San Juan Safaris

What San Juan Safaris does

San Juan Safaris, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned whale watching and wildlife tour company founded in 1996 by owner-operator Brian Goodremont and headquartered at 10 Front St. Suite 102 in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Washington. The company operates a fleet of four Coast Guard-approved vessels — Osprey (126 passengers), Sea Lion (44), Kestrel (20, a 35-knot rigid inflatable), and Larus (6, for water taxi) — running primarily from mid-April through early October in the Haro Strait of the Salish Sea, one of the world's premier Southern Resident Killer Whale viewing areas. Every tour includes Coast Guard-approved captains and Marine Naturalists who provide on-board interpretation of local wildlife, ecology, and geology.

The product portfolio spans public Classic Whale Watch tours ($89–$125 per person) and high-speed Adventure tours ($150) departing from Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor, a new 2026 Full Day Safari premium product, private charters ($1,700–$6,395 per charter) for corporate events, weddings, and birding safaris up to 125 guests, kayak tours through sister company San Juan Island Outfitters, inter-island water taxi service, and a co-marketed Whale Plane Package with Kenmore Air for Seattle fly-in visitors. Pricing is per-person for public tours and per-charter for private bookings, with online gift cards as ancillary revenue. The company is a member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association and runs a Conservation Fund established in 2015 that donates $2 per tour ticket to orca and salmon conservation organizations, with cumulative donations exceeding $300,000 since founding.

San Juan Safaris serves a hybrid mix of individual leisure travelers and families (primary segment, sold direct via website and phone), plus corporate groups (Google, Microsoft, Young Presidents Organization), wedding parties (Roche Harbor), and conservation organizations (Sierra Club) purchasing private charters. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through sanjuansafaris.com and 360.378.1323, with Kenmore Air as a channel partner for Seattle-based travelers and Instagram (@sanjuansafaris) and a Whale Report Blog supporting organic top-of-funnel demand. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors.

Name

San Juan Safaris

Legal name

San Juan Safaris, Inc.

Website

https://sanjuansafaris.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

San Juan Safaris is a family-owned, Friday Harbor-based whale watching and wildlife tour operator running a four-vessel Coast Guard-approved fleet in Washington State's San Juan Islands, serving leisure travelers, families, corporate groups, and weddings with public tours, private charters, water taxi, and kayak services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Wildlife Tourism and Charter Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours (THAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA), Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD), Private Charters & Yacht Experiences (Crewed, Bareboat, Day Charters) (THAJAJAB)

Keywords

• Whale watching tours
• Wildlife viewing tours
• Marine ecotourism
• Private boat charters
• Pacific northwest tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Friday Harbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Whale Watching Tours: Standard whale watching tours sold to individual travelers and families, including Classic and Adventure tour options departing from Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor. Tours are priced per person with adult and child rates.
2. Private Charters & Events: Custom private tour experiences for groups of 1-100 participants. Includes corporate events, weddings, family reunions, birding safaris, and water taxi services. Three vessel options (Osprey, Sea Lion, Kestrel) with different capacity and pricing tiers.
3. Gift Cards & Merchandise: Online gift card sales for tours and charters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

San Juan Safaris operates guided whale watching and wildlife tours in the Salish Sea aboard a fleet of Coast Guard-approved vessels departing from Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, Washington. The company sells per-person public tours (Classic and Adventure itineraries), a new immersive Full Day Safari, and private charter experiences aboard four vessels for corporate events, weddings, and custom groups, complemented by water taxi, birding safari, kayak tour, and combined air-sea packages with Kenmore Air.

Product overview

San Juan Safaris is a whale watching and wildlife tour company operating from San Juan Island in Washington State. The company offers a portfolio of tour products centered around marine wildlife observation in the Salish Sea, including standard Classic Whale Watch tours (3-4 hours) from Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor, high-speed Adventure Whale Watch tours aboard the rigid inflatable Kestrel vessel, and new Full Day Safari experiences (5-6 hours). Private charter services are available across four vessels: Osprey (up to 126 passengers), Sea Lion (44 passengers), Kestrel (20 passengers), and Larus (6 passengers for water taxis). Additional offerings include wedding and event charters, birding safaris, water taxi services, kayak tours, and Whale Plane Package in partnership with Kenmore Air for Seattle-to-island air-sea combinations. The company is a member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Classic Whale Watch & Wildlife Tour @ Friday Harbor Standard 3-4 hour whale watching and wildlife tour departing from Friday Harbor with Marine Naturalists on board, heated cabin, comfortable restrooms, and family-friendly seating. Priced per person (adult $125, child $89).
• Classic Whale Watch & Wildlife Tour @ Roche Harbor 3-4 hour sunset whale watching tour departing from Roche Harbor featuring 1-3 Marine Naturalists on board. Ideal for families, elderly travelers, and large groups of up to 45. Priced per person (adult $125, child $89, infant free).
• Adventure Whale Watch & Wildlife Tour @ Friday Harbor 3-hour high-speed whale watching tour aboard the M/V Kestrel rigid inflatable zodiac-style vessel cruising at 35 knots, with almost water-level views, 360-degree walk-around deck, exposure suits, and restroom on board. Minimum age 8. Priced $150 per person.
• Full Day Safari New 2026 5-6 hour immersive wildlife tour aboard Kestrel vessel with smallest group sizes, personalized attention from Captains and Marine Naturalists, targeting unique corners of the Salish Sea to maximize chances of seeing whales and other marine species.
• Osprey Private Charter Private charter aboard the M/V Osprey, the fleet's largest Coast Guard-approved vessel holding up to 126 passengers. Features two restrooms, full wrap-around observation deck, two viewing deck levels, inside cabin with tables, and a galley. Standard 4-hour charter price $6,395 plus taxes and fees.
• Sea Lion Private Charter Private charter aboard the M/V Sea Lion, the flagship vessel built for Pacific Northwest wildlife viewing, accommodating 44 passengers. Features indoor and outdoor seating, one restroom. Standard 4-hour charter price $4,495 plus taxes and fees.
• Kestrel Private Charter Private charter aboard the M/V Kestrel, the smallest and fastest rigid inflatable-style zodiac vessel, accommodating up to 20 passengers (ages 8+). Features full sight lines, covered seating, and exposure suits. Standard 4-hour charter price $3,495 plus taxes and fees.
• Larus Water Taxi & Transfer Private water taxi and inter-island transfer service aboard the M/V Larus, accommodating 6 passengers on a fast vessel operated by an expert Captain with marine interpretation. Standard 2-hour charter price $1,700 plus taxes and fees.
• Weddings and Events Charters Private boat charters for wedding ceremonies, wedding welcome dinners, rehearsal dinners, bachelor/bachelorette activities, corporate retreats, and large parties up to 125 people. Available across the Osprey, Sea Lion, and Kestrel vessels.
• Birding Safari Chartered 3-4 hour boat tour focused on birding in obscure coves and backwaters of the San Juan Islands in search of birds and other wildlife.
• Whale Plane Package Combined travel package offered in partnership with Kenmore Air, featuring a scenic seaplane flight from Seattle to San Juan Island bundled with a San Juan Safaris whale watching tour.
• Kayak Tours Guided sea kayak tours accessible from the Friday Harbor ferry terminal, operated under the affiliated San Juan Island Outfitters brand alongside San Juan Safaris.

Quantifiable outcome

• Guaranteed to see marine wildlife on every tour
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Center for Whale ResearchminorOthers · 1 January 2015Non-profit that monitors the Southern Resident Community of Killer Whales (SRKWs) through photo identification and observations. Primary recipient of San Juan Safaris' Conservation Fund.
• Save Our Wild SalmonminorOthers · 1 January 2015Nationwide coalition working to restore healthy populations of wild salmon to river systems in the Pacific Northwest through dam removal and restoration. Salmon are the main food source for Southern Resident Killer Whales.
• Long Live the KingsminorOthers · 1 January 2015Non-profit working towards restoring wild steelhead and salmon populations through education, outreach, and habitat management programs.
• Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud member of the Pacific Whale Watch Association (formerly known as Whale Watch Operators Association Northwest). The association has worked with scientists, NOAA, and industry leaders to assist in writing the Whale Watching Guidelines and Best Practices.
• Kenmore AirminorGTM or Marketing Partner'Whale Plane Packages' - partnership offering scenic flights from Seattle to San Juan Island combined with whale watching tours, providing a seamless travel option for Seattle metro area visitors.
• The Whale MuseumminorOthersLocal San Juan Islands organization receiving smaller donations from San Juan Safaris Conservation Fund.
• San Juan County Land BankminorOthersLocal land conservation organization receiving smaller donations from San Juan Safaris Conservation Fund.
• San Juan Preservation TrustminorOthersLocal preservation organization receiving smaller donations from San Juan Safaris Conservation Fund.
• Shaw Centre for the Salish SeaminorOthersLocal marine education center receiving smaller donations from San Juan Safaris Conservation Fund.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crystal Seas Kayaking: San Juan Islands sea kayak tour company based in Friday Harbor. Competes directly with the kayak tours offered through San Juan Island Outfitters, the sister company to San Juan Safaris.
• Island Adventures Whalewatch: Friday Harbor-based whale watching operator running scheduled tours and private charters in the same Haro Strait waters as San Juan Safaris. Direct competitor for both public ticketed tours and corporate/wedding charter business in San Juan Islands.
• Western Prince Whale & Wildlife Tours: Friday Harbor-based whale watching and wildlife tour operator with similar vessel-based tours departing San Juan Island. Closest direct competitor given overlapping departure point, identical customer base, and comparable 3-4 hour tour products.
• Outer Island Excursions: San Juan Islands whale watching and wildlife tour operator based out of Friday Harbor. Competes for the same orca and wildlife viewing tourists with similar vessel-based tour products.
• Discovery Sea Kayak Adventures: San Juan Islands-based kayak tour operator that competes with the sister company San Juan Island Outfitters for guided kayak business. Adjacent competitor in the company's kayak tour product line.
• Maya's Legacy Whale Watching: San Juan Islands-based whale watching operator offering small-group naturalist-led tours in the Salish Sea. Directly comparable in tour duration, naturalist-led experience, and family/eco-tourist target market.
• San Juan Excursions: Friday Harbor-based whale watching and wildlife tour company. Operates similar tour durations and naturalist-led experiences targeting the same tourist base visiting the San Juan Islands.

Regional players

• Prince of Whales Whale Watching: Victoria, BC-based whale watching operator serving the same Southern Resident Killer Whale population from the Canadian side of the Salish Sea. Comparable product offering (orca-focused naturalist tours) but different departure geography.
• Eagle Wing Tours: Victoria, BC-based whale watching tour operator running covered vessels and RIB tours in the Salish Sea. Same Southern Resident orca population but Canadian departure point; comparable vessel mix and premium positioning.

Others

• Kenmore Air Express: Seattle-based seaplane operator that partners with San Juan Safaris on Whale Plane Packages. Not a competitor but a closely aligned channel partner that drives a meaningful share of Seattle-originating customers to the company.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sanjuansafaris
• Xx.com/sanjuansafaris

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about San Juan Safaris