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.
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
Victoria Whale Watching Report: Chain Islands, Bald Eagles, and the T18's (Killer Whale Family!)
August 3, 2020
Monday, August 3rd, 2020 – 12pm Covered Vessel Tour Thankfully, early morning showers turned into a mostly sunny day, making for a great time to be on the water. After leaving the Victoria Harbour, we set course to the east in search of whales and other wildlife that frequent the waters off south Vancouver Island. […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: The T99's - Transient Orca Family and Yogi the Humpback!
August 2, 2020
Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 – 12pm Covered Vessel Tour Every day with whales is a truly spectacular day, but today was extra, extra special! We scooted out onto the straight with excited guests, ready to explore the Salish Sea. We didn’t even make it to Race Rocks Lighthouse before we saw out first cetaceans of […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: Humpbacks, California Sea Lions, and More!
August 1, 2020
Saturday, August 1st – 12pm Covered Vessel Tour The first of August was a perfect day to be out on the water with sunshine and clear skies all around! We hugged the shoreline as we started out west, searching for any signs of whales. Vancouver Island is a rugged landscape, with gorgeous temperate rainforests and […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: Harbour Seals and Their New Pups, Bald Eagles, and More!
July 28, 2020
Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 – 12pm Covered Vessel Tour While the sun was shining today it was a bit windy out on the water so Captain Jordan decided to take the Pacific Explorer around the eastside of Vancouver Island. This took the boat, crew and passengers through Baynes Channel passing Discovery Island, the previous home […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: The Southern Resident Orcas Came for a Visit!
July 26, 2020
Sunday, July 26th, 2020 – 12pm Covered Vessel Tour This morning our covered vessel, along with two zodiacs, headed out into the Juan de Fuca Strait in search of wildlife. After a bit of travelling, Captain Jordan stopped the boat because he had seen some Killer Whales ahead of us. Upon arrival we thought these […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: Humpbacks, Harbour Porpoises, Steller Sea Lions, and More!
July 20, 2020
Monday, July 20th, 2020 – 12pm Covered Vessel Tour This afternoon we headed out into the Juan de Fuca Strait in search of wildlife. We were incredibly lucky with the conditions on the water today which makes spotting wildlife a lot less difficult. After a bit of travelling, we came across a Humpback Whale! These […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: Scratchy, the Humpback!
July 19, 2020
Sunday, July 19th, 2020 – 12pm Covered Vessel Tour This morning we headed out into the Juan de Fuca Strait with beautiful conditions. After a bit of travelling, Captain Jeremy spotted a blow and slowed down the boat. He had found a Humpback Whale! Around this whale, we were also able to see quite a […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: Comorants on Mandarte Island and More!
July 16, 2020
Thursday, July 16th, 2020 – 10am Covered Vessel Tour We were expecting a cloudy morning but were greeted by sunshine and warm temperatures this morning. A diverse group of guests from different parts of Canada joined us on the Pacific Explorer as we set out on the Juan de Fuca Strait, heading east towards Haro […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: Humpbacks Galore including MMY0102, Split Fluke, Lyra and Scuttle!
July 15, 2020
July 15th, 2020 – 10am Covered Vessel Tour It was another beautiful summer day on the Juan de Fuca Strait as we journeyed west in search of marine wildlife. We traveled near the shoreline of Vancouver Island until we arrived just south of Becher Bay. Another boat had seen a spout from a humpback whale […]
Victoria Whale Watching Report: Scuttle the Humpback!
July 12, 2020
Wednesday, July 12th 2020 – 10am Covered Vessel Tour This morning we headed West out of the harbour in search of wildlife in the Salish Sea. Our journey took us all the way out to East Sooke, where we heard reports of a Humpback Whale. Once we arrived on scene we patiently waited for this […]
Leaders in responsible Eco-Tourism
