Did the half day in the afternoon on Memorial Day (5/25/26). We went out from 3:30pm to 7:30pm and were able to see a few different kind of pods (T123's and T60's). Stanley from T123 is huge! We also saw some seals as well. It was definitely a "drive" going north west all the way up to Canada but it was totally worth it. Lots of good info and they were so nice. read more

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I am unsure of the training/vetting process for their guides seeing as FALSE INFORMATION was given out regarding the wildlife we we were seeing. I am a professional environmental scientist who has studied and researched the effects of noise pollution on marine mammals. Upon being asked if the noise from boating activity affected the orcas and other marine mammals, the tour guide responded "Nah, not really. They're all used to it since they grew up around them." This information is inherently false, numerous studies have confirmed that anthropogenic marine noise pollution negatively impacts an orca's ability to communicate, hunt, mate, and survive in their environment. The harmfulness of noise pollution is nothing new, look it up and you will find a plethora of articles, research papers, and even award winning documentaries (Sonic Sea). If you appreciate and care about these species and their conservation, then you deserve to know the truth. I cannot speak to other eco tourism companies, but it seems Maya's Legacy relies on the ignorance of their clientele to save time and money on properly training their staff with accurate knowledge about the species that they charge hundreds of dollars to give tours on. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/why-cant-killer-whales-find-and-capture-food-ocean-too-noisy https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X21010109 read more

OMG I could write a book extolling all the wonderful moments and experiences we had on our tour. We saw MANY MANY whales and hung out by ourselves for a LONG TIME. We got to ask questions, take pictures and absolutely cherish all our moments with a large group of whales. Alex knew who they were and shared insights in the family structure. IT WAS A LIFE LONG DREAM OF MINE. Y'all DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Thank you, thank you! LOVE LOVE LOVED THE EXPERIENCE!! read more

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Absolutely fantastic. The best whale watching tour in Friday Harbor. April and Daven were the best captain and guide, incredibly knowledgeable. We saw orcas and sea lions and seals and sheep and deer during our 4hr tour. Highly recommend this experience if you're visiting the islands. read more

Excellent crew--very knowledgeable and connected. We found orcas & humpbacks both days! So grateful for their experience and expertise.

I can't recommend taking a wildlife tour with the Maya crew more - what an incredible experience we had. The boats are small enough with a max of 16 passengers that everyone can see all of the critters that are spotted. You can choose to sit inside under the shade and protected from the wind or outside on the back or front of the boat. Our captain and guide Sara were so knowledgeable about the animals and islands we passed by. They also were very respectful of the wildlife. They record what you saw and where you went on a map in the boat which was so great! The best part is they will use big lenses on their professional cameras to capture photos and share them with you before you exit the boat - meaning you can enjoy watching the sights without being glued to your device to take memories home. Our tour was the first week of July and we saw some real bucket list animals - 2 families of orcas, a nursing baby seal, a huge group of rowdy sea lions, and 2 kinds of puffins (tufted and horned) that really made me smile. Bonus points for stopping to pick up some Mylar balloon trash and a discarded buoy on the way back. You can tell this crew really cares about the wildlife they take folks to go see and the health of the island waters. If you're in Friday Harbor and want to take a whale watch, this is the one to pick! read more

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Captain Alan and Alex were easy going, kind and very knowledgeable about the marine life. I learned a lot while we were out there and lucky enough to see two female humpback whales, Hecate and Raptor. read more

I almost never write reviews, but there's a reason Maya's has a five-star rating, and none of those reviews are made up. The boats are small, with comfortable seats and plenty of room for everyone to get a great view of the wildlife. No squeezing in, no being pushed around by impolite people just trying to get a photo. I've been on several whale watching tours before, and I always seem to walk away with the same two complaints: Too many people, especially the kind who treat whale watching like a checklist tourist activity instead of the privilege it truly is to witness majestic wildlife in their natural habitat. Constant narration. On past tours, naturalists or guides talk non-stop for the entire journey, making it hard to just quietly enjoy the experience. This tour was completely different! And better, because of that. Both Captain Sarah and naturalist Alex were thoughtful and intentional in their approach. They only spoke when we weren't actively watching wildlife, and when they did, what they shared was insightful, engaging, and full of knowledge. They could identify the whales on sight and shared their histories and behaviors in a way that added so much to the experience, rather than distracting from it. This is exactly what a whale watching tour should be: respectful, spacious, informative, and centered around the animals, not the humans. Highly recommend. read more

This was the highlight of our trip to the San Juan Islands ! Fourteen of us lined up on the dock for a 10 o'clock for a four hour whale watching tour. loved seeing wildlife; orcas and bald eagles. Tour was booked months ago on line. It's $200 pp and we re guaranteed to see whales or our next trip is free. Rachel checked us in, we admired Captain Jeff's photos. We walked to our boat & heard safely & wildlife info. Interesting that the orcas are not tagged, they remove the tags themselves. Should have brought my binoculars( there were some on the boat. At one point the ride was rocky & one woman was concerned. Staff assured us that safety is the priority. To help spot whales, they communicated with other whale boats. Eagles, pacific tuffet puffins, stellar sea lions, cormorants were plentiful. Kelp was pulled up from the Sea Forest & mentioned many uses. April & Jeff were entertaining, knowledgeable & show their love of San Juan Islands & the animals jere. Such a nice day; how could we come to the San Juan Islands & mss the eagles & orcas? read more

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Maya's Legacy Whale Watching tour is a MUST if you are visiting Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA! This was such an amazing experience and made our entire trip - This combined with the gorgeous and relaxing cabin we stayed in! Book one of several tours directly through the website - This is a super easy process with crystal clear directions for payment options {cash is preferred on the day of}, ideal clothing to wear onboard as well as check in details for the day of your tour. Once you are booked, start counting down til' the day of your tour! The day had finally arrived and we were so stoked about a morning of whale watching! Be sure to dress warm as being on the water and the wind {especially if you decide to enjoy the front portion of the boat}, it can get a bit chilly. We had booked a morning Half-Day Whales and Wildlife Tour - This starts around 9am and we returned between 1:30 and 2:30pm - and what a morning it was! We were so lucky to have the best tour guides ever - April and Jeff - they made the experience one in a million and an experience we will not forget. We saw so much wildlife: Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, Seals, Many Fish Species, Porpoises, and both Humpback and Killer Whales. Now, our trip was probably not the average trip, but we happened upon some other tour boats that had a Humpback Whale sighting, so we set up camp and stayed for a bit.. and thus started one of the most amazing hours I've experienced. The Humpback Whale must have liked us because it swam right up to our boat and swam back and forth from under the boat from one side to another for the longest time - It was so close to us, it was practically onboard. Seeing him up close and personal was simply put, magical - Although I could have done without him spraying all of the "stuff" through his blowhole onto us {man, that is a smell that you won't soon forget}. ;-) *Note - You are able to take drinks and snacks on board as well - Be respectful, and help keep the boat clean when finished. I can't recommend this tour enough and we will absolutely be taking another one on our next visit to Friday Harbor! And thank you April & Jeff for making this experience beyond amazing! read more

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Small group guaranteed in 16 person max boat. 2 naturalists and they shared amazing close up photos with us at the end. Naturalist told us many more facts than I learned at Whale Museum. So really glad I went and learned. They wrote down names of all of the orcas we saw as well as mapped our tour for our reference. While no guarantee of what you will see, we saw many orcas, and also lots of water fowl, stellar sea lions, harbor seals, and bald eagles. Very well done your and worth the extra money for free walking about the boat, protection from wind and sun. read more

We had an epic whale watching cruise experience with Jeff the Captain and marine biologist Alex on July 1st!!! Not only did we get to see several pods of killer whales but we got to see them up close feasting on a seal! We were so impressed by their extensive knowledge of the whales and they shared that knowledge with all of us during the entire cruise! We loved the fact we were on a smaller boat with only about 15 passengers instead of a huge boat with dozens of other watchers. We were given multiple opportunities to photograph the whales. And, they even shared their own spectacular photos with us just days after the cruise! We highly recommend Maya's Legacy Whale Watching- well worth every $$!!! read more

Amazing Half Day Tour. The wildlife encounters were truly special. We were lucky to spend extended time viewing a pair of Orcas cruising their gorgeous waters. Bald Eagles, Sea Lions, and other interesting marine life also made appearances. Jeff and April were excellent hosts. Their knowledge and passion made the tour educational and engaging. The boat was very comfortable and provided ample viewing opportunities for everyone on board. We're happy we chose Maya's Legacy -- highlight of our trip to San Juan Island. read more

Chose to do the Half Day Tour and it truly was a magical, once in a lifetime experience well worth the price of admission! Maya's Legacy is hands down the best whale watching group in the San Juans, not just because of all the wildlife we got to see, but because of the crew's genuine love and passion for what they do. Our guide April and Captain Jeff went above and beyond to make this tour special, even staying out late for over an hour because there was so much to see! April and Jeff were so personable, their energy and excitement contagious. For all the hours we were out at sea they shared amazing stories and interesting facts, and with such an intimate group they even got to know our names. Also keeping it nice and small makes for no bad view on the boat -- By the end we had all gotten so comfortable it felt like a party :) We got to see two humpbacks right when we set out, and because we picked the 4:30pm 4-hour tour, we had time to head all the way to the Saanich Inlet in CANADA -- absolutely gorgeous, and perfect around sunset! Turns out an extra 1-1.5 hours makes a real difference. Originally I was wondering if morning or afternoon matters, but there's really no way to tell what you'll encounter out in the wild. It's obvious that this group does their absolute best to give you a great experience no matter what, and thankfully we managed to get lucky. We came across two 15-year-old male orcas, Jude and Amir, who they had dubbed "The Butcher Boys" for their adorable hunting behavior as a pair which we actually got to witness! They put on quite a show with tail slaps echoing throughout the inlet, and even some rolling and spyhopping -- a dream come true!!! Then on the way back to Friday Harbor, we saw Amir's family en route to join the boys, including his mom Artemis and a few of his siblings (11 Orca sightings in total)! It was so magical and unexpected, and April and Jeff's interesting facts and stories really added to the experience of witnessing these majestic creatures. At the end, they even airdropped everyone the photos they took on the tour, and April went so far as to email an update that included a video that Jeff had edited together! AMAZING!!!! If that isn't great customer service I don't know what is... And mind you, I'm very picky when it comes to this sorta thing. I'm currently pregnant (Around 18 weeks on the tour) and have wanted to see wild orcas since I was a child. I was on a MISSION to make this dream happen before giving birth. After not coming across any orcas on an expedition to Antarctica a few years ago, I was bummed thinking that no experience would ever measure up to going out with a bunch of naturalists on small zodiac boats to get up close and personal with the wildlife. But you know what? My research paid off because Maya's Legacy SERIOUSLY delivered, and this truly was one of those life changing moments my husband and I will cherish forever (which I honestly didn't think was possible after something like Antarctica). What made me choose Maya's Legacy over any other company was their website, because reading their blog showed me their care and respect of nature -- those are the kind of people I trust to go out and see some whales. They said that they work with a lot of naturalists and scientists in the area as well to learn the stories of the various pods, which come out naturally when you're out with them. The knowledge and enthusiasm they carry really is something special and EXACTLY what I was looking for. They even have a podcast!!! https://www.afterthebreachpodcast.com/ All in all, my insanely high expectations were exceeded in EVERY AREA I could cry -- and I did, because it was just. that. good. If you're looking for your best chance to see some orcas out in the wild with warm, friendly whale enthusiasts, choose Maya's Legacy. You won't regret it :) Check out this video if you don't believe me! https://youtu.be/nZPg6br1_Ts read more

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Great captain. Pays attention. Small boat meant personalized service and we could get to places quick. Loved seeing our orcas and all their friends read more

We booked a mid October trip with Maya's Legacy and were so so impressed from start to finish. Check-in, boarding, and then 4+ hours on the water. We saw beautiful landscapes and wildlife, but the highlight was the two families of orcas we spent almost 2 hours watching. The staff, Jeff and April were able to identify all the whales we saw, and educate us on some behaviors and interactions we were seeing. The boat was comfortable and we felt safe the whole time. I would do this experience over & over again. There are many options for whale watching tours, but you can't go wrong booking with Maya's. read more

My husband and I had an amazing experience on this three hour whale and wildlife watch. Not only did we see the very rare sighting of a sea otter, bald eagles harbor seals, sandhill cranes, pigeon guillemots, geese, and YES--Orcas, but it was also a great ride with informative and friendly April and Captain Jeff. Only 12 people aboard, we got to move about freely, and everyone was able to see everything! The boat was covered, with picture windows in front (that sheltered us from the wind) and open air in back. Highly recommend!! read more

Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching - Spyhopping! - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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Fantastic experience with guide Sara and boat captain Dave. It was well-organized with well-provided instructions for prepping for the boat ride (bathroom, boarding, safety). Seeing whales is unpredictable, but with their expertise, we were able to see two pods of orcas with plenty of time to watch and take pictures/videos. Both Sara and Dave provided great educational info about whales and the area. Also Sara wirelessly shared photos she took during the trip with all of us passengers. I went in not having high expectations since whales don't follow human schedules, but Sara and Dave did a superb job of finding and taking us to the whales for an unforgettable experience! read more

Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

My mom and I went on a morning trip and it was beautiful! The highlight of the trip was when we got to see a pod of orcas. It was the most magical experience and so good to see these intelligent mammals FREE in their natural environment. April was our guide and she was absolutely amazing and so friendly and knowledgeable! The captain, Allen went above and beyond to make sure we got to see the orcas, which I really appreciated. I highly recommend this company for whale watching! read more

Did this in Friday Harbor the other day. SOOO COOL! The crew is super experienced, knows the whales on sight which I find super impressive. They really care about the animals too. Not all whale watching is alike-- when I have gone in other parts of the West Coast, sometimes you are guaranteed to see them-- you might not see orcas depending on the condition. They are fast and their range is wide even in the San Juans. But the captain took us all around looking and finally we caught a glimpse of about 5 of them. They also swung around some islands where we saw bald eagles, sea lions, and other wild animals. I would def. come back and go again-- try the Spring and morning trips for your best chance. Also, the boat is small and comfortable, which is much nicer (especially if you get sea sick) than some of the giant ones I've been on. read more

Wonderful experience! My girlfriend and I went on a tour on Monday, June 6th, 2022. Guides are extremely knowledgeable and really go out of their way to spot wildlife, and to make the experience as memorable as possible! We had humpback whales literally swim up right to the boat! For almost an hour they were swimming around the vessel, so close to the point where you can almost touch them! (Although they probably wouldn't recommend doing so). The scenery and route we took was very beautiful. It was a clear day and we were able to see the Vancouver skyline way off in the distance, all while seeing whales swim around the boat. Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience! read more

Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching - 2 humpback whales swimming around the boat! - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

Great day on the water. Jeff and April were fantastic. They were very informative and knowledgeable about the wildlife we saw. The boat was great to have inside seating to get out of the wind. Most importantly, we saw 3 pods of Orcas, sea lions, bald eagles and a grey whale. Fantastic, worth the money! read more

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I have now been on 2 trips and have a 3rd planned because I've had such neat experiences on board the Maya's Legacy Whale Watch boat! The first trip, although very sad for the sea lion, was something out of the national geographic as we watched the whales during their feeding ritual. The second trip had worse weather so the whales didn't seem to be as lively, not sure the weather mattered to them but that was the difference in my opinion...haha! However, we got to also see 2 humpback whales and that was absolutely incredible because they came right up to our boat and although extremely massive, they seem so gentle! Of course Maya's really has no control over the whales but both times the staff was incredible as-whale...pun intended! ;) During my first trip the guide was extremely knowledgeable and very kind. During the second trip the same thing occurred but also the captain was extremely involved with the group and of course the guide, as he and the guide had some great banter, which gave us riders a great time! I'm so bummed that I cannot remember the names of the crew from our first trip but Jeff and Sara from our second trip were amazing, thank you both for an experience I'll never forget! Same goes to the captain and our guide from the first trip of course; it was just an all around amazing time on a boat that's not large and overcrowded. The boat even has windows that open up fully so it doesn't matter where you are, you have a great view. I could go on and on with my review but...just give Maya's Legacy a try for yourself, you won't regret it! I know I can't wait to go back. Thanks again Maya's crew! read more

Second time out with them. Saw some Incredible orca action today. As my husband said, "I would totally listen to the Sara & Sarah Talk Whales" podcast. But barring that, you'll just have to go on one of their trips to hear that. read more

Very nice enclosed boat. Very personalized experience with friendly captain and naturalist. They put us on whales no problem!! Great experience read more

Had an amazing time with Captain Sara and Naturalist Ellie! Saw lots of wild life and learned a ton! The whole experience was fun and memorable! I wish I could give this more than 5 stars!!! read more

We went on a 4 hour trip on October 22 and had an amazing experience! The crew was very knowledgeable and really made an effort to make it a great trip for everyone. We loved the smaller group size that allowed for more interaction and education with the crew, as well as the boat that had both enclosed and open seating options. And of course the whales and other wildlife we saw were amazing! read more

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Our four hour tour was memorable as we followed two pods of whales, saw islands with remarkable scenery and other wildlife. Our pilot and guide Sara and Sarah were informative and always made us feel safe. read more

I can't recommend Maya's Legacy enough. I'd give them six stars if I could. Before our excursion even began, Rachel in the office was warm, friendly, and engaging, and I felt genuinely like she and the others were glad that my partner and I were joining them for a trip, not like we were burdensome tourists. During the 3-hour tour itself, April and Jeff were absolutely incredible. It's a rare and beautiful thing to witness two people who are so passionate about what they do, especially knowing that they give multiple tours every day and still somehow maintain an infectious excitement that spreads to everyone else on board their vessel. Both of them are deeply knowledgeable naturalists with fervor and love for the wildlife around them. They're not just out to make a buck giving tours, they love the work they do, and it shows. Besides the epicness of the surroundings and the wildlife you're likely to see, Maya's Legacy offers a couple of other nice boons that I think are worth mentioning. First, some of the other whale watching companies in Friday Harbor (looking at you, Western Prince) have absurd and constraining rules, such as mandatory wearing of insulated cruiser suits (even on hot summer days), and other such nonsense. Besides a brief rundown of ship safety and emergency equipment, Maya's Legacy had nothing of the sort, and the tour felt more like a party among equals rather than a hierarchy of crew over passengers. This is important to me because I value autonomy and mutual respect, and I can't abide petty authoritarianism. Second, both Jeff and April have massive digital cameras, and they're both experienced at photographing wildlife. Toward the end of the tour, April AirDropped all of the best pics to everyone on board who had an iPhone. Of course, my partner and I took tons of pictures ourselves, but it was a pleasant and unexpected surprise to receive dozens of high-quality images that April and Jeff had taken. TLDR: Take a tour with Maya's Legacy. They're awesome. read more

It's been a dream of mine to view killer whales in the wild and San Juan has a dozen different companies you can do so with, but I highly recommend Maya's Legacy Whale Watching. Our captain, Daven, and naturalist, Sarah, were so insightful about the whales we saw. The smaller group also allows for more of a personal experience. We saw 3 different families of orcas and it was nothing short of incredible. Wish I didn't live across the country so I could come back day after day. Thanks for making a childhood dream come true!!!!! read more

Super knowledgeable guide and captain! Saw incredible wildlife and they even airdropped professional quality photos to us at the end that the guide had taken. read more

Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching - Sea lions - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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Sara and Captain Alan were amazing! We saw orcas, grey whale, sea lions and many more species on this epic adventure! The ride was overall smooth and the boat was clean and comfortable. Would highly recommend for your whale watching tour! read more

I am a frequent quest of Maya's Legacy! They have the best crews that are very knowledgeable, respectful, and compassionate about the whales and all of the wild life! Their boats are fast so you can cover more distance to get on site and very comfortable in all weather conditions. Being a smaller boat, it is a great intimate setting. They are conveniently located in Friday Harbor right by the ferry. Always a great day on the water with Maya's Legacy! read more

We wanted to find an eco-friendly whale watching tour for our weekend in Friday Harbor and found Maya's Legacy to be the best option for what we were looking for. A team that was in it for the passion of conservation and sharing their knowledge and love of our local wildlife over money or packing as many passengers into boats as possible. They exceeded our expectations and then some. Captain Alan and our naturalist Ellie were just as excited if not more of the encounters we got to have on our half-day afternoon tour. Immediately upon boarding, they headed out for a sighting of a pod of resident killer whales. We didn't even know if we'd see any on our trip so it was a treat. To everyone's surprise and delight we sat floating in the water surrounded by 3 pods consisting of 30 whales. It was a rare sight to be blessed to see. They explained that the regulations don't allow them to get close to the whales for their safety, and they have to come to the boat on their own. Imagine the excitement when one surfaced just a few yards to the starboard. I couldn't get a clear photo because we were so startled and in awe. After having our fun with orcas within the first hour of our trip (I'm sure that's not a common occurrence), they needed to fill the next 3 hours, and we didn't expect anything would hold a candle to what we had just experienced. We were taken out to the coast on a tip for some humpbacks. I didn't even know we could see them this time of year, and again we got to witness a rare sight... At least 4 (it may have been more) humpbacks playing about together. They waved, breached, and rolled around together in a fantastic display, and several times they popped up right by the boat to say hi. I had no idea they were such curious creatures, and it was an emotional experience for us all. We were sad to go and returned for the end of the tour feeling a profound sense we had experienced a once in a lifetime encounter with the sea's most intelligent beings. Ellie and Alan made sure the experience was as educational as it was exciting, and included us in the process of ID-ing the particular whales we saw on the journey. We got to know them by name, and they looked at these whales like old friends. I will absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a whale tour that leaves a low impact on the sea life and gives you an up close look at these magnificent creatures. We'll be back next year for sure! read more

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Excellent crew and well built vessel. Smooth water and pretty much no wind. Just an overall great 3 hour tour. Lots of marine life to see. Will definitely do this again read more

This whale watching tour is reason enough to take a trip to Friday harbor! Captain Jeff and April were amazing and made the trip so much fun. We saw a family of 4 orcas as well as some sea lions! It was 100% worth while and I will certainly come back for another tour. read more

Amazing trip! Both of our guides were Sarah's, shared a great deal of knowledge and were able to find a whale that we were fortunate enough to watch breach a number of times. I highly recommend and will use them again in in the future! read more

A MILLION STARS! MIND-BLOWING group tour with a private tour experience! Unforgettable and authentic. This is NOT your mom's whale watching tour. The first thing April and Jeff do is learn and remember your name. You will be an active participant and fellow adventurer alongside this dynamic duo as they gather data points for orca research. AWESOME right? You're not just a tourist being paraded around in hopes to see a dorsal fin in the distance. We watched a 90-minute hunting lesson of a mother orca teaching her two calves how to herd and kill a seal! It was a perfect trip for everyone but the seal. April called us last minute to see if we could launch early to catch the action and stayed late to observe some bald eagles, sea lions, and non-eaten seals :) The cherry on top was the incredible zoom lens photos April took during the trip and Airdropped to everyone on the boat. Jeff and April truly love what they do and it shows. They are passionate, knowledgeable, and storied, having observed whales all over the globe. Ask all your questions, they have the best stories! This is the real deal and worth every penny! read more

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We had such an amazing time on our tour! Lee & David we're absolutely phenomenal tour guides! We saw a variety of wildlife and 3 humpbacks! We learned tons about each animal and had such a great experience overall! I highly recommend this tour company! Unlike other companies, their boats have a nice cabin to keep you warm and dry and it has a great view no matter where you are on the boat! We went in October and had some rough waters but David was a great captain and had no problems! My fiancé who gets sea-sick very easily didn't have any issues! We will definitely be coming back to do another tour! read more