We were fortunate that favourable conditions – calm waters and blue skies – gave us the best opportunities to see transient orcas in abundance,humpback whales,pacific dolphins and harbour seals
It… read more is not surprising that Mackay Whale Watching has one of the best reputations on Vancouver island as the reviews speak for themselves but Bill,company owner and skipper come naturalist is passionate still after 30 years and with a sense of humour to match.He was ably assisted by the equally passionate and knowledgable Marieka who provided us with delicious lentil soup midway and at the end tea and home made chocolate brownies and lemon drizzle cake
This tour lasted 6 hours well beyond stated 3-4hr tour and all for CAN $130 not like $500 8 hr grizzly bear tour with Adventure Quest Campbell River with almost zero guiding and a miserly chicken wrap and on top no grizzlies
We did Eagle Wing Tours Victoria and Prince of Whales Tours Telegraph Cove and this was by far the best tour even though Mackay had best viewing conditions
Make this your number one whale watching tour for Vancouver Islandas it is best feeding ground at head of Johston straits for these mammals

  All around excellent! We were out for five hours total since we had to head way east to find the orcas, after spending more than an hour with the… read more humpbacks.
All the commercial boats share whale locations, so I think you’d see whales no matter what, but I chose Mackay because
– longest outing (plus soup for lunch)
– small family business
– price was actually cheapest, too (we got 10% off the posted price as a family group over 4 people)

Word to the wise: you will get more out of it if you are on top where the you can hear what the captain / guide are saying

  Late September trip, lots to see – We went towards the end of September and I was worried that all the whales would have left. The orcas had left, but we saw lots!!!! of humpback whales,… read more sea lions, porpoises, an eagle, and lots of beautiful scenery. I have done whale watching before, so I was a little weary of what had happened before….race over there, see the back of a whale….race over there…same thing. But this was far different. They must know where to go, as we would drive fast to an area, and then watch for whales to appear. And they could tell you who they were by their tail markings. So we did see the backs, but also their blowholes, and their tails and on one occasion, it came far above the surface and then splashed down. Also 2 or 3 different islands where different varieties of sea lions lived, along with an eagle perched on a tree. And porpoises that swam along the boat and gave quite the show. And lots of information as well. Well worth the money.