About Coastal Rainforest Safaris

Coastal Rainforest Safaris started offering wildlife viewing boat tour in the summer of 2020. The company is owned and operated by Mike Willie and Andrew Jones. Both have separately run successful wilderness tourism companies on northern Vancouver Island for over five and twenty years, respectively. Their individual companies both have tours recognized as “Canadian Signature Experiences” by Destination Canada. The partnership between Mike and Andrew at Coastal Rainforest Safaris combines their strengths in customer service, wildlife viewing and cultural interpretation, along with their love of welcoming visitors from around the world to show them all that this incredible region has to offer.

Coastal Rainforest Safaris is proud to be a member of Indigenous Tourism BCIndigenous Tourism Association of Canada, and the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association.

Mike Willie

Owner/Lead Guide

Mike Willie - Coastal Rainforest Safaris

Mike is a member of the Musgamakw Dzawada‘enuxw First Nations, part of the Kwakwaka’wakw people who reside in the Northern Vancouver Island region and adjacent mainland. As a leader in his community, Mike has immense knowledge of the history, culture, and environment of this unique region.

In addition to Coastal Rainforest Safaris, Mike is also the owner and founder of Sea Wolf Adventures, which welcomes travellers in the Broughton Archipelago and surrounding areas for grizzly bear viewing day trips, sightseeing, water taxi services, and First Nations’ guided cultural tours.

Andrew Jones

Owner/Lead Guide

Andrew Jones - Coastal Rainforest Safaris

Andrew has had extensive experience in B.C.’s tourism industry since 1998, when his passion for people, adventure, and nature prompted him to launch his kayaking adventure tour business, Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures.  In 2012, Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures’ Kayak with Whales – Base Camp tour was recognized as a Canadian Signature Experience by the Canadian Tourism Commission.

In addition to his 20 years of experience working in the North Island tour industry, Andrew also holds a vast personal knowledge of its history, wildlife, and culture. Andrew has more than three decades of experience working in sales, operations management, customer service, and developing staff at every level of business.

Gabriel Charlie

Lead Guide

Thomas Wamiss

Lead Guide

Andrew (AJ) Jennings

Lead Guide

Tyler Zapp

Naturalist

Mayumi Willie

Naturalist

Port Hardy Whale Watching and Sea Otter Viewing Tours

We are located in Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island.

Coastal Rainforest Safaris offers a rare opportunity to witness orcas from some of the most secluded and untouched areas on northern Vancouver Island. Far from the crowds, our tours take you deep into the heart of Kwakwaka’wakw territory, where the wild beauty of the coast comes alive.

Join us for an unforgettable journey led by Indigenous guides who share their deep connection to these waters, their stories, and the incredible marine life that call them home.

Adventure. Culture. Wilderness. This is the north like you’ve never seen it before.

#CoastalRainforestSafaris #VancouverIslandNorth #OrcaWatching #indigenousbc #ExploreBC #goindigenous
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Orca sightings are always a special treat during our tours.
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#orcas #whalewatching #orca #killerwhale #visitporthardy #gonorthisland #explorebc #indigenousbc
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We are looking forward to seeing loads of humpback whales this summer.

#humpbackwhale #whalewatching #gonorthisland #explorebc #indigenousbc #visitporthardy
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Can`t wait for another year of sea otter viewing. #seaotters #gonorthisland #indigenousbc ...

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Sea otters might look cute and cuddly, but beneath all that fluff is a non-stop eating machine.⁠

With the highest metabolisms of any marine mammal, sea otters need to eat up to 25% of their body weight every day just to stay warm. That’s like a 150 lb person eating nearly 40 lbs of food daily!⁠

In addition to their supercharged metabolism, sea otters have the densest fur in the animal kingdom - up to a million hairs per square inch. This thick fur keeps them warm in chilly waters where most marine mammals rely on blubber.⁠

One of their favourite foods are sea urchins. Not only are they a tasty snack, but by munching on urchins, sea otters help keep kelp forests healthy and thriving. ⁠

Want to see these adorable ecosystem engineers in action? Join us on our Sea Otter and Whale Watching Tour to experience the wild beauty of Vancouver Island North — sea otters, whales, eagles, and more await.⁠
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#SeaOtters #MarineMammals #WildlifeWatching #SeaUrchins #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #VancouverIsland #ExploreBC #indigenousBC
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