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West Coast Aquatic Safaris

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Tour Tofino’s wild side with West Coast Aquatic Safaris! Enjoy the West Coast of Vancouver Island’s premiere wildlife and sightseeing aboard our all weather tour boats, WASCO and NANUQ, both of which are Transport Canada safety certified. Our professional and knowledgeable staff will make your Tofino experience one to remember.

Get off the beaten path and experience ecotourism that is environmentally responsible, safe, and fun for the whole family! Take a whale watching tour, try a bear watching trip from the safety of our boat, visit local Tofino hot springs by boat, and don’t forget our seasonal safaris!

West Coast Aquatic Safaris is accessible for all. We look forward to welcoming you aboard!

Additional Information

Tofino Whale Watching

In spring, Gray whales, leave their wintering grounds of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula to feed as far north as Alaska. Clayoquot sound is their migratory corridor. Some remain here to feed. These gentle giants are a common sight from March until late October. Residents, transients, and offshores, scientists are still unsure why some Killer whales also know as orcas, patrol their territory as a pod, while others, rogue hunters, roam up and down the coast, or travel far out to sea, to find their prey. The transient orcas are found in our waters during the spring, summer and fall months and are a spectacle to witness in the wild.

Come summer, Humpback whales, travel east from Maui. Enormous, majestic, and mysteriously fond of breaching, a humpback shattering the surface of the water is a truly unforgettable sight. Whale watching trips take place in outside waters on board a vessel specifically designed to optimize your viewing pleasure. Walk around the entire outside deck of the boat or stay inside out of the rain, and on the way expect to see bald eagles, Stellar and California sea lions, and harbour seals.

Duration: 2.5 – 3 hours

Tofino Bear Watching

The Esowista Peninsula and the Islands of the outer Clayoquot Sound shield its inner reaches from stormy waters. A relaxing 30 minute boat ride from Tofino, takes us through the tranquil, inside passages to the North East side of Meares Island to Fortune Channel or Tofino Inlet. Departing on the tours around the lower tides and the cooler periods of the day, provides the best opportunity for viewing Ursus Americanus, or Black Bears.

The elevated viewing platforms from our specially designed vessels, WASCO or NANUQ, provide vantage points allowing for unobstructed sightseeing.  These vessels have also been designed with comfort, onboard restrooms, and safety as a top priority.

Often the best times to see these beautiful creatures, the Black Bear, is when the sun is rising or is lower in the sky (the morning or the afternoon / evenings).  After emerging from their winter rest they have great need to feed on the shorelines all spring, summer, and fall.

Enjoy your morning coffee or tea, and the fresh air of Clayoquot Sound as you marvel at the sight of the Black Bears turning over rocks and boulders in their search for food.  Their food often includes crab and other pelagic beings along the beaches.

These journeys often do not just end at the Black Bear!  It is also common to see Bald Eagles, California Sea Lions, Harbour Seals, Habour Porpoise and other amazing animals and scenic views on the Bear Watching Tours.  So, keep your cameras ready, as you never know when perfect shot may appear!

Duration: 2.5 hours

Hot Springs Cove Tours

An hour and a half north-west of Tofino, situated on the peninsula separating Sidney Inlet from Hot Springs Cove , the hot springs are not to be missed. Through crevices in the rock, rainwater seeps deep underground to re-emerge as a therapeutic, mineral rich river of thermally heated water, that flows through the rain forest and empties through a narrow basin into the ocean. As the tide rises, cold sea water rushing into this channel fashions pools of different temperatures where you, your friends and family can relax and, even with a little rain, enjoy the warmth and tranquility of this exquisite gift of mother nature.

Reachable only by boat or sea-plane, and a half hour hike by boardwalk through old growth forest, the hot springs trip is a pilgrimage you will not soon forget. So sit back and relax on our vessel, or climb on to her bridge and keep your eyes peeled as you never know what wildlife might show up along the way!

Daily departures.

Arrive at hot springs cove to enjoy a relaxing hot soak. Our boat departs daily depending on demand (sunrise to sunset) allowing for a 3 hour tranquil experience at hot springs cove.

Boat both ways

Daily – Depending on demand (sunrise to sunset)

Duration: 6.5-7 hours

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West Coast Aquatic Safaris

101A Fourth Street, Tofino, V0R 2Z0

• Infants 0-2
• Little Kids 3-6
• Big Kids 7-9
• Tweens 10-12
• Teens 13-17

A variety of boat tours are offered at West Coast Aquatic, including whale, bird or bear watching or a hot springs tour. Hop aboard the boat (which offers enclosed areas for chilly days on the water) and get ready to explore the Clayoquot Sound. Witness black bears turning over rocks and boulders searching for food. See bald eagles overhead and sea lions lounging on giant rocks or watch gray whales fatten up as they feed in Tofino’s waters before heading north to Alaska. No matter which tour you choose, you will see an abundance of wildlife. The hot springs tour includes a 90-minute boat ride to the hot springs where you can then explore and soak in the geothermal waters of Hot Springs Cove for several hours and either return by boat or seaplane for even more adventure.

Hours: Tours run at scheduled times daily. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Things to Know/Bring: The length of the tours varies between two to two and half hours for whale or bear watching to more than six hours for the hot springs tour. The tours also vary by season (bear watching runs from April through October, whale watching is March through November and hot springs run from late February to late November). Depending which tour you take, the boats hold either 12 or 36 passengers and offer heated and covered seating as well as outside seating and restrooms onboard. Life jackets and rain jackets with hoods are provided. Bring a camera and binoculars and be prepared for colder temperatures on the water, even in the summer months. Water resistant jackets are recommended as well.

Parking: A small parking lot is available here and limited street parking surrounds the area.

Family Hotels Near West Coast Aquatic Safaris

The Inn at Tough City

MacKenzie Beach Resort

Ocean Village Resort

Crystal Cove Beach Resort

Wickaninnish Inn and The Pointe Restaurant

Pacific Sands Beach Resort

Family Attractions Near West Coast Aquatic Safaris

Tofino Surf School

Eagle Aerie Art Gallery

Tofino Botanical Gardens

Mackenzie Beach

Chesterman Beach

Rainforest Trail

Family Restaurants Near West Coast Aquatic Safaris

The Sugar Shack

Rhino Coffee House

Wolf in the Fog

Tuff Beans Coffee House

Shelter Restaurant

Common Loaf Bake Shop

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Everything About Whale Watching In Tofino

Did you know the humpback whales are one of the largest animals on earth? They are precisely twelve to sixteen meters long. Witness the breathtaking adventure of the humpback whales jumping  forty-five to fifty feet into the air that ends with a splash! The humpback whale is just one of the few whales native to the Pacific Northwest ocean waters surrounding Tofino.

But the adventure doesn’t stop there. After you encounter these majestic animals, Tofino also has a nearby area surrounding the Clayoquot Sound. This is the traditional territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth people, and offers many riches of nature and beautiful sights for you to discover during your Tofino trip. 

Located nearby more than 100km wide, this stunning area has an old-growth temperate rainforest, misty mountains, long swathes of sandy beach, fjords, rocky headlands and pounding surf.

This experience does not need sunny or dry weather. Enjoy whale watching in Tofino for a once in a lifetime experience, rain or shine.

When Is The Best Time To See Whales In Tofino?

The whale watching tour season in Tofino lasts a surprisingly long time. Time is on your side for you to book whale tours in Tofino. Whale watching runs from March through October. 20,000 grey whales migrate through our shores every year, starting from their birthing waters near Baja Peninsula north to the Bering Strait near Alaska. Some of these stunning creatures stay in our waters through the summer. This gives everyone the chance to witness this experience in person! Grey whales can breach, or leap out of the water. It is not as common behavior compared to the humpback whales. Some scientists believe they do this to splash off parasites, what a sight to see.  During the whale tours in Tofino, you may also see orcas nearby. Orcas are also known as killer whales. Be on the lookout for them. If you get the witness these orca whales hunting for their prey, it is an exciting sight to see! Both of these creatures are a magical experience. Bring your good waterproof camera and be ready for the action shots! 

What Types Of Whales Will I See On My Tour?

During your whale watching tours there are three most common types of whales that visit the waters of Tofino. They are grey whales, orcas and humpback whales. 

 Grey Whales

The grey whales are from the North Pacific ocean near China, Korea, Japan and Russia. At one point there were only an estimated 100 of these creatures left, but grey whales have since been deemed a protected and endangered species. Since then they have been protected, the population has rebounded to around 18,000 – 24,000! The eastern population of the grey whales live in Baja California, Mexico for birthing. They bear their calves within warm, shallow sheltered bays and lagoons. After this they then leave for the winter towards Alaska which passes through BC waters. Their migration journey is around 15,000 -20,000km round trip. They stay within BC for feeding. Grey whales are bottom feeders who live off of amphipods, ghost shrimp, and crab larvae.

Orcas are actually closer to the dolphins species than the whales species. They are also one of the largest dolphins and one of the strongest predators. They are easy to spot in the wild by their black-and-white colouring. These smart and social orcas have many communicative sounds. Each pod has their own sound to communicate with each other. That way they can recognize their pod members from a distance. make a wide variety of communicative sounds, and each pod has distinctive noises that its members will recognize even at a distance. 

Orcas are carnivores! They have a very diverse diet but many feast on fish, penguins, sea lions, seals and even whales. With their forty to fifty-six teeth that are three inches long their prey does not stand a chance. Orcas hunt with their pods which have five to thirty of them going after one group of prey. This is the most effective way to hunt. Their behavior is very similar to a pack of wolves. If you’re lucky enough to see one of these sights you won’t forget it! Orcas hunting can be majestic.

• Humpback Whales

Did you know that a humpback whale is as long as a city bus? These gentle giants are known for their beautiful whale songs. Their moans, howls, cires and other noises create such an interesting sound that can go on for hours at a time. Humpbacks sing to each other to communicate and to attract their mates. Humpback valves communicate by “whispering” to their mothers. 

They feed off of shrimp-like krill, plankton and small fish. The bond between calves and mothers appears to be affectionate. They swim close together often touching one another with their flippers. The mothers nurse the claves for almost a year. Calves do not stop growing until they are 10 years old. Humpback whales are very strong swimmers. With the strength of their fins (also known as flukes) they can jump through the water by forty-five to fifty feet into the air! Humpback whales also like to slap the water with their large fins. This is called “spyhopping”. This behavior, along with jumping with a twist that lands on their lower sides, is only unique to their species. 

Tofino Whale Tours: Frequently Asked Questions

When should I book a whale watching tour? 

You can book your whale watching tour between March through October. This is the peak season for whale watching in Tofino.

What should I wear? 

Dress warmly for your tour. It is recommended to wear a long sleeve shirt, fleece, sweater or light jacket, long pants and closed shoes. Our tours run rain or shine, and they don’t call it the ‘Wet Coast’ for nothing! Our boats do provide everyone with inside seating with a heated cabin as well as multiple viewing decks and outside seating.

Can I touch the whales? 

You will not be able to touch the whales as per Canadian law. 

How close do you get to the whales? 

Canadian law states to maintain at least 100m distance from whales, with exception of Bigg’s (Transient) killer whales where we must maintain 200m.

What other wildlife will I see on my whale tour?

On your Tofino wildlife tour you will also get the chance to see: harbour seals, sea otters, California sea lions, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, grey whales, Vancouver Island black bears, humpback whales, and Bigg’s (Transient) killer whales.

Is there a guarantee for seeing whales for the tour?

Here at West Coast Aquatic Safaris we are so confident in your whale viewing that West Coast Aquatic Safaris guarantees at least one sighting! In the very rare circumstance where we do not encounter a whale during a whale watching tour you will receive a voucher to come out for another whale watch on a standby basis with West Coast Aquatic Safaris.

Is the boat wheelchair accessible?

Yes. We have people of all ages and levels of ability tour with us. We have had 4 generations aboard many times. Visit our full list of our Frequently Asked Questions.

How long are the whale watching tours?

Whale Watch – 2.5 hours Bear Watch – 2 hours Hot Springs Cove – 6 hours Hot Springs with Fly Back – 5 hours Cultural Tour – 2.5 hours Bird Watch – 2.5 hours 

What else is there to do in Tofino?

Your Tofino adventure doesn’t end with a whale watching tour! This beautiful West Coast paradise town has many things to do for your Tofino visit – including surfing, hiking, beach walks, dining experiences, and visiting our local galleries and shops. Biking – we can now almost bike from Tofino to ‘Ukee’ (Ucluelet)

Book Your Tofino Whale Watching Tour

Witness the most exhilarating, fulfilling, and most memorable experiences with us today. Book your Tofino whale watching tour online with West Coast Aquatic Safaris.

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