Sitka Shore Excursions and Wildlife Boat Tours

Wild Coast Exploration is Sitka Wonders' 2.5-hour small-group whale watching and wildlife boat tour, built to fit inside a cruise port call. Humpback whales feed in Sitka Sound from spring through fall, and finding them is what our captains spend the day doing. We will not promise you a whale or a bear, because wildlife keeps its own schedule. What we can tell you is that this coast is full of life, and going out with people who know where to look changes the whole experience. Some days the whales are lunge feeding in open water. Some days they are working the kelp edges close enough to hear them breathe. Sea otters, Steller sea lions, bald eagles, and seabirds are usually part of the day too, and from March through May gray whales pass through the sound on their migration north.

The Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal is about six miles north of downtown. The free shuttle takes 10 to 15 minutes and drops you outside Harrigan Centennial Hall at 330 Harbor Drive, which is our meeting point, about fifty steps away. If you are staying in town, the hall is a short walk from most downtown hotels. Look for our crew in mustard gold jackets holding a Sitka Wonders sign.

Yes. Our cruise-day departures are scheduled to return at least 90 minutes before all-aboard, and we check the port schedule every day. If we ever caused you to miss your ship, we would get you to the next port at our cost. It has never happened.

Then it is a normal day in a rainforest. The whales do not mind and neither do we. The Wonder Scout and Wonder Seeker both have a heated cabin with big windows, so you can watch from inside and step out on deck when something surfaces. We only cancel for safety, and if we cancel you get a full refund.

Time, a beach, and privacy. Wild Coast Exploration is two and a half hours on the water, built to fit inside a cruise port call, looking for whales, sea lions, and sea otters in Sitka Sound. You can join as a public guest or book the whole boat for up to six. Islands of Wonder is a private four-hour tour that goes further out. You spend about three hours watching wildlife, then the landing craft's drop bow puts you on a remote beach to explore the tidepools and walk into the forest. If you have the time, the four-hour tour gives you more of this coast and a real taste of Alaskan wilderness.

Yes. With a maximum of six guests, every child gets a clear view of the wildlife and a guide who answers their questions. The cabin is heated, and life jackets in every size are provided; all children under 13 wear one on board. If you have very young children, we often suggest booking private so you can shorten the trip or change the route without affecting other guests. Islands of Wonder and Wonder Journeys run on our landing craft, which has a marine toilet; the 2.5-hour tour may not, so we recommend a restroom stop at Harrigan Centennial Hall before boarding.

Sea otters, eagles, and sea lions live here year-round. March brings gray whales and the first humpbacks back from Mexico and Hawaii, and gray whales stay through late May. June and July bring more humpbacks, bears grazing on sedges along the beaches, and nesting seabirds including tufted puffins, murres, and rhinoceros auklets. Late July through September is the salmon run, with eagles in the trees, bears at the river mouths, and whales feeding hard before they leave. September is quieter, with fewer boats on the water. None of it is on a schedule.

As soon as you know your port date. With six seats per departure, summer dates can fill weeks ahead, and busy ship days fill sooner. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before departure, 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.

It depends on how much time you have in port. If you have a few hours, our most popular shore excursion is the Sitka whale watching tour, built to fit a cruise port call. With a longer port day, or if you want the boat to yourselves, see our private boat tour in Sitka. Planning a longer stay? Start with things to do in Sitka, or explore a private multi-day Alaska wildlife trip.