Typically, the boat will stay in that area for about 10 minutes so that everyone has a chance to see the whales come up for air and hopefully see the infamous tail flick! Keep your eyes peeled! The crew will constantly be on the lookout for whales and when they see one they’ll announce it and that’s when you can step outside onto the deck to watch the show. If you end up not seeing any whales on your tour, they’ll let you join a tour on another day. Most tour companies know the best areas in the region to see whales and that’s why they guarantee that you’ll see a whale on your tour. If you’re visiting from out of town, try to book your whale watching tour towards the beginning of your trip so that if you happen to not see any whales on your excursion, you can try again another day. Even with this law in place, don’t fret - you will still be able to see the whales and have an incredible experience.

It is illegal for boaters to approach within 100 yards of a whale (or any other marine mammal) under U.S. You’ll be inside on most tours as you make your way through the Puget Sound, but you will spend some time outside on the deck when the crew spots a whale. You can find tours that depart from Seattle, Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Edmonds, or the San Juan Islands and almost all tours guarantee whale sightings during your trip.ĭress in layers! No matter which month your whale watching tour is in, the Pacific Northwest is known for its’ milder temperatures in the Summer and the boat ride can get windy. There are many tours that will take you out to see whales in the Puget Sound. What to Expect on a Whale Watching Tour in Washington These whales can get up to 35 feet long with some weighing over 10 tons, and they also migrate from the Arctic to warmer waters to breed. Minke whales are smaller than the above whales, but are another species of baleen whale like the Humpback & Gray whale. These gentle giants migrate up from California every spring before stopping off at our shores to feed for krill and small fish alongside their young calves. They're known for their acrobatic behavior during mating season and you may even see them breaching or lobtailing (slapping their tails on top of the water). Humpback whales are similar in size to the Gray whale & can grow up to 55 feet long and weigh as much as 40 tons. Transient Orcas are apex predators and love hunting for seals and sea lions in the coastal waterways. Transient Orcas can be seen in the Puget Sound year round and can also be seen from the Southern tip of California all the way to the Arctic Circle. Killer whales are some of the most sought out whales to see in the wild and they usually travel in small groups or pods consisting of two to six whales. Gray Whales can be spotted near Seattle at the beginning of whale watching season in April. Gray Whales weigh about 40 tons and measure on average 45 feet long, which is about half the size of a football field! Their migration route takes them from Alaska down through Washington State into Baja California where they give birth each year between December and February before returning northward again in late March or April depending on how far south they go during calving season. Types of Whales You Might See Near Seattle Gray Whales During whale watching season you can find many different types of tours that allow you to get up close and personal with these animals, or you can even try your luck at spotting whales from land! As mentioned before, you can spot whales off the coast of Washington and in the Puget Sound throughout the year, but your chances of seeing one of these magnificent creatures is much higher during whale watching season. Whale watching season in Washington is from April to October, with peak viewing times being between May and July. When Is Whale Watching Season in Washington? While the orcas are most often seen in Puget Sound, you can also spot other species such as humpback whales, gray whales, and minke whales throughout Seattle’s waterways almost year-round! Last April I went on a whale watching tour that departed just north of Seattle and it has been by far my favorite experience since moving to Washington and I recommend it to anyone planning to visit during Seattle whale watching season.

The Pacific Northwest is home to a number of whales, making whale watching one of the best things to do in Seattle during whale watching season.

Whale watching seattle