12 Best Places for Orca Whale Watching in Washington [2024]
INTERESTED IN ORCA WHALE WATCHING IN WASHINGTON?
We’ve got all the info you need! We’ve been traveling together since 2010 and have spent months exploring the Pacific Northwest, including Washington. Washington orca whale watching is a very exciting experience we hope everyone will take the time to experience.
If you are whale watching in Seattle, whale watching on Orcas Island, or San Juan whale watching, you are going to have a good time.
The best whale watching in Washington State is probably on Orcas Island, followed by San Juan and then the Seattle area. Seattle orca whale watching is still fun but not as good as San Juan Islands whale watching.
Orcas Island whale watching is your best bet to see whales, but it is harder to get to. You have to take a ferry, which is fine, but the ferries can and will be late, so make sure you give yourself lots of time if taking a tour from the Orca Island area. If you don’t want to worry about getting on a ferry, you can go on a tour leaving from Anacortes.
Boat Tours for Orca whale watching from Seattle, Washington
1. Half Day Seattle Whale Watching Tour
▶ BOOK Half-Day Whale Watching Tour from Seattle
⭐ RATING: 3.5 out of 5 stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 4 to 6 hours long
The Half Day Seattle Whale Watching Tour is a fun and exciting adventure to get away and see the different species of whales Seattle has to offer. On this Seattle boat tour, you could see orcas, mink, and humpback whales. It is also common to see harbor seals and different types of birds.
The tour is four to six hours long. Food is not included in the ticket price but can be purchased on the boat, so if you don’t want to purchase food, you should bring your own food or snacks.
This tour is something families with kids of all ages can do. The boat is also accessible to those who use a wheelchair. This is one of the best outdoor things to do in Seattle.
There are a few things to keep in mind when booking this whale watch tour. The tour is non-refundable and cannot be canceled or changed for any reason. The trip requires good weather. If the weather is poor, you will be given a refund or can reschedule.
The Half Day Seattle Whale Watching Tour includes:
✔ 4-6 hour whale watching tour with onboard expert naturalist guides
✔ All Applicable taxes and surcharges
The boat was very clean and the seats were comfortable. I was a little disappointed we didn’t get to see a pod of Orcas, but that’s just luck of the draw.
– Cheryl (see more reviews)
A really amazing experience. My friend and I really enjoyed it and couldn’t believe we got to experience such.
– Danika (see more reviews)
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2. Private Sailing Adventure on The Puget Sound
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⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours
If you are looking for an intimate and unique experience, you will love the Private Sailing Adventure on Puget Sound. This tour has amazing reviews, with almost every review giving it a five-star rating. The few who didn’t rate it a five still gave it four stars.
The adventure takes around three hours and leaves from the Shilshole Bay Marina. You will be able to ask questions from your captain and see the magnificent Seattle skyline and beautiful mountains. Your ticket price is per group, and your small groups can have up to six people.
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If you are going to be taking children younger than 10 years old, you will need to bring your own life jacket for the young children. Food and drink are not provided on this tour, so if you think you will want a little snack, you will need to bring your own.
This private charter tour is fantastic and very personal. You will feel comfortable sailing the Puget Sound. This is a highly rated tour and often sells out, so book in advance if possible.
The Private Sailing Adventure on The Puget Sound includes:
✔ Local Guide
✔ Adult Life Jacket
✔ Private tour
This was absolutely the best! It is a wonderful way to see Seattle from a different and beautiful setting. See wildlife, be on a gorgeous boat, with an experienced and friendly Capitan. My favorite activity in Seattle. A must do for family, friends, girls trip or sip and cruise with a group. Lovely! – Dani (see more reviews)
Russ was FABULOUS! We highly recommend him as a captain. He was knowledgeable and so friendly. Made the trip seems like we were with a new friend! – Louis (see more reviews)
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Boat Tours for Orca whale watching from Anacortes, Washington
3. Anacortes Whale Watching
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⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 3 Hours
Anacortes Whale Watching is one of the best whale watching tours giving you the best chance of seeing whales. The whale watching in Anacortes tour is three hours long. You will love the beautiful scenery, and the whales are amazing. This is a fun trip for the whole family.
This tour is only 1.5 hours from Seattle, and they see these majestic creatures on 98 percent of their trips. This is a little smaller boat than other large whale tours. The maximum capacity is less than 50 travelers, and almost everyone can participate in this tour.
▶ Don’t forget binoculars! They are a big help when looking for whales and sea life!
Do keep in mind that this orca whale watching from Anacortes, Washington tour is non-refundable. It can be expensive to pay staff and prep boats for these adventures so they are pretty strict with cancelations. The whales are beautiful, and this tour has really good reviews.
The Anacortes Whale Watching includes:
✔ Professional Tour Guide
✔ High-Speed Vessels
✔ 3 to 4 hours tour
✔ Sales tax and fees
Our trip was amazing! The guides, Alex and Sophie. and the captain, Matt, were so friendly and informative. We saw many Orcas as well as a humpback and Minky Whale. Captain Matt also guided the boat near small islands full of other wildlife including sea lions and a sea otter. We couldn’t have had a better experience! – Guest (see more reviews)
Tour was awesome! The guides were super friendly and knowledgeable! Saw two humpback whales and some other wildlife! Great experience for the whole family! – Molly (see more reviews)
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4. Three Hour Sea kayak Tour in The San Juan Islands
▶ BOOK Kayak Tour in the San Juan Islands
⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 3 Hours
This Sea Kayak Tour in The San Juan Islands is the best way to get up close and personal to see the beauty the San Juan Island adventures provide. You can avoid much of the crowds you get on other tours on this three-hour kayak tour.
On this tour, you will often see harbor seals, porpoises, and different fish, and on occasion, you will even see orcas. The guides are very knowledgeable and friendly. Make sure you remember your sunscreen, snacks, and water, as those items are not provided on the tour.
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People love this adventure, with all of the current reviews giving the trip a 5-star rating. They have a flexible cancellation policy which is a nice addition in case you run into unforeseen issues during your trip.
After you book your trip, it is recommended that you call to ensure everything is scheduled and ready to go. This helps ensure everyone is on the same page, and if any accommodations are needed, they can be arranged beforehand.
The Three Hour Sea Kayak Tours in The San Juan Islands includes:
✔ All kayaking equipment and safety gear
✔ All fees and taxes
✔ Professionally trained guide
We had an amazing 3 hour evening tour with John. The weather was perfect. We saw harbor porpoise and harbor seal on our adventure around the islands. John was knowledgeable and very personable! -Tripadvisor Reviewer (see more reviews)
Every time family or friends come to town, we go out with AKT and it’s a huge hit. The system is super efficient. Love that they are located in the marina and the kayaks are already in the water. Very beginner friendly paddles but can also be more challenging. The guides are FANTASTIC. -Tripadvisor Reviewer (see more reviews)
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Boat Tours for Orca whale watching from the San Juan Islands, Washington
5. Orcas Island Whale Watching
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⭐ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 3-4 Hours
The Orcas Island Whale Watching tour is a popular tour with many high reviews. The tour is 3.5 hours long, and you will be able to get up close to multiple different whale species, such as humpback whales and orca whales.
The trip has a very high percentage of tours seeing whales and leaves from Eastsound, WA. Orcas Island is reached by ferry from Washington. If you are not already going to be on Orcas Island, it is recommended you leave from the Anacortes location.
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If you are taking a tour of any kind on the water and you are prone to getting motion sick, make sure you touch base with your doctor for some medicine or bring some Dramamine.
The Orcas Island Whale Watching includes:
✔ Professional guide
✔ High Speed Vessels
✔ 3 to 4-hour tour
✔ Sales taxes and fees
So fun! Great crew, with a great mix of movement on the water, education, entertainment, and sights of killer whales, beautiful scenery, and other wildlife like bald eagles. Highly recommended. – Scott (see more reviews)
Great experience, our tours guides were great, and we saw 2 humpbacks and an island full of sea lions!! 10/10 – Ryan (see more reviews)
▶ BOOK Orcas Island Whale Watching
6. Guaranteed Whale Watching Tour
▶ BOOK Guaranteed Whale Watching Tour
⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: 3.5 Hours
Another great whale watching tour is the Guaranteed Whale Watching Tour. This tour leaves from Orcas Island in Eastbound, WA, which is a great location to leave from if you are wanting to see whales. The boat is small, and the tour groups are also.
We love smaller tours. This tour has a maximum of 30 traveler capacity, but it is not wheelchair accessible. This tour is also very flexible with its cancelation policy compared to other tour groups. However, keep in mind that if you are taking a ferry to this tour, the ferries can be late.
▶ Check Out Hotels On Orcas Island Here
You will not get a refund if you are late and miss the boat because the ferries makes you late. It us best to not rely on ferries.
This is a great option with great reviews you will love the experience it offers.
The Guaranteed Whale Watching Tour includes:
✔ Professional Guide
✔ Taxes and Fees
We left out of Anacortes. our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the wonderful whale and sea otter and bird sightings and made the information very interesting. – Mary (see more reviews)
It was such a wonderful experience. The crew was amazing and we saw so many whales. Absolutely unforgettable – Kady (see more reviews)
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7. Whale Watching From Friday Harbor
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⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🕑 TOUR LENGTH: About 4 Hours
The Whale Watching From Friday Harbor is a great opportunity to see whales leaving from Friday Harbor. This is one of the most reviewed tours, and it has almost 650 reviews, with more than 90 percent of the reviews giving it five stars. Friday Harbor is such a beautiful area.
You will get close to the orca whales on this 4-hour whale-watching tour. You are guaranteed to see marine mammals, and more than 90 percent of the tours see whales.
Friday Harbor is considered the best location to view the orca whales. This location is good because of the high population of Salmon in the area.
This is a great boat to go whale watching on, with less than 40 travelers on the boat at one time. Your service animals are allowed on the boat, and they have infant seats you can use if you are traveling with small children. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
The Whale Watching From Friday Harbor includes:
✔ Whale-watching cruise
✔ Local taxes and fees
The crew were so excited about what they do that it made us more excited to go on the trip. They are very informative and explained where we were and what we should look at to see the natural environment. We loved being on the boat too!! Lots of places to stand it sit to see a wide range of the landscape. – Theresa (see more reviews)
First time seeing humpback whales. Staff were helpful and friendly. Be prepared with layers. It can be very cold. – Jiabang (see more reviews)
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Orcas Whale Watching in Washington From the Shore
Whale watching from the shore won’t give you as great of a whale watching experience compared to going out in a boat, but you can go on your own schedule, and it is much less expensive.
If you plan on whale watching from the shore, make sure you bring a pair of good binoculars so you can see the whales. We have seen whales off the coast, and it is always exciting to get to see them.
8. Pacific Beach State Park
Pacific Beach State Park is a great park for many different beach activities, but it is also a great place for whale watching. You can even park your car on the hard sand that is in the upper part of the beach.
Winter can be some of the best times to see whales because they begin their migration south. We always keep a look out for whales when in the area. Make sure you bring your pair of binoculars to help spot the whales and to look at other marine wildlife.
9. Kalaloch Beach
Kalaloch Beach is going to be one of the best locations for whale sightings from the beach. You can see whales from the beach, or you can see them from the bluffs. The beach also offers phenomenal views and a large beach where you can walk and enjoy the wonderful area.
Ruby Beach is another fairly close beach that people enjoy visiting. While you are in the area, be sure to check out the best things to do in Forks, Washington.
10. Point No Point Lighthouse
When on the coast, we love to visit the lighthouse. The Point No Point Lighthouse is a great place to visit and is also a fantastic location for whale watching. We often see whales when visiting the lighthouses along the Oregon and Washington coastline.
Whales are such a beautiful part of the Pacific Ocean, and it is such a treat to get to see them on our adventures. You will enjoy visiting the lighthouse and searching for the mystical whales in the area.
11. Point Roberts Lighthouse Marine Park
Point Roberts Lighthouse Marine Park is a great lighthouse that is a very nice short hike. The area is very peaceful and has great spots to look for whales. A trip to the Lighthouse Marine Park will check off many adventures for the day.
You will be able to get an enjoyable hike by a lighthouse with a good possibility of seeing whales. This is a fantastic place to visit.
12. Seeing the Whales Online
If you are interested in checking out some live feed cameras where you can see whales and learn more about whales and the different opportunities available to support them, you will want to check out these two websites.
Our kids love watching the whales on camera, and they get very excited to learn about marine life and all the fun things the ocean has to offer.
- Orca Network: All about orca whales – how you can donate, volunteer, and advocacy
- Orca Lab: You can watch live webcams of orca whales in a few different locations and environments
- Listen to the Orcas Online: orcasound.net for a live stream
FAQs: orca whale watching in Washington
Types of Whales in the Puget Sound
The Puget Sound has an array of different whales. You will find orcas, transient orcas, gray whales, humpback whales, minke whales, and fin whales. Each species can be in the area at different times and in different numbers.
If you are wanting to see a certain species of whales, try to plan your trip during the best time of year for that species but seeing whales, in general, is a really fun experience. We would recommend taking a tour. Here you will find some great whale watching tours.
Where to See Whales Near Seattle
Whales can be seen from the beaches, near state parks, and by the lighthouses in the Seattle area.
Where can I see orcas in Washington?
If you are looking to see whales in Washington, your best place to see them is by the San Juan Islands and Orcas Island. We love the San Juan Islands. They are a great place to visit, but you can also see whales in Puget Sound near Seattle.
What is the best time to visit Seattle for whale watching?
If you are wanting to see orca whales, the Washington orca whale watching season is the late spring through summer. This is the best time to see orca whales. The best orca months are May to September.
If you want to see humpback whales, you will want to go in the winter months – generally from September to January.
Even if the time of year does not align perfectly with your trip, we recommend taking a tour. There is so much to see on the ocean, and because of the different whales and orca pods, you can still see whales in what some would call the off-season.
Is Seattle a good place for whale watching?
Seattle is a decent place to watch for whales. Sometimes of the year are better than others. We find the San Juan Islands to be better for whale watching, but you can see whales in Seattle.
Are whale watching tours worth it?
Yes, they are worth it. We have been on many whale watching and dolphin tours, and we find them enjoyable every time.
We also recommend checking out the Seattle Underground Tour while you’re in town. You’ll never see the city the same way!
Conclusion: Orca Whale Watching in Washington
Orca whale watching in Washington State is such a fun experience. You are going to love your time on these wildlife tours. If you are in the Seattle area, whale watching from Seattle is fun, but the best orca whale watching tours in Washington State are on Orcas Island and San Juan Island.
Whale watching in Washington is fun no matter where you are in Washington, so if you want to see whales but don’t want to go all the way to San Juan, you should still do it.
We loved our time in the Puget Sound whale watching, and we also loved whale watching from the San Juan Islands. You are going to have such a good time on your orca whale-watching trip in Washington State.
Another great area to watch for orca whales would be whale watching on the Oregon Coast. If you can’t make it to Washington, take the time to check out the whales on the Oregon Coast.
