Nature and outdoors

Whales & Sea Otters, Zodiac

Remote Passages Marine Excursions13 hr 41 min by bus · 203.1 km

! built for 5+, your youngest are 3 · capacity is 12, your group is 16 · $139 a child is over your $10 budget

Cost

$139 a child

$2224 for 16 children

The following are added at time of payment: $10 Fuel Surcharge, $3 for wildlife and ecosystem research and education, 5% GST.

Ages & size

Ages 5 to 12

Up to 12 children

Duration

2.5 hours

Year round

Any day

Book by

Not published

Plan this trip

Fieldy handles all communication and booking for you.

What it actually looks like

Photos from Remote Passages Marine Excursions's website

Our note

This is the open boat, so the children are out in wind and spray for the whole two and a half to three hours with nowhere inside to warm up. The child fare here starts at age 5, so a group of three and four year olds needs the covered cabin vessel instead. Ask what the group rate actually comes to when you phone, because the size of the discount is not published anywhere.

What the children do

A two and a half to three hour wildlife tour in an open rigid hull Zodiac, departing daily and travelling through both sheltered and open coast water to Grey whale feeding areas, with interpretive stops for coastal wildlife and rainforest. Adults pay $169 and the child fare of $139 is listed for ages 5 to 12, so under fives are not priced for this vessel. A $10 fuel surcharge, a $3 wildlife and ecosystem research and education fee and 5% GST are added at payment. A group discount is offered for parties of 6 or more, and the contact page asks parties of 6 or more to phone. The rate table does not say how large the discount is.

Sit in padded seats with backrests in an open inflatable boat, zipped into an issued all weather suit, while the boat runs out through the sound and then stops so everyone can watch for Grey whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, porpoise and bald eagles. Between stops the boat travels fast, and there are interpretive stops along the coast and the rainforest shore.

Good to know

The boathouse has restrooms, a dress-in area and hot drinks after the trip, and car parking is free. Only the covered cabin vessel is described as having a washroom aboard, and bus parking, a lunch space and any wet weather backup are not stated, so it is worth a call.

Sources disagree. Their own pages give two different answers for when tours actually run. One says the season is February to November, while the booking request form will only take dates between April 1 and October 15. If you are looking at the shoulder months, worth settling when you book.

Sources disagree. The youngest child they will take depends on which boat you get. The open Zodiac prices children from 5, and the covered cabin boat is the one they describe as suitable from age 3. Ask for the cabin boat by name when you book a group of little ones.

Washrooms

Yes

Lunch space

Needs confirmation

Rain backup

Needs confirmation

Strollers

Needs confirmation

Wheelchair access

Needs confirmation

Bus parking

Free parking for cars. Yes, parking can be provided for cars while space is available. The good news is the parking is free!

Nearby park

Needs confirmation

Restrictions

A program marked * is not suitable for expectant mothers, or for persons with back problems. This mark is on the Whales & Sea Otters tours, on both vessels, and on the Hot Springs Explorer.. Relevant medical conditions (such as back or neck problems, heart conditions, pregnancy or osteoporosis) must be disclosed to Remote Passages prior to signing this waiver.. Parents and legal guardians of any Participants under the age of 19 agree to be bound by the terms set forth herein, and the waiver must be signed on site before an activity.. On the Zodiac the child fare is listed for 5 to 12 year olds; the covered cabin vessel the Star Light is the one described as suitable for passengers aged 3 years and older.. The Hot Springs Explorer requires a minimum of 6 to launch.. Reserves right to refuse passage, cancel departures, substitute vessels for any reason.

Getting there

51 Wharf St, Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0

On foot

44 hr 9 min

too far with this group

By bus

13 hr 41 min

includes a 9 min wait

Driving

6 hr 25 min

The dark pin is Victoria.

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Details checked on 2026-09-20 against the venue’s own pages. Something wrong? , it takes one tap. · Venue page · 250-725-3330