Two excellent whale watching tours operate from Nanaimo’s harbor on Vancouver Island. Both are 4-hour excursions offering intimate encounters with the Salish Sea’s magnificent marine life.
I’m especially fond of the open boat tour – it’s perfect for photographers and nature enthusiasts who want unobstructed views. The semi-covered tour, with its weather protection, is my top pick for families and those preferring more comfort.
What makes both tours special is their expert-led approach, with marine biologists sharing fascinating insights about the whales and local ecosystem. Each vessel is helmed by Transport Canada certified captains who know exactly where to spot these magnificent creatures.
Good To Know
- Nanaimo offers two excellent whale watching tours – an open boat tour and a semi-covered boat tour – providing intimate encounters with marine life in the Salish Sea.
- The open boat tour is perfect for photographers and nature enthusiasts, while the semi-covered tour offers weather protection for families and those preferring comfort.
- Both tours are led by expert marine biologists and Transport Canada certified captains, ensuring an educational and unforgettable wildlife experience.
- Highlights of the tours include the opportunity to spot whales and other marine creatures, participate in marine conservation discussions, and identify individual whales using onboard catalogs.
- The tours provide a comprehensive package, including essential amenities, with the semi-covered tour offering additional features such as onboard restrooms and sunscreen.
Nanaimo: Whale Watching Open Boat Tour
Situated along Nanaimo’s scenic waterfront seawall, the Whale Watching Open Boat Tour offers an immersive exploration of the Salish Sea and the diverse marine life that inhabits it. This 4-hour excursion takes guests on a cruise through the Gulf Islands archipelago, where they’ll have the opportunity to spot whales and other fascinating creatures.
Led by a professional marine biologist guide and a Transport Canada certified captain, the tour provides a wealth of information about the different whale species and their natural history. Guests can participate in marine conservation discussions and even identify individual whales using the onboard catalogs. The tour includes essential amenities such as an onboard toilet and anti-exposure suits, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
While parking and lunch aren’t included, the tour offers a comprehensive package that allows visitors to fully enjoy the wonders of the Salish Sea.
Read our full review: Nanaimo: Whale Watching Open Boat Tour Review
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Nanaimo: Whale Watching Semi-Covered Boat Tour
For those seeking a more sheltered whale watching experience, the Nanaimo: Whale Watching Semi-Covered Boat Tour offers a comfortable and immersive journey through the Salish Sea. Priced from $171.01 per person, this 4-hour tour provides a live, expert guide with a background in marine biology, as well as a captain certified by Transport Canada.
The tour promises sightings of healthy, growing whale populations, or the next trip is on the company. Guests can expect to cruise through the Gulf Islands archipelago, learn about whale species and their roles in the marine ecosystem, and observe a variety of marine life. The semi-covered boat ensures protection from the elements, and the tour includes on-board restrooms and sunscreen.
While parking, lunch, and tips aren’t included, the Nanaimo: Whale Watching Semi-Covered Boat Tour delivers an educational and unforgettable wildlife experience, led by knowledgeable guides dedicated to marine conservation.
Read our full review: Nanaimo: Whale Watching Semi-Covered Boat Tour Review
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The Sum Up
Nanaimo offers excellent whale watching opportunities. The open boat tour and semi-covered boat tour provide unique experiences to spot whales in their natural habitat. Whether you’re searching for orcas, gray whales, or humpbacks, these tours offer an up-close and unforgettable encounter with these majestic marine mammals. With knowledgeable guides and comfortable boats, visitors can enjoy the breathtaking scenery while observing the whales in their element.