Top San Juan Islands On the Water

See Whidbey Island in Washington from a fresh perspective with a small-group kayaking tour in Deception Pass State Park. Meet your guide at a departure point and climb into a sea kayak to explore the calm waters of Bowman Bay. Learn the basics of paddling and admire views of wildlife, Fidalgo Island, and more. All gear including life jackets is provided.

Get up close with the killer whales off Orcas Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands near Seattle, on this guided, 3.5-hour whale-watching cruise from Eastsound. Led by naturalist guides and captains, climb aboard a Blackfish fleet vessel and travel through some of the most picturesque scenery in the Pacific Northwest searching for orca, humpback and gray whales. Along the way, see ocean wildlife in their natural environment, like seals, porpoises, sea lions and otters — plus a wide variety of birds and more. Sightings are guaranteed from April through early September.

Get up close with the orca whales off the San Juan Islands near Seattle on this 4-hour whale-watching cruise. San Juan Island is where the southern resident killer whales live about six months out of the year, from mid-April to October. It’s also considered the best place to view orca whales.

Explore Washington state’s San Juan Islands Monument on this sea kayak tour starting in Anacortes. Join a small group to paddle past the stunning scenery of uninhabited islands including Burrows Island. There is also an opportunity to spot local wildlife such as harbor seals, porpoises, several fish species, and sometimes even orcas.

Observe Pacific Northwest whales in their natural environment on a 3.5-hour tour from Seattle. You have the chance to get up close to orcas, humpbacks, and minkes. Learn about the marine life from your on board guide.  In the event that you don’t see any whales during your excursion, enjoy a second journey on the boat free of charge.

Kayak in prime whale and wildlife habitat along the Haro Strait, bordering the west side of San Juan Island and Vancouver Island. Traverse the waters of migrating salmon and keep your eyes peeled for eagles, seals, porpoises, and other wildlife that follow our keystone species of the Pacific Northwest as you look out on the Olympic Mountains and explore the driftwood beaches of Limekiln State Park.

Try your hand at sailing with this three-hour experience from Orcas Island. An experienced US Coast Guard-licensed captain/instructor will teach you and your group of up to six people all about sailing, from terminology to how to navigate. You'll also have plenty of time to get hands-on experience as you help guide your vessel through Obstruction Pass.

Cypress Island is unique among the hundreds of amazing islands here in the San Juan archipelago. It is one of the crown-jewels of the San Juan Islands National Monument. Over 90% of this large island has been set aside as a Conservation Area and a Natural Area Preserve. Due to the protected status, there is an abundance of wildlife surrounding the island. Miles of trails are available to explore, some leading to stunning overlooks and others lead to private coves with pebble beaches. Few commercial companies venture to Cypress Island due to the challenges of where they operate from. Anacortes Kayak Tours is perfectly situated to enable them to escort a lucky few people to the "last best place" in the San Juan Islands. No ferry hassles are necessary to join this trip. You can drive right to us on Fidalgo Island due to bridges that connect us to the mainland. Make the most of your valuable time and join us!