TOFINO WILDLIFE BLOG
Tofino Whale Watching Tours: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
Whale watching in Tofino is one of the most unforgettable wildlife experiences on the West Coast of Canada. Located on the edge of the wild Pacific Ocean, Tofino offers some of the best opportunities in Clayoquot Sound to see migrating gray whales, humpbacks, sea lions, and even the occasional orca.
If you’re planning a trip, this guide covers everything you need to know about Tofino whale watching tours — including the best time to go, how to choose between open boats and cabin cruisers, what to wear, and when to book.
March in Tofino: Grey Whale Migration and the Magic of the Herring Spawn
March is one of the most exciting times of year on the west coast of Vancouver Island. As winter begins to ease and the days grow longer, the ocean around Tofino and Clayoquot Sound comes alive with one of nature’s great seasonal spectacles: the migration of grey whales and the annual Pacific herring spawn.
Big Momma! Transient Killer Whale T109 in Tofino!!
Big Momma! T109 (born in the mid 1970’s) is a frequent visitor to Clayoquot Sound. This matriarch is a mother to 4 daughters and 1 son plus Grandmother/Great Grandmother to 13 offspring. She was in Tofino yesterday with T109D, T109D1 and T109E. Yesterday was our first encounter with her since T109B and T109C split off with their offspring.
Are the T023's the new locals?
A big shout out to Captain Chris McCue from Jamie’s Whaling Station for picking up the T023’s coming into the Tofino Harbour yesterday. It was a windy and choppy afternoon so the Killer Whales in calm waters were a real treat for everyone. John and I caught up with the Motley Crew gang (all of them: Janice and the C’s and D’s) in Browning Passage. We left them last night at the entrance to Gunner.
A Rare Visit from the T050s Killer Whales near Tofino!
On Thursday evening we got a report that there were Killer Whales off Hippie Point. John and Howie headed out in the Eco at 5:30 pm. They came across a gang of Transient Killer Whales between Monks and Hippie Point. They followed the whales to Saranac Island and then back to Roberts Point. The T050’s were spy hopping and traveling. They spent about an hour with these Killer Whales. Tim on the Hootka Kootla was on his way back from Hot Springs Cove and was able to get a few looks of the gang too!
We don’t see the T050’s often in Tofino. The last time we photographed them was October 2015. This gang like to work the inlets and have been successful hunters while visiting Tofino. These Killer Whales are more frequently seen in Alaskan waters.
Killer Whales up Tofino Inlet (T023C's)
The T023C Killer Whales make an appearance in Tofino today!
Early this morning I was drinking my tea and getting ready for a busy Saturday when I got a text from our Guide Tim Tom that a gang of Killer Whales were passing his window at Opitsaht. All my Saturday plans changed. John and I headed down to the Eco to set out up Browning Passage to find them. Tim had jumped into his boat and was with the T023C’s when we arrived on scene. We followed the orcas up Browning Passage, into Tofino Inlet where they led us up Tranquil. Along the way they tangled with a sea lion but left it alone after a few breaches.
The T023C’s have broken off from T023’s, aka Motley Crew. T023C was born in 1990 and she appears to have three calves (born in 2009, 2013 and a new one that looks like it was born in the last year or more.
The last time we saw the T023C’s was in May 2016 and they were still with the Matriarch T023. They all took the same path of coming through the Tofino Harbour and headed up Tofino Inlet.
Both the morning and afternoon Whale Watching Tours were able to get out to see the Killer Whales!
Northern Resident Killer Whales A34's off Tofino
On Sunday morning John and I heard reports on the radio of a large group of killer whales off Lennard Light. We jumped into the boat and headed out off the Glory Hole to meet up with the fleet and the whales. We knew this large group of killer whales were not Transient Killer Whales but likely Northern Resident Killer Whales. The last time we had Northern Residents in Tofino on a whale watching tour was the H5's in August 2014. We spent some time photographing them. Our Tofino Whale Watching Tours and our Hot Springs Tour were able get some good looks at these killer whales as they made their way up the coast past Tofino. The NRKW we saw yesterday day were the A12 Matriline (A34's) and this was a first meeting for us since we have been document killer whale sightings in our area!
A Night with the T069's off Vargas Island
Whale Watching near Tofino, British Columbia on Vancouver Island.