No matter where you find yourself around Vancouver Island, venturing out on a whale watching tour will never disappoint.
Few things say Vancouver Island like whale watching.
No matter where you find yourself around the island, venturing out to catch a glimpse of whales will never disappoint. On a recent Chateau Victoria romantic getaway, we found ourselves on a truly unforgettable Victoria whale watching experience with Prince of Whales.
Normally, I think heading out in November for a Victoria whale watching tour ensures for freezing cold temperatures and rainy skies.
That kind of cold is not at all conducive for spending hours on the water searching for whales.
But I was happily wrong today.
Upon our arrival at Prince of Whales in Victoria, we signed waivers and donned full-suit life jackets. A bit cumbersome to put on, I felt like a small child getting into a snowsuit. Jay assured me that’s exactly what I looked like.
The awkwardness of it all just made me laugh and get excited for the journey ahead.
Prince of Whales offers several boat size options for Victoria whale watching tours. From the very large 100 person vessel down to the much smaller 12 person zodiac, every tour guarantees whale sightings.
And it’s no wonder, with resident orcas and migrating humpback whales, the waters surrounding Victoria are teeming with life.
We climbed aboard our zodiac with Jasper our trusted captain for the afternoon. Leaving the harbour, I was reminded just how special Victoria is. It definitely earned it’s title as one of Canada’s most romantic cities.
Within a few short minutes of leaving the Victoria harbour we saw our first spout of water.
It didn’t take long to be surrounded by humpbacks. We delightfully watched these giants dance to the surface for moments of air before returning to the the bottom for food.
Humpback whales come to Vancouver Island every summer after giving birth in the warmer waters surrounding Hawaii and Mexico.
They spend these months feeding on the abundance of krill surrounding the island.
But humpbacks aren’t the only whales in the waters surrounding Victoria. We saw two orcas as well! With tall dorsal fins jetting out from the water, orcas are easier to spot.
As they glide along the water, time simple stood still. Peace and calm surrounded our little zodiac as we sat there enchanted by these whales.
The sun crept lower in the sky, so we began our return to Victoria. But not before a quick stop at the lighthouse. Whale watching is so much more than merely looking for whales to observe. Wildlife abounds out here.
Upon our approach to the lighthouse, the air changed. What once smelled light and fresh, quickly turned pungent. Yes, we arrived at the home of the sea lion. The lighthouse island showcased seals, bald eagles, sea lions and a myriad of other birds. What a delight!
Nature has a way of beckoning. It toyed with us all afternoon. From gorgeous skies and calm waters to whales, birds and sea lions. Simply put, we didn’t want it to end. As we turned the boat and headed in, the skies showed off their splendor. With cotton candy clouds and the Olympic Mountains of the United States in the distance, nature’s sunset was hard to beat.
Truly a gift.
Every whale watching excursion is different and equally exceptional. You never know exactly what to expect, other than…beauty.
Breathtaking beauty.
After such a memorable adventure, we conveniently walked back to Chateau Victoria and got ready for our romantic dinner at Vista 18.
Prince Of Whales • Victoria Whale Watching Tour
Victoria Whale Watching Website: princeofwhales.com
Prince Of Whales Toll Free Phone: 1-888-383-4884
Contact: Ask all your questions
Victoria Whale Watching Cost: $110 for a 3+hour tour
Tip: If you are looking for another romantic activity while in Victoria, you may want to try ocean kayaking right from the harbour. It was excellent!
• Prince Of Whales provides very cool buffs to wear that also doubles as a Covid-19 safety barrier. Always felt safe.
Google Map Directions To Prince Of Whales In Victoria Harbour
While our Victoria Whale Watching experience with Prince Of Whales was complimentary our thoughts and opinions are our own as always.
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