Whale Festival 2001

When the winter storms and their accompanying 20-foot waves have finished performing theatre on the shores in front of the Wickaninnish Inn, it's the world's longest mammal migration that captures the attention of visitors to the region.

As the seasons shift, so do the options in visiting the region – this natural phenomenon is a compelling reason to visit the area outside of the traditional peak travel periods.

Spouting whales can be spotted from March through mid-May, when 21,000 Pacific Gray Whales journey up to 15,000 kilometers (9,500 miles) annually, lingering in the food rich waters and protected bays of Clayoquot Sound en route to the Bering Sea from the lagoons of Baja, Mexico.

Many cut their journey short to reside in the area throughout summer making viewing possible through October.