West Coast Aquatic Safaris
West Coast Aquatic Safaris
4.5
Boat ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife Tours
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view
About
Tour Tofino’s wild side with West Coast Aquatic Safaris! Enjoy the West Coast’s premiere wildlife and sightseeing tours aboard our All Weather Boats, WASCO and NANUQ, both Transport Canada safety certified. Our professional and knowledgeable staff will make your Tofino experience one to remember. Get off the beaten path and experience ecotourism that is environmentally responsible, safe, and fun for the whole family! West Coast Aquatic Safaris is accessible for all. We look forward to welcoming you aboard!
Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
498 reviews
Excellent
423
Very good
45
Average
12
Poor
7
Terrible
11
Charlotte B
Amsterdam, The Netherlands6 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
The bear spotting trip by boat was really wonderful. Especially Eugene with his broad knowledge of the animals in the surroundings and his very nice storytelling voice made it unique. At first we did not seem to be very lucky in finding any bears, but apparently we were just a bit early. We could safely watch 3 bears (on 3 different beaches) for quite a while and on the way back there was a 4th on the shore as well (bonus!). The other bonuses were a nice sunset in front of us (magnificent sky) and a really amazing rising harvest moon behind us, what our very adept skipper Keith made us aware of. A trip we will not forget.
Written September 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the amazing and in-depth review. And of course, thank you for touring with us.
Yes, I am lucky enough to work with Eugene and all his information and panache makes for extra fun trips!! That moon was one not to forget anytime soon.
Hope to see you aboard in the future
Best
Keith
Written September 15, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
bernice w
2 contributions
Apr 2021
I saw a whale! And eagles, sea lions, sea otters, and many birds, plus loads of great scenery! We had a wonderful adventure with West Coasts Aquatic Safaris! The boat was great as it had a sheltered place inside with seating for all of us on the trip. We started out on a rainy day so this helped for the first part of the tour. And after there was lots of room for us all to roam outside while being safely distance during covid times. Our captain Aaron was nice and informative and he really tried his best to give us the experience of a lifetime and he told interesting stories of all the islands around including cow island and the story of the sasquatch! He definitely knows his stuff and he was a great captain. I've been on some horrible boat rides where the captain left the guests scared and sick. NOT THIS ONE! This was a really beautiful and comfortable ride in a comfortable boat and worth every penny just to see the beautiful islands and wildlife surrounding Tofino. Do yourself a favour and sign up with this tour!! It's the best one in Tofino!
Written April 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jondavies2017
Bridgend, UK14 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Fantastic trip watching the bears today, the team at West Coast Aquatic Safari’s were excellent, very informative trip with very amenable crew. Going on the Whale watch trip tomorrow and can’t wait. Great value for money and today we saw one of the bears swim from one island to the other , fantastic 👍
Written July 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Awesome to read - thank you!! I hope you had a wonderful time out on the whale watch too!!
Best
Keith
Written July 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Secondstar2theright
Edmonton, Canada49 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
We book with West Coast Aquatic Safaris every year as part of our annual trip to Tofino. As always, it is the highlight of our trip! The staff both in the office, and on the boat are always exceptional.
This year, 2024, Captain Marcy & Dave were, of course, fantastic. We learn something new every year & this year was no exception. We were really impressed by their depth of knowledge of the region, its culture, its ecosystem, and what is going on in the waters around us. Yes, we did see several whales, sea lions, otters, and more, but for us that's only part of the enjoyment of being out on the water with these guys. Highly recommend getting out into Clayoquot Sound with this group to really enjoy experiencing the Tofino area from the water.
This year, 2024, Captain Marcy & Dave were, of course, fantastic. We learn something new every year & this year was no exception. We were really impressed by their depth of knowledge of the region, its culture, its ecosystem, and what is going on in the waters around us. Yes, we did see several whales, sea lions, otters, and more, but for us that's only part of the enjoyment of being out on the water with these guys. Highly recommend getting out into Clayoquot Sound with this group to really enjoy experiencing the Tofino area from the water.
Written April 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harry H
Las Vegas, NV3 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
FALSE ADVERTISING - BEWARE
Their website advertises their hot springs tour as out via boat, and return via float plane (see screenshots attached), with the option of coming back via boat if you don't want to get on the plane.
This is completely untrue. There is no float plane. They will only take you out and back via boat.
They also tried to change the departure time from that advertised and booked.
In short they are a dishonest company who also charge significantly more that other tour agencies, shop around and you can get the tour for significantly less and with much better people.
Their website advertises their hot springs tour as out via boat, and return via float plane (see screenshots attached), with the option of coming back via boat if you don't want to get on the plane.
This is completely untrue. There is no float plane. They will only take you out and back via boat.
They also tried to change the departure time from that advertised and booked.
In short they are a dishonest company who also charge significantly more that other tour agencies, shop around and you can get the tour for significantly less and with much better people.
Written October 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback. We did have to do some changes last minute changes in our touring policies to the Hot Springs, as BC Parks changed the rules once they reopened the park from the COVID shutdown this year and we were given little to no time to react. As soon as the park provided us the new rules on touring to the park, we updated all our media (website, social media, brochures and more). It is now clear and we hope to have clear communication with BC Parks going forward, so this does not happen again.
To the exact feedback...
We did not charge these people for the flight back upgrade as we could not provided it. We did have to push back the departure time as BC Parks now requires us to arrive at the park at or after 11:00am and previously we had a 8:00am departure meaning an arrival at 9:30am.
Hopefully, this clears up people confusion and this sort of thing will not happen in the future.
Thank you
Keith
Written July 9, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michelle B
6 contributions
Sep 2021 • Solo
I chose to do this excursion while my friend went surfing. It was the perfect activity to do alone. The staff on the boat are super knowledgeable about the wildlife in the area, and they made sure we saw a variety of animals. We saw Orange Crush, the famous whale. We also saw seals, a bald eagle, and sea otters. They provide raincoats free of charge, and I would recommend taking one as I got completely soaked. Overall, I highly recommend this to anyone.
Written September 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review and the recommendation of borrowing our jacket;) - We cannot promise you will stay dry in the open ocean if you cruise on one of our outside decks....OC or Orange Crush has been viewed in our waters since 1976!!! Yes this activity for 1 or for groups!!
Hope to see you abaord in the future
Best
Keith
Written August 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carole D
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We initially booked just the whale watching trip but after seeing 11 hump back whales and taking so many photos we were so impressed, we then booked the bear trip too and we’re not disappointed.
The crew on board were fantastic, Captains Dave and Keith and Sidney were very knowledgeable.
We were treated to seeing 3 separate black bears feeding at the waters edge on the early morning trip and also saw bald eagles, jellyfish bloom and a huge rock covered in so many sea lions.
A fantastic way to see the wildlife in Tofino with a very professional and friendly tour guide company.
The boat was clean and well looked after leaving us feeling safe.
We couldn’t have wanted for a better day out.
The crew on board were fantastic, Captains Dave and Keith and Sidney were very knowledgeable.
We were treated to seeing 3 separate black bears feeding at the waters edge on the early morning trip and also saw bald eagles, jellyfish bloom and a huge rock covered in so many sea lions.
A fantastic way to see the wildlife in Tofino with a very professional and friendly tour guide company.
The boat was clean and well looked after leaving us feeling safe.
We couldn’t have wanted for a better day out.
Written July 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sounds like epic day on the water 11 Humpback whales and black bears!! Hope to see you aboard in the future
Best
Keith
Written March 30, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
StrictlyManc
Manchester, UK106 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
A two hour bear watching water safari around the waterways of the islands leaving from downtown Tofino. Very safety conscious crew who were extremely friendly and expert. Excellent boat - bigger than the others we saw out on the water so very stable at high and low speeds. About twelve guests aboard. Enough seating outside and inside if inclement weather. We had three good sightings plus a colony (if that's the world) or seals chilling on a rock. Thanks to captain jacks and crew. Recommend.
Written May 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review! Yes - NANUQ being the only catamaran on the coast leads to the most sable tour on the coast. Safety is our Number 1 concern and I am glad it shows. Yes colony is the correct word for a group of harbour seals;) and we love visiting them - "Rock Sausages".
Hope to see you aboard in the future
Best
Keith
Written August 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
M.B.
2 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
West Coast Aquatic Safaris saved our day! Our original whale watching tour was cancelled twice...but I really wanted to do this tour. I phoned them and we were lucky they had available spots! From the reception staff member to our captain (toast to captain Eugene! We love your sense of humor, the best!), they were all awesome. We were able to see humpback whales, they did put a show (even if it was foggy) and some harbour seals on the the way back home.
A friendly reminder to everyone to manage your expectations when watching whales. Whale watching tour companies are required to have a distance of 100 meters (or 200 meters if they are resting/with calf/killer whales in the pacific canadian waters) from where the whales are. So don't blame the companies if you can't have the whales beside your boat. 😅 The only time you can see them really close is if they decide to show up near your boat. 😆
We promise to be back in Tofino again and next time, we will book with this company right away! (Unfortunately I don't have pictures of the whales but I have videos which I don't think I can post here!)
A friendly reminder to everyone to manage your expectations when watching whales. Whale watching tour companies are required to have a distance of 100 meters (or 200 meters if they are resting/with calf/killer whales in the pacific canadian waters) from where the whales are. So don't blame the companies if you can't have the whales beside your boat. 😅 The only time you can see them really close is if they decide to show up near your boat. 😆
We promise to be back in Tofino again and next time, we will book with this company right away! (Unfortunately I don't have pictures of the whales but I have videos which I don't think I can post here!)
Written August 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review and for touring with us!! So glad you ended up touring with us! 🙌 Eugene is hilarious and if his "Dad Jokes" can't make you laugh or at least smile...
Looking forward to you touring with us again on your return!🛥😎
Best
Keith
Written August 21, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tom M
32 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
We thoroughly enjoyed our whale watching trip with West Coast Aquatic Safaris. Everyone we encountered, beginning with the employee who made our reservation for us through to Captain Dave and the owner, was friendly, professional and engaging. The boat was very comfortable, and Captain Dave made us feel at ease from the moment we met him on the dock. His knowledge of the area and its wildlife certainly enriched our experience. We observed seven or eight Grey Whales, as well as Harbour Seals, Stellar Sea Lions and Sea Otters. It was a wonderful experience, and we highly recommend West Coast Aquatic Safaris to any one visiting the Tofino area.
Written May 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for this glowing review! I will make sure Captain David receives a copy of this review. Yes
Written July 3, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi I was wondering if you offer a discount for groups, we would be looking to purchase 16 whale watching tickets?
Written July 5, 2018
Good afternoon Terri,
Please contact the office to discuss group options; our office number is 250 725 9227. I am in the office 9am to 5pm PST tomorrow, Friday July 6th.
Kind regards,
Diondra
Operations Manager
Written July 5, 2018
Hi, I’m a permanent wheelchair user from having Spina Bifida. I am very excited to be coming on your bear watching tour in October but I am unsure whether I am required to book a ticket for my carer or whether you would regard her as ‘part of the package’ in conjunction to myself.
Over here in the U.K. we have concessions for carers but I am unsure how things work in Canada.
Written June 11, 2018
Good morning Carina,
We are excited to have you join us in October. We will need you to book both of you to tour onboard.
Thanks
Keith
Written June 12, 2018
Hi!! We were just wondering if you offer any discounts for more than one tour? We have booked a whale watching tour with you on September 3rd and were thinking about booking a hot spring tour as well maybe on the 5th!
Written March 26, 2018
Hi there!
Yes, we can offer you 10% off your whale watching tour when you book a hot springs tour with us. If you would like to add on the second tour, please call our offices at 250 725 9227. September is one of my favourite months in Tofino; good choice!
Kind regards,
Diondra
Operations Manager
Written March 26, 2018
Hi there, I'm getting seasick very quickly. So, I'm really doubting if i should go on a whale watching tour. Though I'd love to go. I have some bad experience with a speedboat jumping up and down the water.
Does anyone who has a similar stomach like me, (good) experiences with this safari?
Thanks in advance!!
Written June 11, 2017
Thanks for the note. When touring with West Coast Aquatic Safaris you do not have to worry about jumping as our boats are heavier than the open exposed zodiac style boats.
Seasickness can be difficult - I would suggest you talk to medical professional of your options. I do know ginger is natural suppressant to seasickness, gravel is a great option as it is over the counter and can be taken the night before and then again the morning of the tour.
Also I wanted to point out that most of West Coast Aquatic Safaris whale watches occur on NANUQ, a catamaran (twin haul vessel) - this provides a more stable viewing platform for viewing.
I hope this helps.
Any other questions please feel free to contact the West Coast Aquatic Safaris office at 250-725-9227.
Best,
Keith
Written June 11, 2017
Susanxu131
Shanghai, China
I'm going to Tofino in end January and I'm wondering if it's ok to take a boat trip at that time? Thanks.
Written January 11, 2017
Hi there! We do not operate tours at this time of the year due to unpredictable seas. We will be starting up again for all trips in March when the whales start migrating back to our region (weather cooperating!). If you are interested in going to the hot springs, another option at this time of year could be to book a float plane. Best of luck!
Written January 12, 2017
How far and how long might it take me to get there from Langford , Vancouver Island, BC ?
Written June 22, 2015
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