See up to 5 Types of Whales from 3 Departure Locations!
There are many tours to choose from, and we have the right fit for you.
At Island Adventures, we pride ourselves on being the most experienced and dedicated whale watching company in Washington state. It's no fluke that our tour has been voted the best in the Northwest for years. Island Adventures holds the industry's highest success rate and was the first company to guarantee whale sightings on every tour. Our team of highly qualified crew set us apart from the competition. We boast more than 100 years of combined experience in the islands and have led excursions for hundreds of thousands of satisfied guests over 24 years of business. Experience counts!
Anacortes
One of the best opportunities to see wild orcas is right here in the San Juan Islands, February through November. The Salish Sea is home to one of the richest varieties of marine life on the planet. There's no better place to view the booming population of Bigg's, or mammal-eating killer whales or the salmon-eating killer whales of J, K, and L Pods. In addition to orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, and gray whales are also frequently seen throughout the year.
Everett
The greatest whale watching value in the state - just 30 minutes from Seattle! This special limited season focuses on gray whales that migrate along the west coast, stopping to feed in local waters on their way back to Alaska. While it's possible to see orcas, minkes, or humpbacks as well, our Everett tour is specifically designed to highlight the feeding gray whales of Puget Sound that visit for just a few short months each year.
Port Angeles
A premier whale watching destination located just outside the famed Olympic National Park. In recent years, the waters surrounding Port Angeles have become one of the leading destinations for viewing humpback whales in North America. Orcas are often seen feeding in the area as well. From Port Angeles, the comfortable Island Explorer 4 can head west into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, east toward the San Juan Islands, or north toward Race Rocks Ecological Preserve - no passport required! Best location for guests coming from Tacoma and the Olympic Peninsula!
At Island Adventures, we are serious about finding whales.
This is a challenge every day because the whales never stop moving! Orcas, humpbacks, gray whales, and minke whales can travel over 100 miles in a 24 hour period. We use many different resources (cooperatively working together) to help in the search every morning. Over the past 20 years, our spotting network has evolved into the most sophisticated spotting network on the entire west coast — strategically placed land-based spotters using spotting scopes, many other whale watch vessels with a private encrypted radio system, exclusive industry based online sighting network, researchers, dive boats, early morning fishermen, water taxis, tug boats, and ferry boats. If the whales are in the area, we know it.
We understand our guests’ passion to see whales in the wild. The waters surrounding Anacortes and Port Angeles are in the core whale watching zone. Every day is different and no two tours are the same — that’s why we’ve developed three different guarantee options.
By offering multi-day orca guarantees, we’re not trying to sell you more tickets or force you to go multiple days. We just want to maximize your chances to experience orca whales in the wild, which is a life-long dream for so many of our guests. If you see orca whales on one of your tours, you can cancel any remaining tours at no charge — no questions asked. We also want to set reasonable expectations that this is wildlife in the wild, and we have no control what the whales do or where the whales go each day. What we can give you is the highest possible chance to see whales in the wild due to our vessel speed, location, and tour length. No company sees orcas more than Island Adventures — the proof is in our whale report.
Whale Sighting Records
Our 97% success rate speaks for itself. Check out what we've been seeing lately with our daily Whale Report.
- 2019: 532 of 540 tours – 98.5%
- 2018: 587 of 600 tours – 98.4%
- 2017: 571 of 603 tours – 94.7%
- 2016: 515 of 525 tours – 98.1%
- 2015: 429 of 433 tours – 99.1%
- 2014: 363 of 375 tours – 96.8%
- 2013: 260 of 266 tours – 97.7%
- 2012: 212 of 225 tours – 94.2%
- 2011: 262 of 266 tours – 98.5%
- 2010: 477 of 488 tours – 97.7%
- 2009: 239 of 248 tours – 96.4%
- 2008: 258 of 264 tours – 97.7%
- 2007: 244 of 256 tours – 95.3%
- 2006: 479 of 505 tours – 94.9%
- 2005: 269 of 274 tours – 98.2%
- 2004: 205 of 210 tours – 97.6%
- 2003: 221 of 230 tours – 96.1%
- 2002: 193 of 198 tours – 97.5%
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 2003!
Prepare for your tour
It’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. See our tips, suggestions, and frequently asked questions.
Our Guarantee
We guarantee whales on every tour March-October, and even offer two different orca guarantees.