Sitka Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching and Marine Life Tour

Let’s explore the captivating Sitka Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching and Marine Life Tour. This small-group adventure promises a remarkable 2-hour journey on a catamaran, where we’ll have the chance to spot a diverse array of marine life, including the majestic humpback and gray whales. With experienced guides leading the way, we’ll visit the best locations to witness these magnificent creatures, as well as sea lions, seals, porpoises, sea otters, and an impressive array of over 280 bird species. But the real question is, what unique and awe-inspiring encounters await us on this remarkable tour?

Key Points

• A 2-hour small-group catamaran tour providing live commentary and the possibility of spotting various marine wildlife like whales, sea lions, seals, and birds.
• The tour departs from Harrigan Centennial Hall in Sitka, Alaska, with a weight limit of 250 lbs per passenger and no wheelchair accessibility.
• Experienced guides know the best places to look for wildlife, though sightings are not guaranteed due to the unpredictable nature of the wild animals.
• The tour offers a flexible cancellation policy, with full refunds provided if the tour is cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
• Guests must be able to board the catamaran on their own, and comfortable, layered clothing is recommended for the wildlife-watching experience on the open waters.

Tour Details

This 2-hour whale-watching and marine life tour by catamaran offers a small group experience with a maximum of 6 passengers.

We’ve been providing custom tours with live commentary to cruise ship passengers since 2001.

Spot humpback and gray whales, sea lions, seals, porpoises, sea otters, and over 280 bird species on this exciting excursion. While whale sightings are very likely, they’re not guaranteed.

The meeting point is at Harrigan Centennial Hall, 330 Harbor Dr, Sitka, AK. Guests must be able to board the boat, which isn’t wheelchair accessible, and the weight limit is 250 lbs per passenger.

Wear comfortable, layered clothing and bring a water bottle.

Wildlife Viewing

On this tour, we regularly spot a variety of marine wildlife, including humpback and gray whales, sea lions, seals, porpoises, sea otters, and over 280 species of birds.

While we can’t guarantee sightings, the waters around Sitka are teeming with life, and our experienced guides know the best places to look.

We’ll keep a keen eye out for whales breaching the surface, seals sunbathing on the rocks, and playful sea otters floating on their backs.

With a bit of luck, we may even spot some elusive creatures like the magnificent bald eagle or the charismatic tufted puffin.

No matter what we see, it’s sure to be an unforgettable wildlife adventure.

Logistics

The meeting point is at Harrigan Centennial Hall, 330 Harbor Dr, Sitka, AK, where we’ll gather before setting out on our adventure.

While the boat isn’t wheelchair accessible, guests need to be able to board it comfortably.

We also have a weight limit of 250 lbs per passenger, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.

Once on board, we recommend wearing comfortable, layered clothing to stay warm and prepared for the elements.

With these details in mind, you can look forward to a smooth and enjoyable wildlife-watching experience on the open waters.

Inclusions

The tour includes bottled water to keep you hydrated, as well as a knowledgeable local guide or captain who’ll provide live commentary throughout the experience.

They’ll share their expertise about the local wildlife and marine life, helping you spot humpback and gray whales, sea lions, seals, porpoises, sea otters, and over 280 species of birds.

This small group tour is perfect for cruise ship passengers, with a maximum of 6 people per outing.

We’ve been offering these customized tours since 2001, so you can count on a worry-free shore excursion guaranteed.

With our shore excursion guarantee, you can relax and enjoy the adventure.

Cancellation Policy

We offer a flexible cancellation policy, allowing you to receive a full refund if you cancel your tour up to 24 hours in advance.

However, we may have to cancel the tour due to poor weather conditions, in which case we’ll provide a full refund.

We understand that plans can change, so we’ve designed our policy to be as accommodating as possible.

Just keep in mind that we can’t accept any changes less than 24 hours before the scheduled departure.

We’ll do our best to ensure you have a worry-free experience, but your safety is our top priority, so we may need to cancel if the weather poses a risk.

Rest assured, you’ll get your money back if that happens.

Weather Considerations

Since your safety is our top priority, we may need to cancel the tour if the weather poses a risk to our passengers.

While we do our best to accommodate your plans, the ocean conditions can be unpredictable, and we won’t hesitate to call off the tour if it becomes unsafe.

We’ll always provide a full refund if we’ve to cancel due to poor weather, as your comfort and security are paramount.

We monitor the weather closely and will make the decision to proceed or cancel the tour based on factors like wind, waves, and visibility.

Our team is experienced in navigating the local waters, and we’ll never put you in harm’s way.

Accessibility Information

Our whale-watching tour boat isn’t wheelchair accessible, and guests must be able to board the vessel on their own. Passengers weighing up to 250 lbs are welcome, but the boat isn’t suitable for individuals requiring special assistance or mobility equipment.

While we aim to accommodate all guests, the nature of the tour and the boat’s design make it challenging for those with limited mobility.

We encourage you to reach out to our team if you have any questions or concerns about accessibility before booking your tour.

Boarding Requirements

Guests must be able to board the catamaran on their own, as the vessel isn’t equipped with special access features. We need to be able to step onto the boat from the dock unaided.

The boat has a weight limit of 250 lbs per passenger, so we’ll need to let the tour operator know our weight ahead of time.

While the tour doesn’t accommodate wheelchairs, guests with mobility challenges are welcome as long as they can board independently.

We recommend wearing comfortable, layered clothing that’s easy to move in when boarding the boat. The crew is there to help, but the responsibility is on us to board safely and securely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need to Bring My Own Binoculars?

We recommend bringing your own binoculars to enhance your wildlife viewing experience. However, the tour provider does not require you to bring binoculars, as they have some available for use during the tour.

Is There a Minimum Age Requirement for Children?

There’s no minimum age requirement for children on this tour, but we recommend it for ages 8 and up as the boat ride can be long for young kids. We encourage families to consider their child’s interests and ability to enjoy the experience.

Can I Bring My Own Snacks and Drinks?

We encourage guests to bring their own snacks and drinks on the tour. However, we do provide bottled water as part of the inclusions. Please be mindful of any food or beverage restrictions on the vessel.

Is Photography Allowed During the Tour?

We’re happy to say that photography is allowed and encouraged during the tour. Capture the stunning scenery and wildlife sightings to create lasting memories of your experience. Just be mindful of fellow passengers and their viewing experience.

How Often Do These Tours Run Throughout the Day?

We’re not sure how often these whale-watching tours run throughout the day, as the details provided don’t specify the schedule. However, we know they offer small group tours with a maximum of 6 passengers, so the frequency may depend on demand.

Recap

We believe the Sitka Shore Excursion: Whale-Watching and Marine Life Tour is an excellent opportunity to observe an abundance of marine wildlife in a intimate small group setting.

With experienced guides and a prime location, this 2-hour catamaran adventure offers the chance to spot a variety of species, though accessibility and weight restrictions may limit participation for some.

Overall, it seems a unique and engaging way to explore Sitka’s incredible natural environment.