Address: 1806 Mast Tower Road
Phone: (604) 699-2011
http://www.whalesvancouver.comTraveler ReviewsAwesome whales
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Aug 18, 2008
I booked with the wild Whales because we were staying downtown and to get to Granville Island was very easy by public transit. We arrived to the easily found Wild Whales office and was outfitted in an orange anti exposure suit to keep up warm from the frigid ocean temperatures. I'ts a good thing we wore the suits because we would have been soaked by the waves! But that was all part of the experience of booking on the pod and all 22 people were suited up and excited to see the whales.
Captain Simon and our guide Artis (I believe that was her name) found a pod of transition orcas. These whales are only in the vancouver area for a few days a year we were told. They were totally awesome to watch and swim in the water. In total we saw 6 whales ( 1 was a baby). It was definately the best experience on the trip this year.
We had to bring our own lunch as we departed from the dock at 10am and didn't arrive back until 2:30. On the pod we were given ginger candy to ward off sea sickness, and later on a bottle of water and granola bar.
I would definately recommend this company. In total i paid $170 for 2 people - quite a bit, but for someone from the prairies who has never seen a whale it was worth every bit.
Excellent Whale Watching!
Reviewed by A TripAdvisor Member on Jul 29, 2008When planning my vacation in Vancouver and WA State, I had whale watching at the top of my list. We were staying in downtown Vancouver in the Yaletown area so I figured the location of Wild Whales was too good to pass up since I could walk there. (It is the only whale watching company in the city; it's located on Granville Island near the market.)
The day was gorgeous, the walk to the shop lovely, and I was psyched before the trip began. I chose to go out on the "Pod Pilot" - the open boat. Because you are exposed, you have to wear a full-body orange suit for warmth. We were told we'd get wet, but the water was like glass and we never did. AND it was so warm (low 70s) that most of us pulled down the tops of our suits once the boat stopped. It would have been a great boat ride alone - but then we met up with the orcas...
Our guide, Paulo, said it was one of the best days he's had. We ended up in the middle of the super-pod where all three pods of resident orcas were feeding. They were breaching and swimming all around us. You'd look out one side of the boat and they'd be there AND on the other. It was awesome. These are fish eating killer whales and not scary at all - just awesome.
Paulo was an excellent guide - very knowledgeable. I believe he is a marine biologist. They provided bottled water and binoculars. The price is a little steep ($140 CAD, plus tip), but it is very worth it. I realize everyone can't have days like we had with so many whales (and later we saw dozens of seals and at least a dozen bald eagles) and perfect weather, but I would still recommend this company and the trip.
