Watch beluga whales in Churchill, on Hudson Bay, where around 57,000 belugas spend the summer and some 4,000 crowd into the Churchill River estuary to feed, mate and give birth. From June to September, these curious white whales approach boats, kayaks and paddleboards, chattering so much they are nicknamed the canaries of the sea. Nearby, the remote Seal River estuary offers an even wilder, fly-in version of the same experience. It is the world's most accessible beluga gathering, best from mid July to mid August.
Watch beluga whales in Churchill, on Hudson Bay, where around 57,000 belugas spend the summer and some 4,000 crowd into the Churchill River estuary to feed, mate and give birth. From June to September, these curious white whales approach boats, kayaks and paddleboards, chattering so much they are nicknamed the canaries of the sea. Nearby, the remote Seal River estuary offers an even wilder, fly-in version of the same experience. It is the world's most accessible beluga gathering, best from mid July to mid August.
Up to 98% sighting chance in Churchill / Hudson Bay (Manitoba, Canada). Best months: July, August, June.
June to September, best from mid July to mid August, when thousands of belugas crowd the Churchill River estuary.
No. Since 2018, Canadian regulations ban in water encounters and require boats to stay 50 m away. You can still get close by Zodiac, kayak or paddleboard, and hear them on a hydrophone.
Western Hudson Bay is home to about 57,000 belugas, with roughly 4,000 gathering in the Churchill area each summer.
There are no roads to Churchill. It is reached by plane or train from Winnipeg, and tours are usually multi day packages including lodges.
About 60 km north of Churchill, the remote Seal River estuary hosts the same summer beluga gathering with barely another visitor around. It is reached by small plane and based at a single wilderness lodge, for a wilder, more intimate trip.
