Last year I went on an Alaska cruise, and although most of family was able to see wildlife throughout the trip, I always seemed to just miss the whale jumping out of the water or the bear eating on the side of the road. Very disappointing to go all that way and not see any wildlife, but the scenery was beautiful.
The cruise ships usually have a naturalist throughout the cruise spotting wildlife, so make sure and listen out for this, and go on deck – don’t try to see everything from inside the ship. It is warm, but you tend to miss all of the action.
May through September are the best months to spot killer whales in Southeast Alaska, and June through September for humpback whales around the inside passage.
Here’s a list of list of popular whale watching tips to keep in mind to improve your odds of seeing whale while in Alaska.
- Take a good pair of binoculars.
- Choose clear, calm days.
- Look for the blow of a whale, which is the cloud of spray or mist that appears as the air is exhaled through the blowhole. This is usually how whales are first seen.
- If you are a first time whale watcher and going on a small boat, you may want to consider motion sickness medications. A good breakfast is key! Very often people will go on their first whale watch fearing they may get sick. They will skip breakfast thinking that no food in their stomach means they won’t get sick. In fact, the opposite is true. An empty stomach produces acids and, in turn, can actually make you sick. Eat a good carbohydrate breakfast like toast or oatmeal.
- Keep Warm! It is always colder on the ocean than on land.
- Don’t forget the sunblock! Water reflects and magnifies the sun rays.
- Bring a backpack with extra batteries and film, or a picture card, for your camera, as well as dry lens cloth just in case your camera gets wet.
- Don’t just set your mind on whales. Look out for other wildlife including seals, eagles, dolphins and bears. Enjoy the amazing calm and beautiful scenery that you can only find in Alaska.
Alaska whale watching is one of the most magnificent wildlife experiences available to travelers. For the complete Alaska experience, our advisors’ Secrets of Alaska guide covers all the extraordinary destinations in this remarkable state.
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