Whales are some of the most impressive creatures on Earth, and Alaska is an exceptional place to spot them. You can see Humpbacks, Orcas, Belugas, and more on a whale-watching tour or cruise in Juneau or elsewhere in the state.
The best whale tours are led by knowledgeable guides who are local to the area and know where the whales are spotted. They also provide in-depth insight into these giant animals to enhance the experience.
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Humpbacks
Whether you’re visiting Alaska for the first time or you’re an experienced whale-watcher, humpback whales make for a truly unforgettable experience. These graceful creatures are renowned for their melodious calls and beautiful, majestic bodies.
They can be spotted all year round, but they are most commonly seen in the summer months. They migrate from their winter breeding grounds in the waters near Japan, Mexico, and Hawaii to Alaska’s feeding grounds in the spring, summer, and fall.
You can see humpbacks in the Inside Passage, from Sitka to Juneau, during their migration and summer feeding season. You can also find them in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward, as well as around Kodiak Island.
If you really want to spot whales, there are plenty of tours that take you out on the water. Some even include a wildlife photographer to help you frame the perfect shots and ensure your memory card is filled with epic photos of Alaska’s marine mammals.
For a particularly awe-inspiring sight, book a shore excursion in Juneau that includes a cruise on a jet-powered catamaran. As you sail along, you’ll get the chance to see humpbacks breach and bubble-net feed.
As a bonus, you’ll also get to see other species of wildlife, like sea lions and harbor seals. These animals aren’t often visible from the shore, so getting a good view of them is a real treat.
The best time to see whales in Alaska is during the summer when humpbacks are most prolific. It’s also a great time to take a trip to Alaska’s remote north, where you’ll have an opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring Great Gray Whale migration.
Orcas
While the warm waters of Alaska attract whales all year long, the summer is the time when they’re most active. You’ll have the chance to see gray, minke, humpback, and orca whales cruising through the Inside Passage or in Glacier Bay and Icy Straight.
During these months, whale watching is one of the most popular things to do in Alaska. These majestic animals migrate to Alaska’s rich marine waters in search of a bounty of fish, krill, and squid that will sustain them for the coming winter.
Orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family and can swim up to 30 miles per hour. They typically travel in pods and are categorized into three sub-species: resident, transient and offshore.
Residents form larger pods that can exceed 100 members and feed mainly on fish. They may also hunt small marine mammals like seals and sea lions.
They’re of fascinating creatures to watch, and if you’re lucky enough, you might catch a glimpse of them feeding in the water! Orcas are very intelligent, and they use their hydrophones to communicate with one another.
These large whales can be spotted all over Alaska during the summer, but the best spots are in Ketchikan and Juneau. Here, you can spot humpbacks, orcas, and even blue and sperm whales in the summer months.
In the fall, you might catch a glimpse of belugas and fin whales in Cook Inlet, and in July and August, gray whales can be spotted off Anchorage in Turnagain Arm.
Orcas are the most powerful and skilled hunters of all the whale species, so if you’re lucky enough to see them, they’ll be a treat for the eyes! The best time of the year to see orcas is June and July when they’re at their most active.
Belugas
Thousands of beluga whales gather each summer in the Churchill River estuary to give birth, feed and socialize. Thousands of visitors also come each year to experience whale watching in Alaska, making it one of the world’s top tourist destinations for these curious and friendly mammals.
Unlike other marine mammals, belugas are highly social animals, traveling in large groups of up to 20 whales during the summer months. They also like to interact with boats and kayaks.
Belugas are also famous for their unique vocalizations, which sound like whistles, chirps, and clicking noises. They use these sounds to communicate with other belugas and help them find food, locate holes in ice sheets and navigate deep dark water.
To hear belugas while whale watching Alaska, you can book a tour on a passenger vessel or zodiac, which will allow you to listen to their chirps, clicks, and whistles through a hydrophone. You can also take a three-hour kayak tour that will give you the opportunity to paddle out and interact with the whales in a variety of ways.
While whale watching Alaska, you’ll be able to watch these white whales in the silty waters of Turnagain Arm, as well as at multiple scenic viewpoints along Anchorage’s coastline. Visit the Ship Creek Small Boat Launch, Point Woronzof Park, and Beluga Point, or explore other scenic turnoffs along the Seward Highway that connects Anchorage to Turnagain Arm.
A multi-year study has found that belugas are interacting with vessels more than in the past. This may be attributed to the fact that over the last decade and a half, the whales have become used to the presence of whale-watching boats.
Minke whales
Minke whales are small baleen whales that are found in polar, temperate, and tropical waters. Their diet consists of small fish and krill.
They can be seen in Alaska’s coastal waters all year round. However, June and July are the best times to view them because they are a lot warmer than other months of the year.
These whales are found in the northern and western Pacific, especially in Kachemak Bay, Glacier Bay, and Prince William Sound. They also migrate into the Bering and Chukchi seas in the summer.
The common minke whale is a dark-colored rorqual with a tall sickle-shaped dorsal fin that rests about two-thirds of the way down its back. This is their most distinguishing feature, along with a chevron-shaped pattern that sits near the front of their flippers.
Dwarf minke whales are significantly smaller than common minke whales, but they can be easily identified by a white patch that stretches across their upper pectoral flipper. They are often spotted in the water and hang out to investigate boats and other sea creatures.
Minke whales are not as migratory as other whales and prefer to stay in their home ranges. Their winter migration patterns are not well documented, but they can travel long distances.
While they are not the most common whales to see in Alaska, they can be very exciting. Seeing these whales is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
They are not as large as humpbacks or orcas, but they can be very powerful swimmers. They also have a tendency to dive down deep for extended periods of time before returning to the surface. It can take up to 15 or 20 minutes for these whales to resurface, so you should keep your eyes open!
Sperm whales
Sperm whales are one of the most common species of baleen whales found in the ocean. They have a unique respiratory system that allows them to stay underwater for long periods of time without taking in oxygen. They breathe through blowholes located on top of their heads.
They also rely on echolocation to find prey in the water. They emit short clicking sounds that are reflected off of objects ahead and can be so loud that they might stun their prey.
These whales can be seen all over the world, but a lot of them are endangered. The population of sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico is estimated at about 763 animals, according to NOAA.
When they are not hunting, sperm whales form family groups of a few mature females and their offspring. Once males reach maturity, they leave the family group and go on to reproduce in other parts of the world.
Their stomachs contain a variety of food, including squid, sea cucumbers, and kelp. They can eat as much as three percent of their body weight every day.
In addition to being a great source of food, sperm whales are also very important for the ecosystem. Their excrement helps to fertilize the ocean, allowing phytoplankton to grow and feed other organisms.
Sperm whales live in both temperate and tropical seas but can also be found in the Arctic Ocean. Their interesting name comes from the spermaceti, a waxy substance that these whales produce from their heads. Early whalers thought it was whale seed, but scientists today know that it regulates the sperm whale’s buoyancy.
If you are interested in seeing sperm whales, Juneau is one of the best places to go. The area is surrounded by many deep waterways, which are perfect for these whales to hang out in.
