Clayoquot Wild
Clayoquot Wild
5
Cultural ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingNature & Wildlife Tours
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Full view
About
Locally and family owned, we love sharing the fun and beauty of our home with your family! Our guides are all born and raised in the Clayoquot Sound area and all have a lifetime of training on the water. We can take you whale watching, bear watching, fishing or work with you to design a tour that suits your family's unique ideas of a fun day on the ocean!
Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
5.0
31 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
1
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
SherpAusCan
Victoria, Canada1 contribution
Sep 2020 • Couples
We had a great morning tour out bear watching! Initially we weren’t sure it would even happen with the thick fog but Eugene took us out and we saw 6 separate bears, some very close! He was a friendly guide and told us about his experience in the area and about the small first nations family business. It was a nice group size with only 8 people fitting on the boat and a proper metal hulled boat so we didn’t come close to seasick.
Would definitely tour with them again!
Would definitely tour with them again!
Written September 6, 2020
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.
Robert T
5 contributions
Oct 2019
The office staff was incredibly friendly and helpful... even helped us book dinner reservations, above and beyond gracious. Our guide, Eugene Tom, was the best. He found five bear sightings for us and was able to take our small group (only four of us) right up to the shore. He is definitely a "bear whisperer" and probably a whale whisperer, too! Wonderful to take a tour that exceeded our expectations. Would highly recommend.
Written October 21, 2019
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.
Shaye64
Toronto25 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
We booked a Hot spring tour and got more than we ever expected, this is a First Nations tour company with a 8:30 start(lots start later) happened to have a deal on the day we went, the prices were a lot better and for what you got is was beyond our expectations!
Ask for Moses(an Indian Chief)he is a very knowledgeable man who spend more time with us than necessary, we saw whales, bears, sea lions, harp seals and the walk to the hot springs is beautiful!
Best ever!!!
Ask for Moses(an Indian Chief)he is a very knowledgeable man who spend more time with us than necessary, we saw whales, bears, sea lions, harp seals and the walk to the hot springs is beautiful!
Best ever!!!
Written August 31, 2016
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 kind review! We look forward to your next visit!
Written September 2, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Norden_Magician
Mission, Canada185 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
We went into office to book - and were told they leave at 8:30am. So we called later that day to book for the next day, but were told no 8:30am...
I called back and had to ask a few questions to why - and the fact they were not full was the reason. So we booked for the day after that. She didn't want to do it over the phone so I had to drive down. They made it seem hard to give them my business.
We arrived at 8am, but due to fog we left at 9am. We asked if they were going to take extra time on the way back to compensate the poor visibility. They said yes, but that did not really happen.
I found the lack of communication to be a little unprofessional. Same with the fact of selling 10 seats when the boat seats 8 (two people outside - one was me)
I found the 'safety' talk insufficient - and he did not address, not talk loud enough, for the 2 of us outside to hear. Nor for anything said the whole trip. Either sell 8 seats or add speakers to the outside.
The wildlife part - well - we saw one heron on the way up. Also, docking and having people exit on and off - buy a set of step stairs. Oh - and when you drop us off - tell us where to go and what to do. Be a 'tour guide'! Just really found the customer service lacking with this crew.
The hot springs were fabulous - but this review is about the company.
I will grant them on the way back we did see whales, sea otters, and sea lions. I am going to assume the people inside the boat had a better experience than we did outside. I found we paid $130 each for a taxi service to the hot springs, (and a fast trip too - full throttle most of the way - or as my wife says he was a hot dog driver) and that was not what we had envisioned. Since we have a boat of our own..
I also found the office staff poor in their communication skills as well.
Since the hot springs were greet and the day turned out nice it is probably why I am giving a 3 instead of a 2.
I called back and had to ask a few questions to why - and the fact they were not full was the reason. So we booked for the day after that. She didn't want to do it over the phone so I had to drive down. They made it seem hard to give them my business.
We arrived at 8am, but due to fog we left at 9am. We asked if they were going to take extra time on the way back to compensate the poor visibility. They said yes, but that did not really happen.
I found the lack of communication to be a little unprofessional. Same with the fact of selling 10 seats when the boat seats 8 (two people outside - one was me)
I found the 'safety' talk insufficient - and he did not address, not talk loud enough, for the 2 of us outside to hear. Nor for anything said the whole trip. Either sell 8 seats or add speakers to the outside.
The wildlife part - well - we saw one heron on the way up. Also, docking and having people exit on and off - buy a set of step stairs. Oh - and when you drop us off - tell us where to go and what to do. Be a 'tour guide'! Just really found the customer service lacking with this crew.
The hot springs were fabulous - but this review is about the company.
I will grant them on the way back we did see whales, sea otters, and sea lions. I am going to assume the people inside the boat had a better experience than we did outside. I found we paid $130 each for a taxi service to the hot springs, (and a fast trip too - full throttle most of the way - or as my wife says he was a hot dog driver) and that was not what we had envisioned. Since we have a boat of our own..
I also found the office staff poor in their communication skills as well.
Since the hot springs were greet and the day turned out nice it is probably why I am giving a 3 instead of a 2.
Written September 5, 2016
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.
Xata A
Faro, Portugal71 contributions
Oct 2019
I know that you cannot always see animals... but after 20 minutes on the place we barely guessed more than saw some whales and the guide told us "time to go". Did not even try to take us to the rocks where sea lions could be. The other half of our group went after he dropped us, they stayed over an hour and a half, have been taken to different places, saw different animals. We all paid the same 140 CA, why keep the others about 90 minutes on the site and us just 20?
We felt robbed, and no compensation offered as happens with many other companies.
We felt robbed, and no compensation offered as happens with many other companies.
Written October 29, 2019
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.
CanmoreTraveller
Canmore, Canada137 contributions
Aug 2019
Clayoquot Wild saved our holiday by bringing us on their Hot Spring Cove tour after our original booking with another company fell through (without informing us)
Written September 8, 2019
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.
Mark-Cindy-E
Nanoose Bay, Canada108 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
We chose this smaller company to experience a more personal adventure without the crowded boat. Eugene was our guide who was so friendly and sharing his knowledge of the years growing up in the area. Although this was off season for the whales, we saw 2 greys and lots of Stellar sea lions and Sea Otters. The scenery is spectacular and worth heading out onto the water for a different perspective of the area. We definitely enjoyed our trip.
Written October 13, 2018
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.
We appreciate your positive support!
Written March 24, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paul B
Cheltenham, UK40 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
Forget the big companies with their glitzy brochures and slick websites, when you're out on the water, you need Moses, whose ancestors have been living in these parts for at least 20 generations, probably longer. He can smell whales.
Our experience began with a walk-in booking, taken by James, probably the only commercial fisherman who doesn't eat fish. He talked us through the boat - maximum 8 passengers, bring your own drinks and snacks - and explained that our 2-hour tour would possibly see sea otters, sea lions, and maybe humpbacks, but it's nature, so nothing is guaranteed.
We arrived next day to meet James' mum, who sent us to the boat with a happy smile and plenty of laughing, where we met Moses, who has spent 71 years in the water and was a treasure trove of knowledge about his First Nations people, the Clayoquot. The fog didn't lift much, but even so the views of the harbour and surrounding islands were stunning. First stop was a stellar sealion, followed by some harbour seals sunning themselves. A small family of sea otters played around, and then a larger group, with cubs resting on the mothers' tummy. More seals, cormorants and terns, but no whales.
Moses used all his skills, looking for wake, whale sign, smell (they have bad breath), and more modern techniques like listening to radio chatter from the other boats, but all with no success. Moses was clearly upset he couldn't show us his whales, and we spent an additional 2 hours on the water searching, before we finally gave in to the fog and went back to Tofino. So, no whales, which was a pity, but that wasn't for lack of trying, and Moses and his family certainly made sure we had a memorable experience. We will return, and we will go straight to James and Moses (and James' mum) for our next boating experience. Bears next time, but it's nature, so nothing is guaranteed.
Our experience began with a walk-in booking, taken by James, probably the only commercial fisherman who doesn't eat fish. He talked us through the boat - maximum 8 passengers, bring your own drinks and snacks - and explained that our 2-hour tour would possibly see sea otters, sea lions, and maybe humpbacks, but it's nature, so nothing is guaranteed.
We arrived next day to meet James' mum, who sent us to the boat with a happy smile and plenty of laughing, where we met Moses, who has spent 71 years in the water and was a treasure trove of knowledge about his First Nations people, the Clayoquot. The fog didn't lift much, but even so the views of the harbour and surrounding islands were stunning. First stop was a stellar sealion, followed by some harbour seals sunning themselves. A small family of sea otters played around, and then a larger group, with cubs resting on the mothers' tummy. More seals, cormorants and terns, but no whales.
Moses used all his skills, looking for wake, whale sign, smell (they have bad breath), and more modern techniques like listening to radio chatter from the other boats, but all with no success. Moses was clearly upset he couldn't show us his whales, and we spent an additional 2 hours on the water searching, before we finally gave in to the fog and went back to Tofino. So, no whales, which was a pity, but that wasn't for lack of trying, and Moses and his family certainly made sure we had a memorable experience. We will return, and we will go straight to James and Moses (and James' mum) for our next boating experience. Bears next time, but it's nature, so nothing is guaranteed.
Written August 3, 2018
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.
Now you have parted the seas with Moses! Thank you for your positive feedback!
Written March 24, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mcloutier90
Cantley, Canada14 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
What a great time we had with James as our guide! We had the priviledge of having an "almost private" Hot Springs tour since we were only 3 onboard. It was nice to hear from the first nation history of the area. James did his best to make our trip memorable, asking about our preferences for seeing grey whales/sea lions/bears. After a while on the lookout for whales he suggested heading to the Hot Springs in order for us to enjoy the natural pools longer before the high tide. Lots of people when we arrived but we were almost by ourselves after a while when most of tourists left before us to return to their charters.
On our way back, James continued to look for whales/sea lions for us. Upon arrival at the dock, we had the priviledge to see his dad take care of the big halibut he had caught during our time at the hot springs when he went fishing. He even offered us a fresh filet to bring back home with us. Thanks for your generosity and the friendly time we had! Even back in the office, we had a nice chat with James' mom and bought canned salmon she had prepared herself.
On our way back, James continued to look for whales/sea lions for us. Upon arrival at the dock, we had the priviledge to see his dad take care of the big halibut he had caught during our time at the hot springs when he went fishing. He even offered us a fresh filet to bring back home with us. Thanks for your generosity and the friendly time we had! Even back in the office, we had a nice chat with James' mom and bought canned salmon she had prepared herself.
Written August 5, 2015
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.
Compass820835
3 contributions
Oct 2018 • Family
Thank you Moses for such an amazing and inspiring day of culture and venture. This was an incredible experience start to finish.
Written October 13, 2018
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 positive feedback!
Written March 24, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Clayoquot Wild - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Clayoquot Wild Information
Excellent Reviews | 28 |
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Very Good Reviews | 1 |
Clayoquot Wild Photos | 42 |