Join one of out Whale and Wildlife tours departing from Smuggler’s Villa Resort and West Beach Resort both near Eastsound on Orcas Island. Come out and site orcas whales, gray whales, humpback whales, porpoises, seals, sea lions, otters, bald eagles, and much more. Our boats are faster and have a much longer range than any other tour boats in the region. We find Orca whales far more often than any other company in the San Juans or Bellingham. We will head deep into Canadian water - even past Victoria or Vancouver to find Orca. We will travel over 50 miles each way, 100 miles round trip if it means seeing Orca. We are so confident that you will see whales that if you don’t you can come again for half price!
Our Scheduled Trips depart from our home port on Orcas Island but we can pick you up from any island in the San Juans and the mainland. We frequently pick up from Lopez Island, San Juan Island, and Lummi Island as well as Bellingham, Anacortes, Blaine, and Birch Bay. If your on the mainland consider our new location at Semiahmoo Resort just North of Bellingham.
Scheduled Orcas Island Whale Watching Tour
On a scheduled trip we sell tickets to individuals to create groups no larger than twelve for a day or an evening on the water. On these trips our priority is orca whale sightings. On the evening dinner trips we set crab traps and catch crab for an incredible fresh caught dinner on Sucia Island. These trips depart from April through mid-October. These trips offer a wonderful day on the water, a chance to meet some new friends, and an opportunity to enjoy abundant wildlife, beautiful scenery, and great food. In April and May we spot Gray Whale or Orca Whales. June through Mid September we spot Orca and Minke Whales, and In Late September and October we see Orca and Humpback Whales. We see whales on over 90% of these trips. When there are no whale sightings in the area we look for pods of porpoise, sea lions, seals, eagles, otters, and other marine life. When possible we will delay or reschedule trips so whales may be spotted. If you don’t see whales you can come again for half price.
We ask you to be at our office at Smuggler’s Villa Resort 30 minutes before the departure time. For directions consult our location/map page.
Morning Whale Watch Trip
Departs from Orcas Island at 10:00 AM
Our morning trip takes you out for whales and wildlife. We head out into the San Juans and Canadian Gulf Islands to search for Orca Whales, Gray Whales, Humpbacks and Minkes. We’ll go wherever whales are sited. The tour lasts up to four hours. We also see many other varieties of wildlife including porpoise, seals, seal lions, sea birds, otters, and more.
Rates:
Adult $99
Child under 15 $79
(with a paying adult)
Afternoon Whale Watch Trip
Departs Orcas Island at 2:30 PM and lasts up to four hours.
Our Afternoon trip takes you out for whales and wildlife. We head out into the San Juans and Canadian Gulf Islands to search for Orca Whales, Gray Whales, Humpbacks and Minkes. We’ll go wherever whales are sited. The tour lasts up to four hours. We also see many other varieties of wildlife including porpoise, seals, seal lions, sea birds, otters, and more.
Rates:
Adult $99
Child under 15 $79
(with a paying adult)
Sunset Whale Watch Trip
We are the only charter company on Orcas Island to offer a sunset whale watching trip. The evening is our favorite time to be on the water. Most of the boating activity has stopped and the seas are normally tranquil and calm. It is often just us and the whales and the sunset. The Sunset Trip departs Orcas Island between 5 and 6 pm. It lasts up to 3 hours.
Rates:
Adult $99
Child under 15 $79
(with a paying adult)
Whale Watch Trip with Dinner
Departs Orcas Island at 2:30 PM and lasts 6+ hours.
Typical, we first head out for whale watching. On the way back in we pull up a crab pot and catch some Dungeness crab for dinner, then head to Sucia Island State Park. Our captain will prepare a gourmet steak, salmon, and crab dinner, while you explore one of Sucia Island’s beautiful beaches. After Dinner enjoy a sunset cruise back to Orcas Island.
Menu designed by Lu Lu’s Pasta Rustica of Eastsound, Washington.
Rates including dinner:
Adult $189
Child under 15 $159
(with a paying adult, children receive pasta and crab if caught)
Custom Charters
With a custom charter your group can schedule one or more of our vessels at an hourly rate for a minimum of three hours. The custom charter ensures total privacy and complete control over you trip’s itinerary. The custom charter gives you an opportunity to get way out into the Straight of Juan de Fuca where other local whale boats rarely go. In this area we can go looking for Humpbacks and Gray whales in addition to the local Orca Pods. Other activities such as, fishing, kayaking, island stops, and gourmet meals can be combined with whale watch during a custom charter. We can build you an adventure you’ll never forget. Custom charters are available year round. Pick up by boat is available from any location including any of the San Juan Islands such as Lopez Island, San Juan Island, or Lummi Island. We can even pick you up from mainland locations such as Bellingham or Anacortes. Pick up by boat or van is available anywhere on Orcas Island. We have a maximum capacity of 33 passengers. (11 passengers per boat)
Custom Charter Rates Per Boat
6 Passenger Boat “The Sun Runner”
Winter Season: $400 for first three hours and $100 for each additional hour.
Winter season is from October 16th to April 14th
Shoulder Season: $450 for first three hours and $100 for each additional hour.
Shoulder season is from April 15th to May 21st and from Sept. 15th to Oct. 15th
Summer Season: $500 for the first three hours and $125 for each additional hour.
Summer Season is from May 22nd to September 14th
12 Passenger Boat “ The Blackfish" or "The Triton”
Winter Season: $500 for first three hours and $150 for each additional hour.
Winter season is from October 16th to April 14th
Shoulder Season: $550 for first three hours and $160 for each additional hour.
Shoulder season is from April 15th to May 21st and from Sept. 15th to Oct. 15th
Summer Season: $600 for the first three hours and $170 for each additional hour.
Summer Season is from May 22nd to September 14th
Sucia Island Whale/Wildlife Tour
This is the scheduled charter that we run from early November to late March. Sucia Island is home to an amazing array of wildlife. Eagles nest there, and otters live on its banks. Pigeon Guillemots, Oyster Catchers, Rhinoceros Auklets, and many other shore birds nest here. During the most of the year Stellar Sea Lions weighing in at close to 3000lbs haul out on Sucia’s rocky points. Porpoises and harbor seals feed in the water around the island. Spring is unique because bald eagles are raising their young, and we can often spot eaglets in their nests. Occasional, we even spot transient orca whales on this trip. Transient orcas frequently stop by the reefs of Sucia Island to have a seal or porpoise for lunch. If weather and tides permit we stop off at the island to explore the beautiful sandy beaches and fossil beds.
Trip Departure Time depends on Tides
Trip lasts roughly 3 hours
Cost: $89 for Adults
$69 for Kids Minimum 4 people
Outer Island Expeditions is based on the North shore of Orcas Island at Smuggler’s Villa Resort, but we pick up customers from all the San Juans Region including Lopez, San Juan, Shaw, Blakely, Lummi Island, Anacortes, Bellingham, and most anywhere else you might be in the San Juan Islands.
Interview about whale watching on Orcas Island: Part 1
Interview about whale watching on Orcas Island: Part 2
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Orcas Island Whale Watching 
On a scheduled trip we sell tickets to individuals to create groups no larger than twelve for a day or an evening on the water. On these trips our priority is orca whale sightings. On the evening dinner trips we set crab traps and catch crab for an incredible fresh caught dinner on Sucia Island. These trips depart from April through mid-October. These trips offer a wonderful day on the water, a chance to meet some new friends, and an opportunity to enjoy abundant wildlife, beautiful scenery, and great food. In April and May we spot Gray Whale or Orca Whales. June through Mid September we spot Orca and Minke Whales, and In Late September and October we see Orca and Humpback Whales. We see whales on over 90% of these trips. When there are no whale sightings in the area we look for pods of porpoise, sea lions, seals, eagles, otters, and other marine life. When possible we will delay or reschedule trips so whales may be spotted. If you don’t see whales you can come again for half price. 
Departs from Orcas Island at 10:00 AM
Rates:
Adult $99
watch during a custom charter. We can build you an adventure you’ll never forget. Custom charters are available year round. Pick up by boat is available from any location including any of the San Juan Islands such as Lopez Island, San Juan Island, or Lummi Island. We can even pick you up from mainland locations such as Bellingham or Anacortes. Pick up by boat or van is available anywhere on Orcas Island. We have a maximum capacity of 33 passengers. (11 passengers per boat)
