I had an absolutely fantastic experience with Island Adventures! From beginning to end, the trip was incredibly well organized, comfortable, and genuinely exciting. The crew was friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and clearly passionate about the wildlife and the beautiful waters of the Pacific Northwest. read more

Titus took us all the way to Canada to see the whales. Crew and everyone was great. Ship was clean & fantastic trip. read more

Third time with this company for an absolutely stunning whale watching trip. And we saw Orcas! So exciting!! Apparently a family. So exciting and brrrrr cold. This is the best ship I've ever been on for whale watching. So many viewing spots from the different levels. And the staff is so friendly and helpful. Going out of their way to make sure everyone is comfortable and happy. And the schooling of the natural environment and sea life so you truly feel like you are being taught. I recommend being a bag of your own snacks. They sell hot coffee, hot chocolate, and chai lattes, beer and cider: a few hot items to eat. Seriously awesome. Do it. Enjoy life. Treat yourself. read more

See all

I wish I could give it a 10!!! Had a fantastic tour with Trevor and Sam, they provide an incredible experience with their knowledge and skills. The ship was very comfortable and provided excellent viewing. We saw Orcas, a humpback and sea lions. Thanks for an awesome evening, can't wait to go again. read more

This was an amazing tour. Well worth the money, I believe we stayed on the boat for about 3.5 hours. We were able to see orcas, a grey whale, sea lions, and seals within that time. The stay was exceptional and left the dock right on time. Sam was super knowledgeable about all the animals we encountered on the tour. The boat was very clean and a smooth ride. I would take this tour company again. read more

We had such an amazing experience with island adventures! Having an extremely knowledgeable marine biologist as our guide and photographer really made this trip worth it for us! It's definitely worth it to enjoy the experience and purchase the pictures at the end instead of trying to catch everything on film yourself. I greatly appreciated how respectful the captain was in keeping proper distance from the orcas as well. It was still plenty easy to observe these incredible creatures from our boat. They have the best and most helpful customer service for booking tours as well! read more

Ten years later and they've upgraded to a larger, more comfortable boat -- but the top-notch service remains the same. The captain and crew were as friendly and knowledgeable as ever, making the entire experience feel personal and exciting. My friend and I joined the afternoon tour, and at first, the waters were calm and quiet. I started to lose hope -- coming all the way from the Midwest, I really wanted to see an orca. Then suddenly, two tall dorsal fins broke the surface -- we'd found a pair of transient orcas! I had hoped to spot the J Pod, but seeing these transients up close was still unforgettable. Of all the whale-watching companies I've tried, this one stands out above the rest. The staff are incredibly informative and deeply familiar with the local waters and marine life. The boat itself is spacious with three levels, food and restrooms on board, and a cozy heated interior. They even provide real-time updates of your location throughout the trip. Highly recommend! read more

See all

This tour is worth every penny. It's not just a tour, but an educational experience. Much of the staff are professional, educated, marine biologists who can explain exactly who the orcas and whales are, who their family is, and how they live. Figure you'll be out 5-6 hours. On board they serve hot food and good beer. There are no bad views. Just be sure to dress warm. It will be cold (even in July) and it will be windy. Bring binoculars or be prepared to rent some. read more

Island Adventures Whale Watching - Great for taking pics - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

See all

Took the history tour tonight and really enjoyed it. Fantastic vessel and crew! These folks are a great team who have their trade dialed in. Highly recommend taking a tour with them. There's food and beverages on board for purchase, superb passenger accommodations with multiple viewing areas, and immaculate heads. Professional operating at its best. read more

On vacation. Decided to do this. Was so worth it. Crew was very polite and full of knowledge. We learned new things as we were out on the boat. Plenty of room. Seen whales and the sights were amazing. Will definitely do again if in the area. Cost is scary wondering if its worth it. I am very frugal and I would say it was worth every penny. Pack snacks. Still bought a few souvenirs so I have that memory. read more

See all

We chose Island Adventures because of the large size of the vessel (I don't do well on boats in general, so a bigger one is better) and it was geographically convenient on our way from Olympic National Park to Vancouver. The ferry traffic on the way there was insane, and we ended up being one hour delayed. Realizing that we weren't going to make the 5 pm sailing we had reserved, I called to see what the options were. Matt was extremely helpful and understanding of the situation. He rebooked us for free on the 9 am tour the following morning and said that if we did somehow make it by 5 pm that day (we didn't) we could still board that vessel since neither of the tours were full. The next morning, we headed over and were there about 30 minutes before departure. There was already quite a line to board, and we worried the "good seats" would be taken, but because the tour wasn't full there was no issue with seating and folks tended to move around the boat for the 3.5 hours rather than staying in one place. Once on board, there was excellent service. The captain and staff were knowledgeable and shared lots of facts without being annoying. The boat is a catamaran, and thankfully the waters were mostly calm, there were only a few times another boat came through where we could feel the bobbing of the boat with the waves. There are concessions and restrooms on board, plus plenty of seating and viewing areas inside and out. Unfortunately, we didn't see many whales but did go all the way to Canada to find one that barely grazed the surface. Along the way, we saw seals, sea lions, and plenty of birds including a bald eagle. We lucked out with sun but it was still chilly on the deck. Recommend bringing layers and a snug fitting hat as mine blew off. Overall, Island Adventures makes the experience worthwhile. The tour was well organized, they communicate well leading up to your excursion date, and it didn't take long to embark or disembark. There's also plenty of free parking nearby. read more

See all

It was a successful boat tour. The captain and crew are very mindful of making it a very nice experience. They really care and do their best and have a very high success rate. They work with other agencys around the area to do their very best to search out the orcas and whales and other sealife. The spoke person on the vessel is extremely educated in the biology of the sound. We learned so many wonderful facts about the PNW seaside, waters and all that surrounding areas. They give you tips of tourism on and off the boat, Very accommodating. THis was our first trip and i wasn't sure where to sit when we first arrived on the boat, so here is my advice, don't stress on it cause the animals will be wherever they want. One side is not better than the other. You need to sit during the ride. I suggest inside if it is a not so sunny day cause it does get windy and cold when you get out of the channel and out more. Once we located the whales the captain shut the boat down, we walked to the side they were on and we enjoyed watching and hearing these incredible gems of the sound. Plenty of room for everyone too. People were friendly, no one was fighting for Looking space. They breached and sounded and splashed and even enjoyed a seal snack. They gave us so much time to enjoy them too. We were one of the last boats to leave the area. I think the workers on the boat enjoyed it just as much as we did. I highly recommend this charter. They will take the pictures and you can buy a USB drive for very resonable so if you don't take your own pictures not to worry. It's well worth taking in the moment and enjoying them in real life and not behind the lens. read more

This was our 4th time on this tour. It might be our last until they offer tours with an age limit. So many children under the age of 10. I don't really understand why they allow people with children under that age to go on these tours. Infants and toddlers are not capable of a comprehensive understandings of this kind of viewing. Paying $100 a person for this and having feral children with zero parenting happening is impeding on the rest of everyone's experience. I get it, your wanting to make money and be "family friendly". But, there is a time and place for family activities. When you get to a certain age with that comes more opportunities. And to the parents who think this is a good idea to bring your toddlers and babies, make better choices for your little ones. Go to the aquarium or ride a WA ST Ferry. It's much more affordable and more suited for little ones. And make sure you are teaching them manors so they are not walking with their shoes on table tops and screaming high pitch screams in other guests ears like what we witnessed today. The staff were spot on as usual and the boat was clean (before the shoes on the table top). read more

I have been on two whale watches in the past month with this company and I highly recommend it to anyone. The Skipper and crew made everything light hearted and fun. It was the naturalist that really makes the difference. She told us things that I would have never known otherwise and it made the entire trip even better. read more

Fun experience we seen stellar sea lions, eagles and of course orca's. Bring layers and a back pack there is no lockers on the boat. Most importantly bring snacks. read more

See all

We've been wanting to do a whale watch tour for quite a while. We have been boating in the San Juan Islands for many years and not seen a single Orca. So we booked Island Adventures in Anacortes Wa. So glad we did! Not only did we see a super cool Orca family, we saw a humpback on the way back in! OMG, it couldn't have been better. The captain, whale expert and crew were awesome! The ship is also amazing, fast and smooth, no matter the chop. Do this tour, you won't regret it! We had a blast! read more

Island Adventures Whale Watching - Orca family - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

See all

It was an amazing tour around the islands. We were able to watch a pod for over an hour as we toured. The food was great. The information from the tour guide was wonderful. It was a great, almost eight hours. read more

100% recommend Island Adventures. From the booking to the boat to the crew to the experience everything was amazing. The extended range tour was worth it in every way. If you get a chance definitely book a tour. read more

Our family loves Island Adventures for whale watching! The team is always knowledgeable about the wildlife and history of the area, which is a huge plus. This time around, we saw a pod of orca whales, seals, bald eagles, and other creatures. They sell food on board and also allow people to bring their own food. We usually stop at Donut House for coffee and donuts and then online order Gere-a-Deli for lunch/sandwiches. On the boat, they sell things like refillable souvenir cups for soda, beer, snacks, and souvenirs. read more

See all

We have been using this whale watching and wildlife tour from many years. Great naturalists on board teaching everyone. The food selection is great including Ivars chowder. It got even better this summer with the new menu board. I highly recommend the commemorative mug because then you get bottomless drinks. The boat itself is luxurious you don't even realize you're on the water. Accommodating to children and older people which is great so we can bring everyone in the family. Tip: bring your own binoculars, snacks, wind proof jacket, drinks and a blanket. It gets cold/windy on the water even during the heat wave this summer. They have great food but we always enjoy buying special snacks for the trip and eating them snuggled up under a blanket. read more

See all

I can't find the 6 star button. We had an absolutely amazing day! The boat was clean and very well laid out. The crew were all top notch. They were professional but still had fun doing their job. Saw TONS of wildlife...Humpback whale, Orcas, sea lions, eagles. The onboard cafe seemed very popular but I didn't try it. Their tour is a "Must Do" if you are in the Seattle area read more

Island Adventures Whale Watching - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

Spending time on the water with Island Adventures is always spectacular!! I go several times a season and I have never been disappointed!! I have seen all of the whale species, with the highlight being 14 orcas on one trip!! The crew is welcoming and informative. It's fun to learn about all of the wildlife we encounter. The boat is incredibly clean and comfortable! Even when the trip is at capacity, there is more than enough room to see the whales! There are three decks to choose from, so I move about the boat the entire time. I will always choose Island Adventures for my whale watching trips!! read more

Island Adventures Whale Watching - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

See all

Tyson was an amazing captain, let us stay out late because we had 4 orca sightings. The whole crew was friendly and delighted to answer questions. We seemed very lucky about whale sightings but the customer service from the whole crew made me feel comfortable and at home. read more

Absolute recommend this whale watching tour. We spent a good 45 minutes to an hour watching an orca pod that has a baby. The onboard naturalist is amazing. She knows about all the wildlife in the area. Even if we didn't see whales it word be worth the trip to hear the naturalist talk about the birds and marine mammals and the ocean. Worth every penny. We all had a great trip. You can bring your own food on board. Some people had a big picnic sharing food. Such a fun and educational time. read more

What a wonderful experience! No orcas spotted until we were underway. The captain turned the boat around and we headed north. We received the thrill of a lifetime! A breaching orca! We observed 4 members of the southern resident Jpod. The crew was friendly and knowledgeable and the boat was comfortable and clean. A definite must for everyone!! read more

See all

First time whale watching- had a great experience. Did the four hour but you should plan for some wiggle room because it ended up being closer to 5. Saw some orcas closer to Vancouver! Crew was very kind, knowledgeable, and accommodating. It is cold on the water (I had jacket, scarf, gloves) but there is a sitting area inside. Because it's a bigger boat you won't get as close to the whales. Binoculars recommend. They have some on board. read more

My sister and I had a very enjoyable whale watching excursion last April. The captain and the mate made the journey enjoyable and we learned interesting facts about the whales we saw. Would recommend this company for any excursion offered. read more

We had a great time on the tour. It lasted about 4 hours. We saw a pod of killer whales, a puffin, some sea lions and seals. Their snack bar was good. I loved the clam chowder. The boys had hot dogs and nachos and enjoyed them. The pretzel bites were just meh. It was nice that they had a few reasonably priced souvenirs on board too. The captain and crew were nice and very knowledgeable. I would take this tour again if I'm ever in the area. read more

Island Adventures Whale Watching - Killer whale - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

We booked a last minute whale watching tour for 8/21 @10 AM and I'm so glad we did! The crew was super nice and professional. The naturalist was very informative and funny. I learned a lot of interesting facts. We saw 2 orcas, a bald eagle, seals, sea birds, flying salmon, and some cute goats on the mountain side. You're allowed to bring your own food and drinks on board but they also have a wide variety of stuff for purchase. They have some hot food snacks- hot dogs, nachos, pretzel bites, Beechers Mac and cheese. They have wine, beer, and soda. Everything was a reasonable price and super fast service. We're very happy with our experience! read more

We took a 3:30 whale watching tour from Anacortes on a Friday in July. The smaller Killer Whales were out and about in the nature preserve surrounding Cyprus Island, close to Anacortes. Certainly, the 3 to 5 mammals available to observe, gave folks on board the large and comfortable vessel Island Adventures 5, photo opportunities to post on various social media websites. Yet, the ship doesn't go very far, and showcases what is found off of Cyprus Island. There is a ton of repetition and back and forth traveling to the same spot from a different angle. Groundhog Day was observed on this trip. A two hour viewing would be more than enough time since the rest of the time is superfluous. Get your photo, ooh and aah, and let's get back. The ship/boat is huge, and lots of kids run around expanding pent up energy. Two bathrooms help relieve the hydration necessary when out to sea. The food is lousy on board, but reasonably priced. A young, female naturalist narrates what you observe and provides information about the whales you never cared to know. Her well intentioned narration helped me remember why I skipped my 8:00 AM biology lecture in college. I still got a B minus, and learned I rather have a teeth extracted than be bored by mammal classification. Island Adventures is a class act, but urban dudes like myself are better off taking a private boat to whale watch. I can control the time, and possibly get up close and personal to a whale or orca. But that's me. I hate all inclusive resorts, cruises, and bus tours. You may love all three and also love 4 to 5 hours whale watching on Island Adventures 5. read more

I loved this beautiful,fun and amazing adventure.I got to see many cool things, like dolphins, sea lions and orcas.This was probably one of the best things to do when you can. My mom took me and my sister and we LOVED IT.You also get to learn new things when you are on the boat. As you are moving you can get some big bumps.Jt does get cold on the boat so Bering a jacket. read more

I sailed with this crew twice. Once in 02/2022 with my wife for her 50th birthday. And then later in 08/2022 with my wife, a friend, and my disabled mom. We saw lots of wild life like Harbor Seals, Bald Eagles. We saw the Bigg's family of Orca both trips!. We saw Minke whales, gray whales and pretty sunsets. If you want to see the whales, look at the pictures because this review is about their staff. The staff and crew are very professional, kind, knowledgeable and just fun. The February trip was so much fun and we were able to see parts of Washington. We went under the bridge at Deception pass, and really explored the San Juan islands. In August, I sent them an email that I was bringing my disabled mom on the trip. The crew took extra special care of her. They set aside a table in the main lounge and reserved it so that once aboard we didn't have to rush to find a seat. We navigated going up the stairs and everyone was very helpful. The crew checked on us several times and really made the experience special. I would 100% recommend this as a fun and amazing experience for all ages and all abilities. read more

See all

My partner and I were finalizing our plans for a day in Anacortes and we are are thrilled we choose to spend 5 hours with Captain Carl, Naturalist Sam, and the Island Adventure crew. We booked the 10 am trip Saturday night for the following Sunday; the website conveniently shares how full the trip is and it was 91% full (COVID-19 conscious). The 3:30 pm trip was about 50% full I believe at the time. The crew was so friendly, knowledgeable, humorous, and clearly love what they do. There is a little cafe on board with reasonably priced food and drinks (hot dogs, nachos, espresso/tea/hot chocolate, some merch, beer/wine). They offered Wildlife Viewing Guides for a $1 donation. We were on the Island Explorer 5. There are two bathrooms on board and two spacious cabins. Throughout the trip, Carl and Sam shared facts about the wildlife (birds, seals, whales), engaged folks in the main cabin with a little whale trivia, and kept folks in the loop of where to look to keep an eye out for whales. As noted, Island Adventures guarantees you'll see whales (if not on your first trip, another day) - but we saw them! It was outstanding to see the whales and Sam was so quick to identify what pods and whales we spotted. They took gorgeous photos and on the way back to the dock, they presented a small slideshow and shared more information about how she identified the pods and what is known about the families. After the trip, we took a short drive to the gift shop and picked up some items. You receive a discount at the gift shop on the day of your trip. We had a fantastic time and I highly recommend spending the day with Island Adventures. I didn't too many photos because I was exploring filming the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nFdSqVVucU&t=7s read more

Island Adventures Whale Watching - Spacious on the Island Explorer 5 - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

See all

*Warning to all customers* this place deletes negative reviews which is why they are so highly rated. I am disappointed. I posted an honest review about how the tour did not accommodate enough space for everyone on the tour and as a result, had to stand for several hours. Please book with this company at your own risk. I would not recommend them to anyone. read more

Always a fun ride regardless of what you happen to see, it's a PNW staple of tourism and makes for a fun day.

Where do I even start! Island Adventures Whale Watching Tour is one of the highlights of my life! For about 10 years now, all I have talked about is going to Seattle and seeing orcas! I fell in love with orcas and really wanted to see them with my own eyes. SeaWorld just didn't feel right to me. I wanted to see them in their natural habitat but most of the places orcas reside in, well aren't money conscious to travel to! When I realized I could put together my love of wanting to go to Seattle AND see orcas I was ready! Island Adventures Whale Watching made a dream come true! Within the first 25 minutes we spotted orcas! Little did I know it was THIRTY ONE orcas! I was expecting to see one or two but 31!!! I was blown away! The fun didn't stop at the orcas. The staff: Sam, Tyson, & Matt were the absolute best! You could tell Sam was well educated and truly loved the orcas! She knew every single one by name and knew their story. Tyson was absolutely hilarious! He was beyond kind and friendly and even dropped a mic that went underwater so we could hear the orcas! Matt was in charge of the food and was super kind as well! It was like a family atmosphere! Plus the food was delicious as well! (Get either nachos or pretzel bites because the cheese sauce was amazing!) On top of all of this, the views were breathtaking! The Olympic mountain range and Mt Rainier were stunning! Overall I can't suggest it enough! 1000000/10! I don't want to "plug" myself but if you are curious about whether or not to choose Island Adventures, go watch my Youtube channel where I vlogged the entire trip! Youtube @Kasa Kellina Thanks so much for the amazing experience! Hopefully I'll be back again some day! Around the 8 min mark! https://youtu.be/ErFo2VPaWRs read more

Island Adventures Whale Watching - My husband on the Island Adventure's boat. Nice size boat. Had food & drinks, bathroom, and tons of room! It never felt crowded! - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

We had the privilege of going whale watching last week with Island Adventures. Selecting a company to go with is overwhelming, but a friend recommended this company after she went and had an amazing experience. We had such an amazing experience. First off, the boast is very sturdy. I was worried my son who gets car sick would get motion sickness, but he was fine. No issues! While each trip is different as they have no control over what will be seen, I'll share on our trip we saw humpback whales playing together, 3 Orca pods, 3 American bald eagles, a puffin, a tiny black bird (I forgot the name), and some seals. During the trip, they are talking with a network to find out where the whales are in real time. They are also sharing all sorts of interesting facts. So it's such a fun way to learn more about these magnificent creatures. My kids also loved the snack bar that is on the boat. For $20 you can get a refillable souvenir bottle. I got one for each of my kids and they enjoyed the unlimited refills during our 4 1/2 hour voyage...which did not fill like it had been that long at all. As they say, time flies are when you're having fun! read more

We had a great time with Island Adventures! The boat is well maintained and CLEAN. Despite it being a full tour, it never felt crowded and there were plenty of options to sit inside or outside on 3 different decks. The staff was so friendly and the naturalist, Sam, was incredible! She's made for this. We are already planning our next trip with Island Adventures. read more

See all

Saw huge killer whale! Awesome! The servers on the boat are really friendly and the commentators are very good as well. It was a memorable trip! read more

What a wonderful day out! Arrived for the 10am tour and were greeted by such friendly crew members. Lovely bar on board with yummy nachos. The tour was only about half full too, to loads of room. It was nice and clean. All of the crew was so helpful and knowledgeable, and answered all the questions. They even had binders full of more information and models to help get the kids on board (and adults) more into learning about all the marine life too! We were having trouble finding whales nearby, but they didn't give up! We made it up into Canadian waters, and it was worth the wait! We saw several pods and stayed up there for at least 30 minutes so we could all take in the sight! On the tour we also saw several seals, eagles and a goat! Would definitely recommend, especially if you have out of town visitors who have already done all the typical Seattle attractions! read more

See all