Things to do in San Juan Island, Washington (WA): The Best Outdoor Activities

January 21, 2022 Franklyn Hardiman

An island vacation on San Juan Island in…Washington? San Juan might not be a tropical retreat, but this scenic scape proudly features beaches, orca pods and one of the country’s largest lavender farms. Lime Kiln Point State Park is the perfect place for whale watching, while Pelindaba Lavender Farm will set you up with a lifetime supply of the fragrant purple plant. The bustling Friday Harbor is a jackpot of restaurants and shops, plus unique attractions like the 19-acre sculpture garden at Westcott Bay Reserve.
Restaurants in San Juan Island

1. Western Prince Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours

Excellent
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5.0 based on 1,111 reviews

Western Prince Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours

Just 90 miles north of Seattle, Whale Watching and Wildlife Tours from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington. Owner Operated, Experienced Local Naturalist Guides, Small Groups, Two Great Boats. Choose from the fast and comfortable 46' Western Prince II (limited to 32 passengers or less, with seating for 41) or, for the more adventurous, the Expedition Style 40' Western Explorer II (limited to 25 passengers or less).

2. Maya's Legacy Whale Watching

Excellent
97%
Good
2%
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5.0 based on 1,490 reviews

Maya's Legacy Whale Watching

Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching provides small group whale watching & wildlife tours from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington, the best location to experience Orca whales in the wild. We also offer private charter whale watch & wildlife tours for small groups and larger parties. Recreational, engaging and informative, we offer memorable experiences with a passionate crew , custom-built whale watching boats, and small groups of passengers. We offer two convenient departure locations on San Juan Island. Our whale watching & wildlife tours depart year-round from downtown Friday Harbor, next to the ferry landing, and Snug Harbor Resort, on the west side of San Juan Island.

3. San Juan Excursions

Excellent
94%
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5.0 based on 778 reviews

San Juan Excursions

Our Guarantee: See whales or your next trip is free! Fun and educational whale watch/wildlife cruises you'll never forget! April through September from Friday Harbor in the "sunny San Juan Islands" aboard the spacious, comfortable and stable 65 foot vessel "Odyssey." Locally owned and operated with local naturalist guides. 10% AAA, military, teacher and other discounts.

4. Spirit of Orca Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours

Excellent
94%
Good
5%
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1%
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5.0 based on 574 reviews

Spirit of Orca Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours

The Most Loved Cetaceans of the World, Friday Harbor WA 'An Intimate and Personal Experience with your captain and the whales' 6 Passenger Limit! Observing whales in the 'WILD' in their 'Natural Environment' is one of our greatest passions and after touring with us we know it will be one of yours too. Your captain is a retired captain with 38 years experience sailing mostly oceans in Pacific and Atlantic. He is a certified Naturalist and loves to share personal stories about the whales you will be seeing.

5. Crystal Seas Kayaking - Day Tours

Excellent
96%
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5.0 based on 738 reviews

Crystal Seas Kayaking - Day Tours

Premiere Active Vacations in the San Juan Islands Since 1993 Crystal Seas Kayaking specializes in guided 3 hour, full day, sunset and multi-day kayaking and multi-sport trips in Washington's sunny San Juan Islands - mid March through mid October. The perfect adventure for singles, couples, groups, and families - no experience is necessary. We are locally owned and operated by second generation islanders on San Juan Island and proudly support local businesses, organizations, schools and small farms. Besides the incredible scenery and wildlife, our guides are a huge part of why you will love your trip. The majority of our staff are locals who majored in science or recreation and all of them have an infectious love and knowledge of the outdoors. They are all naturalists who are CPR and First Aid certified and many are also Wilderness First Responders.

6. Westwind Aviation

Excellent
94%
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5.0 based on 35 reviews

Westwind Aviation

Westwind Aviation provides air charter and scenic flights in and around the San Juan Islands. Day trips from Seattle allow you a whale watch, kayaking or sailing adventure and return to Seattle the same afternoon. And a scenic flight in the San Juan's is unforgettable. It's only 40 air minutes from Seattle. Special tour rates for groups of 2-11.

7. San Juan Outfitters

Excellent
93%
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3%
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1%
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5.0 based on 290 reviews

San Juan Outfitters

The San Juan Islands are considered one the best places in the world to observe Orca (Killer) Whales and other wildlife. We specialize in providing high quality whale watching, kayaking, and adventure tours for groups, families, and independent travelers. San Juan Outfitters believes that getting people out in the natural environment is the first step in developing an appreciation for the natural world. We believe people have an innate drive to be outdoors, and we enjoy the opportunity make it happen. We hope that what comes out of that appreciation are steps taken to curb individual impact and decrease one's footprint on the environment. Decreasing our individual foot-print, and preserving our natural world is our long term goal. We're starting by setting an example here on San Juan Island. Learn more about our goals to decrease our footprint by checking out our carbon neutral goals, and our view on responsible capitalism.

8. Outdoor Odysseys

Excellent
88%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
2%
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1%
Terrible
2%
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5.0 based on 321 reviews

Outdoor Odysseys

Since 1987, Outdoor Odysseys has been offering quality guided sea kayaking and whale watch tours in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. Our tours feature an opportunity to search for Orca whales and eagles while paddling. We offer great camp cuisine including Dutch oven cookery and naturalist guides that are extremely knowledgable about the biological, geological and natural history of the area. We have been selected by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as one of the "200 best outfitters" in the world.

9. Discovery Sea Kayaks

Excellent
94%
Good
4%
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5.0 based on 574 reviews

Discovery Sea Kayaks

In the heart of downtown Friday Harbor, we offer a range of San Juan Islands Kayak Tours and Bike Rentals. Kayak Tours range from a half day outing to multiple days out camping on the outer islands. Our signature Full Day, Half Day and Sunset Kayak Tours travel routes best to encounter whales and marine wildlife. Our multi-day kayak tours range from 2 to 5 days with the 3-day kayak tour being our most popular. We provide all the equipment and cook every meal with fresh locally sourced foods. We are proud to employ a small group of professional guidesthat are extremely skilled kayakers and trained naturalist. Safety, Education, and Adventure are ensured with our amazing team of guides. We operate some of the smallest groups sizes to ensure each kayak tour provides a personal experience. Our downtown location is the perfect starting point for exploring the island by bike. We have the largest electric bike rental fleet on island and quality traditional bikes as well.

10. Cycle San Juan

Excellent
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5.0 based on 9 reviews

Cycle San Juan

Cycle San Juan creates custom cycling adventures in Washington's San Juan Islands. We offer hybrid and road bike rentals on San Juan Island and custom cycling tours on all the islands for all levels of riders. Our bicycle delivery service allows San Juan Island visitors to explore the island by bike.

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