Summer might be the season most people associate with exploring the Salish Sea, but the wildlife certainly doesn’t pack up when summer ends.
The Salish Sea is alive year-round.
This November, Seabreeze Adventures is heading back onto the water for our Winter Eco Tours, giving you the chance to experience a completely different side of the coast from Steveston, BC.
From Steller sea lions and harbour seals to bald eagles, seabirds and other marine wildlife, there is still plenty to look for during the winter months. And yes, we’ll be looking for whales too.
So bundle up and come see what winter on the Salish Sea is all about.
What Is a Winter Eco Tour?
Our Winter Eco Tours are approximately four-hour wildlife and nature excursions aboard one of our large semi-enclosed vessels.
Rather than focusing solely on finding whales, these trips are about experiencing the Salish Sea as a whole ecosystem and discovering the wildlife that continues to live, feed and travel through these waters throughout the winter.
With a captain and knowledgeable guide aboard, we’ll spend the trip exploring the coast and keeping watch for whatever wildlife we can find along the way.
There is never a guarantee of what we’ll encounter, and that’s the best part of exploring a wild place.
What Wildlife Could We See?
Winter brings its own wildlife opportunities to the Salish Sea.
We’ll be keeping watch for animals including Steller sea lions, harbour seals, bald eagles and a variety of seabirds, along with other wildlife we may encounter as we explore.
Are There Whales in the Salish Sea During Winter?
Yes!
While many humpback whales migrate away from our region during the colder months, not every whale leaves at the same time, and some can still be found in BC waters during winter.
Bigg’s killer whales are also found around coastal BC and the Salish Sea throughout the year as they travel widely in search of marine mammal prey.
That means there is always a possibility of encountering whales during a Winter Eco Tour, and we will be out there looking for them on every trip.
However, unlike our regular whale watching tours, whale sightings are not guaranteed on Winter Eco Tours.
Instead, these adventures give us the chance to slow down and appreciate everything else happening around us too.
A Different Side of the Salish Sea
There’s something special about being on the coast in winter.
The scenery changes. The wildlife changes. The number of boats on the water changes. And places that might feel familiar during summer can look completely different during the colder months.
A Winter Eco Tour gives you around four hours to take it all in.
One moment you might be watching sea lions gathered along the shoreline. The next, someone spots a bald eagle overhead or a group of seabirds out on the water.
There’s no script for a day on the Salish Sea, which is exactly why we keep going back.
Winter Wildlife Watching Without Spending Hours in the Cold
We love winter adventures.
We also appreciate being warm. 😂
Our Winter Eco Tours take place aboard one of our large semi-enclosed vessels, so you can experience the best of both worlds.
Head outside to the viewing deck when you want to take in the scenery, then head into the heated cabin when you're ready to warm up.
Our vessels offer:
- Spacious seating
- Semi-enclosed, heated cabin
- Outer viewing decks
- Washroom onboard
- Plenty of room for adventurers of all ages
That makes these trips a great option for families, photographers, wildlife lovers, and anyone looking for something a little different to do around Vancouver this winter.
When Are the Winter Eco Tours?
Our November 2026 Winter Eco Tours depart every Saturday from Steveston, BC.
Each adventure includes:
🌊 Approximately four hours exploring the Salish Sea
🕚 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
🛥️ Large semi-enclosed vessel with heated cabin
🐋 Wildlife searching throughout the trip
🦭 Captain and knowledgeable guide
📍 Departing from Steveston, BC
Winter conditions on the Salish Sea can change, so routes and wildlife sightings will vary from trip to trip. Safety and responsible wildlife viewing will always come first.
Experience Winter on the Salish Sea
You don't have to wait until next summer to get back on the water.
Come bundle up, step aboard, and spend a winter afternoon exploring the coast with us.
Maybe we'll find sea lions hauled out along the shoreline. Maybe we'll spot eagles overhead or discover an unexpected concentration of seabirds. Maybe someone will call out that they've spotted a blow in the distance.
We don't know exactly what we'll find.
That's the adventure.
Our Winter Eco Tours are now booking for Saturdays throughout November 2026.
Come see what the Salish Sea looks like in winter. 🌊🦭🐋