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Whale Watching in Victoria – British Columbia’s Beautiful Capital City

Located on Vancouver Island in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, Prince of Whales has the perfect location to access world-class whale watching. You’ll find us by following the city’s pulse to the heart of the harbour; only steps away from top-rated accommodations, fabulous restaurants, and other local attractions. Our hourly on-demand departures make it easy to go whale watching. You pick the time that works best for you, and we’ll have you back in time for your next activity. 

Victoria’s surrounding waters are home to spectacular marine wildlife; such as whales, sea lions, otters, Harbor Seals, Bald Eagles, dolphins, and other marine mammals. The Prince of Whales team places Our Victoria whale watching cruise most often sees Orca Whales (Killer Whales) and Humpback Whales, but occasionally we’ve spotted Minke Whales and Gray Whales. One of our wildlife tours is the perfect complement to exploring Victoria and our whale sightings guarantee ensures that you can count on having an unforgettable experience.

The Experience

One of the biggest draws to whale watching in Victoria is the opportunity to see whales almost year-round. Boarding tours in the heart of downtown Victoria, Prince of Whales employs experts in both tour operations and marine biology. Step aboard our seafaring classrooms in search of Orcas (killer whales), Humpback whales, sea lions, and the thrill of the ride! Our wildlife tours have over a 95% chance of whale sightings. Thanks to our whale sightings guarantee, we offer another free adventure if no whales are seen on your first trip.

Victoria Boats

Our Victoria location provides many whale watching tours, which use different vessels from the Prince of Whales fleet. The highlight of our Victoria location is our environmentally-friendly, custom-built catamaran that offers the best experience of any whale watching company in the area. Get the best view with three distinctly different viewing elevations and have the comforts of ample interior space plus an on-board washroom. If you’re seeking more thrill, check out our Zodiac whale watching tour that gets you low to the water and close to the action. For a more intimate whale watching in Victoria, our Zodiacs can also be booked for private tours.

Conservation

Victoria, British Columbia is home to the Salish Sea, one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world. Sustainability is key to the success of our wildlife watching tours. We educate our guests about why it is important to protect the environment, where these animals live, and how safe and responsible whale watching aids in the sustainability of these waters.


      Accreditation of the Biosphere distinction

Victoria FAQs

Still have questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions to get answers for any whale watching or Victoria queries you may have.

What should I wear whale watching?

It gets cold out on the water (trust us!), so we recommend windbreaker jackets, sweaters, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. It’s also a good idea to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a tight-fitting hat, a camera to capture some memorable moments and, above all, your sense of adventure!

What is your cancellation policy?

Need to cancel or reschedule – no problem! Just contact us at least 48 hours prior to your adventure’s departure to reschedule or to cancel (and receive a full refund), no questions asked. Restrictions apply:

  • For independent travel bookings of 9 passengers or less: 48 hours before scheduled departure, partial or whole cancellations made within 48 hours before departure will be charged 100% of the tour price. Tour amendments cannot be completed within a 48-hour window. There will be no refunds for cancellations within the cancellation period.
  • For groups of 10-19: 14 days before scheduled departure, partial or whole cancellations made within 14 days before departure will be charged 100% of the tour price based on the reserved number of passengers, or the final number in attendance, whichever is greater. Tour amendments cannot be guaranteed within a 14-day window.
  • For Groups 20+: 21 days before scheduled departure; partial or whole cancellations made within 21 days before departure will be charged 100% of the tour price. Tour amendments cannot be guaranteed within the 21-day window.
  • For wholesale, travel trade, and 3rd party bookings, the cancellation and amendment policy can differ. Please refer to your booking contract for details.
  • Discounted or promo bookings are final sale.
What time of year is best for whale watching in Victoria?

Whale watching season in Victoria is usually around April to November, even though we run tours in this location all year around and we often see whales even in colder months! Time will vary by whale ecotype, as cetaceans are unpredictable and will migrate and travel often between various areas of the west coast. 

Is it better to go whale watching in Victoria or Vancouver?

Both Victoria and Vancouver have their perks when it comes to whale watching! Victoria has a beautiful coast line, with access to areas such as Race Rocks, San Juan Islands and more gorgeous whale watching areas. On the other hand, going whale watching in Vancouver you will see a glimpse of the beautiful cityscape, Point Atkinson and the wild coast of the mainland. Whales travel freely between these two locations, making viewing them equally as likely in both locations!

What time of day is best to see whales in Victoria BC?

Different species of whales have different behaviours and patterns of activity. For example, killer whales are often more active in the morning, while Humpback whales tend to be more active in the afternoon. Additionally, the time of year can also affect whale activity, as different species migrate to different areas at different times of year or change their behaviours due to mating or other considerations. The whale watching season in Victoria typically runs from April to October, with the peak season occurring from May to September.

How often do you see whales in Victoria?

Our average sighting success rate is 95%! But if you do not see whales, you can come back next time with our industry-best Whale Sighting Guarantee, that will never expire!

Are there bathrooms on the tour boats?

Our Catamaran boats have 2 convenient bathrooms on board that everyone is free to use. There aren’t any on board our Zodiacs, but we do have restrooms for public use in the Prince of Whales lobby that we encourage guests to use before boarding the boats. If you have more questions about this, check out the 3D tour of our Catamaran!

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Victoria Territorial Acknowledgement

Prince of Whales Whale and Marine Life Adventures Victoria, would like to acknowledge that we operate on the traditional waters and lands of the Wyomilth (Esquimalt) and Lkwungen (Songhees), Scia’new (Beecher Bay), T’Sou-ke (Sooke) Nations, and the W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich) peoples, whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. We are aware that the adventure tourism industry which drives our passion for the conservation and education of the ocean ecosystems could not happen without the use of the land and water.

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