Whether on a zodiac or cruiser vessel, our wildlife tours are outstanding. We must stay close to home if we want to keep our citizens safe. About whale watching in tofino you cant leave vancouver island without visiting the west coast. Oct 26, 2015 whalewatching tragedy in tofino, british columbia ari sarsalari reports on the tragedy that happened while whalewatching tofino, british columbia. At jamies whaling station, we pride ourselves on getting. Our whale watching season usually starts in mid february and lasts until the end of october. Launching from tofino takes you into clayoquot sound. Long beach lodge resort tofino whale watching tours. Whale watching in tofino pacific gray whales in tofino, bc. The hot springs tour is not a whale watching trip although you may see some, but a neat option never the less. The whale report remote passages whale watching, tofino, bc.
Marvel at the spectacular landscapes and wildlife that make tofino so special. Ucluelet whale watching covered tour jamies whaling. Whale watching tofino and ucluelet west coast motel. Read on to find the best time to go, what to expect, the kinds of whales on the west coast of vancouver island and plenty of other tips to picking a whale.
Tolles whale watching adventure tofino wildlife tours. It starts with a mind boggling 20,000 gray whales swimming past our shores in spring on their annual migration from birthing waters by the baja. We had a hire car and took it on the ferry from horseshoe bay to nanaimo. There are two places to whale watch from the pacific rim. From the safety of our boats you can respectfully watch gray whales, humpbacks, biggs orca killer whales, black. Tlaoquiaht whale hunt tashii paddle school and tofino sup. We have a strong sense of urgency and duty to the community. With a significant focus on marine ecosystems and coastal life education, the pacific rim whale festival celebrates the continued protection and annual return of migrating pacific grey whales to the coastal waters of the communities of tofino, ucluelet and pacific rim national park reserve. Tofino whale watching tofino whale watching tours tofino whale articles. Tofino, british columbia, canada monthly weather accuweather.
Tofino whale watching tours the whale centre, tofino, bc. From time immemorial until the early 1900s, my nuuchahnulth tlaoquiaht ancestors were in the practice of hunting whales from canoes. From pacific rim national park to cox bay, experience some of canadas most beautiful beaches and wild, rugged coastlines. The whales are known to feed in the sheltered bays near tofino beginning in march. Whale watching in tofino international education viu. Our season starts with the longest migration of any mammal, the gray whale. Clayoquot sound is very popular with gangs of transient killer whales that are on the hunt for food. The whaleplanner february a whale watching infographic. Whale watching tofino, west coast vancouver island. Our eco adventure tours combine a learning atmosphere with the excitement of. Tofino whale watching tours west coast aquatic safaris. Enjoy a private whale watching experience with our professional guides. Tofino marine tours, fishing charters and other tours. For two weeks, nearly 20,000 grey whales pass by the coast in what is one of the largest sea mammal migrations in the world.
Hi all, were staying in tofino for 4 days in mid june and are planning on taking a whale watching tour. Tofino fishing tofino fishing charters have expert experienced guides here. Tofino whale watching inc discover tofino bc canada. The whaleplanner january a whale watching infographic. Whale watching in ucluelet, whale watching at subtidal. The whole tour was so much fun and its incredibly exciting going out and not knowing what youll find. Tofino boat chartersair charters explore clayoquot sound. On sunday, february 21st remote passages guide rich chiovitti and his guests confirmed a single gray whale travelling steadily northward their observation was made just a few kilometers offshore of tofino. Annually we also enjoy record numbers of humpback whales and our summer resident gray whales. Ucluelet whale watching covered tour search for whales and other extraordinary wildlife aboard a cruiser vessel in ucluelets barkley sound. Whale watching in tofino in june tofino forum tripadvisor. Nearly yearround, visitors can take to the seas for their chance to spot the largest mammal on earth in its natural habitat. Whale watching tours in tofino, bc they dive, spout, breach, spyhop and lobtail. February is also a good time to see the big whales around the baja california, mexico.
The bc coroners service says five people have died after a whale watching vessel sank off the coast of tofino, b. Gray whale food is very scarce in warm water so winter is essentially a long fast during which the whales can lose up to a third of their body weight. Hot springs tours the whale centre located in tofino, british columbia has offered whale watching, bear watching, bird watching and hot springs tours in clayoquot sound to the ecominded explorer for over 33 years. Coroner rules deaths of 6 in tofino whalewatching tragedy. We then drove to tofino via port alberni with the mountains in our sights on route 4 from tofino, we were able to walk through the forest to get to the beach which we had to. Ten reasons to visit tofino in the winter tofino info.
Both places can have good whale watching depending on the time of year. It starts with a mind boggling 20,000 gray whales swimming past our shores in spring on their annual migration from birthing waters by the baja peninsula north to the bering strait by alaska. Join tofino whale watching inc on a wildlife safari for orca, humpback, and grey whales aboard our spacious, high speed, cabinstyle cruisers. The tofino whale watching season begins in march with the pacific rim whale festival and lasts into autumn with peak sightings in spring during the gray whale northward migration and throughout the summer months culminating in their southbound return in early september. Went on the whale watching tour with captain jackie and julia we saw minke, grey, humpback whales, as well as seals, mula mula, harbour porpoises and dog fish. Apart from the whales in tofino, it is just an amazing experience to be at the edge of the pacific rim in that part of vancouver island. Zodiacs and larger boats they have a very popular tour islands, whales and bears a trip to the broken group islands part of pacific rim national park, with a focus on bear and whale watching. Here in tofino, youll have a chance to encounter three primary species of underwater giants while on a wildlife tour. A young humpback whale entertains tourists very closely. For example, jamies does tours out of both ucluelet and tofino, however in tofino they also offer a hot springs tour and a flight seeing tour. Tofino whale watching whales and other wildlife love tofino. We offer various morning, midday, and afternoon departures. The whale hunt is one that was central to our culture.
May, june, september and october are great months to go whale watching in tofino. We recently did a whale watching tour on our 3day trip to tofino, and it was such an amazing experience. Often gray whales will stay in the area for the summer to feed. Tofino, but the crew also went above and beyond to make the experience fun, safe, full of sightings with the utmost respect for all the wildlife along the. Or the big whales, such as finbacks and blue whales. Black bear guesthouse luxurious self catering suits with stunning views of the tofino inlet and close to the beach. The gray whale migration from baja california, mexico begins to arrive along the west coast of vancouver island in february and continues through late april. The offerings of tofino whale watching operators are as diverse as the companies.
Ocean outfitters is the perfect place to set off on all of your tofino activities. Whale watching in tofino with jamies full time canada. I just wanted to check whether there was much difference in the tours going out of tofino compared to those from ucluelet. They conduct research of the marine ecosystems, monitor marine life and promote public awareness of the marine environment in clayoquot sound. One year of whale watching in just one infographic. Most common in this area are the summer resident gray whales. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for sea lions, sea birds and resident bald eagles.
The 30ton giants can be seen on tofino whale watching tours, as early as february, with females and calves passing by from mid march, through april and into early may. Heres an overview of what its like whale watching in tofino, with a few tips on what to wear, which company to go with, and what to. Tofino surfing surfing waves for beginners and experts. Offering daily ecofriendly whale watching, bear watching and hot springs tours for over 30 years from beautiful tofino, british columbia. We are proud leaders in responsible whale watching, bear watching and wildlife viewing and have a strong passion for educating guests about the wonders and the fragility of clayoquot sound and tofino.
They all have many impressive maneuvers which you can learn about. Whales and bears a trip to the broken group islands part of pacific rim national park, with a focus on bear and whale watching. And rightfully so, the gray whale has the longest migration of any other mammal. Tofino whale watching tours ocean outfitters, tofino bc. Would one location be better than other at this time of the year. No visit to tofino is complete without a trip on a whalewatching tour. The whale centre, tofino, bc tofino whale watching, bear. Jul 05, 2015 whale watching out of tofino british columbia. Peak whale watching ever so fond of festivals, tofino, along with ucluelet, celebrate the grey whale migration every march during the pacific rim whale festival. The best time of year to go whale watching in tofino. The whale centre tour guide tofino, british columbia. The whale centre has over thirty years experience in sharing tofino and clayoqout sounds ecosystems with guests from all over the world.
The research station is very important to clayoquot sound. From exciting fast zodiac visits to the whales to more leisurely cruises on large comfortable vessels, also in combination to a visit to the hot springs. Get out on our open vessels to view grey whales, killer whales and humpback whales. The waters surrounding tofino home a variety of gray, humpback and maybe even orca whales. In both cases if no whales are found then you typically receive a free pass for another try. Daily whale watching tours in tofino, british columbia. Whale watching tofino vs ucluelet tofino forum tripadvisor. Migrating humpbacks join resident grays from march to september and roaming orcas year round. Guided whale watching in tofino is possible from february to november. March 15th to october 12th in clayoquot and barkley sounds, we most often view pacific gray whales. Whale watching tofino, west coast vancouver island edward homer. Whale watching in tofino is the best location in the world for taking in the breathtaking sights to witness these gentle giants up close.
Best tofino activities best tofino surfing, whale watching. Whale watching in tofino head out on the pristine waters of clayoquot sound in search of mighty gray and humpback whales. The whale was low profile when it surfaced, and did not sound or show its tail fluke as it travelled. Whale tours tofinos waters, known as the clayoquot sound, is the best whale watching location in. While we feel that the districts of ucluelet and tofino are currently safe zones, we would not want this status to change. Tours from tofino go into the open ocean where large humpback whales can also be found. In february the first nonbreeding gray whales arrive off vancouver island en route to their arctic feeding waters in the bering, chukchi and western beaufort seas. Apr 14, 2017 whale watching in tofino, british columbia, canada. Hop aboard the blue pearl for a coastline cruise along the north pacific ocean. Whale watching is one of the top things to do in tofino, b. Tofino whale watching tours the adventure of a lifetime. This is when the weather is warmest and whale sightings are highest. Offering whale watching, bear watching and hot springs tours daily. With a donation or an adoption of a whale you can help to make the world a place where whales and dolphins are free and safe.
These are all typical maneuvers you may expect to see while whale watching off the west coast of vancouver island. Hi there, ill be in vancouver and tofino in midjune and would be interested in a whale watching tour. Enjoy miles of spectacular scenery aboard our luxury covered boats, or for a real thrill jump aboard one of our zodiacs and experience the wildside. Whale watching tofino west coast aquatic safaris, tofino. With 600700 hp powering our vessels, bc whale tours offers guests one of the longest ranges for whale watching tours in all of the victoria whale watching industry. You can find her saturdays from late may to early october at the tofino market in the village green from 102pm. Tofino has a long whale watching season, running from march sometimes late february through october. Make sure to stop in to see the whale museum, featuring local marine natural history including a grey whale skeleton and a great selection of gifts.
Whale watching tofino and ucluelet bc humpback, grays. So, with heavy hearts, we feel it is our responsibility to postpone the pacific rim whale festival for march 2020. My husband and i were in tofino on our honeymoon and called up tofino whale watching to do a tour of one of the islands. Aug 26, 2017 about whale watching in tofino you cant leave vancouver island without visiting the west coast. Coroner rules deaths of 6 in tofino whalewatching tragedy as accidental the leviathan ii, run by jamies whaling station, sunk after it was overcome by. Whale watching tofino vs ucluelet tofino message board. Over the winter they breed and calve in warm mexican waters then, mid february to april moms and calves till june, migrate close by our shore on the way to cold alaskan waters, where the food is. British columbias west coast is known for whales and sea life, but tofino is especially known for whale watching as its part of the migratory path for several types of whales. Now until march, jamies whaling station will be running a special nature tour. Experience the west coast on a 3 hour whale watching tour through the islands around the tofino area. At this time all scheduled events have been cancelled. Join us for a true tofino adventure to the famous hot springs cove. We offer competitive rates, experienced guides and are locally owned.
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