If you’ve ever been whale watching you know that it can get crazy when you see a whale and then try to chase the whale (never works) hoping to see it surface again. I tend to think the whales have too much fun with this game of hide and seek played out in the waters of Alaska. Our boat was chasing one whale – everyone had their cameras at the ready pointed in the distance only to hear “over there” and we all shifted sides and repositioned our cameras. It’s all part of the experience but for those Alaska whale watching tours they tend to offer a money back guarantee (not the whole tour price but a portion of it, maybe $100) if you don’t see a whale, sea otter or a bear (note they rarely give your money back as you’ll likely see one or the other). While my other port tours were adventurous, I just wanted an easy day of Alaskan animals. The Sitka Wildlife Tour & Nature Cruise offered three perspectives on the animals via a nature cruise followed by visits to the Raptor Center and the Fortress of the Bear.
Sitka Nature Boat Tour
The Allen Marine tour boat loaded next to the cruise ship dock which was only a few steps from the Holland America Eurodam. I was lucky to be one of the first ones off the ship so I found a seat upstairs in the front enclosed area. Each seat came with a map as well as binoculars. The boat left and we were back out on the water, this time though we would now be able to navigate into the inlets around Sitka to look for eagles, bears, otters and much more. Downstairs was the head (bathrooms) and snack bar with more seats. Upstairs we had the enclosed area and then an open area in the back to get a better view. The waters were calm and we were the only boat to explore the area which was a nice perk.
The Bald Eagles spotted on the Sitka Wildlife Tour
We would enter through a patch of trees with tiny white spots on top (those were the bald eagles often referred to as golf balls in the trees). Once your eyes processed white spot = bald eagles, you could easily see so many more and aim the binoculars accordingly. The boat slowed down to quietly glide on the water and inspect the trees, water and animals. If you’ve ever been the lone boat on the water, there is something magic when the engines are turned off and the only sounds are those of nature. Your mind get to clear the clutter and enjoy the silence and focus on the trees, looking for animals and just being one with nature.
Brown Bears on the Shoreline – Sitka Wildlife Cruise
As we past the tree lined entrance, a large spoon shaped view came into focus and the boat sailed to the left side to look along the shoreline for residents. We were richly rewarded by brown bears – a mama bear and her cubs – this was a special treat. The captain tried to get in a better position, still way off land for photos. Once the bears went back into the woods, we came upon the sea otters having a lot of fun in the water. I couldn’t get enough of these animals as I didn’t expect to see them here. For me, Alaska is about bears and eagles and yet there are so many other animals that roam (or swim) in the state.
A Raft of Otters on the Sitka Wildlife Tour
So while the three bears were a big deal to see it was the group of otters (a raft) that made us all smile with childlike wonder. For those with long lens they got whisker views of the playful animals, for others like me, the binoculars were really fun to use. The captain stayed in the area for quite some time for us to enjoy the otters before sailing out of the inlet.
One Playful Whale in Sitka
As we exited the inlet into the larger water we saw a whale (or the captain and animal spotter staff member saw the whale). For me, I always see a fin and rarely a tail and never my “free willy” or “national geographic” whale that jumps out of the water. This day we chased both a fin and a tail (on the ship at dinner later that night we would see a whale jumping in the distance following the ship). I’m pretty impressed that I got the tail photo without having a fancy camera lens like so many on the boat.
Sea Lions and Seals in Sitka
Not to be overlooked in the water, we had the sea lions on the buoys. With all the excitement over the playful whale taunting us, the sea lions and seals just swam around and a few were sacked out.
Sitka Wildlife Cruise & Nature Tour
I rarely expect much on these sightseeing tours given my experiences in the past but this day was quite different. It helped that it was sunny for some time and that the captain happened upon a good number of Alaskan residents in the water, in the trees and along the shoreline.
Rather than return to the cruise port where our tour began, we docked in town and boarded our bus out to the Raptor Center and then to the Fortress of the Bear. For the birds and the bears that need rehabilitation, these non-profits were focused on their needs. After a day in nature where the animals could roam freely and enjoy the land, we got to see the other side of nature – those injured or abandoned and the dedicated staff and volunteers helping visitors understand more about Alaskan animals.
Final Thoughts – Sitka Wildlife Tour & Cruise
So while my nature boat tour wasn’t as adventurous as my Taku Glacier hovercraft adventure or Ketchikan zodiac adventure, it was the perfect mixture of relaxation on the water as well as advocacy on the land. Alaska is nature and nature includes all of the animals in land and sea. So on your Alaskan cruise to Sitka (only accessible by boat or plane), I’d recommend this wonderful tour in Sitka to see all the animals that make up the Alaskan wilderness.
