Chances of Seeing
Each Kind of Whale
Orcas (Killer Whales) can be seen in the San Juan's all year, and are the most frequently seen whales on all of our tours.
Humpback and Gray Whales migrate through the Salish Sea on their journey between colder feeding areas in the north in summer and warmer breeding areas in the south in winter.
Minke Whales can be seen here year round.
Did you know there are many different kinds of Orcas? Called "ecotypes" there are several different sub-species. NOAA (the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association) has submitted a scientific research paper describing the Orcas in our area as two different species altogether, they are so different!
Orcinus orca is the scientific name and "Killer Whale" is the common name, the way "Human" is the common name for "Homo sapiens"