Jamie’s Whaling Station & Adventure Centers

Since 1982, Jamie’s Whaling Station has been offering authentic, family-friendly eco-tours to adventure seekers from around the world. Whether it’s whales, bears, or hot springs, Jamie’s has an adventure for everyone looking to enjoy a true West Coast experience when visiting Tofino or Ucluelet.

WHALE WATCHING

Guests of our Tofino or Ucluelet whale watching trips will tour the waters of Clayoquot or Barkley Sound where we most often view Grey Whales. The grey whale migration from Baja California, Mexico begins to arrive along the west coast of Vancouver Island in February and continues through late May. From March through October, we have over 200 ‘resident’ grey whales that stay feeding in our waters. Humpback whales are seen throughout our season, with the most frequent sightings between June and September. We also see Orcas (Killer Whales) throughout the year. In addition to whales, we often enjoy views of sea lions, eagles, sea otters and other amazing wildlife while on the water.

BEAR WATCHING

Guests of our bear watching trips in Tofino or Ucluelet will tour along the shoreline of Clayoquot or Barkley Sound where we most often view Black Bears. At low tide, black bears emerge from the dense rainforest in search of one of their favourite foods – crab. You’ll get to witness these beautiful animals effortlessly toss large rocks aside as they sniff out their meal. At times, we’ll see mother black bears teaching their cubs how to hunt for food along the shoreline. In addition to bears, we often enjoy views of bald eagles, seals, porpoises (in Tofino) & sea lions (in Ucluelet) throughout our journey.

HOT SPRINGS COVE

Guests on our Hot Springs Cove tour will travel approximately 26 nautical miles from Tofino through the inlet waters or open ocean of Clayoquot Sound towards Maquinna Provincial Park. Throughout this 1-1.5 hour journey (each way) guests often have the chance to see the various whales that frequent our waters including Grey Whales, Humpback Whales, and Killer Whales. Along with whales, guests will also likely get to experience bald eagles, seals, sea lions, sea otters and other marine life in their natural habitat. Once arriving at Hot Springs Cove, a 30-40 minute boardwalk hike allows guests to soak in the mystic surrounding of the rainforest before relaxing in the natural thermal pools for a couple of hours.

SEA KAYAKING

Kayaking on Vancouver Island offers you an experience of the west coast that is truly unforgettable. Paddling out of Tofino or Ucluelet allows you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful surroundings while getting up close and personal with nature and wildlife that has made the West Coast of Vancouver Island one of the world’s premier kayaking destinations.

Operating out of two waterfront locations in both Tofino (Clayoquot Sound) and Ucluelet (Barkley Sound), our partner Paddle West Kayaking offers a series of professionally guided day tours and customized overnight tours designed for everyone from beginners to veteran paddlers.

*Kayak rentals are also available to experienced paddlers.*