TOFINO WILDLIFE BLOG
The Grey Whale Migration: From Mexico to Tofino and Beyond
Every year, one of nature’s most extraordinary migrations unfolds just offshore of Tofino. The eastern North Pacific grey whale travels more than 16,000 kilometres round-trip—from the warm lagoons of Baja California, Mexico to the icy feeding grounds of the Arctic.
This migration is not only one of the longest of any mammal—it’s also one of the most visible. Unlike many whale species, grey whales stay close to shore, making places like Clayoquot Sound one of the best viewing locations in the world.
April Whale Watching in Tofino: Grey Whales, Orcas & Incredible Spring Sightings (2026)
Whale Watching in April: An Incredible Start to the Season in Tofino
April has brought an exciting start to the whale watching season here in Tofino. With calm spring conditions and longer days, we’re already seeing an incredible diversity of whales moving through Clayoquot Sound and the open Pacific.
From migrating giants to powerful predators, every trip has been full of unforgettable wildlife moments.
What to Wear on a Whale Watching Tour in Tofino
Planning a whale watching tour in Tofino? One of the most common questions we hear at The Whale Centre is:
“What should I wear?”
The key is simple: dress warmer than you think and prepare for changing ocean conditions.
Out on the water, even sunny days can feel cool with wind and ocean spray. Here’s exactly how to stay comfortable so you can focus on spotting whales.
What Whales Can You See in Tofino?
If you’re planning a trip to Tofino, one of the most common questions is: what whales can you actually see here?
The short answer: Tofino is one of the best places in Canada to see whales in the wild, with multiple species appearing throughout the year — including grey whales, orcas, humpbacks, and more.
In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what whales you can expect to see, when to see them, and how to choose the right whale watching tour to maximize your chances.
Open Boat vs Covered Boat in Tofino for Whale Watching & Bear Tours: Which Should You Choose?
If you’re planning a wildlife tour in Tofino, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is which type of boat to book.
Both open boats and covered boats visit the same areas, travel at similar speeds, and see the same incredible wildlife—whales, bears, sea lions, and more. The difference comes down to your experience on the water.
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.
Best Time to See Whales in Tofino: A Month-by-Month Guide
If you're planning a visit to Tofino, whale watching is one of the most unforgettable experiences on the West Coast. The waters off the west coast of Vancouver Island are incredibly rich in nutrients, supporting an abundance of marine life throughout the year.
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.
Unforgettable Killer Whale Sightings in Tofino: A Week of Spectacular Encounters
Tofino has been buzzing with excitement this past week as we’ve had an extraordinary number of killer whale sightings on our tours! Guests aboard The Whale Centre’s boats have witnessed multiple transient orca groups moving through the area, offering breathtaking encounters with these apex predators.
GRAY WHALE MIGRATION
Gray Whales undertake one of the longest migrations of any mammal species. They travel annually between their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic and their winter breeding and calving grounds in the lagoons of Baja, Mexico.
May Whale Watching in Tofino !
May was another great month on the water around Clayoquot Sound. Did you know that we share our sightings with researchers? Whenever possible we submit images of the whales to support ongoing efforts to catalogue the whales. Last month we photographed 29 different grey whales, and submitted those sightings along with location information to the Pacific Wildlife Foundation.
A Visit From the T068C's
A visit from the Bigg’s Killer Whales T068C’s in the Tofino Harbour on March 31, 2021.
Back in Tofino: Bigg's Killer Whales T109B's, T109C's and Lone Bull T065A2
Yesterday was a great day for Killer Whale sightings for our guides in Tofino! In the morning Howie Tom picked up the T109B’s and T109C’s at Cleland Island. These two gangs spent the afternoon slowly making their way to Lennard Light eating many seals along the way. These two gangs are the offspring of T109 (aka Big Momma) and are frequent visitors to Clayoquot Sound.
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.
Finally! The T109A's come back to Clayoquot Sound with T097!
This morning John and I were going to head out to try and photograph Blue Sharks but our plans changed when we got word that there were 9 Bigg’s Killer Whales off Lennard Light. The T109A’s, now a gang of eight, were back! They had not been photographed in our waters since winter. This gang is locally known as The Runaways and they are frequent visitors to the Tofino area. The gang had a bull with them today. T097, who was born in 1980, has only been photographed in our area once in 2011. We were excited to photograph a new to us Killer Whale and use the new DFO Photo-Identification catalogue! The Killer Whales spent most of the day slowing moving up the coast killing several seals along the way.
Minke Whales & Humpback Whales off Tofino
We have had fantastic Whale sightings over the past week in Tofino.
Guests on our tours have been able to see Minke Whales a few miles off Lennard Light. Minke Whales are the second smallest baleen whale. The Minke Whale is does not give us as much surface time as other whales. It breathes three to five times at short intervals before 'deep-diving' for two to 20 minutes. Deep dives are preceded by a pronounced arching of the back.
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES: T075B's, T075C's and T037A1 were in Tofino the past two days!
Yesterday we got word that 6 Killer Whales were making their way into Templar Channel. We met up with the Killer Whales as they were making their way through the Channel into the Tofino Harbour. They swam through the harbour and up Browning Passage. We identified the whales as the T075B, T075B2, T075B3, T075C, T075C1 and T037A1. They were last seen last night in the Bedwell.
SRKW - New Calf with J Pod
Yesterday we got word from Tim (The Whale Centre) and Jeffrey Tom (Jamie’s) that there were Killer Whales 4 miles off Lennard Light. John and I headed out on the Lil Salty to go out and see who the whales were. We got on scene and determined that the whales were in fact J pod. All whale watching companies made the call to stop watching the whales once they knew they were in fact SWKW.