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Guide to the Best Orca Whale Watching in Washington
So you want to go Orca Whale Watching? Washington state is one of the best places to see marine wildlife and with their own resident orca whales, orca whale watching is a must-do activity when visiting.
There are plenty of places you can see whales in Washington, but my favorite place to see them is on a boat tour in the San Juan Islands. However, you can also do a whale watching tour from Downtown Seattle, Bellingham, and Port Townsend.
One of my favorite places to go whale watching in Washington is the San Juans. The San Juan Islands have plenty of whale-watching tours to choose from, but if you’re lucky you can also see the orcas from the ferry and even the shore of the different islands.
In this guide, I share everything you need to know about the best orca whale watching in Washington both from shore and via boat.
Just a heads up! This post contains affiliate links which means I could earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Orca Whale Watching in Washington State: Where to Find Orcas?
There are whale-watching tours all over the state of Washington, each leaving from different areas surrounding the Puget Sound.
Whether you choose to go on a tour out of the Friday Harbor marina in the San Juans or simply want to see whales from the shore like I did while backpacking to Toleak Point, this guide covers everything you need to know to experience Washington wildlife in a unique way.
Types of Whales in Washington
Puget Sound has a diverse array of marine mammals, most famously the Orca, aka Killer Whales. If you choose to go on a whale-watching tour in Washington, there are so many other species of whales that you could see on your adventure.
The variety of whales that you could see on your tour include Orca Whales, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, Harbor Porpoise, and the Pacific White-Sided Dolphin.
Minke Whales are the smallest baleen whales and are pretty common to see. Gray Whales come through Washington during their annual migration between Alaska and Mexico. If you’re lucky, you could also see a Humpback Whale slap their tail or breach out of the water! While you’re more likely to see a breaching whale in Hawaii, it is not impossible to see the impressive display of whales breaching in Washington.
In addition to seeing whales in the Puget Sound, you will see plenty of sea birds, Stellar sea lions, sea otter, and so much more.
Transient vs Resident Orca Whales in Washington
The Southern Resident Killer Whales are social, toothed whales that stay in the Puget Sound all year round. They travel in matrilineal pods and have a diet that depends on Chinook Salmon. You can often spot them on ferry rides around the San Juan Islands.
The Transient Orcas can be found in the San Juans seasonally. Eating everything from seals to fish, they do not rely on the salmon like the resident orcas do. You might hear the transient killer whales referred to as Bigg’s orcas.
The two orca pods vary in behavior, diet, and vocalizations. You will find that the Southern Resident Orcas are followed closely by Washingtonians. The J-Pod is celebrated up and down the coast of Washington. Chances are you’ve already heard of the J-Pod when their calf died and was carried on the nose of her mother, Tahlequah for 17 days while traveling over 1,000 miles. A heartbreaking story. Luckily, a new calf has since been born to the endangered pod in 2023. Read About It Here!
Best Time to See Orca Whale in Washington
The best time to see orca whales in Washington is during the summer months and late spring. This is the peak season because migrating whales are making their way back to Washington during that time. The summer months are my favorite because even in the heat of the summer, it can still get quite chilly on the orca whale-watching boats!
At different times of the year, you can definitely still see Orca Whales, but it might not be as frequent. You also might not be able to see some of the migrating whales that you would otherwise see in the late spring and summer months.
Where to go Orca Whale Watching in Washington?
There are so many places you can go to see whales in Washington state. Here are some of the best places to see Orcas in their natural habitat. You can’t go wrong with any of these great locations for spotting orca whales.
Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula, home to Olympic National Park, is one of the best places to go for spotting whales. Whether you look for them along the Strait of Juan de Fuca or in the Pacific Ocean, you are seeing them in their natural habitat. A popular spot for seeing them off of the coast is on Shi-Shi Beach or Toleak Point.
Salish Sea: Seattle & Bellingham
Seattle & Bellingham are popular places to go for boarding a whale-watching tour. There are a number of tour companies that leave out of these cities but if you’re just looking to spot an Orca from shore, I suggest going to Alki Beach in West Seattle!
San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are a great place for whale-watching tours. There are a number of beaches and trails that allow you to see whales from the shore, but whale-watching tours in the beautiful San Juan Islands are a fantastic way to see these creatures. The wildlife tours that leave from both Friday Harbor and Orcas Island, are phenomenal.
Some places in the San Juan Islands you can see the orcas include Lime Kiln State Park and Roche Harbor.
In the next section, I will be covering why you should opt for an orca whale-watching tour in Washington if you really want to see Orca Whales in Washington.
Why Do a Tour?
Whale-watching tours provide you with a great personal experience in small groups and on private charters. Private tours offer the best chances of seeing abundant wildlife on any given day. They have an increased success rate of whale sightings. On whale-watching tours, you’re likely to have an onboard expert marine naturalist who can share anecdotal information about the area, answer questions about the wildlife, as well as quickly spot and identify whales in the water. A tour can provide a life-changing experience that shows you the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest and these magnificent animals.
In addition to spotting orca whales, these tours will also give you a closer look at other animals such as tufted puffins, stellar sea lions, harbor seals, and bald eagles…to name a few. When you opt for a whale-watching tour, you’re bound to see wildlife.
Best Orca Whale Watching Tours in Washington Based on Location
As a Marine Biology Teacher, I have actually had the pleasure of taking my students on whale-watching tours which has been one of my greatest experiences as a teacher. This is something that many of my students have said they have never done before and likely wouldn’t have thought about doing in the future.
As someone who loves whales, I’ve also gone on a number of whale-watching tours both in Washington and Alaska. Here are some of what I would consider the best whale-watching tours in Washington!
San Juan Islands
I love going whale-watching in the San Juan Islands, because I can not only see the Orcas from my favorite whale-watching tour company, Western Prince Whale Watching, but you can also see the Orcas on the San Juan Island ferries.
Western Prince Whale Watching out of Friday Harbor is a great option since the boat is small and fast allowing you to cover more ground and increasing your chances of seeing the Orcas. San Juan Safaris is a cheaper options and still takes whale-watching tours out of Friday Harbor which is great for a day trip. You can also head over to Lime Kiln Point State Park which is the best place to go orca whale watching from shore.
If you’re planning on going to Friday Harbor, be sure to stop in the Whale Museum! It is such a great locally run museum.
Looking for an even GREATER adventure, you can book with Outer Island Excursions for a kayak tour to some of the best marine wildlife spots around Orcas Island.
If you’ll be staying on Orcas Island, this is the best whale watching tour on the island!
Seattle & Bellingham
When going on a whale-watching tour out of Seattle, the top-rated whale-watching tour company is the Puget Sound Express. I would consider this more of a luxury tour than some of the other whale-watching boats since these boats have indoor seating available. They also have a number of boats to choose from that will help suit your needs.
When booking the different orca whale watching boats, pay attention to where your board.
Anacortes
You’ve got a couple options when it comes to booking a whale watching tour out of Anacortes.
For a more budget-friendly option, there are the Outer Island Expeditions, which have a tour that leaves out of Anacortes.
If you want a smaller boat, which I prefer, take a ride on the sounder. The sounder is an open air boat lead by the Blue Kingdom Whale & Wildlife Tours Company.
Olympic Pennisula
If you’re searching for Orca Whale Watching on the Olympic Peninsula, then you need to follow the whale trail. The whale trail runs from British Columbia to Northern California and has designated stopping points where viewers can possibly catch a glimpse of the whales as they migrate.
There are FIFTEEN viewing points on the Olympic Peninsula.
While I cannot speak to the whale watching tours on the Olympic Peninsula, I can say that when you see one of the viewing points, it is so much fun to jump out of the car and watch for whales for a couple of minutes or even a half hour.
For more information about the Whale Trail on the Olympic Penninsula, click here.
What to Expect on a Whale-Watching Tour
When you go on a whale-watching tour, you can expect a couple of things to happen.
- You and your party will need to get there early to sign waivers and receive a safety debrief. If your tour is providing you with warm suites, they will find the proper size for you.
- Many boats share with other whale-watching tours where the orcas can be spotted, so you may go back to an area you’ve been before.
- Once you spot the orcas, you will be in that area until the orcas leave.
- There are regulations for how close motor boats can get to the whales. Don’t expect a super up close view of them unless they come to you.
- Many boats will go to where there are plenty of other wildlife to view so there is always something to look at.
- Some boats will go 15, 20, 30+ miles from where you boarded to see whales. You absolutely should be comfortable with being on a boat and potentially rough water.
- Pack a lunch, dramamine, and sunglasses.
- Pick a tour that aligns with your comfortability. Some tours are 4 and 6 hours long. How much time do you want to spend on the tour?
I hope this helps prepare you for your whale-watching adventure!
Pack it Up
In this blog post, I shared how you can set yourself up for success in finding orca whales in the wild. Washington is a haven for Orca but transient and resident. Whether you choose to spot orcas in the wild from shore or book a whale-watching tour, I am sure you will be captivated by the beauty of these animals.
If you do choose to go on a whale-watching tour, I cannot recommend western prince whale boat tours enough out of Friday Harbor. This smaller vessel makes for an intimate experience where you’re guaranteed to see an orca.
If you have questions or would like to recommend a tour that is not mentioned in this blog post, feel free to comment!
Meet the Author -
Sarah Borgen
I am an Educator and outdoor Enthusiast based out of Seattle and writer of Exploren Borgen! My adventures consist of weekends spent in the woods, on a hike, car camping, and taking a deep breath of fresh air. When not on an adventure, you can find me in a classroom teaching high school science! I love having a job that allows me to the opportunity to discuss things like conservation, sustainability, and accessibility.
The Ultimate Washington Map
Endless adventures, all at your fingertips
If you’ve ever wished you could access my adventure journals to uncover notes about hundreds of Washington destinations, now’s your chance. I spend an entire year creating this interactive map to make adventure more accessible. You can sort, filter, and explore my notes on hundreds of trails, breweries, campgrounds, and more.
Have a question? Put it in a comment and I'll get back to ya!
Meet the author
Sarah Borgen, AKA your outdoor bestie
I’m an outdoorsy educator and adventure advocate, which is why I’m passionate about creating resources – like blogs, guides, and interactive maps – to simplify your travels. I’m eager to share some of Washington’s greatest destinations and hidden gems with you.
