The Whale Centre stands as a locally owned and family-run enterprise offering whale watching and wildlife tours nestled in Tofino, British Columbia, Canada. With an extensive legacy of thirty-seven years, we've been dedicated to revealing the wonders of whales, black bears, marine life, seabirds, and the pristine coastline of Clayoquot Sound to guests hailing from all corners of the globe. Pioneers in responsible whale watching, bear watching, bird watching, and wildlife observation, we harbour a deep commitment to enlightening visitors about the splendid wildlife that is in our region. Surrounded by untamed wilderness, Tofino serves as a haven for a diverse range of wildlife, rendering it an unparalleled sanctuary for nature enthusiasts and outdoor aficionados. Should you seek a tailored experience or desire a more intimate journey, do inquire about our exclusive private tour offerings. 

 

FIND YOUR DATE AND BOOK

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TOUR:

  • BOOK ONLINE

  • CALL OUR OFFICE 1-888-474-2288

  • IN PERSON, VISIT OUR OFFICE AT 411 CAMPBELL STREET, TOFINO

WHAT SETS US APART?

  • SMALL GROUPS (UP TO 12 GUESTS WITH 1 GUIDE)

  • KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

  • WE LEAD BY EXAMPLE

  • COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION

  • WE ARE A LOCAL FAMILY-RUN COMPANY

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @TOFINOWHALECENTRE

The Bear Watching Tour is a unique and unforgettable experience that provides visitors with an opportunity to observe black bears in their natural habitat and lean about their behaviour and ecology. Watch the Vancouver Island black bears forage for b
Humpback whales feed on shrimp-like crustaceans (krill) and small fish, straining huge volumes of water through their baleen plates, which act like a sieve. We are seeing humpback whales on our whale watching tours this week. Book your tour online
Hot Springs in Maquinna Park is open. The geothermal hot springs cascade down a waterfall into rocky pools. These pools flow down towards the ocean and are the perfect spot to soak and take in the views. This is a six hour tour so bring your lunc
Did you know Cleland Island near Tofino has one of the largest Tufted Puffins colonies from May - September, south of Triangle Island. We offer Bird Watching Tours from May - September. @jennifersteven #tofino #birdwatching #tuftedpuffin
The Hot Springs in Maquinna Park have re-opened! Our first tour is Saturday, October 1 at 12:30 pm. This 6 hour tour includes soaking in the natural hot springs, a boat ride, walking in the board walk in the rain forest and wildlife viewing. Book
A visit from the T041’s and T109C’s on yesterday’s afternoon whale watching tours. These Bigg’s Killer Whales are frequent visitors to Clayoquot Sound. You never know what types of wildlife you will see on our tours! And o
You never know what you will see on a Whale Watching Tour! Grey Whales, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales or Killer Whales. Our summer whale watching tours departure times: Open Boston Whaler: 9:30 am / 12:30 pm / 3:30 pm Cabin Cruiser Boat: 10:00 am
The Black-Footed Albatross is a surface feeder. It forages by surface-seizing, contact dipping and scavenging. Its primary prey species include squid, fish and other invertebrates. Outside the breeding season, the black-footed albatross is an open
Bear Watching Tours cruise into the calm and tranquil inlets of Clayoquot Sound in search of Black Bears and other wildlife. From spring to autumn Tofino Black Bears can be seen emerging from rainforest to forage at low tide for crabs and fish. B
The Great Blue Heron. Did you know they stand 135 centimetres high, the biggest Great Blue Herons are taller than many grade 3 students. However, they weigh only 2 to 3 kilograms, about the same size as a small baby. We are adding Tofino Bird Watch
We are OPEN for Whale Watching Tours! The Grey Whale Migration is on. These majestic cetaceans are making their 10,000 + mile roundtrip migration up the coast of Vancouver Island. Twenty thousand swim past Tofino on their way to their summer feeding
Yesterday was a great day! We had sunshine and killer whales on our afternoon Whale Watching Tour! T068 and T068A, Transient Killer Whales famous for the first ever record of infanticide amongst killer whales in 2018 were in Clayoquot Sound. This m
The T046B’s were sighted off Tofino on Saturday with a brand new calf! We do not see this gang of Transient Killer Whales too often in Clayoquot Sound. In this photo the calf is with T046B2. Photo: @jftofino *Photo taken under a research
My favourite colour is sunrise.
Airborne Humpback This Humpback Whale has been the highlight of our Whale Watching Tours this week. 🐋 Photo by the talented @ocroz_ #tofino #whalewatching #humpbackwhale
Did you know that we see Sea Otters on our Whale Watching Tours? Though se otters are one of the smallest marine mammals, they are the largest member of the weasel family and have the densest fur of any animal on Earth - with an estimated 100,000 h
BEST. DAY. EVER. Any day we see Killer Whales is the best but breaching killer whales is always next level. All our tours today were able to see Bigg’s Killer Whales! Another visit in Clayoquot Sound from the T109A’s. This capture of
An Immature Bald Eagle drying off after an unexpected dip in the ocean near Tofino. Did you know that Bald Eagles have a wing span of 7ft and can weigh up to 15 pounds. They are one of the largest raptors in the world. When diving they can reach s
Golden hour killer whales! The summer evening whale watching tours will sometimes offer the perfect golden light for wildlife photos. Beautiful capture by Owen, who is training to guide and books tours in the office. 📷: @ocroz_ #tofino

GUEST TESTIMONIALS

“Did the whale watching tour October 2022 in the uncovered boat with Mark as our guide. Mark was AMAZING! His knowledge of the wildlife and area provided for a very informative experience. We were able to see gray whales and he told us a bit about each one we saw. Also on the tour were otters, seals and so many birds. Beyond the wildlife, the scenery is gorgeous. Mark is also an excellent boat skipper and was able to keep us from getting seasick in some pretty good swells. The suits provided kept us very warm. Highly highly recommend!”
— Sarah S.

READY TO BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE?

Call us at 1-888-474-2288 or click below to get started on your reservation

We’re privileged to work, play and educate thousands of people every year from all over the world. We’re able to do this on the traditional territories of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, Ahousaht First Nation and Hesquiaht First Nation.