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Maya's Legacy Whale Watching Tours
Orca whale
Humpback breaching in the San Juan Islands
Steller Sea Lions in the San Juan islands basking on a rock
Orca pod
Orca pod swimming
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Maya's Legacy Whale Watching

We provide small group ecosystem and whale watching tours from the best location We provide small group ecosystem tours from the best location in North America for proximity to marine wildlife and whales in the wild. Recreational, engaging and informative, we offer memorable experiences with a passionate crew, the most innovative boats, departing from the heart of it all, San Juan Island, Washington.

Our immersive tours create moments that give us pause – suspending the pace of our busy lives, connecting us with the natural world and surrounding us in beauty.

The Original Small Group Tour • Local Favorite • For Travelers, Couples, Groups and Families

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Experience the San Juan Islands’ Premiere Small Group Whale Watching & Wildlife Tour

On our intimate tours you will be immersed in an ecosystem born by volcanoes, shaped by glaciers and fed by rivers tumbling swift and free from the mountains you see rising on every horizon.

Teeming with seabirds and eagles, seals and sea lions, baleen whales and orca, a small group tour with us through the rich Salish Sea is an unforgettable experience. Our expert captains and marine naturalists look forward to hosting you as we search for iconic wildlife in the beautiful San Juan Islands.

Welcome to the Salish Sea.

Orca breaching
Steller sea lions
Orca visiting the port of Friday Harbor

For many of us, being on the water is an opportunity to suspend the unrelenting pace of our modern reality and connect with the timeless elements of salt water, fresh air and the natural world at large.

Feel free to leave your phone behind and allow yourself to be immersed in the tranquil beauty of the archipelago. Feel your pace quicken in excitement as we encounter our first wildlife.

Settle back in the comfort of your seat to gaze out the window in reflection as we head off to explore the next scene. You are of course welcome to bring your phone and other technology on board, but if you are looking for a break from what usually comes with them, this is a great chance to completely unplug!

We hope for your stay in Friday Harbor and on San Juan Island to be as memorable and enjoyable as our lives are here. If you have questions about your visit or need any local insight, we are happy to help.

  • Our Tours
  • About Us
  • San Juan Islands
  • Conservation
  • Whale Watching Blog
Orcas at sunset

The Local Favorite

Owned and operated for over 20 years by people who love to call San Juan Island home.
Maya's Legacy Whale Watching

Small Group Tours

Small groups on every tour for a more intimate experience and no competition for the best view.
Orca whale at the port of Friday Harbor

Best Departure Location

Located in the center of the Salish Sea, frequently the closest departure location to whales and wildlife.
Harbor seals in the San Juan Islands

Passionate & Knowledgeable Crew

Experience personal interaction with our captains and marine naturalist educators.

Whale in the San Juans

Active in Research & Conservation

We take a leadership role in conservation efforts on the local, state and national level.
Maya's Whale Watching Boats

Newest & Most Comfortable Boats

Custom-designed luxury vessels purpose built for intimate small group tours and optimal viewing.
Sea otter with kelp

Operating Respectfully With Wildlife

Committed to operating ethically around marine mammals & in our waters with the lightest footprint possible.
Orcas Breaching

Private Charters

Customized private charters and special interest tours for couples, families, groups, and solo adventurers.

Local Favorite & Consistently Top-Rated

We invite you to explore how our guests feel about their experiences with us.

“What makes each company different is the people. For Maya’s Legacy, it is a close knit group of friends and family who are creating smaller more personal experiences. Regardless of finding orcas, they give you a memory that you’ll cherish forever.” – A guest’s online review

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Stay Connected To the San Juan Islands & Wildlife

We create some incredible moments with our guests. We invite you share in those moments with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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    Stay Informed Through Our Whale Watching & Wildlife Blog

    Your experience doesn’t have to end upon our return to the dock. Stay in touch by following our blog to continue learning more about the whales and wildlife that inhabit the Salish Sea.

    Orca T77A in front of Friday Harbor

    Something Deeper, Something Felt

    Every time we leave the harbor, I remind our guests that we’re entering a wilderness, where anything goes.  Although we often have a general idea of what species have been seen on a given day,

    Continue Reading »

    Orcas of Bremer Canyon, Australia

    For the last few winters we have traveled to areas around the world to learn about different whale populations. This not only gives us a better understanding of the whales we watch in the San

    Continue Reading »

    Meet Odin the Sea Otter!

    Meet Odin! On several of our recent whale watching and wildlife tours, including our latest all-day tour, our passengers and crew have been lucky enough to see a new visitor (and hopefully permanent resident) to

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    Highlights from our June All-Day Tour

    We hosted our second all-day tour of the 2018 season on Sunday, June 3rd. We offer several of these extended tours each year and every one is a uniquely different experience. Although our daily whale

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    Bigg’s Orcas T123’s

    A Trio of Transient Orcas One family of Bigg’s killer whales (also known as “transients”) has been frequenting the Salish Sea this spring and we’ve been lucky enough to see them on several of our

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    Highlights from our April All-Day Tour

    Our regularly scheduled whale watching and wildlife tours are approximately three hours in length, which allows plenty of time to view whales and other wildlife around the San Juan Islands. Several times throughout the year

    Continue Reading »

    A once-in-a-lifetime experience aboard the San Juan Islands'
    #1-rated whale watching tour

    Book Your Tour

    © 2019 Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching | Site by Dane Strom

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