SPIRIT OF ORCA Whale Watching,
Birding & Wildlife Tours
Whale watching, Birding, and Photography are my passions. Hi, my name is Ken, and I will be your captain, tour guide, photographer, and certified naturalist for an unforgettable and personal experience on your eco tour. On some tours, when Laurel is not working as a nurse, she will join us to share her knowledge and love for our whales and wildlife.
Many come here to fulfill their bucket list by seeing Orcas, also known as Killer Whales, swimming free in the wild. You have made the right choice, choosing to tour with us on the most comfortable private party vessel in the San Juan Islands of the Salish Sea.
Whatever your interest, whether it’s primarily ecotourism, whale watching, or birding, we will do our best to fulfill your interests.
We have over 400 orcas in this region, and you’ll also see other wildlife on your adventure here among the San Juan Islands of the Salish Sea.
Join us as we explore the Salish Sea and the San Juan Islands. We depart from Anacortes, Washington, one of the best places in the world to see orcas.
Departing from Anacortes has the advantage of avoiding ferry reservation hassles, late ferries, or ferry cancellations.
If you are late, it affects the quality of the tour. The travel time to and from the whales remains the same; however, the time spent viewing the marine life is cut short. Please arrive early.
Your adventure starts with a Required safety briefing 15 minutes before departure time. Please arrive dockside 15 minutes early and ready to go. Then we idle out of the marina as our adventure takes off.
I will be taking photographs, and once edited, I will send you the best images. While this is not a service I charge for, I do it as a pleasure to share our day’s adventure with you. Furthermore, all photographs on this site are from my previous tours!
We offer exclusively private party tours of three or six hours aboard Spirit of Orca². Our vessel is perfect for one to six passengers. A smaller group with a walk-around cabin on three sides means you are poised for optimal viewing and a truly extraordinary experience for you, your family, or your small group of friends.
Spirit of Orca² is a very comfortable, seaworthy, and stable catamaran. Feel free to bring snacks, lunch, and drinks. People often ask about the advantages of a six-hour tour compared to a three-hour tour. It is simply this: more time spent viewing the marine life. With two three-hour tours, we go to and from the viewings twice. In contrast, a six-hour tour offers up to two hours less travel time and the possibility of reaching pods that might be out of reach on a three-hour tour.
We Care, as reflected in our private whale watching, birding & wildlife ecotours.
Spirit of Orca is privileged to work, play, and educate thousands of local and international visitors within the traditional territories of the Coast Salish-speaking peoples of the Samish Indian Nation. Hóy7sxwq’e si7ám. (“Thank you, respected or honorable one.”)
It is important to recognize that protecting whales in their wild and natural environment is one of our greatest passions. After touring with us, I am confident it will become one of yours, too, so that you will have the knowledge to take home and advocate for our whales, orcas, and other wildlife.
Firstly, we practice responsible sustainable viewing, conservation, ecotourism, and education of our guests. Moreover, we are the first line of defense by serving as sentinel guardians of the whales, alerting other vessels unaware of their presence, and notifying marine mammal rescue of entanglements with fishing gear or injured mammals. In addition, we also supply photos to marine biologists to further their studies and work, and to law enforcement in instances where whales are being harassed.
Equally important, our viewing guidelines are among the most conservative in the world. With this in mind, the state of Washington has taken our viewing guidelines and adopted them into law for all vessels. Furthermore, our top priority is the safety and well-being of our guests and the whales.
What do we see?
You may see orcas, humpbacks, minkes, and maybe a gray or fin whale. Additionally, we may see stellar sea lions, harbor seals, Dall’s porpoises, harbor porpoises, Pacific white-sided dolphins, 172 species of sea birds, including bald eagles, tufted puffins, kingfishers, great blue herons, pelicans, and many other species of marine life.
This is ‘the place’ to see orcas and whales. A huge advantage of touring with us here in the San Juan Islands is that there are only a handful of days a year when whales are not seen.
No two whale-watching tours are the same. Each is a unique and beautiful experience as you take in the beauty and marine life of the Salish Sea.
Private Party Tour Pricing
3 hr – $925
6 hr – $1850
Private Whale-Watching Tour
Bird Watching / Birding Tours
(172 species of seabirds in the Salish Sea)
Photography Tours
Islands Cruise / Wedding / Marriage Proposal
Let us know how we can fulfill your dream.
Cancellation Policy
