Many of our guests who travel to San Juan Island have a goal to encounter killer whales by sea kayak on the west side of San Juan Island. Our Southern Resident Orcas calls the waters surrounding San Juan Island home mid-May through mid-September, and the highest probability of countering killer whales by kayak are mid-June through August.
Orcas are the ocean's top predators and travel over 100 miles in a 24 hour period. They are foraging, resting, traveling, and socializing in their own environment, and it's difficult to predict their exact location day-to-day, or evening hourly! Guests who are really hoping to encounter killer whales by kayak should book multiple full-day kayak tours, such as our beginner to intermediate 5-Hour Orca & Wildlife Search by sea kayak tour or our intermediate to advanced 5+ Hour West Side Whale Sanctuary sea kayak tour. These tours are designed to maximize wildlife sightings, including the Resident Killer Whales that frequent these waters in the summer months. If you are feeling very adventurous, join us on a 2- or 3- Day Multi-Day sea kayak tour and get more on-the-water time! More time on the water means a greater likely hood to encounter Orcas! Very lastly, if you only have a short amount of time to spend on San Juan Island and are not able to join us on multiple full-day sea kayak tours, we strongly encounter our guests to join us for a guided sea kayak tour and a Whale Watch Tour by motorized vessel, which boasts a 9/10 tours successful whale (such as killer whale, humpback, and/or minke whale) sightings during peak season (June through mid-Sept).
Here are some photos from this summer and previous seasons!
Brittany Office & Reservations Manager San Juan Outfitters
5-Hour Orca & Wildlife Search September 2013. Photo by guide Tyler Stern.
Killer whale encounter! Photo by guide Alex Tande. September 2013.
Orcas on the West Side of San Juan Island. Summer 2008.
Owner/Operator Brian Goodremont with J1 "Ruffles." Summer 2007.