always wanted to do is whale watching in the san juan islands. Baleen whales of the san juan islands humpback whale, gray whale, and minke whale. No matter where i travel to around the world, nothing compares to the beauty of these small, treefilled islands in the middle of the sparkling blue ocean. This reputation developed from a commitment to the highest level of guest service, and our 2 exclusive sea kayak and whale watch facilities at roche harbor and friday harbor on san juan island. Island explorer 4 is the favorite boat for many of our guests.
Humpback whale san juan island national historical park. The waters of washingtons san juan islands support a great diversity of wildlife and baleen whales are the largest of all marine species we see on our san juan islands kayaking tours. Indeed the pace of life and the pastoral setting make the san juan islands the perfect destination for beginner and intermediate cycling vacations. To start with, the san juan islands are the best place in the usa to spot orca or killer whales and bald eagles, after alaska. San juan outfitters is widely considered san juan islands premier sea kayak and whale watch tour company. Hi, my sister is getting married on guemes island in late june and my family and i will be traveling from new york to celebrate the occasion. The best place in the world to see orca aka killer whales, and more. They tend to favor the waters right off the west side of san juan island. To help make the most of your time on san juan island, we have produced a helpful map with information about our whale watch tours as well as points of interest around friday harbor and san juan island. Transient or biggs, killer whales aka orca whales can often be seen yearround, as well as steller sea lions, harbor seals, porpoise, bald eagles. The srkw are here in the san juan islands mid april to about first part of october. Whale report blog whale watching san juan islands san. A whale watching trip from friday harbor is the perfect choice for any vacation in the pacific northwest, and being near the seattle, washington area makes it a great day trip as well.