Orca Whales in Their Natural Habitat
Find Out MoreA Premier Day Trip Package from Seattle to the San Juan Islands to see Orcas in the Wild
Seattle Orca Whale Watching
Partnering with San Juan Safaris for an incredible orca whale watching tour you’ll never forget.
We are located in the San Juan Islands just 90 miles north of downtown Seattle. The San Juans are the best place to see wild orca whales in the United States. You’ll be amazed when you see the power and beauty of these incredible creatures in their natural habitat.
We offer a package deal where you take a float plane from Seattle to our departure point in Friday Harbor. If flying is not your ideal, our tours are an easy day trip from Seattle by car and ferry. Take the scenic route and drive from Seattle to Anacortes then hop aboard the Washington State Ferry to Friday Harbor.
Call us at 800-450-6858 to book or email for more information.
Whale Watching + Plane
See Seattle & Puget Sound from a new perspective! Fly from Seattle to the Port of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Then board our boat for a day of orca whale watching.
Whale Watching
The calm waters around San Juan Island are considered by many to be the best place to see wild orca whales. A wonderful day trip by car or plane from Seattle!
Kayak Tours
See whales and wildlife in the San Juan Islands up close. Explore the islands in stable sea kayaks with the help of our experienced guides. Day and overnight trips available!
Our Crew
Our knowledgeable and friendly guides and naturalists are eager to teach you about whales, wildlife, and the local area. We’re here to help you have the trip of a lifetime.
Why Choose Us?
At Seattle Orca Whale Watching (in partnership with San Juan Safaris) we take great pride in providing you with the best orca whale watching and wildlife tours in the Pacific Northwest. Our guides and naturalists work to create educational, fun, and engaging tours that make for memories that will last a lifetime.
We offer a variety of tours in the beautiful waters surrounding the San Juan Islands. The area is known for its incredible wild orca whales and amazing natural beauty. MSNBC says the San Juans are “celebrated for their spectacular whale-watching and wildlife-viewing opportunities.”
As a member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, our captains are in constant contact with all vessels on the water and track all whale sightings in real time. We see orca whales on over 90% of our tours during peak season.
About Our Boat
Our main vessel, M/V Osprey has two viewing decks with space for every passenger along the railing. Osprey is spacious and comfortable, great for families and groups! We travel further and faster than other whale watching tours, letting us cover more water and increasing our chances of seeing whales.
M/V Osprey is coast guard approved for 126 passengers, but we limit all tours to 85 guests. This helps to make sure that there’s plenty of viewing space always.
The Osprey’s other features include:
- Large heated cabin with plenty of windows
- Bow and stern seating
- Covered outside seating
- Full wraparound viewing deck
- Two on-board restrooms
- A galley where beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks and concession style snacks are available for purchase
About Our Team
All of our tours are staffed by marine naturalists who will teach you about the wildlife, ecology, and geology of the Salish Sea. We encourage you to ask questions and love to share stories about the orcas and the local area. Our experienced boat captains make sure you get the best views possible and have been working in the area for many years.
San Juan Safaris is widely known for having the most experienced staff on the water and we’re proud that many of our team members have been working with us for almost a decade.
Directions
Getting to San Juan Island
There are two easy and beautiful ways to access San Juan Island – by plane or car and ferry!
Flying from Seattle to Friday Harbor
At San Juan Safaris we work exclusively with Kenmore Air to create a one-of-a-kind Whale Plane Package for a fun, easy, and quick day trip from Seattle. You’ll fly on a float plane from downtown Seattle to the Friday Harbor Marina. The flight takes just 45 minutes and you’ll land steps away from our storefront and vessel.
The package includes both roundtrip airfare and a Whale Watch and Wildlife Tour. Want to spend the night on San Juan Island? No problem! You can fly back at a later date at no extra cost.
Driving from Seattle to Friday Harbor
From downtown Seattle you can drive to Anacortes and catch the Washington State Ferry, part of the Washington Scenic Byway. You’ll love the relaxing ferry trip that winds through the San Juan archipelago to its final destination of the Friday Harbor ferry terminal– just steps from San Juan Safaris!
Let Us Help
If you’re planning a whale watching trip to the San Juan Islands, just ask us and we’ll be more than happy to help you plan your trip.
Contact Seattle Orca Whale Watching
We are located at 950 Westlake Ave N., Seattle, WA 98109 Phone: (800) 450-6858. You can also reach us through our partner San Juan Safaris; their office and whale watching vessels are conveniently located next to the ferry terminal in Friday Harbor and are located close to shops, restaurants, and hotels, and are a quick walk from anywhere in town.
Questions? Call us now at 360-378-1323 or (800) 450-6858. Our Whale Watching office is open daily in season 8 AM to 6 PM Pacific Time.
Blog & News
Wildlife Abounds in the San Juan and Southern Gulf Islands
Thursday, March 22 | M/V Sea Lion | 12:00 Today was what I’d call a quintessential Pacific Northwest day. Low-lying clouds dotted the islands as the M/V Sea Lion chugged away from a rainy Friday Harbor in search of whales and wildlife. We headed north up San Juan...
Bigg’s Orcas in the Salish Sea… with the Candlestick? This Whodunnit’s been Solved!
Wednesday, March 14, 2018 – M/V Sea Lion – 12:00 Noon Leaving Friday Harbor on Wednesday with a great little group of folks, Captain Mike and I turned our sights northward towards whispers of orcas. As we traveled up San Juan Channel we found ourselves face-to-face...
Short Charter, Great Wildlife!
[Naturalist Sarah – 02/07/2018 - M/V Sea Lion – 01:00pm Charter] Today marked our first trip from Friday Harbor of 2018! In preparation for a charter later this summer we hosted a small group aboard M/V Sea Lion on a short two-hour charter to check out the...