Meet Orcas in Puget Sound

Description: The inland waters around Seattle are orca country from spring through fall. The beloved Southern Resident pods still travel these waters, though there are few of them left now. Summer sightings are still very reliable, thanks to the Bigg's orca pods that hunt here through the summer. Boat tours depart from Seattle and Edmonds from April through October. You can also take a kayak tour, but note that you have to keep a greater distance from the orcas in a kayak than the boats do. I have watched orcas in the San Juan Islands from a kayak and from a boat, and in summer 2026 I saw a family of 10 orcas.