FAQ

 



When is the best time of year for whale & bear sightings?


We see whales from March right through until the end of October and we see bears from April through October

What type of whales will we see?


We usually see Gray whales and Humpback whales. We occasionally see Orca whales, but only about once or twice a month, as they are transient Orcas.


Is there a better time of day for whale & bear sightings?


We haven’t found that there is any better time of day for whale sightings, they seem to be out there all day! For bear sightings, we set our departure times according to low tide, as that is when the bears come out onto the beaches to find crabs, etc.

How close do we get to the whales & bears?


We are regulated to stay at least 100 meters away from the whales. We will not
approach too close, or drive into their path. For bear watching, we also stay far enough away so as not to bother them while they are eating and playing. It is the aim of our professional boat crews to respect these regulations & the whale’s and bear’s space so that they will return for many years to come and be available for our children’s
children to view these magnificent animals.

What should we wear/bring on the tours?


On our larger vessels, layered clothing is recommended. It is always cooler on the
water, even in the warm days of summer. For those going on the zodiac, we provide a full length cruiser suit that provides warmth and floatation. It is a good idea to wear a fleece under these suits, a tight fitting hat and enclosed shoes with socks. Other than your warm clothing, bring your camera, binoculars, sunscreen, gloves, hat, raingear if raining and your good spirits. We are all here to have fun!

How do we guarantee whale sightings?


It is our greatest hope that all of our passengers enjoy the time they spend with us. Our aim is to provide an interesting and informative tour of the Clayoquot & Barkley Sound areas and their inhabitants. A combination of our local knowledge, experience, educated guesswork, and luck allows most of our guests a chance to see wildlife, however unpredictability is a part of our business. If your expectations exceed these natural limitations, then perhaps you should reconsider wildlife viewing in a natural setting. The animals we watch are WILD, therefore we cannot guarantee sightings on 100% of our trips. However, on any trip that does not sight the specific animal we’re targeting, we will issue our passengers a “Raincheck”. These guarantees have NO EXPIRY DATE and will be reissued as many times as it takes for you to sight the animal you were looking for. Not only that but Whale guarantees are transferable from zodiac to large vessel and from Ucluelet to Tofino and visa versa with no additional cost, (a great opportunity to experience both types of vessel and see both Sounds)! PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT A MONEY BACK GUARANTEE AND IS GOOD ONLY FOR THE PASSENGERS NAMED ON THE BOARDING PASS. Please accept this guarantee as a token of our goodwill and with our sincere desire to have you join us again!