Mackay Whale Watching Experience Nature
A killer whale surfaces in a burst of spray on the steel-blue water off Northern Vancouver Island.

Forty years on these waters. The whales know the boat.

Port McNeill · Northern Vancouver Island · aboard the Naiad Explorer

Book your tour Today’s sightings

★ 5.0 on TripAdvisor 40+ years of experience Family owned & operated

Reserve your seat

Pick a day. We’ll handle the whales.

Day trips run four hours, departing at noon on select days from Port McNeill. $160 per person, plus 5% GST. Sightings are never guaranteed — but the chances here are extremely good.

Prefer to talk? 1‑250‑956‑9865 — 9am–5pm Pacific, every day.

Book online any time, any time zone

Tour
Date
August 2026

● Noon departure available  ·  trips run on select days, early July through summer’s end

Party size
2 guests
Totalplus 5% GST · pay by Visa, MasterCard or PayPal
$320

Questions? Call toll‑free: 1‑877‑663‑6722

Today on the water

We post what we see, nearly every day of the season.

Read all sighting reports
Two killer whales surface side by side in green-grey water, dorsal fins high.

August 16, 2026 — latest trip

OrcaHumpbacksDolphinsSea otters

“All the marine life observed was truly unreal! We saw humpback whales (one was sleeping!), Orca that literally surrounded our boat…”

Guest log · Yalina, Edmonton AB

A pair of killer whales travel together, mountains of the mainland coast behind them.

August 15, 2026

OrcaHumpbacks

“We saw different groups of Orca… In the end we saw a few humpback whales, which were at their feeding grounds. All in all, a beautiful journey.”

Guest log · Dominik and Anna, Germany

A humpback whale raises its fluke before diving, forested shoreline behind.

August 13, 2026

OrcaHumpbacksDolphinsPorpoises

“Today was an insane day on the water! We started with… the A25’s! They were covered in dolphins and porpoises as they went past us.”

Guest log · Sid & Alex, Berlin

Choose your adventure

Two ways out.

Killer whales surface alongside the Naiad Explorer while passengers watch from the deck.

Day Trip $160/person+ 5% GST

  • 4 hours
  • Departs noon
  • All ages
  • All weather
  • Photo friendly

An educational, entertaining cruise through the region’s most common whale watching areas. Listen in on the whales’ vocalizations with the on-board hydrophone, and warm up in the heated interior. Bring your own lunch and water bottle — and dress warmly, it’s cool on the water even in midsummer.

Book the Day Trip
The Naiad Explorer rests at the dock on a misty morning, forested hills behind.

Private Charter Customquoted to your plans

  • 3–6 hours
  • Your schedule
  • Exclusive use of the vessel
  • Water taxi
  • Evening cruises

The whole boat, on your terms — private wildlife charters, water taxi service and evening cruises, subject to Transport Canada regulations. Tell us what you have in mind and our staff will help determine your best options.

Inquire about a charter

The Naiad Explorer

The most innovative certified passenger vessel on the BC coast.

Our 55‑foot vessel was designed to minimize underwater sound from props and engines — less impact on the whales, quick and smooth travel for you. Comfort, heat and washroom facilities on board, with interior viewing to warm up between sightings.

Passengers line the rails of the Naiad Explorer as it cruises beneath coastal mountains.
55 ftcertified passenger vessel
Quiet by designreduced prop & engine noise
Hydrophonehear the whales’ calls live
Heated cabininterior viewing & washroom

Forty years, one family

The family that started it all.

Mackay Whale Watching really is family owned and operated. Bill and Donna Mackay are pioneers of killer whale watching in British Columbia, with over 40 years of experience on these waters.

They pride themselves on being stewards of the environment, fortunate to operate and live in the Kwakwaka’wakw nation, out of Port McNeill on Northern Vancouver Island.

Join the Mackay family for a cruise — and experience nature the way they’ve shared it for four decades.

Bill and Donna Mackay stand together on a forest path, holding hands.
Bill and Donna Mackay

What guests say

Five stars, year after year.

★ 5.0 · Top rated in Port McNeill on TripAdvisor

★★★★★

“Wow what can we say! We 100% recommend this trip! We saw everything we could hope for, Orcas, humpbacks, dolphins, sea lions… and the captain and crew were the most amazing.”
JLZ on TripAdvisor · August 2019

★★★★★

“Due to weather conditions I didn’t expect to see anything but we had the best crew! Captain Bill and his girls gave us tons of information… Super trip and great entertainment.”
Ronald M on TripAdvisor · August 2019

★★★★★

“It was an experience of a lifetime, National Geographic moments for sure! … It was a privilege to be your passenger today.”
Yalina, Edmonton · guest log, August 16, 2026

Plan your day

Getting here is half the adventure.

Find us in Port McNeill

1514 Broughton Boulevard
Port McNeill, British Columbia
Northern Vancouver Island

Open in Google Maps

Season & what to bring

  • Trips start in early July and run through summer
  • 4-hour day trips depart at noon on select days
  • Bring your own lunch and a water bottle
  • Dress warmly — it’s cool on the water, even in July

Talk to the Mackays

Concept by Nathan Ziemanski Book