Puget Sound Express - Port Angeles

06/01/2026

And just like that, May is over! We had a great month: setting sail for the season from Port Angeles, launching our Full-Day Tour out of Seattle (Edmonds), and enjoying countless wildlife sightings across all three locations! We’re welcoming June with some of our favorite passenger photos — and even one piece of PSE-inspired art — from last month’s trips.

Want to get in on the action? Tours operate daily from Seattle (Edmonds), Port Townsend, and Port Angeles! For more information or to book, visit our website: https://www.pugetsoundexpress.com/ or give the office a call at 360-385-5288.

P.S. We also offer rates for large groups and private options. For more information, send us a DM!

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05/31/2026

This week, passengers and crew aboard Glacier Spirit from Port Angeles set sail in search of wildlife. Moments after departing, Captain Lewman received intel of some exciting critters west of Port Angeles — the T46B pod of 9 Bigg’s orcas! As we approached, we saw some breaching happening in the distance as the pod conducted a porpoise hunt. By the time we arrived, the pod was grouped up and travelling westward, perfect conditions to snap some photos!

After departing from the orcas, we crossed the Strait of Juan de Fuca to check out Race Rocks Lighthouse and Ecological Preserve. Here we were treated to a pinniped grand slam: harbor seals, Steller sea lions, California sea lions, and five elephant seals!

We ended our day’s adventure by returning to the Port Angeles harbor, where we spotted one of our favorite duos: a pair of Pacific white-sided dolphins who, in recent months, have been calling the harbor home. Moving at 10 knots, we created a light wake that the dolphins used to jump and play around the boat. It was the perfect ending to a great day on the water!

05/27/2026

05/24/2026

It's been an awesome first couple of weeks back on the water in PA, and our May 21st trip was definitely a highlight! It began with reports of a breaching humpback just north of Ediz Hook, and luckily we were there to catch some of the action. Better yet, this turned out to be our good friend BCX2046 Pinnacle, our most-seen HB of 2025! Once Pinnacle went back to resting, we headed up to the Vancouver Island Shoreline to visit Race Rocks, where we hit the pinniped "grand slam", seeing all four species of seals and sea lions found in our waters. A little to the west in Becher Bay we caught up with a sea otter as it fed on clams and groomed at the surface. Finally, we turned home, but the wildlife just wouldn't stop coming! Once inside Port Angeles harbor, we saw something breaching in the distance... Pacific white-sided dolphins! These amazing critters are not regularly found in the southern Salish Sea, but these two have made a home in the area for the past several months. We can only hope they stick around for the summer! - Naturalist Rachel R.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms and mother figures out there!

This Mother’s Day, we’re excited that one of our most famous mothers has made her way back into the Salish Sea — Big Mama (BCY0324) is back! After the outlawing of whaling, Big Mama was one of the first humpbacks to return to our area, marking the start of what we fondly refer to as the “humpback comeback,” and has since returned nearly every year, often with a calf in tow. Big Mama isn’t just a mother, though; she’s also a grandmother and a great-grandmother! In fact, over 20 humpbacks can trace their lineage directly to Big Mama 🐋

📸: Naturalist Brooke on May 9, 2026

05/07/2026

We’re feeling like stars today 🤩 Did you catch our moment in the spotlight on Good Morning America?! We had so much fun welcoming the GMA production team aboard the Swiftsure and taking them on a wildlife adventure! To watch our feature (including a highlight of the wonderful team at The Market Chef in Friday Harbor), use the link below. We can’t wait to hear what you think!

Becky Worley explores the beauty of Washington state as “GMA” travels to 50 states in 50 weeks.

05/06/2026

Tomorrow, we’re saying “Good Morning, America!” If you saw our Story yesterday, you may have noticed that we hosted a film crew aboard the Swiftsure… Well, we’re excited to announce that it was a production team from Good Morning America! Premiering tomorrow at 7am PST, you can tune in to a live broadcast from a Washington State Ferries boat, which also includes a segment filmed with us! We’re so excited to have been selected to showcase Puget Sound Express and the Hanke family’s 41-year legacy, while also highlighting the wonderful waters that we call home!

P.S., we understand if 7am is an early start — don’t worry, we’ll also share a recorded version after the fact for night owls and overseas friends!

05/03/2026

We’ve compiled some of our favorite photos captured by guests on our trips so far this year — there’s nothing we love more than seeing our tours through your eyes and camera lens! If you’re planning to join us on a future trip, don’t forget to tag us in photos that you upload to social media. As always, we thank you for choosing to adventure with us!

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04/30/2026

Port Angeles, here we come! Glacier Spirit has officially left Port Townsend and is heading to her summer home in PA. Our Half-Day Tours from Port Angeles kick-off on May 9th — see you then!

For more information or to book, please visit our website at https://www.pugetsoundexpress.com/port-angeles-half-day-whale-watching-tour/, or give us a call: 360-385-5288.

04/24/2026

📣 It’s almost time for our first Port Angeles tour of the season 📣 Get excited, folks, our first Port Angeles tour of the season departs on May 9th at 10 am! On recent tours, we’ve been seeing orcas, gray whales, humpbacks, minkes, sea lions, puffins, and more — you won’t want to miss out!

To make a booking, visit our website www.pugetsoundexpress.com or give us a call at 360-385-5288.

P.S., we still have availability for Mother’s Day weekend if you want to treat Mom!