Whale Watching

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

Spouting whales can be spotted from March through 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.

This migration makes Tofino the “Gray Whale Capital of Canada.” But the Grays aren’t the only mammals that visit our coast: Humpback Whales are frequently spotted, as are transient Killer Whales, a variety of porpoises and Stellar and California-Sea Lions.

A number of operators offer tours on a variety of vessels, from large comfortable ships to thrilling wave hopping zodiacs. Let our “Guest Services” team set up the perfect Whale Watching experience for you!

For the first time this whale watching season, the Wickaninnish Inn offers the perfect opportunity to experience this spectacle with our new Whale Watching package. Choose from one of four options to encounter these amazing creatures.

During the Pacific Rim Whale Festival (dates vary slightly each year but follow the school spring break schedule and typically runs from mid-March to early April) the hosting villages of Tofino and Ucluelet, along with the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve offer a wide range of events providing entertaining and educational activities for all.

Of over seventy events, some highlights include: the Chowder Chow Down in Ucluelet—a seafood chowder cook-off competition guaranteed to wet your appetite and please the palate; to the Parade of Whales in Tofino; to amazing Art Shows featuring the talents of our West Coast artists; a wide variety of interpretive programs offered by the knowledgeable naturalists and the staff at the Pacific Rim National Park.