Whale watching is a popular reason to visit Canada. The land is so vast it is home to a lot of different species, at different times of year. This article is going to go over four Canadian hot spots for whale watching, when it’s best to come, and what types of whales can be expected there.
There are several other places to whale watch in Canada, but these places offer a decent variety and success rate for taking out whale watching tours.
British Colombia
First thing’s first, British Colombia is the most talked about province for whale watching. Home to the migratory patterns of Orcas, Grey Whales, and even some Humpback Whales, the region has a lot of wildlife to see. On top of the whales, there are also other rare animals like bald eagles and sea lions to see.
British Colombia is peppered with whale watching tours and cruise opportunities to increase the chances of seeing whales. Some of the most popular destinations in BC? Tofino, Kamloops, and Telegraph Cove (home to the Michael Bigg ecological reserve).
There are often tours held year round.
Manitoba
It may seem a little counter intuitive to head to a province not surrounded by sea to look for whales, but Manitoba is actually home to quite a lot of belugas. The province boasts whale watching tourism out of Churchill, Manitoba, and is great almost year round – though often cold in the region even in summer.
Pack warmly, bring a camera, and head to Churchill Manitoba if you’re looking for Belugas.
Quebec
Quebec offers access to a different variety of whales, often home to belugas, blue whales, minke and humpback whales. The best time to come look is in winter though, so dress extremely warmly when packing for a trip to Quebec.
Quebec hotspots vary, but one of the most popular are Tadoussac for whale watching enthusiasts.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Finally, Newfoundland offers a lot of different whale watching tours primarily seeking humpback, blue, orca, or sperm whales. There are several other varieties, it all depends on the time of year. Consult local tourism guides to know what you can expect to see when.
Whale watching is just one of the things you can expect to see and do in Canada, there are a lot of activities for travellers to enjoy. Simply doing a bit of research can go a long way to making the most of your Canadian adventure.
