Go Whale Watching from Rosario Harbor

No visit to the San Juan Islands is complete without taking a whale watching tour and Rosario Harbor on Orcas Island is uniquely situation to allow for trips east into the Rosario Straight, south into Lopez Sound, or west into the Haro Straight. Such flexibility is useful when on the looking for fast and far migrating cetaceans like orcas and humpback whales.

Check ahead with local operators on conditions and what whales are known to be in the vicinity before you book, and on the way in and out of the harbor be sure to wave hello to Gary the Bald Eagle who stands guard.

Note that Washington State and Canadian laws prohibit getting any closer than 100 yards from whales and that if a whale is seen to approach a boat the operator must stop the engine and drift.