3-Day San Juan Islands Wildlife Cruise

September 28 – 30, 2014

Cruise the San Juans while benefitting the PTMSC

Join Puget Sound Express for an exciting 3 day cruise through the San Juan Islands in Washington State. Selected by National Geographic as one of the World's Top 3 destinations, the waters around the San Juan Islands are home to orcas (killer whales), minke whales, gray whales, Steller sea lions, porpoise, otters, and a dizzying array of seabirds.

3 Days, 2 nights; $675 ppdo/$750 per single person
(10% of proceeds donated to Port Townsend Marine Science Center) 

  

We'll leave Port Townsend at 10AM on September 28 aboard the comfortable MV Glacier Spirit. While crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca a light breakfast will be served. The Strait of Juan de Fuca is bordered by three mountain ranges, the Olympic Peninsula and the San Juan Islands.  It is one of the most beautiful seas to cross in the world. Along the way our captain will point out many seabirds and mammals that frequent these waters. Depending on where the orcas are traveling that day, we may also be fortunate to see them in transit.

After lunch onboard the boat, we'll reach our home base for the next couple of days - Roche Harbor Resort, on San Juan Island. The story of Roche Harbor began more than 200 years ago, in 1787, when Captain de Haro and his crew became the first Europeans to actually sail among the forested San Juan Islands. In 1886, a sleepy Hudson Bay camp was transformed into a full-fledged lime works and company town. Today because of its beauty and location to Canada, Roche Harbor is the most popular boating resort in the Pacific Northwest and the Resort is renowned as the centerpiece of this harbor. You'll have plenty of time to explore the scenery around Roche Harbor. Hiking, kayak and bike rentals, tennis and swimming are all possibilities for you to enjoy. Dinner is on your own at Roche Harbor Resort.

On September 29 we'll board the Glacier Spirit at 9:30 for a wonderful day of sightseeing and hiking through the San Juan Islands.  A light breakfast will be served aboard while we journey to famous Sucia Island State Park for 2 hours of hiking. Sucia Island State Park is a 564-acre marine park with 77,700 feet of shoreline. It is considered the crown jewel of the state's marine park system and is consistently ranked as one of the top boating destinations in the world. The shoreline is famous for its evocative, highly eroded sandstone formations - with cliffs, hoodoos, arches, and caves. Sucia Island is also a tremendous viewing area for seals, porpoise, eagles, seabirds, and whales. 

Upon arrival at Sucia, a sack lunch is provided for you as you explore the island for the next two hours.  We'll return to Roche Harbor at 4:30 where you can enjoy the late afternoon and dinner on your own.

On September 30, we begin our return loop back to Port Townsend. We'll say goodbye to Roche Harbor at 9AM.  While enjoying a light breakfast, we will head on a new course through the islands, south through the Swinomish Slough and on through Deception Pass.  Wildlife should be plentiful and the scenery simply stunning.  After taking in the historic La Conner waterfront and the nearby tidelands, soaking in the views and the endless variety of shorebirds, we will journey through the wild tide currents of Deception Pass.  

Back out on Strait of Juan de Fuca we will head south past Smith Island Marine Sanctuary - an island in the middle of the sea that is home to thousands of seabirds and mammals.  Weather permitting, we expect to arrive in Port Townsend at 3PM.

Package includes:

Three days aboard Glacier Spirit

Breakfast and lunch meals aboard the vessel

Two nights accommodation at Roche Harbor Resort

To sign up, go to PugetSoundExpress.com or call (360) 385-5288
Enter code "PTMSC10" as you order, and PSE will give 10% of the proceeds to PTMSC