Sea Otter and Whale Watching Tours
with Zeballos Expeditions

Watch sea otters work and play in the waters around Nootka Island on Canada’s Pacific Coast aboard our vessel Nootka Express!

Sea otters are playful sea mammals eating mostly shell fish, sea urchins and other marine invertebrates. Their use of tools is unique. They swim around with rocks about the size of your fist or bigger under their armpits. After finding food, they lie on their backs placing one rock on their chest and holding the other in their paw. The two rocks are used to open clams and other shellfish. Often kayakers camped in Nuchatlitz tell of lying awake at night listening to the clack, clack, clack of rocks banging together.

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During our tour, the boat will approach rafts of sea otters close enough to see and photograph them but not near enough cause stress. Also, we cannot stop the boat as that will spook them. Rafts maintain sentries on the outskirts of rafts; spy-hopping is a distinctive behaviour, where the otter will rise up in water for better view. Single sea otters are often seen in Nuchatlitz Park and are less timid than the rafts.

Each trip lasts three hours with lots of opportunity to see the otters but there is more—

At low tide, during late spring, you will often see our beach bears — large black bears foraging along the beaches. Sea lions, dolphins and whales are often spotted during your trip. Fall months bring the many migratory birds heading south while eagles and marine birds are present year round.

The trip also includes a visit to Esperanza, a peaceful water access only community, great views down Esperanza Inlet and Tahsis Inlets, with the spectacular mid-island mountain ranges as a backdrop, and a visit to the reefs and islets of Nuchatlitz Park.

Sea otters at play

This year, for an additional $150 per boat trip, we are offering the option to visit Yuquot (Friendly Cove) rather than Nuchatlitz. This is the site of an ancient Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations village and the spot of the first European settlement of British Columbia.

Sea otter tours take place during morning hours when the sea is calmest; aboard our 28 ft flat bottomed skiff. Great for photos and video shoots!

Warm, waterproof clothing and a sense of wonder are necessary. Bring your binoculars and cameras too.

You can request a skipper/biologist who will answer your questions (or can make up good stories!) on sea otter habits and other marine related subjects.

Price: $350
Group size: up to eight people

New tour for 2010!	Whale watching tours - three hours $350 During the past few summers, lots of humpback whales have been showing up in our inlets. We suspect they are following the pilchard schools. The best months are August and September -but please call first- to make sure they are around before booking.
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Zeballos Expeditions - Tourism BC inspected and approved accommodation!

203 Pandora Ave
Zeballos, British Columbia
V0P 2A0

Owners: Cristina Lepore and Daniel O'Connor
250-761-4044 Phone
250-761-4074 Fax
866-222-2235 Toll-free

info@zeballosexpeditions.com