Getaway: Seattle to San Juan’s Humpbacks and Back

“Humpbacks returning to Puget Sound in big numbers,” says Q13, an assessment backed up by the Vancouver Sun, which calls it “humpback heaven” out there — though it looks like both are cribbing from the same press release from the Pacific Whale Watch Association. Some 500 humpback whales are estimated to feed in relatively shallow waters off British Columbia and Washington from spring to fall, before the whales migrate south. These days, the North Pacific is estimated to hold up to 20,000 humpbacks, thanks to protection from whalers instituted in 1966.

Whale-watch operators love them because they’re so active, if not breaching, then slapping the water with fins or tails. When an animal that can grow up to 60 feet long, and weigh 30 to 40 tons, slaps its tail, people notice. The fins can be up to 15 feet.

The easy way to take a humpback tour is simply to head down to Seattle’s Pier 69 to board a Victoria Clipper. Rates are lower until June 30 than the high season: $75 to $85 for a trip that starts at 7:45 a.m. and ends back in Seattle around 7:15 p.m. (Here’s our play-by-play of an Orca-filled trip last July.) Another easy way to go about it is drive to Anacortes, where you’ll find tour providers like Island Adventures and Mystic Sea Charters. Third option: fly Kenmore Air to the islands and pick up a tour from perhaps San Juan Excursions, San Juan Safaris, or Outer Island Expeditions.

List of Tour Operators by Location

WASHINGTON

Anacortes
Anacortes Kayak Tours
Deception Pass Tours
Island Adventures Whale Watching
Mystic Sea Charters

Bellingham

Island Mariner Cruises
San Juan Cruises

Deer Harbor
Deer Harbor Charters

Eastsound
Orcas Island Eclipse Charters
Outer Island Expeditions

Friday Harbor
Carli Whale Watching
Legacy Charters
Maya’s Westside Whale Charters
San Juan Excursions
San Juan Island Whale Watch
San Juan Island Outfitters
San Juan Safaris
Western Prince Whale Watching

Port Townsend
Puget Sound Express

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Cowichan Bay
Ocean Ecoventures

Richmond
Steveston Seabreeze Adventures
Vancouver Whale Watch

Sidney
Sidney Whale Watching

Vancouver
Wild Whales Vancouver

Victoria
BC Whale Tours
Eagle Wing Tours
Five Star Whale Watching
Great Pacific Adventures
Orca Spirit Adventures Group
Prince of Whales Whale Watching
Springtide Charters
Victoria Clipper

Cowichan Bay
Ocean Ecoventures

White Rock
Discovery Seatours