The 9 Best Vancouver Wildlife and Seal Tours

1.Vancouver City and Seal Colony Scenic Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 463 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $74Our pick

From Granville Island, you’ll cruise past Stanley Park, Siwash Rock, Lions Gate Bridge, Lighthouse Park, English Bay, and False Creek. A local guide such as Greg, Dylan, Ray, or Paul handles the stories and wildlife spotting. The 12-person boat can be cold, wet, and bumpy, so use the provided warming suit.

“Amazing experience, hosts were lovely, helpful and SO informed about the local area. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting Vancouver!!”

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2.City and Seal Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 375 reviews · from $71Best value

Cruise from Granville Island along English Bay with an English-speaking captain and guide. You’ll see Stanley Park, Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver, seals, Siwash Rock, Kitsilano Beach, and Lions Gate Bridge. Full-body weather suits help, but expect a lively, sometimes wet ride.

“Amazing tour of Vancouver by boat from Granville Island. So interesting to see the sites and beautiful homes, and learn some history and trivia about the city and its surroundings. And we even got to see seals. And lucky we had the warm suits to stay cozy and dry!”

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3.Snorkel, Kayak, and Seal Adventure: Vancouver Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 264 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $105

From Horseshoe Bay, Sea Dragon Charters takes you to Pam Rocks for a five-hour seal encounter. Swim or snorkel in provided wetsuits, kayak near the colony, or stay aboard. Guides including Robin, Emma, Emily, and Erin have helped make the experience safe, friendly, and fun.

“The experience was absolutely phenomenal. It went without a hitch. Our guide, Robin, was fun and lively. I felt like I was traveling with a knowledgeable friend! Same goes for the captain. The seals were a little shy the day we went, and I was also a tiny bit scared to get too close to them, but on the second portion where I selected kayaking, that was the most fun! I got to see them up close from my little kayak, and one even nudged the paddle of one of the other kayakers. Last but not least, we did a jump off the roof of the boat and that was…”

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4.Snorkel, Kayak, and Seal Adventure Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 39 reviews · 5 hours · from $116

Join Sea Dragon Charters from Horseshoe Bay for a five-hour Howe Sound trip to Pam Rocks. Snorkel in a wetsuit, kayak near harbor seals, or stay aboard for sightseeing. Guides such as Robin, Kevin, Emily, Emma, Jude, and Ben have helped lead trips, with soup, hot drinks, and snacks served on the return.

“My kids said that this was one of the “best days of their lives”. Not only was the scenery absolutely beautiful from start to finish, our hosts and skipper were awesome. Emily and Emma were great guides, leading us to all of the places where the seals hang out. We saw dozens of seals up close, and an extra friendly little guy jumped on my sons kayak! We had a wonderful day and made beautiful memories. 10 out of 10!”

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5.Snorkeling Seals Kayaking Scenic Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 3 hours · from $98

From Horseshoe Bay, PNW Expeditions takes you by boat into Howe Sound for seal viewing, snorkeling, kayaking, or paddleboarding. Guides such as Katie, Victor, and Vincent share marine-life facts, provide gear, and serve soup, snacks, coffee, and tea afterward.

“A fun tour where you can actually interact and play with seals!”

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6.Morning Kayak & Seal Cruise in Vancouver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $89

Meet Sea Dragon Charters in Horseshoe Bay at 11 a.m. and ride a custom 40-foot boat to a nearby island. Paddle a kayak or stand-up board at your own pace while watching for seals, seabirds, bald eagles, and mountain views. No experience is required, and you can stay aboard if you prefer.

“We had a fantastic time kayaking with the sea dragon charters. Sam was a great guide and Kevin was the captain of our boat tour. It was a wonderful experience. We saw a colony of seals in the wild for the first time!! It was amazing to kayak so close to the seals! Thank you for the tour and the care you showed to us and to the environment!”

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7.Vancouver UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Wildlife Scenic Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $89

Set out at 4 pm from West Vancouver for a two-hour wildlife cruise through Howe Sound, North America’s southernmost fjord. A small group of up to 10 follows an English-speaking guide past rugged shores, forests, and mountains, watching for whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and seabirds.

“What a fun experience! Small boat and knowledgeable guide. Not only did our guide know the science of what we were seeing, he was excited to see it as well.”

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8.Morning Kayak & Seal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 6 reviews · 2 hours · from $87

From Horseshoe Bay, Captain Kevin and a friendly guide take you by custom 40-foot boat to a nearby island for easy kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Expect calm water, mountain views, coffee or tea, and a good chance of seeing seals.

“very relaxed tour, we saw lots of seals and the seals let us get really close to them”

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9.Vancouver UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Wildlife Scenic Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 2 hours · from $87

Join a small group of up to 10 people with guide Victor for a two-hour cruise through Howe Sound, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Watch for whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and seabirds while enjoying mountain views, soup, snacks, coffee, and tea.

“Katherine and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip. Victor was highly knowledgeable, prompt, careful with the boat, and friendly. He went a way beyond the call of duty. He also expressed a genuine care for the environment, which we appreciated. Brian from Steveston.”

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