Canada’s Whale Watching season is fast approaching!

Canada is famed for its long and exciting whale watching season. This popular activity is available along most of the 202,000km of Canadian coastline, especially the Western Pacific coast off of British Columbia. But whale watching is also prominent along the East and North stretches of the vast country. Getting up close and personal with a whale is a once in a lifetime experience! Embark upon this incredible journey via boat, kayak, snorkel or walking tour.

The Atlantic Ocean offers spectacular opportunities for whale watching, with over 20 species swimming offshore. Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland & Labrador are particularly good whale watching spots, and Canada’s whale watching season generally runs from May to October, depending on species and location.

A trip to Quebec offers a huge variety of whale watching opportunities in St. Lawrence and Tadoussac, where you might see Belugas, Humpbacks, Minkes, Fin, Sperm and Blue whales. Blue whales are the largest animals on Earth – they’re a massive 25m long and weigh over 100 tonnes, so prepare for your jaw to drop if you spot one beneath the surface! Jet on board a wild Zodiac speedboat across the salty water and invite these magnificent creatures to play around you.

Visit Digby Neck and the Cape Breton Highlands in Nova Scotia to spot Finback whales, Minkes and Humpbacks chowing down on the massive quantity of krill in the Bay of Fundy. Humpback whales are known for launching their huge 36 tonne bodies up and out of the water, making it even easier to spot some whale tail! Tiny Minke whales are often easy to spot too, as they readily approach your boat to show off their playful water acrobatics.

Humpbacks, Minkes and Finback whales are common also to New Brunswick, and the best watching spots can be found on Campobello Island, St. Andrews and Grand Manan Island. Discover Belugas, Minkes, Humpbacks, Blue, Fin and Sperm whales in Newfoundland & Labrador; kayaking is the preferred watching option here as you can feel so close to the whales beneath you. You’ll even get the chance to spot some rare seabirds at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve in St. Johns.

Along the North Coast of Canada, try whale watching in Churchill, Manitoba. This is the perfect place to spot the beautiful Beluga whale, gliding ghost-like through the Arctic waters. These small whales only measure 4m long, and are very social, squeaking to each other beneath the icy surface. Combine two trips in one and see the Polar bears at Hudson Bay, then arrange a boat or kayak trip to discover the Belugas. If you’re feeling up for it you could even snorkel in the freezing water in a very thick wetsuit… The possibilities are endless!