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    Deception Pass Tours

    4.7 (161 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    We have been season pass holders for 13 years. No matter how many times we have gone on this tour, we always learn something new, notice things that we had not noticed before, always see at the very least nifty birds but often more wildlife. Captain and crew are always super. This time, well actually both times we had Captain Brett and Naturalist/crew Dawn. On both tours we saw a lot of activity of the sea lions at Lawson's Reef buoy. Magical experience: on the second tour the tides and currents were appropriate to turn off the engines briefly by the bridge. We could hear the soft sound of the water, birds, etc. would we recommend this tour and company? ABSOLUTELY yes!

    Bridge

    The tour was wonderful, the weather was wonderful. When we arrived we were met by our tour guide and other couple that was taking the tour. We preceded to the boat which was very clean which was a plus! We were heading out and the boat suddenly stopped. The tour guide had located 3 bald eagles and the nest! Wow it was amazing we were able to stay right in that spot and take all the pictures we wanted. We progressed on and were given info on surrounding islands, bridge, waterways and other animals. It was a great tour well worth the $$.

    I enjoyed my experience it was a bit cold though. They explained a bit of history we saw some mammals and I got to take home a picture of me and a friend that the provided (frame included).

    Dee C.

    Amazing tour with wonderful and knowledgeable staff. So much fun for all ages!! So much to see in eagles and seals. Sea lions. Whales too. Worth every penny to spend and after go to the gift shop for ice cream and swagger.

    Stellar sea lions.
    Mark L.

    Came with low expectations but left very impressed. Our guide Dawn is extremely personable, knowledgeable and has a great sense of humor. Aside from the usual bald eagles and harbor seals ( and many bird species) we say harbor porpoise and Stellars Sea Lions. Learned a lot about natural and human history in the area. FYI, bring along an extra $10 (or checkbook). The dock is inside a Washington State Park and you'll need a day pass to park there.

    Great time as always.

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    6 years ago

    Fun ride with a knowledgeable crew. We even got to see a Stellar Sea Lion catching fish.

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    4 years ago

    This was a really good tour! We saw way more wildlife than I thought we would!

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    5 years ago

    Awesome! It's a must do! Great crew and staff. Make sure to get some amazing ice cream.

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    5 years ago

    Good information, fun tour! We saw orca whales - not the normal with this tour, but very exciting and memorable!

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    Page 3 of 5

    Ask the Community - Deception Pass Tours

    What clothing to wear?

    Wear layers, so you're prepared for the changing weather, but it was dry and mild when we went.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Deception Pass Tours

    Every tour feels slightly different dependent on the wildlife around and the information given by the guide.

    Mentioned in 21 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Outer Island Expeditions

    Outer Island Expeditions

    4.5
    (183 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    I've been whale watching off the California coast before, so I'm going to compare this experience…read moreto that. This ended up more of a pleasant boat ride than whale watching as we didn't get to see any orcas (such a bummer!) and only got to see one single, elusive Humpback whale name Victory. I can't fault the tour for that, but it definitely impacts the experience. It was still a nice boat ride, with friendly staff onboard and the fortunate luck of sitting at the back of the boat next to a conservationist-led tour group with a lot of knowledge shared. On the brighter side, the weather was beautiful and we got to see two kinds of puffin and some sea lions as well. Just wish we got to see whales, instead of just one.

    We went on the Orcas Only tour in the 3 oclock time slot. The process to check in was smooth and…read moreeasy. A thing to note: parking right by their building is about $13. I believe there was street parking farther away, but we didn't look. TJ and Sophia were great hosts to us. Sophia was very knowledgeable and so willing to answer any questions we had. On the tour, we saw a grey whale from a ways a way. Orcas were being scarce today but we traveled near Seattle and pungent sound. They really went the extra mile to make sure we were able to see orcas as this was not close by. The pod had a NEW BABY! Such an exciting experience. Not only that, they were also having fun socializing and slapping their tails. Then we saw some glorious breaching. It was honestly such a great experience. We were in awe!

    Photos
    Puffin!
    Puffin!
    Outer Island Expeditions
    Puffin!

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    Puffin!
    Western Prince Whale Watching

    Western Prince Whale Watching

    4.9
    (374 reviews)
    18.6 mi

    This was the first experience that my wife and I have had whale watching. We decided to arrange a…read moretrip with Western Prince and stay on San Juan Island for a couple of nights in conjunction with it. Our guide was Allison on the boat piloted by Captain Ivan. They offered gear for the trip, including weather bibs, jacket, gloves and knitted caps, which were definitely needed for the trip. Allison provided excellent information on the wildlife in the area, of which we saw (and heard in many cases) sea lions, a sea otter, a blue heron, bald eagle, and of course, whales. Captain Ivan provided a great deal of information to our tour also, describing the interface with other tours in the area, such as how they communicate sightings and limiting time in the area in concern for the wildlife. Several aspects of the experience stood out to me: -Everyone was very welcoming, making sure everyone was prepared for the trip (gear, preparation for limited restroom access, safety, etc.) -The boat is an open design, with nearly 360-degree views, with the seating being bench style seats for very comfortable for the approximate 3-hour tour. Viewing other tour boats in the area, I was glad we chose Western Prince if only for the boat environment/atmosphere alone. -The size of the tour was approximately 20 people, which made the tour more personal. -Captain Ivan demonstrated his experience with tracking the behavior of the pod that had been sighted, with the final surfacing of the family (Orcas) approximately 75 feet from the bow on the port side of the boat, which he had only minutes prior had killed the engine expecting them to show, which they did. He didn't "chase" the whales and location, he just acted on his knowledge of their behavior to position the tour accordingly. Also, a lone sea otter had been spotted in the area recently, and as we headed back to port, he recognized him playing near a buoy, and we slowed down to watch him for a little bit. It was very impressive. -Allison demonstrated her knowledge and experience describing the behavior and environment of the wildlife. Her longevity with the company demonstrated her commitment to share and inform others of this amazing area of the world. I really can't say enough good things about the experience.

    Katy (our naturalist) and Bethany (our captain) were both extremely knowledgeable and attentative,…read moretaking time to take care of other passengers who were feeling a little under the weather, pointing out each animal with contagious enthusiasm. Our daughter was made to feel both special and grown-up. We got to see a number of whales pretry close-up while Katy described in detail their behaviors, habits, etc. Absolutely would book again.

    Photos
    Western Prince Whale Watching
    Orca with Mt Baker in the background
    Orca with Mt Baker in the background
    Western Prince Whale Watching

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    Sail the San Juans

    Sail the San Juans

    5.0
    (18 reviews)
    18.3 mi

    How do we keep adding stars! From the time we met Jette and Jon, we felt right at home and spoiled…read more Sailing the San Juans was a dream come true, but little did we know how wonderful every single day would be. Attention to every detail from warm coffee mugs to fill our fresh coffee at 7am to gourmet lunches and dinners, and of course desserts. We had a wonderful time. Jon and Jette are the most gracious hosts, who now we consider friends. Jon keeping us safe and informed of the wildlife and sealife, but also taking us on hikes on islands only accessible by boat. Jette with her great sense of humor surprising us at every turn with a new talent from gourmet cooking, writing songs, playing her guitar and sharing her doodles are a few of the many talents she revealed to us. And then there is Geni, sweet Geni, their portugese water "boat" dog. We instantly fell in love and could not get enough of her. I don't now the last time I felt so relaxed and pampered. Thank you Jette and Jon for the wonderul memories! We are looking forward to returning next year! To anyone considering Sailing the San Juans - this is your charter! You will have the time of your life!

    From the moment you step onto the Northwind, take in every single second you can!! Every…read moresecond--every peaceful moment, every sweet and savory bite Captain Jette serves, every bit of island trivia Captain Jon offers--as you sail calmly past thick green forests dotted with specks of white the resident bald eagles offer in the form of head and tail. This is truly an adventure awaiting! If you have ever wanted to sail but don't know how, just leave the sailing, cooking, and swabbing of the decks to Jette and Jon. They love to help make wonderful memories for all of us, and do so graciously and kindly. So stop wondering and take the leap (sail). You will have a blast

    Photos
    Our first dinner!
    Our first dinner!
    Sail the San Juans
    Sweet Geni

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    Sweet Geni
    San Juan Cruises

    San Juan Cruises

    4.5
    (70 reviews)
    15.9 mi

    My boyfriend and I booked the afternoon whale watching cruise at San Juan Cruises not knowing what…read moreto expect and it ended up being the highlight of the weekend. The crew was very friendly and I loved that it was guided by the Captain and Naturalist onboard. I learned a lot about islands in the Salish Sea and we saw several species of animals. There are several great viewing boats on the boat and it's easy to see from inside if it gets too windy. I learned so much about the Biggs orcas, sea lions, and harbor seals. It's not promised, but we saw two different groups of the orcas right at the beginning of the trip and surprisingly at the end in Bellingham bay. It was so nice to learn about them and get an up close view as possible within regulation. They served a lunch onboard which was included in the cost, however we packed our own snacks. They also have beverages and snacks for sale throughout the ride. I didn't bring binoculars on board but I did see people with them. My iPhone was enough to get close up videos and pictures of the animals! I would definitely recommend this to family and friends!

    Very friendly service and great naturalist- Emily. We took the five hour whale watching cruise…read morewhere they guarantee whale sightings or 50% off your next booking with them. We approached Emily to find out some details about the educational items she had available for viewing. The lunch was buffet style- two types of lasagna, biscuits, honey butter, Caesar salad, red grapes and cookies. It was very tasty. The scenery was gorgeous and it was a nice sunny day. Unfortunately the whales and orcas were playing any and we didn't see any during the entire cruise- we did see a harbour seal when leaving port, a quick glimpse of a harbor porpoise for a split second, harbor seals on rocks from a far distance and two sea lions on a red buoy... so we got cards to book at 50% discount for a future booking with the company. We also got 10% off coupons for the fish and chips place and gift shop inside the Bellingham cruise terminal. There were two bathrooms on board. I have to say if you're looking for an intimate experience with a handful of people this is not the cruise for you. We had a Thursday cruise that had about 60 people on board and felt like there were a lot of people... I was told the boat could have up to 120 passengers in which case it would have been absolutely jammed with people. I was glad we only had the number on board that we had. All in all it was a lovely day on board- you cannot dictate nature and they held up their promise if we didn't see whales. They also had some binoculars available if you gave them collateral- I had a set for the entire cruise.

    Photos
    Sealife...
    Sealife...
    San Juan Cruises
    San Juan Cruises

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    Jolly Mon Charters

    Jolly Mon Charters

    5.0
    (11 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Our group of friends set out to go on a charter to celebrate a few birthdays. After researching…read moreand calling dozens of charters, I came across Chris of the Jolly Mon. His service checked all the boxes: private boat for a smaller group, the flexibility of what the fishing plan for the day, the right price, great reviews. It was a colder morning so we were stoked when we got there and found out his boat had a full enclosure for the steam out to the fishing grounds. It made for an extremely comfortable ride both in and out in any condition. Chris was knowledgeable, fun, and knew when to step in and help us out and engage and when to sit back and let our group do our thing. Most importantly though? He put us on the fish. Although none of us had fished these waters before, he coached us on proper technique and what to do before we got there. Once we arrived at the fishing spots? The rods were constantly bent, reeling in Sculpin, Rockfish & Ling Cod. We had an absolute blast out on the water with Chris. We are already planning on future trips with Jolly Mon Charters. If you're losing your mind trying to find the right charter, just stop and call Chris. You'll be glad you did.

    Chris took our family of four out for a day of salmon fishing. The whole process was great…read more Reserving was easy and Chris was responsive and efficient. The boat was in good condition and Chris was very friendly and professional. He answered all our questions and made us very comfortable. He took us to a few spots and we caught a beautiful 15lb king salmon.

    Photos
    Big salmon!
    Big salmon!
    Jolly Mon hook
    Jolly Mon hook
    A fish.

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    A fish.

    Deception Pass Tours - whalewatchingtours - Updated June 2026

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