The best whale watching in Victoria offers once-in-a-lifetime wildlife.
After all, how many cities can get you splashed by the thundering clap of a humpback whale jump?
Of course, these are all just empty promises unless we get the best whale watching tour in Victoria BC on the case.
Let’s take a look at some Victoria whale trips and get you started.
Best Whale Watching in Victoria: How To Take Killer Whale Tours of Victoria
Prince of Whales: Best Half-Day Whale Watching Tour
Vessel: Partially-enclosed Catamaran | Dates: Mar 29 – Nov 6
Our best Victoria whale watching tour overall is this 3+ hour fully-guided adventure aboard the Salish Sea Eclipse.
This purpose-built high-speed, luxury, custom-built catamaran carries up to 95 passengers in its warm and dry cabin.
This makes it the preferred Victoria whale tour for families and seniors.
The knowledgeable Prince of Whales crew also ensures you’ll be aboard a floating classroom.
Springtide: Cheapest Whale Watching Tour in Victoria
Vessel: Zodiac | Dates: Year round
If you’re traveling to Victoria on a budget, the cheapest Victoria whale tour rings in at “just” $139.00.
Of course, the advantage of these small zodiac boats is that you can get closer to the whales than with catamarans.
Do expect however to have a bit of a bumpier, wetter ride – though adrenaline-junkies will love this.
Even better? There are 5 daily departures so you’re bound to find the right time for you.
Prince of Whales: Best Sunset Whale Watching Tour in Victoria
Vessel: Partially-enclosed Catamaran | Dates: May-Oct
This top Victoria whale watching tour offers the same great experience as the half-day tour – but with a scenic twist.
Sure, on your 4-hour Victoria killer whale tour aboard the Salish Sea Eclipse, you’ll encounter the same fantastic marine mammals: orcas, humpbacks, greys and much more.
The difference? You’ll do so with a beautiful red-skied backdrop. A favourite with photographers, this orca tour of Victoria proves that the golden hour adds magic to an already epic experience.
5 Star Whales: Best Orca Tour in Victoria for Education
Vessel: Partially-enclosed Catamaran | Dates: Year round
The advantages of this Victoria whale watching tour are twofold: one, you get two expert naturalists on board that’ll teach you all about the local ecosystem and how whales fit into it.
Two, you’ve got a much smaller boat which means smaller crowds than usual.
Finally, at $158.00 I think this has best value of all the covered boats, making it a great option.
Eagle Wing: Best Victoria Killer Whale Tour for Wildlife
Vessel: Open-air Zodiac | Dates: Year Round
Departing right from Fisherman’s Wharf in Victoria, this killer whale tour is 30 minutes longer than average.
This means you’ll get plenty of time to explore extra marine life, be it bald eagles, sealions, seals, and much more.
The semi-covered catamaran is also the coolest boat in the Victoria whale watching fleet, if that counts for anything.
Prince of Whales: Best Zodiac Whale Tour in Victoria
Vessel: Open-air Zodiac | Dates: Year Round
These heart-pounding whale tours of Victoria are a bit of a hat-holder, and I’m telling you from experience.
First, you’ll zip up your Mustang suit and jump aboard a purpose-built zodiac. Then, once the captain opens up the Zodiac’s twin 300hp Mercury outboards, it’s time to let her rip!
Now, you’re on the hunt for orcas and humpbacks and other once-in-a-lifetime wildlife – as you feel the refreshing sea spray cool your face – at speeds of up to 55 km/h!
This is the only year-round Victoria whale watching tour, so if you’re visiting Victoria in winter, this is your jam.
Victoria Whale Watching Prices
So, how much does it cost to go whale watching in Victoria?
Below, I’ve got a handy graph of whale watching prices in Victoria, with some extra info on Victoria whale watching season.
| Tour | Season | Price | More Info |
| Half Day Whale Tour | Mar 29 – Nov 6 | $199.99 | More info |
| Sunset Whale Tour | May to October | $199.99 | More info |
| Zodiac Whale Tour | Year round | $203.99 | More info |
| Springtide Tour | Year round | $139.99 | More info |
| 5 Star Whales | Year round | $158.00 | More info |
| Eagle Wing Tour | Year round | $188.10 | More info |
Best of all? The majority of Victoria’s top killer whale tours have 5 star reviews:
Victoria Whale Watching Discounts
Sure, it’s not uncommon to find Victoria whale watching discounts online.
That said, I hate to report that these are ‘click farms’ with fake whale watching discount codes.
Basically, they get you to sign up for their email lists, and then they’ll spam you forever with offers!
As I mentioned in my other post, whale watching in Victoria is a once-in-a-lifetime experience: it can’t be put on sale like a sweater.
I’ve been running this site for seven years now, and Victoria orca tour prices go up every year, so it’ll never be cheaper than now!
Booking Victoria Whale Watching Tickets
Warning: For environmental reasons, whale watching tours of Victoria run at limited capacities (as little as 12 seats per). Ensure you book your tickets way in advance or it’s likely you’ll find your dates fully booked.
Getting Victoria whale tour tickets is as easy as shopping on Amazon – in fact, it’s probably even easier.
Below, I’ll take you through the steps using our top Victoria whale watching tour as an example.
The same is valid for all the whale tours here, but since it’s my #1 recommended Victoria killer whale tour I’ll choose this.
1. Follow the Link to Your Best Victoria Whale Tour of Choice
- Head to the half-day Victoria whale watching tour portal on Viator
- With this link, you’re booking at a NASDAQ company (Tripadvisor) with a $3 billion market cap
- Here, you get book-now-pay-later whale tours of Victoria to help with your budget
- You also get Viator’s lowest price guarantee to save money
2. Choose a Whale Tour Time
- Click the green ‘Check Availability’ button on the product page
- Select a date on the calendar
- Choose the number of people and click ‘Apply’
- Select your time and click ‘Reserve Now & Pay Later’ or ‘Book Now’
FYI: If you choose ‘Reserve Now & Pay Later,’ you’ll have the option to pay for the tickets at any point up to 48 hours before the whale tour.
Change your mind? Either way, you can cancel your tickets free of charge up to 24 hours before.
Boom! You can lock in your killer whale tour of Victoria dates in less than 2 minutes.
Victoria BC Whale Watching Tour Reviews
Again, with thousands of reviews of whale watching tours in Victoria, it’s amazing they maintain a 5 star-rating across the board.
Let’s break down these Victoria whale tours even further:
Half Day Whale Watching Tour of Victoria Reviews
Pros:
- Multiple daily departures (11:30 am and 12:30 pm)
- Cheapest Victoria whale watching tour
- Purpose-built catamaran
- Year-round whale sighting guarantee
- Crew of 3-4 certified naturalists
- Complimentary coffee, tea, and hot cocoa
- Free photo package
Cons:
- Tends to be fully booked well in advance (high season)
I’m not going to go too deep here – this is an award-winning whale tour, and with a five-star rating and over 1500+ reviews, it’s impossible to go wrong.
Here’s a preview from Viator customer Jamie_W:
>> Check out 1500+ more reviews on Viator now
Victoria Zodiac Whale Watching Tour Reviews
Pros:
- Victoria’s only year-round whale tour
- Adrenaline-pumping sea safari for thrill seekers
- Generally covers more ground and sees more whale pods
- Year-round whale sighting guarantee
- Fully guided orca tour
- Mustang suits, gloves, hats, and goggles provided
Cons:
- Not for young children, the elderly, or disabled visitors
- More likely to sell out (just 12 seats per tour)
Yet again, we’re looking at a 5-star rating across 500+ Victoria zodiac whale tour reviews.
If you’re looking to get the heart rate up and crave speed + adventure, this is the whale tour for you.
Here’s a great whale watching review from Viator customer Ellie_H:
>> Check out 500+ zodiac tour reviews now
Victoria Sunset Whale Watching Tour Reviews
Pros:
- Amazing light for photographs
- Longest Victoria killer whale tour (4 hours)
- Heated cabin + floor-to-ceiling windows
- Includes a professional photo package
- Free coffee/tea/cocoa
Cons:
- $4.00 more expensive
- Evenings tend to be colder on the 360° viewing platform
There’s just so much to like here, and with a 5-star rating across 450+ whale tour reviews, it feels like an automatic for people looking for evening fun.
Here’s a preview from Viator customer Kathleen_L:
>> Check out 450+ sunset tour reviews now
Prince of Whales Reviews
All the top Victoria tours listed in my Victoria whale watch post are offered by Prince of Whales.
This is an industry leader and has been providing excellent service for decades.
Here’s why I go with them over everybody else:
- Prince of Whales Excellence:
- Recognized as the best Victoria whale watching tour provider.
- Offers safety, flexibility, and convenience.
- Utilizes air spotters for closer whale encounters.
- Provides a whale-spotting guarantee: see a whale or get another tour free.
- Company Reputation:
- Leading whale watching company in British Columbia for over 25 years.
- Top reputation in safety, reliability, and customer service.
- Consistently receives 5-star reviews on Viator.
- Certified by Transport Canada.
- Flexibility and Options:
- Largest fleet on the West Coast, offering diverse tour types.
- Options include half-day adventures, morning and sunset tours, and super-fast zodiac tours.
- Suitable for all travellers, regardless of age, fitness, or budget.
- Convenient Location:
- Central Wharf Street location near Victoria’s Inner Harbour.
- Close to top hotels, restaurants, and attractions, ideal for day trippers and cruise passengers.
Tips for the Best Whale Watching in Victoria BC
- Monitor Weather Conditions:
- Check Victoria BC weather conditions a few days before your Victoria whale tour.
- Looking stormy? If you’ve been smart and booked using the links in this post, you can just cancel free of charge..
- Take a Motion Sickness Tablet:
- History of seasickness? Consider taking a motion sickness tablet one hour before.
- Still worried? Skip the zodiac whale tour and go for the larger semi-enclosed vessels.
- Dress Properly For Whale Watching:
- Regardless of season, dress in layers and prepare for cooler, breezier conditions on the water.
- Long pants, beanies/toques, gloves for early/late season.
- Hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen for summer whale watching.
- Take Your Whale Watching Trip Early:
- Book your Victoria whale tour early in the itinerary.
- This ensures you can utilize the “no whales, free trip” guarantee.
- That way, you’re sure you can fit in another killer whale tour before you leave.
- Missed your chance? Consider booking a Vancouver whale watching trip on your next stop.
- Bring a Camera:
- Obviously! A camera with a zoom lens is recommended for those epic closeup shots.
- Consider booking the Sunset Whale Watching Tour for epic golden hour lighting.
- Purchase Your Orca Tour Tickets Online in Advance:
- Buy tickets online to secure the best rates and compare different Victoria whale tour packages.
- Whale watching in Victoria tends to sell out in advance, so be on the ball.
Still Looking for the Best Whale Watching Tours in Victoria Canada?
I hope I’ve done everything I can to find you the best whale watching in Victoria BC.
But if I’ve missed anything, don’t be afraid to hit me up on our Vancouver Planner Facebook page or in the comments below.
Whether you’re after info on Victoria whale watching or anything else – I’m just a couple of clicks away.
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