Reviews of BC Whale Tours Victoria (Travel Agency)

Greg Currie

My wife and I along with daughter had the pleasure of going out with Captain Gord. I was hesitate about doing a whale tour after a not so successful whale tour in NZ some years ago. Having a Guarantee to see whales certainly changed my mind. I was very impressed with how our captain worked together with other whale watching boats and was able to get us close to see a humpback whale. My only suggestion would be to have a PA system of some sort that everyone on the boat could hear the captain speak about and not just those close to him

Michele Imes

The experience was amazing. Too see the whales and other marine life was fun. Patience is required on waiting for the whales to surface, but so worth it. Would definitely do this tour every time I visit my friends in Victoria BC.

Craig Cornelius

Excellent tour with a knowledgeable, friendly leader. We had a great time seeing humpbacks diving, breaching, and playing.

Mariëlle Helder

(Translated) Super! Really amazing! Instead of 3 hours we had 4 hours of sailing and he told us so much and showed us! And on the boat Luna it was great for my little kids (Original) Super! Echt geweldig! We hadden ipv 3 uur 4 uur varen en hij heeft ons zoveel verteld en laten zien! En op de boot luna was het top voor mijn kleine kids

Justin Solamillo

BC Whale Tours is a must-do if you are in Victoria! The staff was great and the Captain (Jim) was knowledgeable in all things whales. We were fortunate enough to see a small pod of orca's during our visit. The respect for nature and the animals was evident throughout our journey.

Rick

(Translated) Great experience at sea with this organization. I think the most important thing is to treat nature and everything that lives in it with respect. This organization does that. The guide searches for underwater life in a so-called zodiac. He keeps in constant contact with other boats in the area. The guide had extensive ecological knowledge and was able to tell things about various animal species both in and around the water. This resulted in five humpbacks. Beautiful sight, great organization. (Original) Geweldige ervaring gehad op zee met deze organisatie. Het belangrijkste vind ik dat er met respect wordt omgegaan met de natuur en alles wat daarin leeft. Dat doet deze organisatie. In een zogenaamde zodiac zoekt de gids naar het onderwater leven. Hierbij houdt hij constant contact met andere boten in de omgeving. De gids had een ruime ecologische kennis en kon over verschillende diersoorten zowel in als om het water dingen vertellen. Dit leverde als resultaat een vijftal bultruggen op. Prachtig gezicht, geweldige organisatie.

Abdullah Al-Ani

We went on this amazing wildlife trip with BC Whale tours last week. My family and I really enjoyed the thrill of the super fast BC ORCA boat. It was such an incredible opportunity to learn about the marine wildlife from captain Harold, who was very knowledgeable about marine wildlife and the west coast. We had so much fun and we would definitely go again on this trip when we visit Victoria again. Thank you BC Whale Tours for such an amazing experience!

cat moreau

This company goes over and above to insure customers have a great experience. Thanks to Captain Darren had the exciting privilege of videoing a mother humpback and her baby breaching the waters several times. It was so awesome! We would highly recommend using BC Whale tours. This turned out to be a memory of a lifetime!!

Lisa B

Amazing experience! We saw 2 species of whales, humpbacks and orcas. The captain, Gord, was great and got as excited as the rest of us when the whales were near by. He was very respectful to give the animals space. If the whales approached the boat, the motors were turned off. At one point, the humpbacks used the boat to block the krill from escaping and scooped them up right next to us. I think they enjoyed checking us out as much as we enjoyed watching them. Gord was able to point out several pairs of humpbacks along the way up toward Sooke. Just outside the Sooks Pointe Resort, we met up with a 2 pods of orcas swimming along the shore. There was a huge male with a dorsal fin 5 ft tall. Spectacular to see. There was a baby and mom and 2 or 3 others. Oh, and did I mention the scenery. There is nothing like exploring Vancouver Island from the water. Best way to spend the day in a heat wave. Easy location, right downtown Victoria, in the harbour. Felt safe the entire time and no one got sick. Definitely recommend this outfit.

Soo Kim

This was a good day and seeing the whales was amazing. The staff are very nice

Céline Jolivet

Great customer service ever! They answered all my questions and went even beyond my expectations! They helped a lot my parents who were not speaking English, and offer them a memorable experience with orcas! Thank you to all the team BC Whale Tours

Justin Jones

Highly recommend this company for whale watching, very experienced confident boat captain, knowledgeable about the animals we were seeing. Good fun way to spend half a day.

Aurora Endres-Bercher

We saw 3 humpback whales with BC Whale Tours along with sea lions (and an eagle right as we were leaving the dock!). The captain was very knowledgeable and I felt safe on the boat. Besides seeing wildlife, the boat ride was really fun. I will use their company again next time!

Anne Creighton

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with BC Whale Tours. Our guide was knowledgeable and charming. His love and respect for the whales was evident and appreciated. The whales were magnificent. We could not have asked for more.

Benjamin szyszka

(Translated) Great tour. The plan was from 2:30 p.m. to around 6 p.m. Since we didn't see anything at the first spot, we drove to the other end of the bay. There and then accompanied an orca family in calm seas and great sunshine. We saw them hunt seals. It was unforgettable. Our captain was great. He even took big waves so that you didn't get wet and made sure that everyone saw something and felt good. It doesn't get any better for me. We were back at 7 p.m. :) (Original) Super Tour. Geplant war von 14 Uhr 30 bis ca. 18 Uhr. Da wir beim ersten Spot nichts gesehen haben sind wir komplett an das andere Ende der bucht gedüst. Dort hat und dann bei ruhiger See und super Sonnenschein eine Orca Familie begleitet. Wir konnten sie bei der robbenjagt beobachten. Es war unvergesslich. Unser Captain war super. Er hat selbst große Wellen so genommen das man nicht nass wurde und hat stetig dafür gesorgt das alle etwas sehen und Sich gut fühlen. Für mich geht es nicht besser. Zurück waren wir dann um 19 Uhr :)

Julie Leplae

Great experience!Very nice captain and people.If you want to have a good time and see whales, you have to take a tour with them

Ivan Kornelsen

It was well worth the money!

Marco Gaspari

(Translated) Super brilliant boat tour. Spotted whales and sea lions. The sea was rough, but Captain Gorden was in control. Was worth every penny. Any time. (Original) Super geniale Bootstour. Wale und Seelöwen gesehen. Das Meer war zwar ziemlich unruhig, aber Captain Gorden hatte alles unter Kontrolle. War jeden Cent wert. Jederzeit wieder.

Paul R

(Translated) Had a great time on the BC Tika. The captain had studied marine biology and you could tell how much he was burning for the subject. In each free minute in which you do not dive with 70km / h over the water, he cried something about the sea and explained its possible inhabitants. Unfortunately we did not see any orcas on our tour, but two humpback whales and even though we arrived at the spot as the last boat, our captain maneuvered the boat so that we had a great view of the animal. Finally we drove past some seal benches and after about 3h15m we were back in the harbor. Overall, we had a great time and it was worth every penny. (Original) Hatten eine super Zeit auf der BC Tika. Der Captain hatte Meeresbiologie studiert und man merkte wie sehr er für das Thema brannte. In jeder freien Minute in der man nicht mit 70km/h über das Wasser gedüst ist, jähste er etwas über das Meer und seine etwaigen Bewohner erklärt. Leider haben wir auf unserer Tour keine Orcas sehen können, dafür aber zwei Buckelwaale und obwohl wir als letztes Boot an dem Spot ankamen, hat unser Captain das Boot so manövriert, dass wir einen super Blick auf das Tier hatten. Zum Abschluss sind wir noch an einigen Robbenbänken vorbeigefahren und waren nach ca. 3h15m wieder zurück im Hafen. Insgesamt hatten wir eine super Zeit und es war jeden Cent wert.

Lauren DeMattia

BC Whale Tours was great! The staff were all friendly and very professional. We got to see several Orcas and a Humpback Whale on our trip... The small boat was fun to ride and though we got wet, our survival suits kept us warm! Our guide Tom was super friendly, fun, funny, and a wealth of knowledge about the animals we saw. We felt very well taken care of and also that we were be very respectful of the animals we sought to have encounters with. A great time!

Jeannie Martin DeLoach

We saw orca whales several times on the tour; three even swam right under our boat! They are beautiful, enormous animals. We also saw bald eagles, harbor porpoises, and seals. The entire area is breathtakingly beautiful, so the entire three-hour hunt for whale sightings was a great time. Captain Jim knew exactly where to go and explained a lot of the area's ecology to our crew as we zipped along. He was entertaining, engaging, and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend BC Whale Tours!

Nirushun Velauthapillai

Lots of orcas, great friendly people

Mrinmoy Kr Das

Exceptionally interesting adventure. The speed boat, detail description of the well versed naturalist guide make the trip a lifetime experience. And we're lucky to view two families of killer whale closely and also few hammerhead from a distance in addition to lot of seals.

MrDana Bernard

Excellent service and knowledgeable boat Captains. Fast and comfortable boats. Bathrooms on all of the boats. They offer a whale guarantee and other discounts. Friendly staff and family-friendly company.

Collette Lemieux

The captain (Kegan) was very knowledgable. It was a great experience. I would highly recommend. One note: Even if it is warm out, wear layers. It gets cold when you are going fast : )

Hannah Wiedner

Everything was perfect. Captain Tom gave a lot of background information an didn't hesitate to extend our tour because a big congregation of humpback whales has been sighted in the area.

Terry Grey

I did a whale watching tour here one summer years ago. Fun fun!

Ruth Goldman

Small, stable and very comfortable boat, knowledgeable captain and wonderful all-around experience! We saw seals, sea lions and a group of Biggs' Transient whales. I highly recommend going with BC Whale Tours!

Emily Juliff

Excellent experience, saw a humpback in the distance and two pods of orcas. We covered 78 miles and saw amazing scenery. Highly recommended

Amie M

Wow! This is a must if you come to Victoria! We saw Humpback whales! Our caption Keagen(I think this was his name) was so knowledgeable and gave us a ton of information! ????

Christin UD

Jim is the Best ????

Kereth Collard

Great time spent on the water with a company that is respectful of the whales. We saw Orcas on our trip in April but told there are other types of whales depending on the season. On a windy day be prepared for a fun choppy ride!

Kassie Heisserer

We went out on the Luna on 10/3/17 and had an awesome time. Definitely would use this company again in the future. Online booking was simple; check-in was simple; ride was smooth and we saw Orca and a Humpback. Highly recommended.

Orieanna Hartley

Had such an amazing time with BC Whales! Grant and his staff are an awesome crew to go out with. They will go to any distance to find a whale for you! Would highly recommend!

Angela Miller

OH MY GOSH. Worth every cent! Saw several humpbacks, sea lions in mass quantities, seals galore & even, an elusive sea otter! I LOVED seeing those smaller, very vocal sea critters up close at the lighthouse & small islands! The warm suit was incredibly awesome & kept us warm & comfortable in chilly conditions. AWESOME captain & boat.

Michael Tiedemann

We went on the BC Orca boat. Our driver was amazing! We always had an amazing angle when looking at the whales. Great smooth ride. Would recommend to anyone!

Shabir Haji

Booking the tour online was a breeze. Staff were very friendly and provided all the information you needed, from checking in to getting onto the boat. The captain, Jim was amazing, wealth of knowledge and experience. We saw sea lions and orca whales. I highly recommend BC whale Tours for whale watching tour!

Chelsey Thompson

One of my favourite things to do in Victoria

Kel-Lee Putman

Absolutely phenomenal whale watching tour. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and funny. Will absolutely recommend this company to everyone coming to Victoria!

Lou Etienne

(Translated) We have booked a whale tour through BC Whale Tours. Of the 4 that we did during our trip in Canada, this was the only time that we actually spotted a whale. Admittedly a humpback mother with her young. That was very special! The staff is also very friendly and does their very best to make the guests feel at home! Recommended! (Original) Wij hebben via BC Whale Tours een walvis tour geboekt. Van de 4 die wij hebben gedaan tijdens onze reis in Canada is dit de enige keer geweest dat wij ook daadwerkelijk een walvis gespot hebben. Weliswaar een bultrug moeder met haar jong. Dat was wel erg bijzonder! Het personeel is ook erg vriendelijk en doet heel erg hun best om het de gasten naar hun zin te maken! Een aanrader!

Tim West

Phenomenal! The whales were magnificent, the crew knowledgeable and professional, the boat fast and comfortable and the experience was first class. I highly recommend BC Whale Tours to anyone interested in seeing Victoria's local whales and large mammals. :) Cheers Tim West

shannon warner

We went on the BC Whale Tours and we had a great time! We had Captain Russ and he navigated us to the perfect spot and we saw a great pod of Orcas! he was very knowledgeable about everything and we will return again!

John

Keagan : Good guide Did his best to provide a good experience. We saw several humpbacks and orca's as well as sealions and seals. Worth it!

Nady Kao

Great experience! A humpback whale surfaced right next to our boat. Captain Russ was tremendous.

gargantua0613

Great experience. We saw a pod of orcas, including one full breach, and five humpbacks. Three hour tour turned to four to get to where the whales were. Very informative guide. Amazing.

sharon smith

Amazing staff and the whales we saw well, it was breathtaking

Rawan Debasi

It was amazing, the crew were so friendly and funny also they have many informations about the sea creatures

Darlene Mantini

Had an excellent day. Our captain was very protective of the water, environment & safety of the whales. He just turned off the motor and they came to us! It was amazing.

Jason Lee

(Translated) I saw a whale! Although from afar (Original) 고래를 보았어요! 비록 멀리서지만

Christin UD

Jim is the Best ????

Andy B

This was so much fun.. the captain and staff were great.. highly recommend

Dan Moorcroft

What an amazing day on the water! Captain Lyle was friendly, knowledgeable and an all-round great guy! We saw orca and humpback whales, sea lions, seals, marine birds, Race Rocks lighthouse, and more! We had great fun and enjoyed it immensely. Thanks again, Lyle.. say hi to Hannah and Wade!!

Kelsey Hipkin

Making reservations was very easy. I had some questions and was replied to in a prompt manner on FB. Check in was easy and Captain Jim was amazing. Very knowledgeable about the areas and the whales themselves. Spotted a Humpback Whale and her calf and the T-60 pod of Orca's. An amazing experience.

Claire Edwards

We went out twice with these guys and they were brilliant. Can not rate them high enough! They know alot and really care about what they're doing and they also have the best and fastest boats out of all the tour companies. I wouldn't go with anyone else! Thanks guys x

Ralph T.T. Yeung

Friendly and helpful staff, even picked us up for our morning trip! Their boats were awesome, we were on the BC Orca and it was the smoothest ride I've had on a small boat. Got to see some orcas and humpbacks!

Erik Byland

Great people, awesome tour

Alex

Professional, great service and wonderful tour

Keith Noyes Seckel

Crew were fun and engaging, the BC nova was comfy and FAST! We saw two different pods of Orca, plus two Humpbacks. We spent almost exactly 4 hours on the water and it was WELL worth it!!!!!

Abish Anklesaria

Great experience with our captain Gordon on the BC Luna. He expertly took us through some choppy weather and we saw some amazing sea life, including a breaching Humpback Whale. Friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.

Jackie Morrison

Excellent guide. Appropriate gear for all clients. Boat was comfortable. Whale sightings along with other animals!

Derek Hiscoke

Amazing experience... shame no orca

Derek Hiscoke

Amazing experience... shame no orca

Alice Bischoff

What a great time! Cpt Gordon was a great guide!

Wesley H

Amazing!!!!!!!! Breathless

Taylor Pawsey

What a great day! We saw orcas, humpback, sea otter, sea lions and harbor seals! Darren, our guide, was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.

Rocket Ronnie

Best money spent in a long time. Amazing experience that have never had in our 64 years! Very knowledgable captain and reception girl. highly recommended.

Amie M

Wow! This is a must if you come to Victoria! We saw Humpback whales! Our caption Keagen(I think this was his name) was so knowledgeable and gave us a ton of information! ????

Kevin Dull

Fun experience for my family!

Mya Soon

I went here in the summer for my dads birthday and the staff were so kind and fun to chat with, my sister had an anxiety attack and the staff comforted her. We saw a lot of orca families!! The way back got pretty bumpy, but it was a fun experience! :))

Christoph Schneider

Amazing Tour. A really nice adventure in this beautiful area.

Jennifer Wilson Surmay

There are a few whale tour options in Victoria and if you are trying to decide, go with this one - they are great! Boat design options for an inside luxurious feel or more adventurous one-with-nature designs. Safety suits that also provide warmth (definitely needed on the water). Fabulous staff - especially the captains (we had Orion and he was fun, educational and safe).

Adelaide Baker

I went on a tour with this company last August. Seriously one of the best days off my life. The groups are small enough that it feels personal. The guides really care about making sure you not only have a good time and see some whales, but also that you understand a little about what makes them so important and how you can help protect them and their environments. I saw some other companies chasing after animals where our boat kept a respectable distance and let the animals approach us if they wanted, which they did! Nice to see a company that isn't exploitative, but actually cares about the environment they work in

Mariam Essa

My husband and I went whale watching in the BC Tika and had a great experience. We saw orcas, humpback whales, seals, sea lions and a bald eagle. Captain Jim was informative and made our experience even better. He was respectful towards the animals and maintained his distance, allowing the animals to approach us. I highly recommend!

Scott Milligan

Great boot, friendly guide! Best option in Victoria!

Kathy Hui

Amazing experience! I took BC Orca awith skipper Jim and he was so knowledgeable. We were lucky to see some humpbacks, a bald eagle, seals, and sea lions. I loved the more intimate experience we had with the smaller boat (12 ppl). Thank you guys for the great experience. Only comment is for online booking I couldn't tell if there was space on the 10 am or 2:30 pm (because they were grouped together) and I had to call to confirm. Excellent customer service.

Karissa Hadden

What an incredible experience my husband and 5 month old son had on the BC Luna with Captain Gordon. We saw multiple pods of Orcas and several humpback whales. We also saw tons of seals and sea lions! It was an overall amazing experience with a knowledgeable tour guide and staff. I would highly recommend this company over and over again!

Tasha Pegg

Such an amazing experience, our Captain Russ had tons of information to share and made the tour unforgettable! Would definitely recommend booking a tour with them!

Tayyab Mysorewala

Awesome tour! Great customer service and our captain was very knowledgeable about the whales and the area. We saw two humpbacks, a pod of orcas, a bald eagle and a bunch of sea lions and seals. The tour took about 3.5 hours and most of it was action packed. The boat was quite comfortable.

Jamie W

Went on BC luna with a 6 and 3 year old. Inside cabin was perfect for them. A little bumpy but very manageable. Kids got a bit stir crazy not being able to run around but were excited to see the whales and were able to move around the boat safely with one parent hovering. Definitely had to hang on to kids while the boat was moving however. Brought food and warm clothing. Saw orcas, humpbacks, and seals. Captain had the appropriate don't-gun-it toward the whales approach as opposed to other companies. Very accommodating. Appropriate level of adventure for small kids. Highly recommended. It was fantastic!

Daniel Dumas

Great fun! You feel like you get your money's worth. Saw two humpback whales and enjoyed the Zodiac ride in and around Victoria and the Strait.

Lynn Brumby

Have only booked to go Whale Watching with the service very thorough to ensure you know the options with each of the boats.

paolo vi80

(Translated) Nice experience on the zodiac, it's cold but they provide very hot suits. To try absolutely (Original) Bella esperienza sugli zodiac, fa freddo ma forniscono delle tute caldissime. Da provare assolutamente

Brian Johnson

Amazing experience and great client services!

Pamela Sandoval

Excellent service!! The best birthday present ever.

Malawi McDonald music

It was beautiful! We saw lots of whales.

Jerry Pollio

We were running late and the office called us to confirm we were coming Great customer service from everyone! Our Captain not sure how he does it but He does bring you very close to the ????! Informative, fun, safe, beautiful day on the water. The Zodiac is fun and fast and the protective suits they keep you warm and dry...great tour my wife and I really enjoyed the experience!

amy goguen

Awesome experience, and our guide was very knowledgeable about all the marine life as well as respectable of the animals space.

Sabrina Florida

We loved this whale watching experience!! We were able to watch a family of orcas. Breathtaking.

Ashley Warnock

BC Whale Tours has been the highlight of our trip! Thank you, Captain Russ! After spending a bit of time deciding upon which company to use, I am so pleased to have chosen BC Whale Tours. Myself and three others had the pleasure of riding BC Orca, the fastest boat in Victoria. And what a ride it was! Additionally, the boat is small and has a washroom on board, which not all boats have. I think the whales were less timid around the smaller boats. Captain Russ was the first to all whale sightings and knew exactly how to steer the boat so that we traveled right along the whales. We saw a pod of orcas, as well as humpback whales: a mother and her calf. The calf was so playful and fun, and was playing and jumping out of the water for about an hour while we boated along side them. It was a fabulous experience! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND BC WHALE TOURS!

Zachary George

Only saw 2 humpback whales momentarily pop up and saw no Orcas which was disappointing The 3-4 hour trip only lasted 2 hours and 45 mins. Large portion was spent in very bad weather conditions, slapped in the face with ice cold salt weather countless times. The tour guide was very very nice. But his long winded explanations of common sense and general wild life facts was fairly monotone and boring to listen to. Obviously the weather is situational and any tour of this type of massively hit or miss Overall, I'm sad I didn't have the type of experience I saw mentioned about in the comments on here.

Ryan Coome

Simply amazing experience and very affordable. The boats are super fast and the staff are kind, knowledgeable and very accommodating we caught a few whales and plenty of other marine life. Highly recommended! Thanks gang!

Laura Brazan

We’ve been whale watching before but this company far exceeds any experience we’ve had before. Russ was a great guide. We saw lots of Orcas, a humpback whale, sea lions, seals and an otter! Riss knows so much about the area as he’s from here, is very knowledgeable about the sea life and has a great sense of humor. We laughed and had a lot of fun. Great experience as part of our Victoria trip with my brothers wedding party.

Stefan Goldener

Was here in 2009 and saw a whale.... So definitely a recommendation

Beatriz Mariño

We went to see the orcas, we had the open zodiac. Small groups (I think we were 11 people) . No children. We had an amazing experience, saw beautiful orcas and we even watched them feed. The captain was really good, really knowledgeable. I would really recommend it.

Dan Woolf

What a fantastic day of whale watching. Not only did the weather turn in our favor, we were the only ones on a twelve person Zodiac with twin 350 HP engines. Our captain, Gordon also an retired commercial diver has been doing whale tours for about eight years. We must have gotten close to more than a dozen Humpback Whales. With the sun out and the ocean almost perfectly calm, we just couldn’t ask for a better day. Thanks Gordon for an unforgettable experience! Dan

Tristan Hagedorn

Very enjoyable experience, was able to view 3 orcas. Highly accommodating and entertaining staff, clean and well kept facilities.

Jean-Sebastien Savard

Beautifull!!!

Jen G

First time out on the water and first time seeing Orca's! We also saw a humpback and seals, and sea lions. We had an amazing time, the staff were friendly, professional and had extensive knowledge of the wild life and surrounding areas. I felt safe and in good hands. We will definitely go again!

susan minicucci

Absolutely amazing. Our guide was so great. We saw whales. I love how their boats are quiet and fast. So worth it. Use these if you are planing whale watchin g tour

Sander Salen

The coolest boats ever. Also a cool, relaxed and funny captain. He tried to get close to the killer whales and gave some interesting facts and information. We were Lucky and saw whales jumping out of the water and swimming under the boat. Small and very fast Vessel. The only minor is, they say on the brochure it's going to be a trip of 3-4 hours. But we were back after 2u45. There was enough time for some other whale spotting in my opinion. But, i would come back

Karen Charron

Awesome crew and boat.. Gear is new and clean

Karen Charron

Awesome crew and boat.. Gear is new and clean

Jenon “Juice” Aja

What an amazing experience. Words cant describe how amazing it was to get so close to the whales.The knowledge of the drivers is unmatched the comfort of the boats are amazing. I would recommend this to everyone who visits Victoria.

Rohan Kristoff

It was a bit more expensive then I would have liked but I had a really fun time whale watching! 5 stars for the experience, 3 stars for price, so 4 stars seems fair XD

K Gee A Gee

It was awesome tour

K Gee A Gee

It was awesome tour

Lauren S

Had a great time with Captain Tom on BC whale tours! Saw a bunch of different whales and pods of whales, and sea lions. Tom was super knowledgeable and a really great guide!

M CF

Excellent experience! My family thoroughly enjoyed our tour and a big thanks to Captain Gordon.

Jordan Dolter

Awesome tour! We saw tons of wildlife. Our captain was awesome and took us on a great tour seeing both Humpbacks and Orcas.

Cassandra Wade

The staff was very friendly and helpful. Our tour guide Russ was energetic and it seemed like he really enjoyed being out on the water. He made it a priority that we saw some whales before the end of the tour, and luckily we got to! Overall great experience

Océane Gdl

(Translated) Very professional we were able to observe whales + orcas very very nice and impressive to see (Original) Très professionnel on a pu observer baleines + orques très très sympa et impressionnant à voir

Sue Koeth

Our captain was Gordon. He was fabulous. We saw 3 Orca up close and SURPRISE one caught a SEAL!!! We also saw a humpback and a small pod of dolphins that looked like little orcas. I don't remember their name. There was a whole island of lion seals making LOTS of noise. All so exciting. Many sea birds. Gordon pointed everything out to us and gave us names and details about each. Loved every minute. I'm so glad we were in an enclosed boat because it was rainy and would have been uncomfortable.

Hailey Raxter

We had so much fun! Our guide Tom was so knowledgeable and passionate in his career! Tom taught us so much about the sea creatures we saw. We got a nice glimpse of a humpback whale! We will defiantly be back!

Jamie W

Went on BC luna with a 6 and 3 year old. Inside cabin was perfect for them. A little bumpy but very manageable. Kids got a bit stir crazy not being able to run around but were excited to see the whales and were able to move around the boat safely with one parent hovering. Definitely had to hang on to kids while the boat was moving however. Brought food and warm clothing. Saw orcas, humpbacks, and seals. Captain had the appropriate don't-gun-it toward the whales approach as opposed to other companies. Very accommodating. Appropriate level of adventure for small kids. Highly recommended. It was fantastic!

sumsy82

It was a great trip. I love BC whale tours. It was my second time going out with the crew and it was just amazing staff is really friendly and funny ( feels like a group of friends going on the tour ) the boat has lots of space to move around ( bc Luna) I like that there are only 12 pax on board so it's not to many people so everybody has lots of space to take photos. First your we took was in January a few years ago and we did not see whales on this tour but we got to see so many other beautiful places and other animals on our second in may this year we been lucky to see orkas which was just great all I ever wanted to see. We saw orka mums with there kids hunting ( yes the baby's got a seal) and this animals been just so great to watch. The next time I will be in Victoria I will be back at the BC Luna that's for sure.

Alex Byrne

Great experience. Guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Boat was very fast (39 kts) but very smooth and comfortable. Saw a pod of 5 orcas (females and pups), one large solo male orca and a humpback whale, all at a very close distance. Would highly recommend

Michelle Silverstein

My family and I just enjoyed a lovely day at sea with Captain Jeevan. We were extremely lucky to see 2 pods of very playful Orcas, and Jeevan went out of his way to ensure we had a chance to see Scratchy the Humpback whale. It was a comfortable (albeit very choppy) ride and we are very grateful to have gleaned a lot of information from our knowledgable and friendly captain. Would highly recommend the experience to anyone seeking out a little adventure during their travels!

T Wellsby

Captain Gordon, you've done it again!!! We were so privileged to have him as our Captain. Pleasant, knowledgeable, and so engaging with our children. It was absolutely fantastic. We had what some might call the "tour of the year". A ?pod? of dolphins, two humpback whales, and the most unbelievable orca experience ever. Two pods (CA & BC) and transients all together, communicating above the water. There must have been 2 dozen of all different sizes. It was unforgettable. Truly a feather in the captain's hat. Thanks again Captain Gordon from all of us. BE SURE TO TIP!!!

Aleaha Cole

Our experience was fantastic on the BC Tika! Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. We saw orca and humpback whales and will cherish the memory forever.

wacka fame

Great tour by captain Jim. Welcomed us to his boat with open arms and great energy. Gave us so much info about ocean life. It was more than just a whale watching experience.

Ryan Wedley

Absolute blast! 5/5! We took the BC Orca for our tour. The knowledge of the captain and the all around experience is one I would highly recommend!

Wendy R

I had been looking forward to this trip for months. We got a return ferry from Port Angeles and spent the night in Victoria to do this trip with the expectation of seeing orca whales as this is a guarantee the company has. We were out for 4 hours and didn’t see any orcas. I felt very let down, I could tell the captain was trying hard to find us orcas. We saw a bald eagle, some sea lions and the scenery is beautiful but I could have seen these things without being on a boat. Yes a perk to this company is a free ticket on standby that can be used any time but I’m not sure if I’ll be ever back this direction as this was part of a road trip and I live on the east coast. We didn’t get the 20% back either. I think this is because there was a 20% off deal on during the months of April and May. Felt like I wasted a couple hundred dollars.

Jackie Dunn

Had an incredible experience with Capt. Tom. We saw one humpback whale and six orcas (including a mom and a baby). Tom was very knowledgeable about whale behavior and social structures and used an underwater microphone to let us listen to an active pod communicating. He also extended our tour time when we found a playful group of orcas near the end of our session. The whales came by the boat a few times to check us out. It was incredible to watch them hunt and play. Would highly recommend this company.

Mitchell Casson

Great day on the water Captain Russ has us on the orcas in minutes, we followed them for about an hour, great experience for the family.

Jess M

We had so much fun! Lots of Orcas, a couple of Humpbacks and a whole lotta sea lions! The Orca boat was sooo much fun! (be sure to wear sunscreen). Lots of fun facts!! The captain always kept us informed about where we were going, what we were going to be hopefully be seeing and why he thought they'd be there. Gordon our Captain was a lot of fun (especially when we showed us his whale call). Definitely recommend! Bring Binoculars so you can see them coming your way :)

Will Sanguine

Awesome tour! Great customer service and our captain was very knowledgeable about the whales and the area. We saw two humpbacks, a pod of orcas, a bald eagle and a bunch of sea lions and seals. The tour took about 3.5 hours and most of it was action packed. The boat was quite comfortable. Absolutely love the experience!

Nida Khawaja

Had an amazing time today whale watching. Here are reasons why I would recommend BC tours. It accommodates twelve people and it's a smaller boat which I liked because it keeps you at great eye level with the water in order to see the whales. I feel like it gives you a more personal experience. The tour company provides life jacket suits that keep you warm on the water and is a flotation device as well. Our tour guide was very friendly and informative. He gave us time to take pictures of the whales and seals that we saw and he did not rush the experience. It was easy move around the boat and take pictures unlike bigger tour boats that I saw which had a lot of people. We were able to see orcas and humpback whales which was amazing. They key is patience as you are seeing the whales in their natural habitat and also have to care about the whale safety so we had to keep a visible distance from them. Was a wonderful experience and highly recommend BC whale tours!!!

Harvey Lane

An absolutely wonderful experience! Gordon, the captain was like an old friend. His knowledge of the ecology of the area and the behavior of the whales added a lot. We didn't want to be standing shoulder to shoulder with a large crowd, so the smaller capacity of the Luna (12 people max with both inside and outside seating for everyone) was perfect. We saw 3 humpbacks, lots of orcas and many seals. Highly recommended.

Frank Versluis

We had a beautiful tour with a fast sodiacboat 70 km/h. We around 6 Orca's, no Humboldt whale.

Carol Sinnes

We had a few days in Victoria with teen grandsons and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with Captain Darren on the Orca. We were fortunate to see the humpback whales as well as a pod of orca that we watched and followed for approx. 45 min as they hunted and played. We also enjoyed watching the sea lions. The company was professionally run and Captain Darren was very knowledgeable both of the whales and the environment. We would highly recommend this company. ps the tour comes with "sightings guaranteed".

Rudy Moley

Excellent service and very kind captain (Gus). Thank you for a great excursion. Excellent boat and gear.

H Verschoor

(Translated) in a fast boat in a good suit looking for the animals. much more that fins and ridges unfortunately not seen at a distance. respect for the animals is great. (Original) in een snelle boot met een goed pak aan op zoek naar de dieren. veel meer dat vinnen en ruggen op afstand helaas niet gezien. respect voor de dieren is groot.

Elena Buscher

This company is the best whale watching business in Victoria and I have tried a few. Professional, accomodating with incredible boats; they also maintain the minimum distance between boats and animals. I went on a tour with Captain Rachel who was friendly, enthusiastic and a great driver. We had a blast with two pods of transient orcas and about 30 humpbacks feeding and playing. Can't wait for my next trip!

Henk Spanninga

It was great. Gordon is a great tourguide. It was big fun. Topspeed with the NOVA and we saw the Orca’s many times. Thanks Gordon.

Tuyen Tran

Friendly captains and office staff

MO9017 S***y

Top!

Heike Wach

We booked the whale watching on the “gentle” and more comfortable boat Luna, which we recommend for families, as we could freely move around and decide whether to sit outside or inside. We saw a group of Orca whales and also had the impression that our captain Grant took care not to disturb the animals, while explaining amongst others the differences between migrating and residential orcas. He and Tarah were open to answer any question, so it was altogether super-informative. We also spent a bit longer on the boat, as the distance to the whales had been rather long and we had quite some time to watch the whales before heading back.

Muhammad Sheraly

Great experience! They guarantee seeing orcas which is pretty cool to see up close.

Karen Brutsche

I would probably give 3.5. Pros easy parking right next to booth and nice people. We had the Luna (indoor/outdoor) and it was great to only have 10 people on the boat with plenty of space indoors and outdoors. Plus the ride was smooth so sea sickness was not a problem. Cons- 1. we followed the FAQs which said dress with layers and windbreaker but that wasn't enough since it was freezing outside. My family wanted to be outside most of the ride to mimic the other speed boats you see whale watching but couldn't because they didn't have any jumpsuits or heavier waterproof jackets onboard so we got wet fairly quickly. We basically had to stay indoors except to run out quickly to see something. Please keep jumpsuits on board or supply waterproof thermal ponchos for those who want the outdoor experience. 2. Provide dry toilet paper. I used the toilet and the paper was soaked thankfully I had some tissues. 3. We were greeted by the captain who announced that it would be a long trip because we had to go far to see the orcas and that they had seen them on the morning trip. We paid 4 hours of parking and he told us we should put more time in. We ended up not going far and were back in less than four hours. We didn’t see orcas. yes we saw humpbacks and sea lions, but i was there for orcas and when the captain greeted us saying they were there, we all got excited. Next time just tell us the truth so we know from the start we will probably not see orcas which is what most people who come here want to see. Personally if I were to do another tour, I’d try another company.

Uday Gawde

Very good

Anneke Bain

This was a wonderful experience. We were taken right to where whales were feeding. We save about 6 orcas and 20+ humpback whales. The guide was familiar with the waters and the habits of the whales, making the trip that much more interesting. Thanks for a great day.

Luiz Marques

Four seasons koolina

Monique Reynolds

Amazing experience. Jim, our captain and marine biologist, knew exactly where to go to get spectacular up close views of some incredible Orca pods.

Sarah Kim

The tour was great and we saw a couple pods of wild killer whales (absolutely gorgeous!), but their customer service was BEYOND amazing! We actually missed our booking in the morning (after our 15 hour flight from Australia) but the staff was kind enough to allow us to go on the afternoon outing at no extra charge!!! Couldn't recommend more highly - thanks for the awesome experience!!!

Samantha Bratty

A sweeet crew and epic adventure! A must choose company if you're trying to decide which one to go with.

Jaji Paji

Super friendly staff...and we got to see several orcas ...great experience

Jenny Kidby

Fantastic trip - Orcas in every direction. I'll remember it for the rest of my life. Thank you Captain Gordon!

M N

Bc whale tours is the best tours by far in Victoria! Grant brought me out and showed us such an amazing time. For someone that is scared of boats and water, they made a fantastic impression and I ended up having the time of my life! By far made my summer. Thankyou!

Angie Concklin

We had a fantastic trip with BC Whale Watching! It was the very first time we've ever gone whale watching, and based on previous reviews I assumed we'd see Orcas. We did not encounter any Orcas, but we did find a lone humpback and spent some time observing her surface and dive. What really made the trip memorable was Captain Gordon, who was funny, knowledge, and kind. The boat (Orca) was a blast to ride on and it was nice to know that we had our choice of indoor or outdoor seating and a bathroom if we needed it. We also enjoyed seeing the sea lions and seals that hang out by the lighthouse. Thanks, BC Tours, for the fantastic trip. If we're ever back in Victoria, we'll certainly take another tour with you (and hopefully spot some Orcas!)

Krystal Blanchard

We went for the morning boat ride to see whales in late July. It was beautiful we saw Humpback, baby orcas and mama orcas and male orcas. Our guide was very passionate (sadly I forget his name but he did the 10:15am departure on the 10 seater boat). Our guide was also entertaining and not only made the whale watching fun, but also the the boat ride was fun as well. I also really liked how the company and guide really cared about the animals and respected them and their space.

V RAI

A wonderful whale watching experience in BC Tika over the long weekend. Our guide Gordan was respectful of the whales whilst getting us close and letting us observe several humpbacks. Gordan was so knowledgeable of the residents and transients. Would highly recommend this family friendly tour if you want to see these amazing animals!

Janice Moon

Our guide was informative and had a sense of humour- he taught us much about the orca’s - both residential and transient. Answered questions with passion and compassion- obviously cares about the whales and us out on he tour with his skills and ability. Thank you!

Josh Morrison

Cancelled the boat we were on last minute and put us on a different one. I guess it was essentially the same experience, but still kinda lame. These things happen. Watching the orcas was just watching black triangles (the dorsal fins) pop out of the water from ~200m away. Way too far away to enjoy. I'm guessing there are regulations mandating how close vessels can get to orca pods, so I don't necessarily blame BC Whale Tours, but just don't be fooled into thinking you're going to see the animals even remotely up close. I did enjoy a nice nap during this time. Humpback whales were enjoyable to watch. If you're on the edge about a whale tour like we were, I'd recommend you don't go. If you're a marine animal enthusiast and love the ocean, you will probably enjoy yourself. Also it's like $15 to park and an absolute nightmare to navigate the area when it's busy, so leave yourself lots of time to get through traffic and find a spot.

Tomas Ibarguen-Burrows

Great seeing the Wales in action

jeff w

Gord’s the man! Solid tour, seas can be a little rough but we definitely saw our share of the local orca population. If your wife’s pregnant maybe suggest she sit in the cabin...

techno lemon

Not bad. We didn't see killer whales but we did saw blue whales I wished they come little closer to him but it was nice experience overall

vontrappAB

Seriously awesome! We were out for a little over three hours and had a heck of a time! Thanks to Captain Jim!

T S

Freezy but awesome :) Spotted Orca's & Humpback Whales

Lisa Davison

We had an amazing day yesterday and loved our whale watching experience. The Luna boat was so comfortable and it was great to be able to go outside for pictures and viewing once we found the whales.

Ivy Brown

Really awful experience. We planned our whole day to come to Victoria to do the whale watching tour. We paid in advance for the 2:30 boat. Upon arriving, we were told that the boat was not working. The girl working was very unprofessional & refused to give us other options. Ontop of that, the 2:45 boat arrived and they allowed the 2:45 guests to get on, while we had to sit on the dock waiting to see "if" the boat could be fixed. It was absurd. They said they called all of the other tour companies around us but were unable to find a tour before 6 pm which was too late. We decided to leave and walk around Victoria. We found another company who had a 3:30 availability. It was called Prince of Whales or something. Very fun.

Sarah

The tour was an amazing experience. We were able to spot a Grey Whale and 4 Orcas!! Our Captain was very knowledgeable and hilarious. Would highly recommend!

Mary Wittkamp

Wonderful experience on BC Luna. It was chilly so great to have a warm cabin yet once we arrived off San Juan Island and whales were appearing, plenty of seats and room for everyone at the bow. Accomodates only 12 which makes for a more personal experience. Would highly recommend this excursion and captain for your whale watching adventure in Victoria.

Mark Kastler

Very good whale watching trip. Staff was unusually helpful, including chasing us down to return a jacket we left behind.

Sarah Killion

We enjoyed our tour with Captain Russ who is obviously very passionate about what he does and uses the tours as an opportunity to share his knowledge of whales and other sea animals in the area. Unfortunately for us, no orca though we did spend some with a mother, baby and escort humpbacks. Saw in the sightings report that the sunset cruise that day did see several orcas, but that's the way it goes! Do read the policy section of their website regarding not recommended for anyone with back or neck problems. The zodiac moves along at 35-40 mph and there are some very forceful "bumps" as you go over any rough seas. It was a fun afternoon and I'm glad we were able to go on the tour.

Ann Squires Ferguson

Captain Gordon was AWESOME! His demeanour & dialogue were absolutely the highlight of our trip, and he was so engaging with our kids. Absolutely 5 star. Oh, and the whales were cool too...

Rebecca Simms

Great whale watching experience with a playful and knowledgable Captain. Thanks Victoria!

Marie-Luce Durand

We had a great time on the BC TIKA. We were not so lucky with the watching but the experience was great.

Wil Florentino

Plenty of whales! Educational too..

Andrew Ray

Awesome boats, great crew and staff! Highly recommend and will definitely use again when we return to Victoria!

Robin Dyball

The tour guide was amazing and the experience was incredible

Katelyn Tomniuk

Great experience all around. Wonderful staff at the dock and on the water. We had a very knowledgeable captain, Jim. Very smooth and fun ride on the BC Tika. We saw orcas jumping and playing as well we saw sea lions on the rocks. Wonderful time right out of Victoria downtown waterfront.

Dominique Leblanc

Awesome experience. our guide Tim was great and we saw lots of killer whales. Thank you!

OF

(Translated) Cool boats with nice guides. Orcas were incredible. Great experience, absolutely worth the price! (Original) Coole Boote mit netten Guides. Orcas waren unglaublich. Tolles Erlebnis, den Preis absolut wert!

Jean Luc Lefebvre

Was told we'd see whales and we did, along with sea otters, seals. Went in September, bring something to keep your head warm. Everything else was too notch!

meealan

Good boats with speed and range, try to get one with biologist on board our guide was friendly and a good boatman but knew little about the orcas we observed.