San juan island is the center of whale watching in the pacific northwest and therefore friday harbor on san juan island is the best location for departing on a whale watch tour in washington state. Transient or biggs, killer whales aka orca whales can often be seen yearround, as well as steller sea lions, harbor seals, porpoise, bald eagles. Most premier whale watching vacation home on san juan island. So if youre looking for an amazing boating experience in friday harbor, look no further than san juan. Rain showers are few and far between, and we see temperatures in the 80s on a regular basis. The worlds best opportunity to see wild orcas is right here in the san juan islands, february through november. The san juan county council congratulates the national park service on its august 25, 2016 centennial anniversary. You can find local foods at many shops around the islands, or enjoy an unforgettable meal from farmfresh eggs at a diner, to a gourmet meal with a water view. That includes the whale tours by kayak, day kayak tours and overnight kayakcamping tours. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor low. Learn about the areas vibrant ecosystem from the on board naturalist and tour a charming island town. On august 12th, we encountered a humpback whale heading down san juan channel but soon after, we got a report of transients coming up san juan channel. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor low season.
We are planning a trip to the san juan islands in early august. How to make the most of a weekend on the san juan islands. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor low season take a scenic cruise from seattle to friday harbor, where you will embark on an exciting day of whalewatching and sea life exploration. These transients were the t46s and we all held our breath to see what would happen when the humpback and orcas crossed paths. The san juan islands could become home to a sanctuary.
San juan excursions won firstplace honors for best whale watching in 2009 from cityvoters. Orca whale watching in the san juan islands island. Summer in the san juan islands san juan islands washington. Help support the southern resident orcas by making a. San juan 3day explorer tour san juan cruises bellingham. This groupon is not valid for saturdays in july and august, july 4, or labor day. Western prince has provided quality san juan island tours since 1986. Orcas island eclipse charters whale and wildlife tours. No matter where i travel to around the world, nothing compares to the beauty of these small, treefilled islands in the middle of the sparkling blue ocean. Locals answer your faqs about the san juan islands. Nestled in the rainshadow between the olympic mountains and vancouver island, san juan island, unlike most of the pacific northwest, enjoys an average of 250 days of sunshine per year. Most premier whale watching vacation home on san juan. Orca whales range through the san juan islands the most between march and october and you can expect to see them on the vast majority of our tours during that time, although we do have sightings throughout the year. Oct 07, 2018 on august 12th, we encountered a humpback whale heading down san juan channel but soon after, we got a report of transients coming up san juan channel.
A pod of resident killer whales near yellow island, northeast of san juan island. The calm waters near the san juan islands are one of the best places in the world to view wild orcas. A locals guide to whale watching in the san juan islands. One of my favorite places to go in the summer is the san juan islands. In addition to hosting the worlds only whale museum the san juan islands are also home to washington states hidden treasure. No matter where i travel to around the world, nothing compares to the beauty of these small, treefilled islands in the middle of the. With the large number of travelers to the san juan islands, it is necessary to make a reservation to ensure a spot for your car. San juan islands whale watching tours orcas, lopez, shaw. Until then, we are working through the project list and getting everything ready to go. Today, our museum continues to promote stewardship of whales and the salish sea ecosystem through education and research. The waterways surrounding the san juan islands are considered the best place in the world to observe orcas killer whales in the wild, and the best location in the islands to access those waters is san juan outfitters exclusive marine adventure center at roche harbor. Magnificent orca or killer whales live in the san juan islands yearround, and this is the best place in the world to see them in the wild. San juan island 90 miles north of seattle is the best place for orca whale watching as we are located in the heart of salish sea.
Humpback whales, minke whales, and, gray whales also call the region home. When you arrive we have two office locations in friday harbor where you are welcome to drop in anytime. This location allows us to access all the major waterways the whales travel, and we often view whales within the haro. Take a relaxing outing on the waters when you rent a vessel from san juan excursions in friday harbor. Whale watching august 4 august 11 san juan cruises. Whale watching in the san juan islands whale watching kayak. Im planning to fly home this summer and take a day or two to see some of washington that i havent seen before. You can take a quick, 3hour footferry, the san juan clipper, from seattle as well. Join me for a tour of the salish sea among the san juan islands.
Also, are the professional whale watching trips recommended. San juan islands whale watching tours orcas, lopez, shaw island. The salmoneating southern resident killer whales srkw primarily feed on a diet that is more than 85% chinookspeciessalmon. San juan islands lime kiln point state park is a prime whalewatching site with. Summer fun seems endless in the islands, from whale watching, beach hiking, fresh seafood, camping and more. Get the monthly weather forecast for san juan island, wa, including daily highlow, historical averages, to help you plan ahead.
San juan outfitters is known for its low guide to guest ratio kayak tours. Escape the screeching horns and obnoxious wandering carolers of the city and spend a day in the company of freed willies with todays groupon to san juan excursions. Most of the san juan islands whale watching tours originate out of san juan island, with friday harbor and roche harbor being the primary points of embarkation. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor high season take a scenic cruise from seattle to friday harbor, where you will embark on an exciting day of whale watching and sea life exploration. Whale watching in the san juan islands whale watching. Whale watching in the san juan islands postcards to seattle. These three orca whale families come to the san juan islands each year may through september in search of their primary food source, the chinook. San juan safaris offers one of the bestorganized and most professional trips in san juan islands in their new, fast 55foot boat, departing from friday harbor. A transient whale is shown on friday, august 10, 2018, as crews attempt to locate.
Soak in the natural beauty of the pacific northwest aboard the finest whale watching vessel on the entire west coast, the island explorer 5. San juan outfitters owns the exclusive kayak facilities at roche harbor, san juan island and kayak facilities in friday harbor, san juan island. Bring your car over to friday harbor on the washington state ferry one of the worlds best ferry rides and then drive to the harrison house suites just a short distance from the ferry landing. Whale watching seattle and whale watching washington are commonly associated with whale watching in the san juan islands. Jun 29, 2015 a pod of resident killer whales near yellow island, northeast of san juan island. The most common way to get to friday harbor on san juan island. There is nothing quite as spectacular as the sight of a pod of orca whales along the protected coastlines of the san juan islands. San juan island is in the middle of the southern resident orcas federally designated critical habitat and summer feeding and socializing grounds. As much as i love to travel, its always so nice to spend the summer in the pacific northwest. Experience the thrill of seeing orca whales, seals, porpoises and so much more wildlife on one of our whale watching trips off the san juan islands near seattle. Our first whale watching tour from friday harbor is scheduled for saturday, march 4th and we cant wait to get back on the water. The whale museum, located in beautiful friday harbor, washington, opened to the public in 1979 as the first museum in the country devoted to a species living in the wild.
More than 500,000 people annually go whale watching in the waters of washington and british columbia around the san juan islands. San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching. From the start to the end of the month, the length of the day decreases by 1 hour, 36 minutes, implying an average daily decrease of 3 minutes, 12 seconds, and weekly decrease of 22 minutes, 25 seconds the shortest day of the month is august 31, with hours, 26 minutes of daylight and the longest. There are many whale watching tours available for those that dont have a boat, and for those of us that do, knowing where and when to find the whales is a real plus. When the december drizzle gets you down, come on up for some fun and vitamin d. Usually the peak whale watching season is may midjuly, however, it seems like the sightings are getting better and better as we get further into the summer season. A whale watching trip from friday harbor is the perfect choice for any vacation in the pacific northwest, and being near the seattle, washington area makes it a great day trip as well. The smithsonian magazine names port angeles, washington as one of the countrys top whalewatching destinations.
Dont know if i want to take a cruise or try to see them from land. The group is considering two sites in the san juan islands. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor high season take a scenic cruise from seattle to friday harbor, where you will embark on an exciting day of whalewatching and sea life exploration. Over the course of august at orcas island airport, the length of the day is rapidly decreasing. Once you are checked in, relax at the inn or walk around downtown friday harbor visiting local shops, eateries, art galleries or museums. We who live in the san juan islands are fortunate to have had a national historic landmark site designated in 1961 which commemorates and preserves the history of our founding. Orcas, or killer whales, as they are also known, are the main whales that populate the waters surrounding the san juan islands, though the area is also home to minke whales. Whale watching san juan islands friday harbor whale. To start with, the san juan islands are the best place in the usa to spot orca or killer whales and bald eagles, after alaska. This deal cannot be combined with promotion codes or other discounts and is valid on whale watching tours only. Whale watching and wildlife tours in the san juan islands, wa, usa. This was the best birthday and whale watching ever. Bring the whole family to this center, where kiddos are welcomed with open arms. Of all the activities to enjoy here in the san juan islands, whale watching is one of the most spectacular.
We have a trained naturalist on board and are waiting to share the adventure with you. The san juan islands are unique and special, both for. Drive your own car, a rental, or take a shuttle to the washington state ferry terminal in anacortes, wa. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just around the corner. You are visiting the absolute best place in the world to see orca. Something ive always wanted to do is whale watching in the san juan islands. Whether you book a roche harbor or friday harbor whale watching tour, you are all but guaranteed to.
Whale report blog whale watching san juan islands san. The san juan islands are an archipelago in the pacific northwest of the united states between. Go west on highway 20 for about 20 miles to anacortes following the anacortes san juan islands signs. You can also spot humpbacks, minkes, gray whales, steller sea lions, and many other underrated species.
Named as one of the 10 best whale watching destinations in the world, the san juan islands are known around the globe as the place to spot these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. There are a great variety of whales travelling the waters here in the. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just. San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching whale.
We wondered if the humpback would get spooked or harassed. San juan islands whale watching from friday harbor low season take a scenic cruise from seattle to friday harbor, where you will embark on an exciting day of whale watching and sea life exploration. Dec 04, 2019 3 acres on san juan island, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom all ocean front. San juan islands whale watching tours are a great way to see all kinds of wildlife. Enjoy an orca whale aka killer whales nature tour on orcas islands all weather family style boat and renew your spirit with nature. August 10, 2008 blog, general orca whales, san juan islands, victoria sean berry yet another great week of whale watching. Great tour, so informative, the crew was great, so nice, made. On san juan island, youll be able to choose almost any activity. Summer in the san juan islands san juan islands visitors bureau. San juan islands whale watching friday harbor whale watching. We also offer the orca whale adoption program through the whale museum. Soak in the natural beauty of the pacific northwest aboard the finest whale watching vessel on. The most wonderful ways to whale watch in the san juan.
The best place in the world to see orca aka killer whales, and more. Whale watching tour at friday harbor in san juan islands. The san juan islands are worldrenowned for orca research and whale watching and there are two different types of orcas. Orca whale watching tours reservations san juan outfitters. Our august 2010 whale watching report from our kayak tours in the san juan islands. Local tour companies leave from the three largest islands daily and can also be chartered. When is the best time for port angeles whale watching.
The waters of washingtons san juan islands support a great diversity of wildlife and baleen whales are the largest of all marine species we see on our san juan islands kayaking tours. Baleen whales of the san juan islands humpback whale, gray whale, and minke whale. San juan islands whale watching attracts numerous tourists to the pacific northwest on an annual basis. Home to a huge state park, several lakes and various harbors and bays, orcas island holds countless of things to do and adventures to embark on. Take i5 north to exit 230, which is just north of the city of mt. Orca whale watching in the san juan islands island adventures. Orca whales near friday harbor, san juan island june 27. Farmers markets on lopez, orcas and san juan islands are in full swing in summer, with fresh baked goods, locally roasted coffee, farmed and foraged produce, seafood, meats and cheeses, and crafts of all kinds by local artists. Baleen whales completely lack teeth and filter small prey such as plankton, worms, and. A day watching for whales and other sea creatures around the san juan islands. Head out on a kayak trip, cycle around lopez, or climb mount constitution on orcas. Whale watching season in the san juan islands is just around.
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