Travel for Life: From Steveston to the Strait: Whale Watching in Vancouver

Friday, August 18, 2017

From Steveston to the Strait: Whale Watching in Vancouver

Based on Google Search results, the following two locations near Vancouver are top whale watching spots in North America:

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

An estimated 85 orcas live in the waters around southern Vancouver and the southern Gulf Islands.

San Juan Islands, Washington

Later I have watched the below video and found out about Vancouver Whale Watch located in Richmond, British Columbia.

According to Google Search, two of the best whale‑watching destinations near Vancouver are:

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Roughly 85 orcas are believed to inhabit the waters around southern Vancouver and the southern Gulf Islands.

"Vancouver Whale Watch" in Richmond, BC

The company offers exciting 3–5 hour tours from Steveston Village, with chances to see orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, seals, eagles, and more in the Gulf Islands and Strait of Georgia—boasting a 98% sighting rate.

Whales and Bears of Vancouver Island with Campbell River Whale Watching (YouTube link)

What follows is a travelogue from my whale‑watching trip on a gorgeous summer morning. As the photos show, we didn’t spot any whales that day, but the outing was still incredibly rewarding. The tour company even provided a complimentary, no‑expiry return pass for a future whale‑watching adventure.

How to Get There

To reach Steveston Fisherman's Wharf, you can transport:

From YVR

Take Canada Line Skytrain heading for Waterfront
Exit at Bridgeport Station
Transfer to Canada Line heading for Richmond-Brighouse

From Vancouver City

Take Canada Line Skytrain heading for Richmond-Brighouse
You can take the SkyTrain toward YVR-Airport, but you’ll need to get off at Bridgeport Station and transfer to the line heading to Richmond-Brighouse.

For both routes, you can:

Exit at Richmond-Brighouse Station

At Richmond-Brighouse Station

Transfer to one of the following buses: 401 (One Road), 402 (Two Road), 406 (Steveston Village), 407 (Bridgeport/Gilbert).
Ride south to Steveston Village (buses typically go along No. 1 Rd, No. 2 Rd, or Steveston Hwy).
Exit near Chatham St & No. 1 Rd or Steveston Hwy & No. 1 Rd/No. 2 Rd (close to the wharf; the 406 is often the most direct for the village core).

Walk a short distance (5-10 minutes) to Fisherman's Wharf along Bayview St or Second Ave.

Photo Gallery

The photos below were taken on 07/30/2017. The morning started off cloudy, but by midday the weather had turned sunny, reaching 28°C. Before the tour, I decided to visit nearby Garry Point Park—and I’m so glad I did. I was rewarded with stunning shoreline views.

Around 8:30 a.m., I walked from the park to Fisherman’s Wharf. A crowd of tourists had already gathered, but I still managed to book a spot on the Express, a 45‑passenger zodiac‑style vessel. The whole trip on the water took about 4 hours.