10 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Downtown That You Shouldn't Miss

WHALE WATCH with SpringTide on the 84 passenger, 61-foot Marauder. Experience the joy, excitement and wonderful memories of our mammals, whales, porpoise, seals and marine birds! Enjoy complimentary beverages while listening to professional biologists provide informative narrations. Or, join an exhilarating excursion onboard one of our high-speed, open Zodiacs. SPORTFISH year round for Salmon & Halibut on SpringTide’s 42’ Sportfisher.

Come enjoy the ultimate Victoria Kayaking Experience with Ocean River Adventures. Located in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, kayaking is a great way to explore our historic city. Join us on one of our Harbour Kayak tours or Sunset Tours. We also offer an Oak Bay Shoreline Kayaking Tour as well as our unique Discovery Island Kayak Tour, recognised as one of the top tours in Victoria. Offering expeditions, tours and courses throughout the Vancouver Island region, our guests will experience all the wild West Coast has to offer. Hands-on education about water and marine conservation is a key theme and we only employ certified guides that respect sensitive ecosystems and species while teaching about the importance of ocean sustainability, preservation and conservation. Victoria’s premier paddling and outdoor adventure company. Want to try something different? We are also a premium stand up paddle tour operator in the southern Vancouver Island and Victoria region.

Kayaking is the best way to see Victoria. We specialize in safe, fun and educational kayak tours of Victoria's Harbour and waterfront. Our floating location at Fisherman's Wharf is a 10 minute walk from the cruise ship terminal and 20 minutes from downtown on the scenic boardwalk. We are the closest kayak shop to the Juan de Fuca straight, so when conditions allow, we will paddle along the coast to the kelp forests and an island the harbour seals frequent. Along the way we may see different shore birds like eagles, osprey, oystercatchers, cormorants, and the great blue heron. Starfish, jelly fish and kelp crabs are usually hiding just below the surface. Kayaking is easy and we make it easier by offering paddling jackets, gloves and a bottle of water. Plus on our kayak launch you won't even get your feet wet!

Join us for a magical sail aboard the historic Tall Ship Duen. Smell the gentle ocean breeze as it lures you away from the dock through Victoria’s bustling Inner Harbour and out into the beautiful Strait of Juan de Fuca. All guests young and old are encouraged to participate in sailing, so come prepared to tug on the sheets that haul the sails! As we cruise towards the magnificent snow-capped Olympic Mountains, take a turn on the bowsprit or see the majesty of the ship under full sail from our inflatable vessel. Relax and savor your picnic or a sip of wine as we keep our eyes peeled for some of BC’s world famous killer whales, or sea lions and bald eagles. We offer three hour sailing trips and 1.5 hour evening cruises, as well as private charters. Contact us today to get on board! Face masks required as of Transport Canada mandate.

We are located in the best location to kayak Victoria's Outer Harbour! Avoid busy downtown harbour traffic and quickly paddle with amazing Olympic Mountain vistas, harbour seal colonies, blue herons, eagles, jellies, star fish and kelp forests just around the headland from our shop. We offer several guided sea kayaking tours that range from an Inner Harbour paddle to a true West Coast paddling experience on a full day kayaking tour to a historic lighthouse. Enjoy the flavor of a local marina and paddle with us in Victoria's amazing ocean environment. Our tours include a lesson at the beginning of each tour as well as all of the kayakiing equipment needed. We look forward to exploring with you!

Leave the crowds behind on our custom made vessels specifically designed for comfort, speed and safety that carry only 12 guests at a time. The rugged beauty of the West Coast is something that should be experienced with Victoria’s boutique whale watching company. The wildlife and limitless adventure that the Salish Sea has to offer is easily enjoyed when experienced in the comfort of our state-of-the-art vessels! Our knowledgeable crew ensure that each and every trip is an inspiring and educational experience.

Orca Spirit Adventures is Victoria's premier whale watching company, offering carbon neutral tours led by captains and naturalists whose knowledge and passion for Vancouver Island’s marine wildlife is unequaled in the industry. April through October are the peak whale watching months and during this time we boast a greater than 95% success rate of spotting whales, including humpback whales, transient & resident orcas, minke, & gray whales! Other wildlife you may encounter include Dall’s and harbour porpoises, harbour and elephant seals, otters & marine birds such as cormorants and bald eagles. Unlucky tour? Join us again using our WHALE GUARANTEE for a complimentary tour to bring your dreams of seeing these magnificent animals to life. Choose between a covered vessel with indoor and outdoor viewing areas and the 12-passenger zodiac vessel, for the more wild at heart. For all guests we offer complimentary shuttle pick up from all hotels in downtown Victoria. Tour length is 3-hours.

Join us for the adventure of a lifetime on an exciting expedition in search of Killer Whales and other marine wildlife. These waters are an ocean crossroads, a chance for meetings and experiences not to be missed! Ocean Explorations offers world class whale watching from beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Ocean Explorations features Large Safe Zodiacs, Professional Guide/Naturalists and a Highly successful Whale Search Network.Your safety and comfort is our top priority. Our boats are purpose built for the demands of whale watching, they are Coast Guard inspected annually and are always maintained in top condition. Passengers are supplied with Coast Guard approved stay-warm flotation suits to protect against cool air and ocean spray. Ocean Explorations staff are correctly trained tomake your experience safe and enjoyable

Join Victoria's first Certified Responsible Whale Watching Operator and discover the wonders of the Salish Sea. We are Victoria's oldest Whale Watching company with the safest record in the industry. Our 40 passenger high speed expedition catamarans & 12 Passenger Coastal Explorer are the perfect vessels for environmentally friendly and responsible whale watching without sacrificing comfort or safety ! During our tours we can encounter various Whales including Orcas Humpback Whales, Migrating Gray Whales, Minke Whales. Other Marine life encountered includes, Porpoise, Seals, Sea Lions, Otters and numerous Marine Birds. Discover why Whale Watching in Victoria B.C is a must for any visitor. We live in one of the best places in the world to enjoy whale watching – let our expert staff and crew educate and inspire you with the wonders of the Salish Sea! We take our marine environment seriously, and strive to implement the “Reduce, reuse, recycle” philosophy in all we do.

Victoria Harbour Ferry's boats provide the best view of Victoria...From the ocean! Take a Harbour Tour, historic Gorge Waterway Cruise, or hop on an H2O Water Taxi as you explore inner harbour destinations. Visit us on the dock in front of the Empress Hotel. From there, a VHF Captain can take you to Victoria's best-kept secret: Fisherman's Wharf! Feed the seals, grab some lunch from Barb's Fish and Chips, check out the funky float homes, go for a whale-watching or kayak adventure with Eagle Wing or Kelp Reef, and pick up an ice cream cone from Jackson's on the way back into town! We have something for everyone...Including the Pickle Pub Crawl! Come down anytime to pick up a wristband, which you can use for four harbour ferry rides to "hop" from one harbour brewpub to another. Plus, groups of four or more get free appetizers at each location! So much to do, and so much to see...Victoria Harbour Ferry!