Where is the best place to see orcas?

From the icy waters of the Antarctic to the beaches of Patagonia – we uncover the best orca watching spots around the world...
  • Peninsula Valdes, Argentina. ...
  • Iceland. ...
  • Norway. ...
  • Bremer Bay, Australia. ...
  • Alaska, USA. ...
  • San Juan Island, USA. ...
  • Auckland, New Zealand. ...
  • Vancouver Island, Canada. An orca off the coast of Canada (Shutterstock)




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It might come as a surprise that New Zealand ranks as one of the best places to see orcas in the wild. It has a year-round resident population of orcas, with about 150 to 200 orcas often seen traveling along New Zealand's coast. In Auckland, a pod of resident orcas can be seen from December to March.

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Puget Sound in Seattle is a year-round orca playground. There are two different types of orcas that ply Western Pacific waters: resident and transient orcas. Seattle is known for its resident orcas living in pods that operate as family units, feeding on salmon, and staying in Puget Sound and nearby coastal waters.

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With that being said, the whales live in the San Juan Islands year round. In fact, the San Juan Islands are the best place in the world to see wild orcas. You'll also find humpback whales, gray whales, and minke whales here. They are just much more predictable with their patterns and sightings in the summer.

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Most liveaboard trips in Norway to swim with orcas cost between $5,195-$6,427 (USD).

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But Orcas Island IS a great place to go whale watching! Orca (or killer) whales live in these waters year-round with the most sightings between May and October, when the salmon runs are strongest. This region is one of the best places in the world to see these magnificent animals in the wild.

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By May, we start to see more orcas, then humpback whales come June. Alaska's peak whale season is considered to be May through September, and it's during this time that the boat tours operate.

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Shore-based Whale Watching: Spend an afternoon at Lime Kiln Point State Park, a 36 acre day use park on the west side of San Juan Island considered one of the best places in the world to view orca whales from shore.

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The reality, however, is that they do exist in Hawaii, but they aren't a part of a resident population that is regularly spotted in the islands. There have been a handful of orca sightings off the Big Island of Hawaii as well as Maui and Lana'i, and a dead orca once washed ashore along the southern coastline of Lana'i.

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The Washington State Ferry offers ferry service for cars, bikes, and walk-on passengers from Anacortes. The ferry ride is around one hour from Anacortes to Orcas Island and you should arrive 45-60 minutes in advance.

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Norway is the best place in the world to swim with killer whales in the clear water and see dozens of animals in one dive. During the trip we will live and go out into the ocean on our own yacht. This will give us two main advantages: Increase of our sailing radius.

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