Things to do in San Juan Islands

Our most recommended things to do in San Juan Islands

Vancouver: Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

Vancouver: Covered Whale Watching Adventure with Free Photos

Experience the awe and inspiration of seeing whales in their natural environment on this unique whale-watching excursion from Vancouver. Get the chance to spot orcas, humpback, minke, and gray whales, as well as porpoises and seals. Depart from Granville Island in downtown Vancouver on a high-speed, custom-built, luxury catamaran that takes you on a fully-guided whale watching and marine wildlife tour. As you set out from Vancouver, choose whether you want to stay inside the heated cabin or head outside and pick from 3 different viewing areas on 2 levels that are perfect for photography. Marvel at the beauty of the Strait of Georgia on this outdoor adventure. As you sail, learn about the history of the area and the local marine wildlife from your knowledgeable crew. Immerse yourself completely in this incredible experience while we take free high-resolution photos of the wildlife, yourself, and your loved ones! It is the quintessential whale-watching experience for every adventurer. Select the half-day cruise, or opt for the sunset option to watch the sun go down over the water.

Orcas Island: Whale and Orca Guided Speedboat Tour

Orcas Island: Whale and Orca Guided Speedboat Tour

Search for orca, humpback, minke, and gray whales on this guided whale-watching tour from Orcas Island. Travel across the water fast in a speedboat, and have an over 98% chance of seeing whales on your trip. After making your way to the meeting point via the WA state ferry system, board one of the fastest whale-watching boats in the Salish Sea. Then, set off from Orcas to explore the San Juan Island archipelago and look for its largest inhabitants. During the adventure, enjoy almost guaranteed sightings of whales in their natural environment, and learn about these fantastic creatures from your naturalist guide. You'll also have a high chance of encountering sea lions, seals, porpoises, eagles, otters, and sea birds, too. Stay comfortable during the trip on a speedboat equipped with indoor and outdoor viewing platforms, bathrooms, and plenty of room for everyone to get a great view. After spending time at sea with some of its most majestic creatures, return to the original dock for drop-off.

Seattle: Olympic National Park Small-Group Tour

Seattle: Olympic National Park Small-Group Tour

Journey through Olympic National Park with an expert guide who knows the park inside and out. No two tours with Evergreen Escapes are exactly the same as our guides use varying factors such as weather, season, group interest, road conditions, and more to curate the perfect day for your group. Spend the day exploring the wonders hidden within this World Heritage Site! The Olympic Peninsula is home to a number of Northwest ecosystems. You'll find remote beaches littered with tide-scoured cedar logs alongside the country’s oldest forests and one of the state’s most dramatic mountain ranges. It's a true feast for the senses. The morning may start with a ferry ride through the waterways of Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island. Connect with the Olympic Peninsula via the Kitsap Peninsula and Hood Canal Bridge, or explore the southern route with a visit to a world-renowned wildlife refuge for a break to stretch our legs and enjoy a morning snack and coffee. Explore the glacially-carved Lake Crescent or emerald-green Lake Quinault. Flanked by trails full of history and mysterious tales, the placid shores and perfect placement in the midst of the undulating Olympic foothills serve as an instant source of relaxation. Hit the trails to experience the old-growth forests of Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock trees, venturing to the misty waterfalls or babbling creeks Depending on the day, drive up to Hurricane Ridge, a mountain citadel that puts you at the edge of the Park’s exceptionally jagged peaks. Take in a superb 360-degree view from the summit that encompasses the surrounding mountains, the Strait of Juan da Fuca, and the San Juan Islands. The open meadows are ideal for wildlife viewing – be on the lookout for Olympic marmots, black-tailed deer, and even black bears. Embark on guided nature walks or snowshoes to learn more about the sub-alpine ecosystems. On other days we may extend our journey out to the coast to visit the rocky, rugged beaches characteristic of the Pacific Northwest. Peek into the micro-ecosystems of the tidepools or gaze out into the expansive waters that define our region.

Anacortes: Whale Watching Adventure Tour Near Seattle

Anacortes: Whale Watching Adventure Tour Near Seattle

Looking for an adventure? Craving excitement? Join us for an action-packed whale watching tour aboard our zodiac-style vessel! Together we’ll search for whales, porpoises, sea lions, eagles, and more as we take in breathtaking views of the San Juan Islands and surrounding waters. Exhilarating boat rides and epic wildlife encounters make our tours unforgettable experiences! Adventure awaits…book your trip today! Open-air, zodiac-style boat; Tours are 3-4 hours in length; Ages 6 and up; Max capacity of only 17 passengers; Each trip guided by an experienced captain and knowledgeable marine naturalist; Four species of whales (orca, humpback, gray, minke) and lots of other marine wildlife in the area; Cruiser suits provided to keep you warm and dry; On-board restroom; Depart from Anacortes, WA NOTE: The minimum age to participate in this tour is six years old. Also, this tour is not appropriate during pregnancy or for people with back or neck injuries. Thank you for understanding! Participation in this tour is contingent upon my signing of Blue Kingdom Tour's liability waiver. SCHEDULE: Departure times varies by date. Please view the booking calendar for a full list of available dates and times. **CHECK-IN PROCEDURE** Please arrive at our office 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time to get fitted for your cruiser suit and ready for your adventure!! Late arrivals (15 minutes or fewer before your departure time) will be considered a no-show and tickets will not be refunded. ADDRESS: 2201 Skyline Way, Unit 203, Anacortes, WA 98221 PARKING: Skyline Marina can be a busy place. Please allow extra time to get here and find parking before you check-in! Free parking can be found directly in front of our office or on the street. Alternatively, you can purchase a pass from us for the gravel paid parking lot across the street. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? We provide cruiser suits to keep you warm and dry. We recommend dressing in layers so that you can adjust to whatever the weather conditions are on the day of your tour. Hats and gloves are also a good idea, but if you don't have your own we'll provide them! We also have binoculars available. WHAT TO BRING? Small bags and backpacks are ok, but please keep in mind that storage space is limited. Please feel free to bring snacks and drinks! We highly recommend that drinks be in sealable containers. We cannot accommodate coolers due to limited space. We do not sell food or drinks on board. You are welcome to bring your camera. You may want to consider bringing a camera bag or dry storage bag. Please do NOT bring alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or smoking materials.

Anacortes: Orca Whales guaranteed boat tour near Seattle

Anacortes: Orca Whales guaranteed boat tour near Seattle

Climb aboard a high-speed sea vessel to explore the San Juan Islands and discover the awe-inspiring power of the orca whale. This 3-5 hour guided tour is focusing on finding and observing the regions Bigg's Orca Whales (killer whales) in their natural environment. Benefit from the local provider’s 98 percent success rate of spotting whales. Experience how the healthy orca population in the Salish Sea thrives and can be found year-round. These incredible marine mammals can travel over 100 miles in a single day. On this trip, you may, of course, also encounter the region’s other species of whales and wildlife, but the focus is on killer whales.

Orcas Island: Orca Whales guaranteed boat tour

Orcas Island: Orca Whales guaranteed boat tour

On this exclusive experience, we head out for an encounter with the region's Biggs Orcas (killer whales). With one of the highest success rates of over 95%, if you don't see Orcas on your trip you can come back again for free! This ecotype has a thriving and healthy population and are found year-round in the San Juan Islands. They are incredible to watch and can move up to 100 miles in a single day. We use the fastest boats in our fleet and extend our tour time allocation to consistently locate and observe them. Tours are between 3 and 5 hours with a goal of 45 min or more with orcas. No children under 12 years old, as it can be a long and sometimes cold trip. Make sure to bring your camera!

San Juan Island: 3-h Griffin Bay Tour

San Juan Island: 3-h Griffin Bay Tour

Receive high-quality gear and instruction before heading out on the water with an experienced local surrounded by beautiful views of the Olympic Mountains, Mt. Baker in the North Cascades, wildlife and islands galore. Meet your small group and guide at 25 Nichols Street to get acquainted. Take a short drive to the launching location where you will be properly equipped with the gear and knowledge needed to enjoy a few hours kayaking in one of the most beautiful places in the United States. Home to hundreds of species of migrating birds depending on the season, Griffin Bay is truly spectacular. Harbor seals hauled out on rocky beaches, bald eagles flying overhead, and even larger marine mammals such as humpback whales and orcas if you are lucky make this a once in a lifetime experience. After the tour, you will be dropped off back in town just a stone's throw away from breweries, restaurants, and the harbor with ample opportunities to enjoy what Friday Harbor has to offer.

Bioluminescence Night Paddle

Bioluminescence Night Paddle

Join us for a very cool night paddle in Griffin Bay off of San Juan Island among the unique bioluminescent micro flora and fauna of the Salish Sea in Washington State. We'll pick you up at the Friday Harbor waterfront at exactly the start time, take a short drive over to Jackson's Beach where we'll prepare you to head out on the water in your double kayaks. We’ll launch at dusk, enjoy the sunset sky and kayak among harbor seals, roosting birds, and other wildlife as we wait for the natural light show to begin. The waters are most serene and vacant of other boat traffic at night, but then activated by fish and jellies into spectacular bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is useful for many different organisms in many ways. There are several reasons why an animal may glow in the dark, such as feeding, mating, and protection. Animals may light up to lure their prey closer, or they may simply use their light to see their food better. These light shows can fool animals ranging in size from plankton to whales. Sea creatures may also use bioluminescence to attract mates. Do you see green or blue? It's a debate on our team -- some see one and some see another. Let us know what you see! The start time of this tour shifts every few weeks to align better with the timing of the sunset Appropriate for ages 8 and up

Lopez Island: Whale & Orca Boat Tour

Lopez Island: Whale & Orca Boat Tour

Lopez Island is a bucolic and quiet island located in the San Juan Islands and only accessible by the WA state ferry system, so please plan accordingly to arrive with an abundance of time prior to your tour departure. We head out from May to September in search of Orca, Humpback, Minke, and Gray Whales. We spot whales on over 95% of our trips and also frequently encounter sea lions, seals, porpoise, eagles, otters and sea birds. Our boats are some of the fastest whale watching boats in the region, equipped with indoor and outdoor viewing platforms, bathrooms, and plenty of room for everyone to get a great view.

From Seattle:Tulip Festival at Skagit Valley and La Conner

From Seattle:Tulip Festival at Skagit Valley and La Conner

On this full-day excursion, explore the splendor of a mountain valley, an island, and the shoreline. This journey has something to suit every taste, from the expansive Valley views to the wild coastline and magnificent mountains. So take flight, extend your wings, and let your imagination soar. Everyone needs spaces to play and pray, where nature may heal and give strength to both body and soul, as well as beauty. We’ll stop to have a light breakfast on our way to the Skagit Valley. Take a quick jaunt south to the town of Mount Vernon. The historic community sits at the juncture of several rivers and sloughs, an irresistible attraction for an assortment of bird species — have those binoculars handy! The riverfront and adjacent downtown are ideal for exploring on foot and is featured on the National Register of Historic Places. Mount Vernon is also home to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which draws guests from around the world each spring! Continue driving deeper into the Skagit River Valley, where fields are dotted with quaint farmhouses and a plethora of heritage barns. The Skagit Valley is home to the largest commercial flower bulb industry outside of Holland. Beginning in March and continuing through May, the entire valley is one huge carpet of blooms, with a backdrop of dramatic views of 10,781-foot Mount Baker and the North Cascades.

17 activities found
Sort by:

Immersive experiences

Go beyond San Juan Islands

Explore all

Frequently asked questions about San Juan Islands

What top attractions are a must-see in San Juan Islands?

The must-see attractions in San Juan Islands are:

See all must-see sights in San Juan Islands

What are the best deals and discounts on activities and attractions in San Juan Islands?

These are the best deals and discounts on activities and attractions in San Juan Islands:

See all deals and discounts in San Juan Islands on GetYourGuide

Other Sightseeing Options in San Juan Islands

Want to discover all there is to do in San Juan Islands? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about San Juan Islands

Overall rating

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
4.7 out of 5 stars
(344 reviews)
5 out of 5 stars

WONDERFUL DAY!!! Our tour guide Karen is so amazing. 1. Karen is very punctual, always on time but never pushy, she gets to places on time while making everybody feel relaxed and comfortable. 2. Karen majored in marine biology and environmental technology, so the trip was also very educational, I learned a lot. 3. The food, WOW! Just FABULOUS! I won’t spoil it for you. It’s just so great, definitely my favorite meal during my entire trip in USA. I really didn’t expected this. 4. Olympic NP is just so diverse, I saw crystal like lake, flowing river, high mountain, snow hills, lavender farm, spooky rain forest, wildlife and waterfall all in just a not too tired one day trip. So AMAZAING! 5. The transportation is wonderful, I get to take the beautiful ferry twice in a day, super relaxing, foggy in the morning and beautiful city skyline in the evening. I am using up the word limit, believe me, it’s excellent, I can go on for another 1000 words.

5 out of 5 stars

! We saq an Orca family, a group of whitesidef dolphins, rwo humoback whales, a seaeagke, seals. We loved it! You could get hot drinks for free, guide was answering all questions with patie ce, gave us tipps for what to do on our route and the best thing was, that we could could dow load all the good picture, made by the tour guides during the tour... better than our cellphone fotos! Thnk you!!Wonderful

5 out of 5 stars

It was one of the best day trips I’ve ever had! I went there to celebrate my birthday with my 2 teenagers and the guide was amazing the whole time, keep in us informed the whole time and totally stress-free! She even got me a birthday cake! That was really, really sweet. The food was delicious too! Totally recommend!

5 out of 5 stars

Overall, the activity was great. I got to see a few Orcas and Humpback Whales and they even allow you to go on another tour if you didn’t get to see any during your tour. The free hot chocolate was very much appreciated with the cold weather that day!

5 out of 5 stars

It was great! We were so lucky with the weather and saw everything from humpback whales to sea lions and orca whales. It was beautiful! 😍