See up to 5 Types of Whales from 4 Departure Locations!
Fast, safe, and the most comfortable vessels in the area.
At Island Adventures, our boats are part of the family and it shows. The Island Explorer boats are not only the best designed whale watch boats in the area, they are the best maintained. All of our vessels hold a higher safety rating than the WA State Ferries; they are safe, fast, and comfortable.
Meet the industry's finest whale watching vessels – no other company compares.
The Island Explorer vessels are the best photography platforms and are the choice for professional photographers across the area.
The Island Explorer 3, Island Explorer 4, and Island Explorer 5 feature full walk around lower decks, upper viewing decks, great sound systems, heated cabins, galley service, his and her restrooms, and the best crew in the area.
Size matters. Regardless of vessel size, all companies obey the same guidelines on viewing distance so why not choose the vessel that is the most comfortable?
Island Explorer 5
The Island Explorer 5 is simply the best whale watching vessel anywhere.
She is 98' long, 30' wide with a cruise speed of over 25 knots. She is also incredibly quiet which will enhance your whale watching experience. 20+ years of whale watching experience has gone into the design of the Island Explorer 5. She has three full walk-around outside viewing decks with cathedral bow seating that provides more outside viewing area than any tour boat in the region. There are also two large heated cabins with seating for all guests, state of the art A/V system, and large comfortable bathrooms. Onboard guests will enjoy our South of the Border Cafe with hot food, fresh products, beer and wine for sale.
Vessel features:
- Outside rail viewing space on one side of the boat for all guests
- Indoor heated seating for all passengers
- Three viewing decks for the best possible vantage point over the water
- Best galley menu of any tour vessel in the area – fresh and changing with the seasons
- High-speed catamaran with speeds capable of 25+ knots, giving us one of the largest ranges in the industry
- AED defibrillator onboard with highly trained/qualified staff and crew
Island Explorer 4
The Island Explorer 4 is the little sister to the Island Explorer 3.
The Island Explorer 4 is 85' long, 22' wide with many of the same great features: large heated cabin, full walk-around lower deck, and huge upper viewing deck. Island Explorer 4 is the favorite boat for many of our guests; she is quick, very maneuverable, and can go places that other larger vessels cannot. Her shallow draft allows her to navigate narrow passages making her perfect for our La Conner tours. Experience the unplugged version of the San Juan Islands aboard the spacious Island Explorer 4!
Vessel features:
- Outside rail viewing space on one side of the boat for all guests
- Indoor heated seating with restaurant-style booths
- Two viewing decks for an incredible vantage point over the water, great for photography
- Galley with breakfast and lunch, featuring Beecher's Mac and Cheese and Ivar's Clam Chowder!
- 84 foot monohull with speeds capable of 16+ knots, perfect for the San Juan Islands
- AED defibrillator onboard with highly trained/qualified staff and crew
Island Explorer 3
The Island Explorer 3 is one of the most popular whale watching vessels on the west coast.
She is 101' long, 24' wide with three engines and two generators. She was recently re-powered which made her faster, quieter, and more fuel efficient. Island Explorer 3 has a huge upper viewing deck with a sun/rain cover, wind block doors, and outside heaters. She also has a full walk around lower deck with large bow pulpit. The inside heated salon has padded booth style seating and snack bar with beer and wine for purchase. Guests will enjoy our quality sound system with flat screen TV hooked to our navigation system to follow our route throughout the tour. We also have full sized his/her restrooms.
Vessel features:
- Outside rail viewing space on one side of the boat for all guests
- Indoor heated seating with restaurant-style booths
- Two viewing decks for an incredible vantage point over the water
- Galley with local menu – quality food at a reasonable price and cashless for your convenience
- 101 foot monohull with speeds capable of 17+ knots, perfect for the Strait of Juan de Fuca
- AED defibrillator onboard with highly trained/qualified staff and crew
Online Reservations
Make a reservation online with our secure system and receive an immediate email confirmation.
Whale Report
See what we've seen on the water. There's a detailed account from every tour since 2002!
Our Guarantee
We guarantee whales on every tour March-October, and even offer two different orca guarantees.