Killer whales, or orcas, are some of the most beloved sea mammals on Earth. Their size, their playfulness, and their unmistakable coloration capture the imagination of kids and remind adults of why it's so important to protect the oceans. You can find orcas at many aquariums on both of America's coasts, but you can also find them in the oceans near Seattle if you know which ships or tours to book.

San Juan Safaris

San Juan Safaris is a business on San Juan Island, the main island of the San Juan archipelago. The company offers private charters and bird watching safaris, but their main business is whale-watching tours. Orcas practically swarm around the islands between April and October, and 90 percent of the tours see whales and orcas breaching and flipping through the air. San Juan Island is easy enough to reach by driving north of Seattle and taking the ferry, but if you're in a hurry San Juan Safaris offers a package deal that includes the price of a plane ticket.

Puget Sound Express

Puget Sound Express is based on a dock in Edmonds, making it a much shorter drive for Seattle residents. Like San Juan Safaris, the company offers birdwatching tours, and they also have whale-watching tours for gray whales and orcas. To see the orcas, their ships can take you to the San Juan Islands in just an hour, and from there you can spend the day keeping an eye out for orcas. They also offer a three-day cruise that gives you a full tour of the wildlife that lives in and around the San Juan Islands.

Maya's Legacy Whale Watching

Maya's Legacy is another company based in San Juan. The Mayas in question were a pair of teachers who loved the Pacific Northwest so much they moved to the island and eventually set up a whale-watching company. The company offers regular tours during orca season along with private charters for small groups, and they also spend time near the shore so passengers get a chance to see mammals and birds on the same tour. Their crews can also tell you a few things you can do to support the wildlife of the San Juan Islands and protect the orca population.

Crystal Seas Kayaking

San Juan Safaris offers kayak tours, but Crystal Seas Kayaking specializes in them. They three-hour and day tours in two-person kayaks, and there's definitely something about being right on the water that makes spotting whales and orcas that much more exciting. They also offer multi-day tours that involve kayaks, bicycles, or both. The price of a room at the inn or the campsite is included in the cost of the tour. If you like the wilderness better when you're getting some exercise, Crystal Seas is your best bet. Thanks to the number of killer whales that live by the San Juan Islands or migrate through the area, Puget Sound is one of the best places in the world to go looking for them. The only question is which touring company you want to use. Image “San Juan Islands” by jeffgunn, used under CC BY 2.0