Kayaking with Whales: Destinations & Sea Kayak Tours
Kayaking with whales is a “Bucket List” item for many outdoors enthusiasts. Floating on tranquil tide at eye level with a spy-hopping whale is an unforgettable experience. There is something special about meeting this intelligent, wild creature in its home habitat. Kayaks allow for a more intimate setting than commercial whale watching cruises, as you can observe the whales’ behavior without the sound of a motor or flocks of other guests jostling to a boat railing for a look. Additionally, the eco-minded will enjoy the low impact of carbon-neutral kayaks on the ocean habitat of these gentle giants. Best of all, Sea Kayak Adventures offers a number of tours to kayak with whales in a variety of the world’s most beautiful wilderness areas.
So, where would you like to go?
Orcas - Vancouver Island, British Columbia
The Johnstone Strait, on the northern end of Vancouver Island, hosts a special population of salmon-eating orcas. This narrow channel features over 200 of these beautiful “killer whales” as they follow the summer salmon runs from mid-July through mid-September. Sea Kayak Adventures offers tours through the heart of orca country during peak whale season.
Humpback Whales - Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Humpback whales made a remarkable recovery into the waters if the Pacific Northwest, where they were hunted to extinction by the late 1960s. Each summer these whales migrate to the straits around Vancouver Island from their winter breeding waters in Hawaii. Sea Kayak Adventures offers two types of trips to kayak with humpback whales in June and July. Our lodge-based tours at God’s Pocket Resort is perfect for anyone lookign for the comforts of home during their wildernes adventure. Alternatively, our Humpback basecamp tour is perfect for anyone who would like to sleep deep in the woods of British Columbia!
Southern Right Whales - Peninsula Valdes, Argentina
Southern right whales are gregarious and acrobatic, prone to aerial feats and frequent behavioral displays – even close to shore! These whales were so named because their slow speed and natural curiosity towards boats made them the “right” whale to hunt – almost to extinction. Though numbers remain low, in the southern right whale we find another remarkable recovery story. These whales travel from their Antarctic home waters up to their breeding grounds in Peninsula Valdes’ sheltered lagoons every September through December (spring in the southern hemisphere).
Blue & Fin Whales - Gulf of Callifornia, Baja
Blue whales are the largest animals ever known to have existed, with lengths of up to 100’ and weights of over 180 tons. These peaceful baleen whales and their close cousins, fin whales, swim up into the deep waters of the Sea of Cortez. This is one of the few places on earth where they are reliably spotted, as their limited numbers and global range make for rare sightings. These whales are most often seen December through April, though sightings are possible on any of our Baja kayak tours.
Gray Whales - Magdalena Bay, Baja
Gray whales have the longest migration of any mammal, swimming down the Pacific coast all the way from Alaska to the southern part of the Baja peninsula. Here they congregate in the Magdalena Bay lagoons to give birth from late January through mid-March. While kayaking with whales in this bay is prohibited, Sea Kayak Adventures offers combination tours that include multi-day kayak trips in the Sea of Cortez coupled with gray whale watching day excursions or even a stay at our exclusive gray whale base camp (where you can often see whales right from shore!). Whale watching is done from a small panga with just a handful of other guests, and respectful, expert drivers to create an eco-centered, unforgettable experience. Moreover, these friendly, curious whales often come right up to the boat to see our guests!
Ready to kayak with whales?
Whether you're drawn to the misty fjords of British Columbia or the sun-warmed waters of Baja, kayaking with whales is and experience that stays with you for a lifetime. We hope to see you out on the water soon!
