Written by: Lori, Zodiac Driver
Whale watching in British Columbia is always an extraordinary experience. With a diversity of different species to see and a unique marine environment to explore, whale watching helps to remind us of how important our wild spaces really are. No place will remind you of this quite like Port Renfrew, and we are fortunate to be able to take guests out onto the water and into the wild from this location.
1. Incredible Success Rate for Spotting Whales
Our Port Renfrew location boasts an incredible success rate for spotting whales. Our three and a half hour tours have a ninety-nine percent success rate for seeing at least one species of whale – and many guests come back seeing multiple whales on just one trip. Port Renfrew is a fantastic place to spot humpback whales in particular – and there is the potential to see large numbers of these whales feeding and traveling off the coast.
2. Abundance of Wildlife
Keep your eyes peeled for the telltale signs of whales such as blows, tail flukes, and dorsal fins – but also scan for sea lions, harbour seals, sea otters, dolphins, porpoises, and even black bears along the shore line. Bird lovers can also rejoice – there are a wide variety of bird species that can be spotted from Port Renfrew such as bald eagles, brown pelicans, tufted puffins, albatross, shearwaters, common murres, and rhinoceros auklets.
3. Rugged Beauty of Port Renfrew
It is no secret that Port Renfrew is an incredibly beautiful place. It is known as “The Tall Tree Capital” of Canada, and it’s old growth forests are nothing short of spectacular and humbling. On our zodiac tours you’ll be able to see rugged rock formations along our coast, incredible old growth forests, and the delicate balance of our marine ecosystem in motion. Port Renfrew is a remote location, and if you want to get off the grid and into nature this is the place for you.
4. Intimate Experience
Our Port Renfrew whale watching tours are small-scale and personal. You’ll be in a 12 passenger zodiac which ensures an intimate and special experience with both your fellow guests and the wildlife in the area. You’re always close enough to your captain to ask questions, and the zodiacs are small enough that you are often level with the wildlife and able to experience the full feeling of the ocean moving beneath you. I often find that there is lots of smiling, laughter, and chatter between guests on the zodiacs. You can’t help but bond from such a unique adventure.
5. Phenomenal Captains
While all of our captains at Orca Spirit are exceptional – we certainly have some of our finest operating out of the Port Renfrew location! I can absolutely assure you that you will be greeted by one of our passionate and knowledgeable guides, and you will walk away with a greater understanding of the marine environment and wildlife that inhabits it.
The Port Renfrew location is very near and dear to our hearts, as it gives us access to one of the most remote and beautiful areas of our coast that is seldom explored. Its rugged beauty, its rainforests, its wildlife – all of these invite us to slow down and appreciate the world around us. It is something to be shared, and we hope you’ll join us!
Book your tour today and come and #ExperienceTheWild!
