Your Travel Guide to Whale Watching in Juneau, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska, is a beautiful city to visit for countless reasons, and it’s a popular destination for nature lovers who want to spend time in the wilderness and engage with wildlife. One such example is Alaska’s bustling marine life, making whale watching a must-do on any Juneau trip. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Juneau to see the local whales.
About Juneau.
As you probably know, Juneau is Alaska’s state capital and the second-most populous city after Anchorage. One unique feature is that Juneau is unreachable by road, so visitors must take either a boat or a plane to get here.
Most visitors choose to stay in hotels or vacation rentals in the Downtown Juneau area, where you’ll have close access to countless wonderful restaurants, bars and breweries, and shopping destinations. Be aware that hotels often fill up for the summer months since most visitors avoid the cooler seasons for travel, so you’ll want to book in advance if you’re planning a trip.
While whale watching is one of the area’s most popular attractions, you’ll have plenty to do even if you’re not planning to see the whales. You might want to kayak through our fjords, visit the salmon hatchery, or just soak up the natural views and sights throughout the city.
Whale Populations Around Juneau.
If you are visiting for the whales, you’re in for a treat. In the waters around Alaska, you’re almost guaranteed to see orcas (which aren’t actually whales, despite their “killer whale” nickname—they’re actually part of the dolphin family!) and humpback whales. You’re also likely to see seals and sea lions, porpoises, and even non-marine creatures like eagles or bears.
For the best chances of seeing Juneau’s whale populations in action, you’ll want to visit between the months of May and September (some people say April through October, but you get the idea). Remember that summer days in Juneau are long, so you can expect about 18 hours of daylight if you visit around the summer solstice. Despite the sun, bring a raincoat as the area does get rain throughout all months of the year.
How to Book a Whale watching Tour in Juneau
There are many options for specific whale watching tours that depart from the coast of Juneau, and they’re all likely to deliver a great experience. If you’re staying at a hotel, you can check with your concierge to see if there’s a particular company they partner with or highly recommend. Otherwise, just pick one that feels right to you and has an opening that fits with your schedule!
If you have any questions about a specific tour operator, please reach out to me here.
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
John Muir
Whale Watching Tips.
If you’ll be taking your first ever whale watching trip while you’re in Juneau, here’s what you need to know.
Dress in layers and don’t make assumptions about the weather. Even if you’re warm and toasty from the shore, the wind off the water can often make you chilly on the boat.
Don’t be afraid to bring binoculars to help you see far-off whales more easily.
Be patient. During the summer months in Juneau, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have at least one whale sighting, but it might take some time for your crew to track them down.
If you have questions, ask the crew (and check out my interview with Captain Andrew for whale & orca photography tips and tricks)! They love to share about the local whale populations and would be happy to help make your experience better.