Experience the wild
On an exhilarating Whale & Wildlife Watching Tour with Victoria’s leading Eco-Tourism Company
Whale & Wildlife Watching Adventures
Nothing quite compares to watching a thirty-foot killer whale launch its twenty thousand pound body into the air before sliding gracefully back to the ocean depths with a slap of its tail. Our whale and wildlife watching tours let you experience BC’s enchanting marine wildlife – orcas, porpoises, sea lions, humpback whales, bald eagles and more, while respecting the natural environment along the spectacular coastline of Vancouver Island. To view all whale watching guidelines regulated by the Pacific Whale Watch Association, click here.
Top Rated by Guests on Tripadvisor
Brilliant! Amazing! A Dream Come True! It’s easy to see why guests give Orca Spirit whale watching tours a big thumbs up.
Whale Sighting Guarantee
We don’t stop at a 98% success rate. If your tour doesn’t experience a sighting, we’ll invite you to join us again.
Best Selection of Open & Covered Boats
From luxury yachts to wind-in-your-hair zodiacs, we operate Victoria’s biggest fleet of fully equipped and certified vessels.
Free Downtown Hotel Shuttle Service
Hop on our courtesy shuttle for a short trip from your downtown Victoria hotel to our dock and back, or elsewhere in the city core.
Thrilling Tours
Orca Spirit’s three hour whale watching tours run daily from April through October. Every trip is led by a certified marine naturalist whose knowledge and passion for Vancouver Island’s marine wildlife is unequaled in the industry, and every vessel in our fleet is equipped with hydrophones to bring the underwater experience to light.
Tours from
Victoria
TOURS FROM VICTORIA
Two docks, multiple departure times, and a variety of vessels make Victoria the ideal launching pad for viewing whales in the wild.
TOUR INFOTours from
Port Renfrew
TOURS FROM PORT RENFREW
The quaint village of Port Renfrew is perfectly place to go off grid on a truly west coast whale watching adventure.
TOUR INFOTours from
Vancouver
TOURS FROM VANCOUVER
Enjoy a scenic float plane ride from Vancouver to Victoria, then come tour the killer whales’ ocean playground with us.
TOUR INFOWinter
Wildlife Tours
WINTER WILDLIFE TOURS
Experience the calm of a winter cruise through Juan de Fuca Strait, home to sea lions, humpback whales and other marine life.
View TourCharters &
Private Tours
CHARTERS & PRIVATE TOURS
We host memorable wedding receptions, family reunions, corporate celebrations and other special events for 12 to 200 guests.
View Tour“WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!”
“The trip lasts about 3 hrs – and it is awesome!! The staff is extremely knowledgeable and attentive. We saw orca and humpback whales – an amazing experience. This is an extremely professional organization with a group of very professional staff. Having sponsored a whale for many many years it was, for me, a dream come true – an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life – thank you Orca Spirit Adventures.”
15naples, UK
“BEST EVER WHALE WATCHING TOUR!”
“Superlatives galore! No doubt aided by the most fabulous weather and a calm sea, today my family and I had an unforgettable day out sighting Orca, Seal, Sealion and Humpback with Greg and his crew. Beautiful scenery and the crew’s humour and local natural history knowledge really enhanced our experience.”
AgooHostelAccra, Ghana
“FANTASTIC TRIP, GREAT WILDLIFE!
“Fantastic trip – wasn’t just about the Orcas (although they were brilliant!), we saw humpback whale, sea otter, bald eagle, sea lions, harbour and elephant seals too. Staff onboard were really knowledgeable and the backdrop of the mountains in Washington State was just spectacular. All in all, a great trip and sensitively done.”
Stephen I, UK
WHY ORCA SPIRIT
We’ve been creating extraordinary whale watching and marine wildlife experiences for guests from around the world for over 20 years.
Most Experienced & Knowledgeable Team
Your tour is led by a trained Marine Naturalist. Not only are they experts in ecology and wildlife, they’re also trained in emergency duties.
Victoria’s Largest & Best Selection of Boats
From yachts to zodiacs, we operate Victoria’s finest fleet of Transport Canada-certified whale watching and private charter vessels.
Multiple Award Winning Company
From climate action and sustainability awards to Business of the Year, we’re proud to show off our gold star standings.
Leaders in Responsible Eco-Tourism
We’ve been protecting our natural surroundings and improving the social and economic well being of local communities for over 20 years.
SERIOUS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY
We believe that our presence shouldn’t have a negative impact on the environment, so we’re doing everything we can to preserve the spectacular natural surroundings we do business in. From carbon neutral tours and local sourcing, to extensive recycling and energy and water efficiency initiatives, our many sustainable business practices are helping protect the planet for future generations.
LEARN MORETop Rated Packages
Whale Watching, Butchart Gardens and Butterfly Gardens
After a morning on the water, we shuttle over to the tropical Butterfly Gardens, and beautifully manicured grounds at Butchart Gardens.
Whale Watching & Harbour Air Adventure
Cruise over snow-capped mountains in a seaplane from Vancouver, then join a 3 hour tour on one of our luxurious covered vessels or open air zodiacs.
Whale Watching & Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA
After a hearty breakfast at the oceanfront Coast Victoria Hotel, we hit the seas for an action-packed 3 hour whale watching tour.
The Captain’s Blog
Can You Be Swallowed by A Whale?
January 24, 2022
Written by: Lori, Naturalist This is a question that often arises on our tours – particularly when we’re viewing Humpback whales. When guests see Humpback whales in the wild they are often blown away by their incredible size and grace in the water. If you’re really lucky when you come out on our tours, you […]
Why Do Orcas Hate Great White Sharks So Much?
January 7, 2022
Orcas and great white sharks are both fascinating creatures in themselves and both for different reasons. The great white shark suits everyone’s version of what the ocean’s most fearsome predator is all about. Their terrifying dead eyes and angular snouts have haunted our nightmares ever since Jaws came out in 1975. Meanwhile, orcas have become […]
The Hidden Orca Behaviours You’ll Only See in the Wild!
December 27, 2021
Interview with Rachael Merrett originally posted on January 27th, 2016 Updated: December 27th, 2021 Written By: Lori, Naturalist If you are someone who has never before seen an orca in the wild or experienced some hidden orca behaviours, it is hard to imagine just what the experience is like. Orcas display the most incredible combination […]
Top 3 Reasons To Book A Winter Wildlife Tour
December 17, 2021
Written By: Lori, Naturalist When you think of going whale watching you may picture it solely as a summertime activity. It’s easy to picture blue skies and a beautiful sunny day when we think of being out on the water. Fortunately, in Victoria the weather remains relatively mild throughout winter, and even though the hustle […]
Cleaning up the Salish Sea One Balloon at a Time!
December 9, 2021
Written by: Lori, Naturalist The Salish Sea is an area of breathtaking beauty, awe-inspiring biological diversity, and rich cultural history. It is truly a unique and special part of the world, and we are fortunate to call this region home. As whale watching guides, we spend a great deal of our time out on the […]
Remarkably Close Encounters with Orca in 2021!
November 24, 2021
Written by: Lori, Naturalist There are few experiences in life that compare to seeing an orca in the wild. There is something about their unique colouration, intelligence, and obvious power that makes experiences with them absolutely unforgettable. People from all over the world travel to Victoria and book whale watching tours with the hope of […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: Wrapping up the 2021 Season!
November 12, 2021
Victoria Whale Watching 2021 Season Highlights As we reach the end of the whale watching season, it is nice to take a moment to reflect on the past five months we have spent adventuring out into the Salish Sea! It was my first season working with Orca Spirit Adventures as a Naturalist, and I was […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: Dall's Porpoise, Bald Eagles, Humpback Whales, and Killer Whales!
October 21, 2021
Written by Lori, Naturalist – The week of October 11th What a fantastic week it has been here at Orca Spirit Adventures! Our days on the water have been filled with incredible sightings of some of our favourite animals of the Salish Sea, and the whale watching has truly been nothing short of spectacular. Rain […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: A Week Filled With Exciting and Memorable Encounters!
October 12, 2021
Written by Lori, Naturalist – The Week of October 3rd, 2021 It is hard to believe that the first week of October has already flown by! They say time flies when you’re having fun, and that has certainly been true for us here at Orca Spirit Adventures. It has been a week filled with exciting […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: Lunge Feeding Humpbacks, Race Rocks, Ollie the Sea Otter, and So Much More!
October 8, 2021
Written by Lori, Naturalist – The week of September 27th September has come to an end and as we usher in the month of October it is nice to take a moment to reflect on the incredible wildlife encounters we have experienced this past week. Each day that we enter into the Salish Sea we […]
Leaders in responsible Eco-Tourism
