Tofino Covered Cruiser Whale Watching
What it actually looks like
What the children do
A 2.5 to 3 hour whale watching trip from the Tofino dock aboard a covered cruiser, with full commentary by a certified captain and naturalists. The site lists the tour as all ages: adults $200.34, youth 13 to 18 $179.14, children 3 to 12 $168.54, and infants 2 and under free. Grey whales are the whale most often seen, with Transient (Bigg's) Killer Whales and Humpback Whales also possible, along with sea lions, sea otters, seals and eagles. The same tour is also sold as a Tofino Whale & Bear Package, which pairs it with a bear watching trip on the same day or a different day.
Sit in a heated indoor cabin with large windows, then move out to the open rear deck to watch for spouts, tails and breaching whales while a naturalist explains what is happening. Snacks and drinks are allowed on board, so they can eat and move between seats during the trip.
Good to know
There is a toilet on the boat and washrooms at the Tofino station, parking is free, and the cabin is heated and covered. No indoor lunch space on shore and no group or school rate are published, so those are worth a call.