Friday Harbor Boat Rentals

Outstanding experience! Very stable ship with JB at the helm. Alison is a gifted naturalist with…read moreamazing stories to tell about the Orcas.

Great tour! Not only were we warm in our provided gear but were well taken care of with information…read moreand help along the way. We saw puffins, sea lions, harbor seals and a pod of 10 killer whales traveling together! Our boat was able to be more nimble and give us better and extended views of the whales as opposed to other vessels on the water. Would recommend!

Orca with Mt Baker in the background

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San Juan Excursions

4.9(170 reviews)

Bucket List - Orca Jackpot!…read more Family of 13 (including 4 kids under 12) all really enjoyed the voyage aboard Odyssey. All were comfortable and plenty of room for a good view. The crew was amazing. Very knowledgeable, my grandkids loved learning about sea creatures and the Orca names of the two families we saw. This was a dream trip - bucket list!

Had the best trip out with Captain Pete!! The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable…read more Would highly recommend for whale watching!

Stellar Sea Lions spotted!

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What an experience of a lifetime!

Friday Harbor Cruises

5.0(17 reviews)

Fabulous private charter for our party of 7 (3 adults and 4 of our just barely adults (18-20 years)…read morechildren). Gorgeous, well-appointed boat, and Captain Greg was perfect, answered every question and kept us entertained for the full 3 hours, especially our geology minor... We lucked out and had the finest weather - and I wish we had gone out for longer, full day vs. half day was really the play here! The Bee was simply a beautiful boat, clean as a whistle, with beautiful teal decks and trim - super comfy cushioned seats on the top deck were the best spot! Saw tons of wildlife as we toured around the coves and Island - recommend this experience highly if you are visiting San Juan Island!

Great day with a wonderful Captain. We spent the afternoon touring the captain Greg and got some…read moregreat views of the islands. It was perfect for us. Saw many eagles and vultures as well as other animals. What a great time.

Eagle flying overhead (we saw lots!)

Stroller sea lions (we also saw harbor porpoises and seals)

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Gorgeous cove where we saw a sea lion battling with what we think was an octopus - I was too slow to take my camera out...

All Aboard Sailing

5.0(53 reviews)

0.5 mi

The team and vessel were exceptional! Traveling group also included a baby. Our team was…read moreaccommodating and did their best to ensure we saw humpback whales, seals, and eagles! Thank you Captain David and Josiah!

I highly recommend a sailing with Capt. David. We live in Friday Harbor and scheduled a sail with…read morethem to celebrate our 25th Anniversary. We met another couple celebrating their anniversary as well. It was a magical sail with a beautiful sunset and we were graced with Orcas. Capt. David is a great photographer too. He sent photos to our emails and he captured a great moment of my husband and I. I had his photo made into a metal print to always remember the moment. The bean bag chairs are super comfy and you can bring your own special bottle to enjoy a toast with. When the sun goes down it is quite chilly, Capt David came out with blankets for all of us. He even supplies binoculars. This is one of my favorite things to do on the island. Whether you are a local or a tourist you will enjoy this experience.

Barbara's orca identification book

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Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching

5.0(37 reviews)

OMG I could write a book extolling all the wonderful moments and experiences we had on our tour. We…read moresaw MANY MANY whales and hung out by ourselves for a LONG TIME. We got to ask questions, take pictures and absolutely cherish all our moments with a large group of whales. Alex knew who they were and shared insights in the family structure. IT WAS A LIFE LONG DREAM OF MINE. Y'all DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Thank you, thank you! LOVE LOVE LOVED THE EXPERIENCE!!

Absolutely fantastic. The best whale watching tour in Friday Harbor. April and Daven were the best…read morecaptain and guide, incredibly knowledgeable. We saw orcas and sea lions and seals and sheep and deer during our 4hr tour. Highly recommend this experience if you're visiting the islands.

A horned puffin that is rare to see - the captain said it was the first time he had spotted one this season.

Nursing baby seal

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San Juan Safaris - Seattle Orca Whale Watching

4.7(181 reviews)

This was my second tour with San Juan Safari's. I can't begin to explain how lovely my experience…read morewas for both tours. I think the staff are all professional and knowledgeable. We got to see a pod of 8 orcas, sea lions, seals, deer, and eagles. I would highly recommend!

What a wonderful experience! We took the ferry service to Friday Harbor from Anacortes with our…read moreebike. Fantastic trip and crew. Thanks for a great adventure.

Orca whale Mt Baker in the background

Mt. Baker and an Orca Whale

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Have you ever seen a solar halo?

Sail Northwest Charters

4.4(7 reviews)

Such an incredible experience. My partner and I sailed on Hopscotch this past summer and it was…read morejust a perfect week. The San Juans are a unique corner of America that few, even locals, get to see. While you can take a ferry to a few of the major islands, most of them are accessible only by private boat. Sailing through the San Juans feels like something out of a by-gone era - remote islands, lovely old resorts, quaint towns, and (thanks to Skipper Brendan's local knowledge) hidden bays and lots sunsets all to yourself! It's an amazing way to see these islands. Brendan is not only a fantastic skipper, but a really wonderful person who makes sure everyone aboard is comfortable, happy and having a great time. He grew up in Washington and knows so many fun facts about the islands, local spots and was obviously stoked to be able to share a place he loves with us. The boat is lovely. The staterooms are very comfortable and each has its own head (bathroom!) so there is a surprising amount of personal space. Chef Jess cooked up amazing food all week long. There is also lots of deck space so you can spread out and take advantage of the sun, nap on deck, or just sit and watch the scenery with a glass of wine! I really can't say enough good things about the whole experience. Thanks for making this trip all-time! We will be recommending it to friends and family, Cheers!

We just finished a San Juan cruise and it was a spectacular time for all of us. Excellent food,…read moregreat accommodations and a wonderful crew. Brendan our Captain was incredibly knowledgeable about the islands and kept us informed each day as to what our options were. Bri our Chef and the person that really ran the boat turned out the most delicious and unique meals every day in addition to attending to her other duties. Brendan and Bri are truly the nicest and most accommodating people I have ever met! I highly recommend this charter to everyone!

Charter guests having fun on Hopscotch

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Sailing in the perfect amount of wind

Friday Harbor Jolly Trolley

3.5(22 reviews)

Kya and Rick, you both made my mother and my trip to the island! Thank you Kya for all the amazing…read morerecommendations! Rick, you were a hoot to ride along with! It was such a nice experience and nice to not need to worry about driving but still hitting the spots we wanted to see. Thank you!

Jolly Trolley is a good way to get around the island if you don't rent a vehicle. FYI, the…read morelavender farm is closed, and so not on the route. Also, you may not get to make so many stoos due to the ferry schedule not being so reliable.

THIS IS OUR SCHEDULE! We also make requested stops at the vineyards & Oyster Bay Farm.

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Photo taken at a beautiful location along the way. The driver stopped only for a quick photo op

Schooners North

4.5(13 reviews)

The sailing experience aboard the Spike Africa was everything I hoped for. The entire family…read moreenjoyed the sail. The captain, first mate, and deckhand were all knowledgeable and friendly. The captain even let kiddo steer the ship for a while. Booking can be difficult if you're not standing in the office. Online booking isn't an option. When you click the link it merely has the customer fill out an information card and they're supposed to call you. If you cal the number listed you'll always be routed to an answering service. Basically customers just have to leave a message and hope someone calls you back. Even through all that, the experience was totally worth it.

Spike Africa turned one of our unplanned evenings into a delight. We were accidental guests on it…read morewhen we discovered that they had slots open for a few more when it was just about to sail. Everything about the sail was memorable. Right from the humorous introduction to sailing and water protocols to the camaraderie and warmth of the crew. First hand Chris is a very interesting person and knows how to make visitors feel involved in the sailing by drawing volunteers for stowing ropes and hoisting the mast. He is helped very ably by his crew Rosy! Captain Gunner keeps a leisurely pace allowing even the most hesitant of sea-farers to relax and take in the sights. Sunset over Pugetsound onboard Spike Africa will be one of my most-cherished moments from the San Juan Islands trip. The schooner allows for your own beverages on board and the open sea makes for an excellent place to have a sip of wine. The sail is pleasant with the added element of other like-minded strangers joining you on a ride, added to that, the very reasonable price makes for an offer hard to refuse! An evening well spent..

Another Schooner on the waters as seen from Spike Africa

The mast of Spike Africa

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Kruger Escapes

5.0(18 reviews)

5.9 mi

My wife and I booked a 3-hour sailing trip with Jess and Karl while on Orcas. It was wonderful!…read moreTheir calm demeanor, friendly attitude, willingness to answer questions and just chat about sailing and life in general was refreshing. It is obvious they both have a deep passion for sailing and respect for our planet. We would HIGHLY recommend booking a sail with them!

WOW! What an unbelievable experience, with an amazing crew!…read more I rented a private charter, more on this later. My girlfriend (American) and I (Canadian) had never been on a sailboat so we were a little unsure what to expect. I did the majority of planning with Jess, she was extremely helpful and very response. I could instantly tell she wanted the experience to be a memorable journey, not just another sail on the water. Tip - they also work with a caterer, which I highly recommend as well. In early August we set out on sunset sail to Boundary Pass (water border of Canada, EH and the United States). It took about 2 hours to get to BP and on the way we saw a pod of orcas. Breathtaking. We reached the water border, it was time. I couldn't think of a better place to ask my beautiful and talented girlfriend to marry me. My hands were shaking, but I didn't drop the ring... and then she said YES! It was quiet, the sun was reflecting off the water, the moment was perfect. Jess captured the moment and sent us several amazing photos. The trip was perfect. Now, you know why I wanted the boat to be private.