whale watching puget sound season
Docked along the shores of Port Townsend is the Puget Sound Express, a four-hour whale-watching tour. Bringing a pair of binoculars is mandatory for these experiences, but you’ll be able to enjoy them from Point Defiance, Point No Point, and a quick ferry trip to Point Robinson. birdwatching), but it can also serve scientific and/or educational purposes. Update, Dec. 18, 2020: State officials have approved new rules that limit whale watch boats to a three-month season for viewing Puget Sound’s endangered killer whales.They will only be allowed from July through September. Dom. While you’ll be guaranteed to see whales (or your money back! The arrival of migrating whales to the Puget Sound is an undeniable signal of spring to Seattle, and one of the best sights of the year for the area. ... Gone Whale Watching San Diego. More than 20,000 gray whales migrate along the west coast each year. Bigg’s (mammal-hunting) orcas live in these waters all months of the year, as do humpback whales. While on the tour you can also expect to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales, as well as sea lions and seals. Usually the peak whale watching season is May – mid-July, however, it seems like the sightings are getting better and better as we get further into the summer season. Puget Sound Whale Watching Tours highliner 2020-03-13T15:34:33+00:00 We are outdoor enthusiasts who Specialize In Small Group adventures for folks of all ages Check out our popular combination tours which allow you to build a private adventure for your family or friends! Each spring (February, March, April, May, and the beginning of June) provides one of the best whale watching opportunities in Washington. ... Continue Reading New Washington Whale-Watching Boat Rules To … Puget Sound waters teem with wildlife that attracts these mammals close to the shore. See whales in the wild on Puget Sound Express's half-day whale watching tours in Seattle/Edmonds Canadian Islands, the outer coast, and even down to California!. From March to May, you can also hop on one of the whale watching tours from Everett to spot majestic gray whales. First of all, while orcas can be spotted year round, they’re also most common during the spring and summer, and the three pods that are known to frequent the Puget Sound are de J, K and L pod (a tour leader will be able to tell you which one you’re looking at). Large blows spurting from the water indicate their presence, but you can recognize what species they are by their fins and tails. A resounding huff is followed by a giant cloud of vapor rising over the water, and a gigantic gray body surfaces before crashing hard against the waves, accompanied by the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ of the people on your boat. Whale watching season in the Puget Sound is one of Seattle’s most famous spectacles, but it’s important to know the above information in order to have a good experience and properly enjoy it. Visitors can expect to start seeing everything from tufted puffins, California sea lions, humpback and minke whales, and, of course, orcas about 90 minutes into the journey. There are plenty of good whale watching tours out there, don't give your money to Puget Sound Express. or. Members of Puget Sound's south resident orca population. If you don’t want to get anywhere near the water, however, you can still enjoy the spectacle of whale watching in the Puget Sound while staying safe and dry inland. Yet another great week of whale watching! just preferring it a little tidier, right? The San Juan Islands, located 140 km north of Seattle in the heart of Salish Sea, is the most famous place for orca whale watching. They never even had the opportunity to use them and are now very disappointed. The San Juan Islands is the best spot to observe Orca whales in the American Northwest. There really isn't a best month! Orca tours are offered between mid-February and November, while humpback whales, grey whales, and minke whales may be spotted throughout the year. Guaranteed to see a whale on all tours! After all, getting so close to nature might inspire you to change some things around the house, even if it’s. There is also the scenic Deception Pass, which is worth exploring. http://pugetsoundexpress.com - Guaranteed whale watching tours from Port Townsend (Olympic Peninsula) and Seattle/Edmonds direct to the San Juan Islands. Seattle is an obvious departure spot for whale watching tours, but most of them don’t leave directly out of the city. The most common whale watching tours involve groups ranging from 20 to 100 people in boats of different sizes. The Puget Sound whale watching season runs from April through the end of September. From late March to June, approximately 18,000 gray whales migrate north from their breeding grounds in Baja California up to the Bering Sea. Click here for important COVID-19 policies. Some other popular spots are Everett, Anacortes, and Port Townsend, which are all closer to the San Juans than Seattle. New Customer Special • $50 Off Deep Cleaning GET INSTANT PRICING, Home » Blog » The Best Whale-Watching Sights on the Puget Sound. By heading out to the water and looking for them, we find ourselves having a deeper connection with the region we call home, forging memories that will last our entire lives. Shutterstock Types of whales in the Puget Sound. Orca tours are offered between mid-February and November, while humpback whales, grey whales, and minke whales may be spotted throughout the year. While plenty of commercial tours will charter you around the sound, whale watching does not always require a boat. However, keep in mind that every year is different depending on the ecosystem. With up to five whale species, along with dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions, it is not hard to see why. Looking for the telltale signs of whales is a good way to know you’re in the right spot and identifying what kind of whale you’re watching. Sightings are typically in the 90% or greater range, but every year is different. The San Juan Islands, Salish Sea, and Puget Sound is one of the World’s best whale-watching destinations, with more than 500,000 people visiting every year. See orcas, humpback whales, minkes, and all the majestic wildlife in the San Juan Islands – departing just 15 minutes north of downtown Seattle. Regardless of size, a boat is the best option if you want to be as (reasonably) close to the water and the animals themselves as possible. Each spring, majestic gray whales migrate from the southern waters north to Alaska. Puget Sound waters teem with wildlife that attracts these mammals close to the shore. Bald Eagles, porpoises, and other interesting seabirds inhabit the islands and are easily spotted near the shore. Puget Sound Express: Whale watching - See 1,997 traveler reviews, 552 candid photos, and great deals for Port Townsend, WA, at Tripadvisor. There are many more spots than we mentioned above, and the Orca Network has a great whale-spotting location database and many other resources and information about it. Bringing a pair of binoculars is mandatory for these experiences, but you’ll be able to enjoy them from Point Defiance, Point No Point, and a quick ferry trip to Point Robinson. Puget Sound Express Whale Watching Tours Downtown Seattle . Our 3 1/2 hour whale watching tours depart at 9am and 2pm 7 days a week. If you prefer a smaller boat, there are several options available, up to and including a kayaking tour if you leave out of the San Juans. The Southern Resident Community of Killer Whales are generally in the waters surrounding San Juan Island June through September. There’s nothing quite like seeing Puget Sound’s largest and most majestic residents from an up-close and personal vantage point. The 2021 whale watch season has started! From March to May, you can also hop on one of the whale watching tours from Everett to spot majestic gray whales. www.gonewhalewatching.com. By Jes Burns April 22, 2018. Also, whale watching tours depart from the city of Anacortes located on Fidalgo Island, east of the San Juan Archipelago. while staying safe and dry inland. Symbolizing wildness and awe, whale watching today helps connect us with the days of Puget Sound past. Sail through breathtaking Deception Pass, and travel through the protected waters of the Salish Sea, while trained naturalists educate passengers about the remarkable ecosystem and its wildlife with a focus on whale and sealife conservation. Skagit Valley Tulip Festival near Seattle, Washington. Best Orca whale watching in the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound off the coast of Washington State, near Seattle. is one of Seattle’s most famous spectacles, but it’s important to know the above information in order to have a good experience and properly enjoy it. The boats may only be near the endangered orcas twice a day -- two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. Whale watching in the Puget Sound is a must-do when you visit Seattle, but it’s an exercise in expectation setting. ), if you’re expecting them to be jumping over your boat in graceful arcs, or “posing” for photos by treading water Sea World style, then you’re going to be disappointed. The Orca Network has a daily sighting tracker and tells you where the best viewing points are, and getting fast to the shore multiplies your chances of watching a great show. Sometimes, a flock of seagulls means that whales are nearby since they usually swirl overhead when the latter are feeding to swoop in and snag some leftovers. ... and we'd love to spend some time with you on the water! Go whale watching in Seattle! After all, getting so close to nature might inspire you to change some things around the house, even if it’s just preferring it a little tidier, right? The 40-seat boat, which departs twice daily, allows for both indoor and outdoor seating. 4,118 were here. Tracking Whales In Puget Sound Is As Easy As Following Genetic ‘Bread Crumbs’ Left Behind. Watching the Sound’s oldest and largest residents is a joy, but while booking a trip is the preferred option for most, there are many ways to go about it depending on what species of whale you’re watching, the time of the year, and yes, even if you’re on a boat or not. While we’re lucky enough to spot Orcas, gray, and humpback whales year round in the Pacific Northwest, southern resident Orcas typically travel … A gray whale near Seattle. Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat.Whale watching is mostly a recreational activity (cf. By the time the season opened for business, the ownership had changed hands and the new owners refuse to honor the gift certificates. Log In. How To Prepare Your Home For A Romantic Valentine’s Day Date, How To Reduce Stress In Kids: A Helpful Guide For Parents, Money-Saving Tips to keep your Home Warmer, The Best 2021 New Year’s Resolutions For You And Your Home, Simple DIY Ideas For Saving On Holiday Decorating This Year. If you’re visiting around late March or early April, you might want to bet on a boat with indoor seating, since the Sound can be pretty chilly in that period. Some are most convenient than others, depending on their closeness to the city, but maybe a good choice if you want to avoid crowds. In March and April they pass through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, providing an excellent opportunity to visit and learn about these whales. They are much harder to predict, as they travel back and forth between lower Puget Sound, Whidbey Island, the San Juans, the B.C. San Francisco, late December–January (south) | mid-March–April (north). During this … A study prepared for International Fund for Animal Welfare in 2009 estimated that 13 million people went whale watching globally in 2008. Gray whales are also very famous because they stop at the Puget to say hi on their long trip between Baja California down in Mexico to Alaskan waters, and are a common sight during the months of March and April. 15 hrs. This is particularly fun if you’re watching from a distance or on land. We’ll go over some of the basics and offer you tips to make the most of your experience. This photo was taken by our captain on August 6th. In February, March, April, late October, and November you can see 50% fewer whales than in the summer. Even though orcas are the most common and popular sight in the Sound, many of their cousins also make an appearance throughout the year. Book online now! We’ll also watch for porpoise, seals, sea lions, and various types of birds. Gray whales are best seen between March and May, as they make their way to their summer feeding grounds. With cold water and plenty of prey like salmon to feed on, Puget Sound is the go-to place for whale watching, meaning Seattleites don’t have to travel far to get a glimpse of these majestic mammals that call the sound their home. 2265 116th Ave NE Ste 110-6 Bellevue, WA 98004, 4208 198th St SW Ste 204Lynnwood, WA 98036, Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Accessibility, The Best Whale-Watching Sights on the Puget Sound, the water, however, you can still enjoy the spectacle of. Continue Reading Puget Sound Whale Watchers Accused Of Loving Endangered Orcas To Death Orca whales usually pass through the islands in greatest numbers between mid-May and mid-October when the salmon runs are strongest, although it's possible to spot them through the rest of the year. Gray Whales can be spotted near Whidbey Island. The Minke and Humpback whales are also most common around spring and summer, and while not as numerous as their black-and-white counterparts, you can still see them often around spring and summer. See more of American Cetacean Society-Puget Sound Chapter on Facebook. Puget Sound Express: Whale watching - See 1,998 traveler reviews, 552 candid photos, and great deals for Port Townsend, WA, at Tripadvisor. Day-long whale watching tours from Seattle, around Whidbey Island, to the iconic San Juan Islands. Puget Sound Express: Whale watching! The question of whether boat-based watching tours are really harmless has become more urgent in Washington state, where Southern Resident killer whales have been declining since the 1990s. Gray Whale season is really starting to get rolling so now is a good time to book! Puget Sound Whale Watching Season. Puget Sound Express: Whale watching - See 1,998 traveler reviews, 552 candid photos, and great deals for Port Townsend, WA, at Tripadvisor. Video by Capt. We will head out in search of Orca, Humpback, Minke, and Grey whales. Southern Resident Orcas are seen year-round, but most of the whales in the area are just passing through. For orcas, we typically say October through December. Whale watching season in the Puget Sound is one of Seattle’s most famous spectacles, but it’s important to know the above information in order to have a good experience and properly enjoy it. Whale-watching is all about being ready if you’re following a path of a migrating species. - See 1,998 traveler reviews, 552 candid photos, and great deals for Port Townsend, WA, at Tripadvisor.
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