Sea Otter Viewing and Whale Watching Tour
Join us on an unforgettable journey through the wildlife-rich waters, islands, and shores off the northern edge of Vancouver Island. Our Sea Otter Viewing and Whale Watching tour is more than just a trip; it’s an immersive exploration into the essence of nature’s unmatched splendor, guided by the timeless rhythms of the sea and the gentle whispers of the cedar forests.
Tour Highlights
- Duration: A comprehensive experience lasting 5 ½ to 6 hours, designed to immerse you fully in the wonders of the natural world. Lunch, soft drinks, and hot drinks are provided.
- Abundant and Diverse Wildlife: Opportunities to encounter humpback whales, sea otters, Dall’s porpoises, Pacific white-sided dolphins, orcas, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, and diverse seabirds, each in their natural settings.
- Breathtaking Landscapes: Travel through the territories of numerous Kwakwakaʼwakw First Nations, where the sea meets the rainforest, creating landscapes of breathtaking beauty.
- Cultural Insight and Expert Navigation: Our guides, deeply passionate about wildlife, the local ecosystems, and the rich tapestry of indigenous culture and history, offer unparalleled insights, guiding you to prime locations for wildlife observation.
- Advanced Vessels: Our commitment to comfort is unrivaled. Our custom made vessels are specifically designed with individual shock mitigating seats to traverse vast areas efficiently and comfortably, maximizing your opportunities to encounter the diverse wildlife that thrives in these waters.
Tour Details
- Minimum age of 10 years old. Passengers 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Tours depart from Coastal Rainforest Safari’s office at 7185 Market Street in Port Hardy, BC on Northern Vancouver Island.
- Please arrive 30 minutes before the tour’s departure time to be outfitted in floater suits and sign a waiver. At the office, your guide will provide a safety briefing plus an overview of the tour and area we will be exploring. The boat is docked a short one minute walk from our office.
- Our open RHIB vessels have comfortable seats on shock mitigating platforms and an on-board toilet.
- RHIBs are not suitable for people with a history of back or neck injuries, recent surgery, or are pregnant.
- Please dress warmly. You will be provided with two-piece flotation suits, warm hats, goggles, and binoculars.
- Plenty of wildlife photography opportunities are available but please do not bring tripods on board.
- Lunch, soft drinks, and hot drinks are provided.
What Sets Us Apart?
The natural world is a tapestry of awe-inspiring wonders, requiring a unique approach to truly bring its essence to life. Our tours are crafted not only for observation but for connection, comprehension, and conservation of the intricate ecosystems we explore. We pledge an expedition that honors the natural world, offering a close encounter with the wildlife that dwells within it.
While we aim to showcase the richness of wildlife in every tour, the unpredictability of nature means sightings can vary. Nevertheless, we guarantee moments of wonder, be it through the playful frolics of sea otters, the collective might of sea lions, or the spectacular breaches of humpback whales.
A portion of revenue from each tour goes to Conservation and Cultural Stewardship programs on and around northern Vancouver Island. These include the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association (NIMMSA) conservation fund, salmon restoration projects, Indigenous cultural programs, and Indigenous tourism training programs.
Departs daily at 10:00 am
From May 30 to October 5
5 ½ to 6 Hour Tour
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Adult: $340
Child (10 to 16): $310
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Private Charter: $3400
Enjoy peace of mind with our all-inclusive tour prices! No additional fees or surprise surcharges at checkout—just a mandatory 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Tour Details
- Minimum age of 10 years old. Passengers 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Tours depart from Coastal Rainforest Safari’s office at 7185 Market Street in Port Hardy, BC on Northern Vancouver Island.
- Please arrive 30 minutes before the tour’s departure time to be outfitted in floater suits and sign a waiver. At the office, your guide will provide a safety briefing plus an overview of the tour and area we will be exploring. The boat is docked a short one minute walk from our office.
- Our open RHIB vessels have comfortable seats on shock mitigating platforms and an on-board toilet.
- RHIBs are not suitable for people with a history of back or neck injuries, recent surgery, or are pregnant.
- Please dress warmly. You will be provided with two-piece flotation suits, warm hats, goggles, and binoculars.
- Plenty of wildlife photography opportunities are available but please do not bring tripods on board.
- Lunch, soft drinks, and hot drinks are provided on our 5 ½ to 6 hour tours.
Port Hardy Sea Otter Viewing and Whale Watching 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
Orca sightings are always a special treat during our tours.
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#orcas #whalewatching #orca #killerwhale #visitporthardy #gonorthisland #explorebc #indigenousbc
We are looking forward to seeing loads of humpback whales this summer.
#humpbackwhale #whalewatching #gonorthisland #explorebc #indigenousbc #visitporthardy
Bald eagles are a year-round presence along the BC coast and a familiar sight on all our tours. Our guides are always scanning for bird activity — it often provides clues to where humpback whales and other wildlife might be feeding.
When we see dozens of eagles circling and diving in one area, it usually signals a feeding frenzy. Small schooling fish like herring are being pushed to the surface by diving birds such as Common Murres and Rhinoceros Auklets — and the eagles waste no time snatching them from the surface with their talons.
But the frenzy doesn’t often last long. Humpback whales often catch on and arrive to devour the entire school in just a few powerful lunges.
Join us on a Sea Otter and Whale Watching tour to witness moments like this for yourself. Link in bio.
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#BaldEagle #BirdsOfInstagram #BCBirdTrail #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #ExperienceVancouverIsland #ExploreBC #IndigenousBC #VancouverIsland
Can`t wait for another year of sea otter viewing. #seaotters #gonorthisland #indigenousbc
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
While sea otters and whales are the stars of our tours, we’re always keeping an eye on the shoreline — you never know what might show up.
At low tide, beaches and rocky shores turn into a buffet for land mammals. Though not seen on every trip, black bears and coastal wolves are sometimes spotted flipping rocks for shore crabs, digging into mussels, or scavenging a washed-up carcass. Even deer can occasionally be seen grazing on seaweed at the water’s edge.
It’s all part of the rich, interconnected ecosystem we’re lucky to explore every day. Learn more at the link in bio
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#BlackBears #CoastalWolves #Wolves #Bears #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #ExperienceVancouverIsland #VancouverIsland #ExploreBC #IndigenousBC
While sea otters, sea lions, and humpback whales are the most frequently viewed marine mammals on our tours, encounters with orcas are always a special treat — whether it’s the fish-eating Northern Residents or the marine mammal-hunting Bigg’s.
Unlike some companies that prioritize finding orcas at all costs, we take a more holistic approach. We focus on the incredible diversity of wildlife that calls this coastline home. We don’t race around at high speeds looking for orcas at the expense of missing all the other amazing wildlife we could encounter. While orcas aren’t seen on every tour, when they do appear, it’s always a magical moment.
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#WhaleWatching #orcas #KillerWhales #NRKW #Biggs #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #VancouverIsland #ExploreBC #indigenousBC
Steller sea lions are among the most vocal marine mammals we encounter on our tours. These massive pinnipeds can weigh over a tonne and are often seen hauled out on rocky islets, growling and jostling for space.
We’re fortunate to have three year-round haul-outs in our area, which means we have the opportunity to see sea lions on every trip. Further south on Vancouver Island, most sea lions leave their haul-outs in summer to head to breeding rookeries — but here, hundreds stick around throughout the summer. We often spot them lounging in the sun, cooling off in the water, or socializing in large, boisterous groups. Their size, sound, and sheer presence never fail to leave a lasting impression.
They’re just one of the many fascinating species we encounter — a reminder of how rich and wild the waters around northern Vancouver Island truly are.
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#sealions #StellerSeaLions #wildlifephotography #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #ExperienceVancouverIsland #ExploreBC #ExploreCanada #IndigenousBC
We’re counting down the days to another summer of incredible humpback whale sightings!
There are already reports of some familiar humpbacks returning from their wintering grounds to feed in the rich, productive waters off northern Vancouver Island.
We can’t wait to welcome back these gentle giants, see which whales have new calves in tow, and hopefully meet a few new faces (or flukes!) along the way.
Every season tells a new story — and we’re excited to share it with you.
Whale watching tours start May 31 — link in bio to learn more.
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#HumpbackWhales #WhaleWatching #Humpback #wildlifephotography #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #ExperienceVancouverIsland #ExploreBC #ExploreCanada #IndigenousBC
While our signature experience is our 6-hour Sea Otter & Whale Watching tour, we love getting off the beaten track.
This June and July, we’re especially looking forward to heading back out into the remote offshore waters in search of seabirds — including Tufted and Horned Puffins!
We’ve got five Puffin & Seabird tours and two Pelagic Birding tours scheduled this June and July. These longer trips spend 9-10 hours on the water, exploring wild, rarely-visited areas.
Many of these tours are already filling up — check our website for more details and availability.
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#birding #puffins #seabirds #pelagicbirding #birdsofinstagram #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #ExploreBC #ExploreCanada #IndigenousBC
A sea otter out of the water is an extremely rare sight. Usually, it can be a sign of injury or illness — but in this case, this otter seemed perfectly healthy and was just enjoying a good roll in the eelgrass during an exceptionally low tide last summer.
Being on land does come with risks — sea otters are vulnerable to predators like coastal wolves when they’re out of the water.
We kept a respectful distance and photographed this moment with a long zoom lens (and lots of cropping).
Counting down the days until our season starts up on May 31!
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#seaotter #wildlifephotography #marinewildlife #VisitPortHardy #GoNorthIsland #ExperienceVancouverIsland #ExploreBC #ExploreCanada #IndigenousBC