Jamie's Whaling Station & Adventure Centres

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Jamie's Whaling Station & Adventure Centres

Authentic, family-friendly eco-adventures since 1982. Ask us about our guaranteed sightings policy!
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Operating in the pristine coastal environments of both Tofino and Ucluelet, Jamie’s Whaling Station has been captivating adventure seekers from around the world since 1982! Our waters boast grey and humpback whales, transient orcas, sea otters at play, seals, porpoise, sea lions and every tour offers engaging commentary by our experienced and knowledgeable crew. We also offer bear watching, tours

to Hot Springs Cove, kayaking, scenic flights, hiking, sunset cruises and beach drop-offs. We have the largest fleet in the area, including comfortable large cabin cruisers and high-speed, state-of-the-art 29’ zodiacs. We have gift shops at both locations, lots of free parking, including Motorhome/RV parking, and complimentary dog kennels too!

05/11/2026

Mothers are a different breed, that is no debate. Whether it’s a mama bear (sow) sharing her meagre spring catch with her cubs, a female grey whale (cow) fighting back against pods of orcas to protect her calf on their 6,000 km migration to Alaska, or that same orca matriarch working alongside her daughters and grandkids to teach them how to take down a prey 2 or 3 times their size… There’s no limit to what a mom would do for their little ones, and the natural world is full of examples!

To all the moms out there, human or not : you’re doing an amazing job, and we love to see it. Send these to a special women in your life to remind them, or if you’re a mom reading this… Happy Mother’s Day ! 🌷💋🦾🫶

P.S. See the last slide for some cub-cuteness ! 🐻

05/06/2026

What a month April has been ! Spring is here and we are not the only ones to feel that extra energy buzzing in the air. Tons of species are in the midst of their migration along the West Coast of Vancouver Island, above and below the surface! From fin whales to coastal wolves to brown pelicans, April brought its share of rare sightings. There’s absolutely no reason to believe this won’t keep going for May…

If you’re thinking of joining us sometimes this week, do it! Tours are going out from Tofino and Ucluelet every day, 7 days a week. 🌊

Here’s a few favorites from last month’s trips for your viewing pleasure. 🌞🐺🐋🌼
slide 1-3-4 by
slide 2 by
All pictures taken with a telephoto lens and further cropped.

05/01/2026

Visiting Tofino or Ucluelet this week? You might be in for a treat - if you know where to look… Around here, shorebirds are kind of a big deal! 🔎

Every year, in late April / early May, the Pacific Rim National Park and its surroundings see a surge in shorebird numbers as many species use the mudflats or beaches as stopover sites on their annual migration. Flying between South America where they winter, to the Arctic or sub-Arctic to reach their summer feeding grounds, these little birds don’t shy away from big distances! Some species, like the Western Sandpiper, travel well over 5,000 km each way (almost as much as a grey whales’ migration!). From dunlins to terns, not forgetting whimbrels and sandpipers, over 40 species of shorebird visit the area just in this time window. Offshore, pelagic and coastal birds are just as exciting to observe.

If you also love birds, let your skippers / deckhands know! Most of our crew is very well-versed in bird identification and will happily help you check species of your list. Our bears tour, that go out at low tide, offer some very good sighting opportunities. Plus, we might even be working on something special for the birders out there… Stay tuned! 🦢

04/22/2026

Today, the world is celebrating our home: Planet Earth 🌎✨

Frankly, every day should be Earth Day. This place is one of the very few things all 8 billion of us have in common, and it is the only home we have. Showing it appreciation, respect, and care is the very least we can do.

We put together this little carousel, showcasing a collection of the best views nature has gifted us over the last few years. It is a reminder that beauty is everywhere, and that even as our world changes quickly, it is up to us to protect it if we want future generations to experience this awe-inspiring nature.

When you come on a tour, whether it is your first or your hundredth time on the water, we always strive to spark that desire to protect the land and waters we call home. With every ticket sold, a portion is given back to a local non-profit that works directly on the conservation of Clayoquot and/or Barkley Sound. We believe it is through education and exposure that a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility for this ecosystem truly takes root.

If you are visiting the West Coast this week, head on to the and websites to see what activities have been organized to celebrate this important cause. From beach clean ups to shore bird spotting and creative marine debris workshops, there’s something for everyone!

Happy Earth Day🦋🌼🦦🌊🌲

04/18/2026

Earlier this week, Clayoquot Sound was gifted by two large pods of Biggs, the T030s and T050s, who showed up on the West side of Vargas Island. Just prior to that, a sighting of Rainy (T011A), the largest recorded Biggs male, had already been confirmed in Browning Passage, just around the corner from the Tofino harbor. What a day!

Biggs killer whales, also known as Transients, are the most common ecotype of orcas to visit our area. While we do see them somewhat regularly, having so many individuals all at once is quite rare. Not only that, but their very active behavior made for a truly unforgettable encounter that our skipper beautifully captured from his zodiac. « Breaching » is the name of that jumping behavior, characterised by a whale lifting at least ⅔ of its body out of the water and landing on its back, side or belly in a big splash.

While we do not know the exact reason why killer whales breach, we know for a fact that play and celebration are valued social interactions amongst the pods. Playing will often be used to refine hunting techniques, stay fit and overall strengthen the bonds between the individuals. In any case, we really love to see it!

All images courtesy of , taken with a telephoto lens and further cropped. This individual was identified as T030A, Sequoia, a bull (male) born in 1986 according to .

04/08/2026

You love them, ask about them all the time… Sea otters! But how well do you actually know them? Head to our stories to test your knowledge with a few quick facts 🥸 🦦

Our furry friends have one of the best success stories on the coast. After being completely wiped out from the area in 1930 due to the maritime fur trade that started in the late 1700s, their numbers have bounced back up. With the densest fur of all animals, it’s easy to understand how highly prized they were. Unfortunately, their absence marked some important changes in the ecosystem, that slowly reversed once they came back. Just 89 of them were successfully reintroduced in the 1969, along the Brooks Peninsula, and they now are quite abundant on most of the West Coast of Vancouver Island, with over 8,000 counted during the 2017 DFO survey!

You want to hear more? Our otters & inlets tours are just what you’re looking for! Family-friendly and in protected waters, don’t wait any longer to book your spot. The second slide could be your view very soon… 🦦 🦀 🌊

04/01/2026

Starting today, bear tours have returned at Jamie’s! Come see our chunky locals as they come out of their winter snooze. 🐻 💤

Some very exciting new addition this year : We will be offering Grizzly Bear and Polar Bear tours as well! First time ever in Tofino and Ucluelet, make sure to visit our website to lock in your spot. 🎟️

If you ask your deckhand nicely, they might even let you hop off the boat to go pet them. 😉

Bear tours run April 1st - end of the summer.
Call our office or visit our website for more information. 🌲

03/25/2026

When this picture of the Safari II, the first ever Jamie’s whale watching boat, popped in our email inbox, we knew we just had to jump on this trend… 🎞️

We started operating as a company for whale watching out of Tofino in 1982 with this converted fishing vessel. After many years of service and thousands of satisfied passengers, the Safari II retired and we upgraded to newer vessels. Our fleet now counts 10 boats, from zodiacs to large cruisers, and operates in both Clayoquot and Barkley Sound.

As you can see, we have a big team here at Jamie’s (and that’s not even everybody)! In all honesty, we’re just a group of big kids who share a great passion for this place. Each person has a specific role and will give their 100% to make sure you’re having the best possible experience: fun, safe and memorable, from the office to the open ocean. 🌲 🌊

Do you recognize anybody ? Some of these faces have been in the business for 20+ years ! 👀

03/20/2026

Yes, you might end up a little wet.
Will it be worth it though? We think so ;-)

Zodiacs (like the boat pictured in this video) will go out during showers, but if heavy rain is in the forecast, our larger covered vessel will take you onboard. Whales, birds and other marine and terrestrial mammals don’t care for a rainfall, Tofino gets over 3 meters of it every year! It’s part of the experience.

Happy Spring Solstice! 🌸💧☀️

03/13/2026

The Pacific Rim Whale Festival is just around the corner, and so are the whales! 👏🏻🥳 Join us on a whale watch tour between Saturday the 14th and Saturday the 21st, and every youth ticket will be 50% with the purchase of an adult ticket. Our large covered vessel, the Lukwa, is back in the water and ready to have you on! 🇨🇦

Some of our favorites locals were spotted out there recently 🌟 Rainy (T11A), the biggest recorded bigg’s (transient) killer whale in BC, came through the harbor a few days ago. Closer to the open ocean, the grey whales Ditto, Lasso, Thirty Two, Mini White, Dairy Cow and Jane have been feeding, taking full advantage of the early spring feast of amphipods, mysids and dungeness crab larvae. Come on the water this week for a chance to meet them all! 🐋

Address

606 Campbell Street
Tofino, BC
V0R2Z0

Website

https://www.jamies.com/

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