Port Townsend Half Day Whale Watching Tour
Visiting the Olympic Peninsula? This tour is the perfect trip for you – see whales, mountains, and the sea all in the same day!
Upcoming Tours
February 28 – March 31, 2026
Gray Whale Tours
April 1 â September 27, 2026
10:30am daily departure (No Tues/Thurs in April)
June 27 â September 7, 2026
additional 3pm daily departure
September 28 â October 31, 2026
12pm daily departure
 November 2 â 28, 2026
12pm departure Wed/Fri/Sat
DURATION
The tour is 3-4 hours in length.
Our boat features tiered outdoor viewing, an inside heated cabin, TV monitors for naturalist presentations and map tracking the areas we travel through, 2 restrooms and a galley serving snacks, hot and cold beverages, along with our warm Blueberry Buckle. We most often sail the Saratoga for this tour – however in the fall we also use the Red Head.
Need lunch? We offer box lunches from The Courtyard Cafe (order prior to 3pm the day before your tour).
TRIP FARES
2026: Adult: $125 Â Child (2-10): $95 Â Infants: FREE
If your desired date of travel is full or unavailable, check out our Port Angeles tour, which departs just 45 minutes west of Port Townsend.
3Convenience
This tour allows you to experience all the Olympic Peninsula has to offer. Being the fastest guaranteed whale watch on the Peninsula, youâll have more time to explore Olympic National Park, Sequim Lavender Fields, Hurricane Ridge and much more. This tour departs Port Townsend both in the morning (10:30am) and in the afternoon (during the summer at 3pm). Departing Port Townsend give us an endless opportunity to travel to see whales. Our range includes the San Juan Islands, Victoria or even the Puget Sound.
Amazing! Don’t Hesitate!
A friend and I did the whale watching tour from Port Townsend and it was an INCREDIBLE experience! Every detail is thought through from the friendly check-in person to the dahlias on the tables, the blueberry buckle (a MUST)…The tour guides were excellent and we were so relaxed after the trip we didnât want to leave! 110% recommend. Itâs a joy! Thank you for making this a highlight of the trip!
Comfort
The Saratoga features comfortable inside seaing for everyone with a heated cabin, an outdoor viewing deck for wildlife, TâV monitors for naturalist presentations, a snack bar and restrooms. Donât miss our signature, freshly-baked âblueberry buckle.â Along our journey, the wildlife is endless from whales, bald eagles, harbor seals, California and Steller sea lions, tufted puffins and many other species of marine life. On-board you will have a trained naturalist that will guide you along the way and explain the scenery, geography, history and wildlife of the area.
Whales We See
Bigg’s Orcas (aka Transients)
Biggâs orcas are apex predators â mammal-eating orcas that feed on a variety of prey â from harbor seals to sea lions, and even dolphins and small whales. Biggâs orcas generally travel in small groups, usually of two to six animals, and can range from Southern California up to the Arctic circle. These are the orcas that we see most often in the Salish Sea, and they often put on quite a show after they complete a successful hunting foray! Biggâs orcas are named in honor of cetologist Michael Bigg.
Gray Whales
The gray whale is a species of baleen whale, with a dark slate-gray color, and frequently covered by gray/white scars left by parasites which drop off in its cold feeding grounds. Grays have two blowholes on top of their head, which can create a distinctive heart-shaped blow at the surface. Adults range in length from 43â49 feet and weigh up to 40 tons. Each spring, gray whales migrate from the southern waters near Baja, north to Alaska. A small group of Grays nicknamed âSoundersâ often turn east into Washingtonâs inland waters during the spring northern migration.
Humpback whales
The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale, and has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. They are known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors. Adults range in length from 39â52 feet and weigh nearly 40 tons. Their diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. Until commercial whaling was banned in 1996, humpbacks were nearly hunted to extinction. They have rebounded, however, and we are thrilled to have them back in our neighborhood.
Minke whales
The elusive minke whale is among the smallest of the baleen whales. Previously known as a âpiked whaleâ or âlesser finbackâ, the minke has a dark gray back and white undersides. Their pectoral fins have a distinctive white patch or band. Minkes range in length from 23-33 feet and weigh up to 10 tons. Minke whales are widely distributed throughout the North Pacific and Atlantic oceans. They migrate seasonally from polar feeding grounds to equatorial waters, where they breed and calve. Minkes feed on small schooling fish, crustaceans, and plankton.
The Hanke Family
from our family to yours
Three generations of our family have helped visitors have life-changing experiences with some of the most majestic creatures on the planet. Weâre blessed to live in whatâs been called âthe American Serengeti,â with some of the highest concentration of whales and dolphins and sea life anywhere in the world â including our totem species, the orca. Few people know these waters like we do. Our experience and dedication makes it possible for us to guarantee that youâll see whales on your trip â or weâll give you another trip absolutely free.
Whale-wise Whale Watching
Puget Sound Express is a proud member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA), dedicated to responsible, sustainable marine wildlife viewing and conservation in the Pacific Northwest. Weâre also dedicated to reducing our footprint out there. The Saratoga and Swiftsure are sound-proofed, hydrofoil jet boats with no propellers, making them the quietest vessels in the whale watch fleet.
Things to Know
Are you traveling with an infant?
Children under the age of 2 can travel for free; however, if the boat is full that day, your child will be required to sit on your lap. You also have the option of purchasing a childâs rate ticket to ensure seating for your infant. NOTE: Infants must be included in your reservation.
Where do Port Townsend tours depart from?
227 Jackson Street, Port Townsend, WA
We are located in downtown Port Townsend at the Point Hudson marina.
Checking-in
Check-in is required 30 minutes prior to departure. Boarding closes 15 minutes prior to departure. If guests are not checked in by this time, tickets will be cancelled with no refund or ability to reschedule. If you are traveling from out of the area please bear in mine that ferries and bridge openings can make the trip slightly longer than a map or GPS software might indicate!
Puget Sound Express is not responsible for traffic, ferry disruptions, or bridge closures. Please ensure enough travel time to account for the unexpected.
Changes/Cancellations
Our cancellation policy is 48 hours prior to a tour’s departure time. A tour is confirmed when a confirmation email has been received OR payment has been processed. Prior to 48 hours from departure, any cancellation of a confirmed reservation is fully refundable, less a $10 processing fee. Inside of 48 hours to departure, reservations are non-refundable. This includes all tours booked online within 48 hours of departure.
Rescheduling
Outside of 48 hours from the tour, rescheduling can be made at any time. Inside of 48 hours to the tour, rescheduling can be requested and at the discretion of the office and upcoming availability to approve. If approved a $10/person change fee is charged to the booking.
Donât Forget Lunch!
When making your reservation, youâll have the option to pre-order boxed lunches for your tour. These options include Ham, Turkey or Veggie sandwiches. They come with chips and a beverage. All lunch orders bust be placed prior to 3:00pm the day before the tour.
Motion Sickness
The waterways we travel on are relatively calm, and our boats are quite stable and comfortable. However if you are prone to motion sickness we strongly recommend preparing for your trip with us. Over the counter remedies like Dramamine work best when used prior to departure. Learn more.
We Guarantee You’ll See Whales
The Salish Sea is home to an astonishing variety of whales, including orcas, humpbacks, gray whales, and minke whales. With thousands of departures over 40 years, our local knowledge is unmatched. As a result, our success rate is the best in the industry. If you donât see whales on your whale watching tour, we will gladly give you a voucher for a cruise on a later date â no questions, no hassles. Guarantee is not valid for split trips, specific whale species, or cash back.
Parking
Our office is located in Point Hudson Marina. Throughout the Marina there are many paid and free parking lots available. The two closest lots to our office are paid lots with Half Day (5 hour maximum, $7.50) and Full Day ($12.00) rates available. One is next to our office and the next is one block down near the sign “Pine Tar Alley.”
For free parking OR if both of the lots above are full. Continue past our office, along the one way street to the first stop sign. Once at the stop sign continue straight, through the boat yard, and there will be another parking lot after the boat yard on your right. This lot is free up to 9 hours and then paid parking for longer hours or overnight parking, $10.00/day or night. This is the best parking lot to use for overnight or RV parking.
If you have any questions or need assistance with parking for the tour our office has “check-in” parking spaces next to our building. Any payments for parking are done on the day of your tour and on site through the park mobile parking app. Instructions and QR codes are posted in each lot and easy to use when you arrive. If you or your group have difficultly using the app, our office team can help at check in. We will need the make, model and license plate of your car. All rates are out of our control and subject to change through the Port of Port Townsend.
Latest News
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Get the latest updates on the whales we’re seeing as well as tour updates and announcements. We send 1-2 emails/month. We respect your time and privacy; we will never share your email.