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!
We're serious about finding whales.
Did you know that orcas, humpbacks, gray whales, and minke whales can travel more than 100 miles in a 24 hour period? To increase our chances of seeing whales each day, Island Adventures uses a variety of tools. Over the past 20 years, our spotting network has evolved into the most sophisticated sightings network on the entire west coast. We work with other whale watch vessels, land-based spotters, researchers, dive boats, early morning fishermen, water taxis, tug boats, and ferry boats to help locate whales in the area. If the whales are here, we know it. We understand our guests’ passion to see whales in the wild — that’s why we’ve developed three different guarantee options.
On each and every tour, we guarantee that you'll see at least one type of whale (orca, minke, humpback, or gray) or you ride again free - for life - until you do! Many of our guests are passionate about orcas and travel to the Pacific Northwest specifically to see this iconic species. For orca enthusiasts we offer multi-day orca guarantees. This is not a ploy to sell more tickets, we simply want to maximize your chances of viewing orcas in the wild. As soon as you see orcas, you can cancel any remaining tours at no charge — no questions asked. We are able to offer these orca-specific guarantees because Island Adventures has the highest success rate in the region of finding orcas.
Please remember that we cannot control what the whales do or where the whales go each day. What we can give you is the highest possible chance of seeing whales due to our quick vessel speed and convenient departure locations. No company sees whales more than Island Adventures — the proof is in our whale report.
Whale Sighting Records
Our 97% success rate since 2002 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.