CANCELLATION POLICY

Our Tofino Whale Watching, Tofino Bear Watching and Hot Springs Cove Tours have a 48 hour cancellation policy. If any cancellations are received, including a reduction in the passenger numbers, within 48 hours of the tour departure then the full amount of the reservation will be charged to the credit card used to secure the booking. All cancellations made after 48 hours or “no-shows” will be subject to the full charge of the fare. We save your seats for you up until the last possible moment, which doesn’t allow us the opportunity to resell it.

A tour may be cancelled or schedules altered according to weather conditions and tides. In such an event you may reschedule your tour or collect a full refund.

If you are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 we ask that you do not come out on at our with us. Please reach out to us and we will assist you to cancel your reservation.

SIGHTINGS GUARANTEE

The Whale Centre enjoys a sightings success rate of over 95% for both Whale Watching Tours and Bear Watching Tours throughout our season. Unfortunately, due to the inherent nature of viewing wild animals in their natural habitat, we cannot guarantee with 100% certainty that there will be sightings on every tour. To enhance the expected value that each of our guests deserve, we offer our lifetime, non-expiring guarantee: If you join us on a tour and you do not see a whale or bear, we will provide you with a rain check, allowing you to join us on another tour free of charge. 

Guests using rain checks for Whale Watching Tours and Bear Watching Tours are obligated to make a reservation for any tours and are on a stand-by basis. Our rain checks never expire. They can be used on the same day, next year or in five years. If you have any questions regarding our rain check policy please speak to our staff. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • All tours require you to check-in ready to go 30 minutes before departure time.

  • We have not found the whales to be more active at any specific point of the day, so the chances are equally as good in the morning as the afternoon. We see whales in Tofino from March until November.

  • We see Grey Whales, Humpback Whales and Killer Whales in our coastal waters. We mostly see Grey Whales. The Killer Whales are wild cards, we never know when they will show up. Humpback Whales are in our area from June to September. Ask our office which whales we are seeing when you arrive in Tofino.

  • If you are prone to motion sickness while in a car, or have experienced sea sickness in the past, we recommend being prepared by visiting a pharmacy to discuss the best option for you. Fortunately, there are many options to reduce the risk of becoming sea sick.

  • There are strict guidelines when it comes to watching whales in Canadian waters. We take these regulations very seriously so as not to influence the behaviour of marine mammals in any way. We want to respect the fact that these are wild animals and remain impartial observers.

  • The best time to see Black Bears in Tofino is April to October. The best time of day to go on a Bear Watching Tour is on the low tide when they come down from the forest to the shoreline to forage. Our departure times change daily with the tide. Call us to find out departure times for the day you want to go out.

  • Yes! "There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing." - Ranulph Fiennes

  • Yes. Your safely is our priority. The Whale Centre does not take guests out on tours if the weather and sea conditions are unsafe. We are constantly watching the weather and sea conditions. If we decide it is unsafe to conduct a tour we will offer you a refund or book you on the next available tour.

  • Yes! All activities and tours are subject to the signing of a waiver. If you do not accept the terms of our release agreement, you will be refunded and will not participate in the excursion.

  • We see Tufted Puffins from June to the end of August on our Tofino Bird Watching Tours and Tofino Whale Watching Tours.

  • We need a minimum of 4 guests to confirm a Whale Watching Tour, Bear Watching Tour and Tofino Bird Watching Tour.

    We need a minimum of 6 guests to confirm a Hot Springs Tour and Pelagic Bird Watching Tour.

  • We are a family run business from Tofino! The Whale Centre has offered safe and responsible whale watching tours for over 36 years. All our guides are very experienced on the water and how to be safe around marine wildlife.