Think about where you would like to go see orcas. A popular place is near the San Juan Islands of Washington state. Other places to see orcas in North America include sites near Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia and off the coast of Alaska.
Understand the times of the year in which you are most likely to see orcas. In the waters off the Pacific Northwest, you have a good chance of seeing orcas between the months of May and September. Late May through early July, however, is the best time to see orcas in the wild.
Decide what kind of orca watching trip you want to take. You can see orcas by going on sea kayaking expeditions, by going on boats or cruises, by taking flights or simply by looking from land. You can search for and book orca watching trips of all kinds on the Internet. (See Resources below.) You can also watch from Washington state's San Juan Islands Whale Watch Park.
Travel to the Pacific Northwest to begin your Ooca watching trip. Many people fly into Seattle's Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) Airport. You can then take a ferry out to the San Juan Islands.
Bring the gear that you will need for your orca watching expedition. Recommended gear includes a camera, hat, sunglasses, binoculars and sunscreen. You may need additional gear or clothing depending on the weather the day of your trip. Check with your trip's captain for more information.
Know how to spot an orca. These large whales have a distinctive coloring with a black back, white sides, a white chest and white patches near the eyes. They have large dorsal fins and can grow to between 16 and 26 feet in length at adulthood.
