Whale Watching in Newfoundland & Labrador

Every year, 22 species of whales and dolphins come to Newfoundland and Labrador for peace, quiet, and the odd photo opportunity. Whales can be seen from a grassy knoll on a fine day, from the veranda of a B&B or from a boat where you can view them up close in all their glory. Whatever you choose, you won't be disappointed. This is truly the best place in North America to appreciate whales.

You can see Beluga, Narwhal, Sperm Whale, Pygmy Sperm Whale, Blue Whale, Fin Whale, Sei Whale, Minke Whale, Humpback Whale, Bowhead Whale, Right Whale, Killer Whale, Northern Bottle-Nosed Whale, Sowerby's Beaked Whale, Blainville's Beaked Whale, True's Beaked Whale.

But the most common are the Humpback, Minke and Fin, with Beluga and Killer the next most seen. Some are very rare, such as Sowerby's beaked Whale.

There's a very good reason why whales come here: food. The Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current meet and mix over the Grand Banks, a huge continental shelf off Newfoundland that was discovered in the late 15th century when an early explorer, John Cabot, scooped up cod fish in a basket. The food also attracts millions of seabirds, and the Labrador Current carries icebergs south into Newfoundland waters in late spring and early summer. Sometimes you can see whales, bergs and birds AT THE SAME TIME.

The humpbacks begin to arrive in late spring when fish begin moving toward the coast, following the caplin, a small fish that comes to shore in the billions to lay eggs in shallow waters. Typically, both caplin and whales are first spotted in southeastern Newfoundland in June in places like Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve. As the season progresses the caplin move further north into warming waters up the northeast coast of Newfoundland, followed by the whales that stop to feed at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, a major seabird breeding area, then Trinity Bay, Notre Dame Bay in the Twillingate area, and finally, in August and September, they are seen off northern Newfoundland around St. Anthony. And the further north you go, the better the chances are of seeing whales and icebergs at the same time.

There are a variety of places to see whales, mainly from boats or kayaks, but also from land. The following is a relatively complete list of ways to see whales in Newfoundland and Labrador. For more information go to www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/whales and check out our YouTube channel for some great whale videos.

Tour Operators

Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism
Newfoundland
Departartment of Toursim, Culture & Recreation
Dildo Island Adventure Tours
Dildo, Route 80
Icebergs, whales, nesting eagles, historic Dildo Island
Iceberg Quest Ocean Tours
View the "City of Legends" as the explorers did centuries ago. Tours
The Outfitters Adventure Tours, Gear & Apparel
Sea kayak and multi-activity adventure tours in Bay Bulls & Southern Shore south, St. John's.
Gatheralls Puffin & Whale Watch
Bay Bulls, Route 10
Best whale sighting record. Puffins guaranteed. New catamaran
Mullowney's Puffin & Whale Tours
Experience the natural wonders of land and sea aboard our 46-ft tour boat
O'Brien's Whale & Bird Tours
Voted best boat tour company. Offer whale, bird watching, coastal adventures
Ecotours - Witless Bay Wonders
Witless Bay, Route 10
Only way to get up close and personal to whales, icebergs, & Puffins
Molly Bawn Whale & Puffin Tours
Mobile, Route 10
Smaller tours - whale & puffin watching excursion
Ocean Adventure Boat Tours
Tors Cove, Route 10
Tours of Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
Colbert's Puffin & Whale Tours
Bauline East, Route 10
Witless Bay Ecological Reserve aboard our 40-foot vessel
Stan Cook Sea Kayaking
Cape Broyle, Route 10
The coastal adventure of a lifetime!
Aspenwood Tours
Springdale, Route 390
Sea kayaking, mountain biking, canoeing
Newfoundland Outdoors
Jackson's Cove, Route 391
Ocean adventures in scenic Green Bay
Wildland Tours
Province Wilde
We host several thousand cruise ship and tour guests
Atlantic Adventure Boat Tours
Trinity, Route 239
Whales, icebergs, birds
Crystal Waters Boat Charters & Tours
Curling, Corner Brook, Route 1 -
Birds, whales.
Northland Discovery Boat Tours
St. Anthony, Route 430
Icebergs, humpbacks & dolphins.
Rugged Beauty Boat Tours
New Bonaventure, Route 239
Sea birds, whales, eagles and icebergs
Twillingate Adventure Tour
Twillingate, Route 340
Icebergs, whales, seabirds
Twillingate Island Boat Tour
Twillingate, Route 340
Icebergs, whales, birds, dolphins and seals
Whales & Bergs Inc
Birchy Bay, Route 340
Adventure tourism in Notre Dame Bay
White Star Oceanside Adventures
Sea kayaking and boat tours
Adventure Ocean Quest Resort
Long Pond, Conception Bay South, Route 60
Marine & underwater photography, icebergs, whales
Fogo Island - Change Island
Fogo Island, Route 333 Daily boat tours to historic, Brimstone Head. Whale watching, Iceberg Viewing
Sea of Whales Adventures
Long Pond, Conception Bay South, Route 60
Experienced staff make your time with Our Whales an adventure.
Trinty Eco-Tours
Fogo Island, Route 333 Specializing in whales, iceberg and recreational shipwreck diving
Lancaster Boat Tours
Bonavista, Route 230
2 - 2.5 hour tour along the coast at Cape Bonavista
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