Family Wildlife Boat Tours in Sitka, Alaska

Yes, a Sitka wildlife boat tour is good for kids, and a Sitka Wonders tour is one of the best family activities in Sitka. Our tours carry a maximum of six guests, so children get a clear view of the wildlife and a naturalist who explains what they are seeing at their level. The boat has a heated cabin and life jackets in every size, and all children under 13 wear one on board. Our four-hour Islands of Wonder tour and our full-day private tours run on a boat with a marine toilet; the 2.5-hour tour may not, so plan a restroom stop at Harrigan Centennial Hall before you board. Wildlife is never guaranteed, but sea otters, sea lions, and bald eagles are common sights, and most kids love the boat ride itself.

The Sitka cruise ship dock is about six miles north of our tour meeting point, and the free cruise shuttle takes 10 to 15 minutes to get there. We meet outside Harrigan Centennial Hall at 330 Harbor Drive, on the Crescent Harbor side, which is where the shuttle drops you, about fifty steps from our boat. If you are staying in town, the hall is about a ten-minute walk from anywhere downtown. Look for the Sitka Wonders flag.

Yes, you will make it back to your cruise ship on time. Every cruise-day departure is timed to your ship's schedule with at least ninety minutes to spare, and we track the port timetable daily. If we ever caused you to miss a departure, we would get you to the next port at our cost. It has never happened.

If it rains on a Sitka boat tour, the tour still runs, because rain is a normal day in a rainforest and the whales do not mind. Both of our boats, the Wonder Scout and the Wonder Seeker, have a heated cabin with big windows, so your family can watch from inside and step out on deck when something surfaces. Pack rain jackets for the kids. We only cancel for safety, and if we cancel you receive a full refund.

The difference between the 2.5-hour and 4-hour Sitka boat tours is time on the water and a remote beach landing. Wild Coast Exploration is two and a half hours, built to fit inside a cruise port call, looking for the whales, sea lions, and sea otters of Sitka Sound; you can join as a public guest or book the whole boat for up to six. Islands of Wonder is four hours and goes farther out: about three hours watching wildlife, then the boat's drop bow puts your family on a remote beach to explore tidepools and walk into the forest. If you have the time, the four-hour tour gives kids more of this coastline and a real feel for Alaskan wilderness.

There is no age minimum on Sitka Wonders tours, and babies and toddlers are welcome on all of them. For very young children we recommend a private tour, because you can head back early, skip the beach walk, or take a break for a nap without affecting other guests. Strollers stay on the dock, and a baby carrier works well on the boat.

In Sitka, Alaska, sea otters, bald eagles, and sea lions can be seen year-round. In March and April, gray whales pass through and the first humpbacks return from Mexico and Hawaii, and gray whales stay through late May. In June and July, humpback whales are at their most numerous, brown bears graze on sedges along the beaches, and seabirds including tufted puffins, murres, and rhinoceros auklets are nesting. From late July through September, the salmon run brings bald eagles to the trees, bears to the river mouths, and whales feeding hard before they migrate. September is quieter, with fewer boats on the water. Every month has something different to offer, and none of it is on a schedule.

You should book a Sitka excursion as soon as you know your port date. With six seats per departure, most summer sailings sell out weeks ahead, and the popular ship days go months in advance. Booking is free to cancel up to 48 hours before, so there is no reason to wait. If your date shows sold out, send us a note and we will tell you honestly whether a private boat or a different time might work.

For most families on a cruise day, the right Sitka excursion is our Sitka whale watching tour, a 2.5-hour trip built to fit a port call. If you want the boat to yourselves, or have young children, choose a private boat tour in Sitka. If you are staying longer, see our guide to things to do in Sitka, or explore a private multi-day Alaska wildlife trip.