If you love adventure and unique, new things, kayaking with whales excursion is "THE" excursion for you. A guided paddle to the feeding grounds of the migrating humpback whales for a unique whale-watching adventure.
After meeting your guide close to your Juneau cruise terminal, you'll head out in your comfortable transportation to the dock located approximately 45 minutes away. Here you'll be given safety instructions and outfitted with weather gear for your adventure. Then you'll hop on the 6-passenger motorboat for a 1.5-hour cruise, that will take you to the kayaks and the whale feeding area.
Traveling up the Inside Passage of Gastineau Channel, you'll see the wilderness and beauty of Alaska. The captain will point out the indigenous fauna as you head to the Channel Islands State Marine Park where the richest humpback whale feeding ground in the state is located. Each year the whales return to the area, including those with their newly born calves, to feed on the multitude of fish in these waters.
Here, they replenish from their travels to the Baja Mexico area where the calves are born and mating occurs. The whales will stock up on food to put on enough fat to last them for the return trip south again. Your guide will explain the whole migration process and help you spot whales. No worries, your boat captain and guide will keep you at a safe and legal distance to observe but not intrude on the whales. You might be lucky enough to witness the famous "bubble feeding" where whales will team together to use their blowholes to create a curtain of bubbles around krill, anchovies, cod, sardines, mackerel, and other types of schooling fish. Then once they have a high concentration of food "trapped" by the bubble curtain in one small area they usually come up from the bottom with mouths open as they break the surface of the water scooping up their meal.
A rich variety of fauna makes this area their home so be on the lookout for orcas, sea lions, porpoises, many bird species, eagles, seals, and, of course, humpback whales. During the cruise, you can enjoy local Juneau snacks. Keep your cameras ready to capture the action!
The boat will pull up on a remote beach where you'll find your kayaks. Before you set off you'll be given instructions on how to paddle the kayak plus safety tips. Then into your life jackets and off across the water in 2-person kayaks for about 1.5-2-hours depending on weather conditions and guests' ability. Both your boat captain and kayak guides will give you the history of the area plus point out the various wildlife along the way. As this is a show put on by Mother Nature, you never know who will "perform" that day. Take in the beauty of the glaciers, snow-capped peaks of the mountains like Mount Roberts, and forest-covered hills.
At the end of your kayaking adventure, you'll return to the beach to board the motorboat again to return to the dock and then back to your Juneau cruise terminal.
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