Are there orcas in Vancouver?
When it comes to whale watching tours, orcas are often considered the main attraction. The waters around Vancouver Island host large resident pods of nearly 100 of these whales, as well as small pods of transient orcas that travel across wide ranges of coastline.
Can you see killer whales in Vancouver?
What to expect: Located along Vancouver Island’s northeast coast, Telegraph Cove is one of the best places in the world to see orcas. The protected waters of Johnstone Strait and the Broughton Archipelago are home to around 200 whales each summer. Most of these are orcas, but humpback whales can also be seen here.
What time of year are orcas in Vancouver?
The best time of year to see orcas in Vancouver is between May and October when spawning river salmon attract the whales. That said, while resident killer whales feed mostly on salmon, transient orcas eat small mammals, so it’s not uncommon to see transient killer whales, too.
Are there orca whales in BC?
There are three kinds of orca whales in B.C.: the northern and southern residents, who stay around Vancouver Island and the Washington islands; the transients, who swim from California and Mexico up to Alaska; and the offshores, who spend most of their time far from shore and come close to land only on rare occasions.
When can you see orcas in BC?
The most important part of viewing whales in B.C. is deciding the best time to go: Orcas: June through the end of September. Peak orca numbers and sightings tend to be from mid-July until mid-September.
Is whale watching in Vancouver worth it?
Vancouver is one of the best locations in the world for whale watching. Thousands of whales migrate through the nearby waters and several pods of orcas live here year-round.
Where do orcas live in BC?
Vancouver Island
Northern residents are most commonly seen in the waters around the northern end of Vancouver Island, and in sheltered inlets along BC’s Central and North Coasts. They also range northward into Southeast Alaska in the winter months.
Is whale watching better in Vancouver or Victoria?
There are more whale watching boats here than any other region since Victoria hosts more tourists than any other place on Vancouver Island. Victoria is one of the top spots for Orca (Killer) whale watching on Vancouver Island but you also have a chance to spot Humpback, Minke and Gray Whales.
What time of day is best to see whales Vancouver?
But first, we stress that there’s no “best” time of day to go whale watching. Whales are out and about doing their thing day and night, so whether you go out in the morning, afternoon or evening you’ll always have a great chance of seeing whales and other marine wildlife.
What whales can you see in Vancouver?
What types of whales will you see? Many varieties of whales pass through the waters of Vancouver’s west coast including humpbacks, orcas, grey whales and minke whales. Each passes through the seas at slightly different times of the year but overall whale watching season is considered to run from March to October.