Kayak With Whales San Juan Islands | Outdoor Odysseys Kayak Tours

Orca Whales

The Orca, also known as the “killer whale,” is the largest species of the oceanic dolphin family (Family Delphinidae). This toothed predator is one of the most widely distributed sea mammals on earth, and can be found in all of the world’s oceans. Outdoor Odysseys offers eco-friendly kayak tours in one of the world’s best orca whale watching areas, close to shore off San Juan Island and the surrounding waters of the San Juan Archipelago.

Resident orca populations are those that frequent the waters off the San Juan Islands and are organized into stable, highly social matrilineal family groups called “pods.” Within the inland waters of Washington and Canada, there are three resident orca family groups – labeled alphabetically as J, K, and L pods. Offspring tend to live with their mothers for their entire lives. Some females may live for over 90 years in one social group. In total, the three Southern Resident pods have less than 80 individuals at present time.

Since 2005, the Southern Resident Orcas of the Pacific Northwest have been listed as an endangered species. Toxic and acoustic pollution, the decline of salmon populations, habitat loss, danger from vessel traffic, and the gradual worldwide warming of ocean temperatures threaten the J, K, and L pods in the San Juan Islands. It is our responsibility to treat them with a respect in-keeping with our admiration for these beautiful creatures. Our goal here in the San Juans as whale enthusiasts, avid kayakers, and environmentalists is to “share the road” with our orca friends and educate fellow kayakers and whale watchers about the current plight of a very special species.

We strive to provide a fantastic kayak experience and consider orca whales to be the “icing” on an already amazing cake of adventure and natural beauty. The Southern Residents favor the west side of San Juan Island, where we launch the majority of our kayak tours; therefore, we usually have a good chance of seeing them on any of our trips during the summer months. Please remember that these endangered animals have a large territory to cover, a limited food supply, and have suffered a huge decline in their population over the last century. We try not to give them too much flak if they don’t show up on cue.

Whale Watching: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do some outfitters have special access to whales?

No. The outfitters here on San Juan Island all have the same information related to whale location, and no one gets special access.

When is the best time to see whales?

June, July and August provide the most consistent sightings of these magnificent creatures. However, they often make appearances in May and we regularly see orcas in September and even October.

Can you guarantee whale sightings?

No kayak company can. We do our best, but as outdoor enthusiasts, we are used to changing conditions and the spontaneity of wildlife behavior, and we encourage all potential whale watchers to adopt a similar philosophy. The orcas are wild animals with incredible range. Sightings are a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Where we paddle is definitely the right place, the timing is up to the orcas.