Founding member · Whale watching
A small, locally owned whale watching operation running out of Hoonah's own harbor — six guests, one boat, and a guaranteed humpback sighting on every trip out to Point Adolphus.
Whales of Xunaa is a locally owned and operated marine wildlife excursion based at 272 Marine Way in Hoonah, about 1.4 miles from the Icy Strait Point dock. "Xunaa" is the Tlingit name for Hoonah. The company is run by Captain Paul, who moved to Alaska in 1984 and settled in Hoonah in 2007 after nearly 40 years combined time on the water. Before guiding whale tours, he served the Hoonah community as a police officer, EMT, and fire chief, and has spent 16 years running whale watching tours here, logging more than 5,500 hours on the water with whales. His wife Mary manages the local airport, and the couple raised three children in Hoonah.
The boat itself has its own story: the Orca is a 27-foot Safeboat with twin Yamaha 250 engines, previously used as a patrol boat by the Alaska State Troopers. It now carries a covered back deck and a heated, dry cabin, capped at six guests total — a deliberately small, personal trip rather than a large multi-deck tour vessel.
What you'll see
Booking details
$205 per person plus local sales tax. Only six seats per tour (infants included in the count), so trips sell out — booking ahead is worth it.
Arrive 15 minutes before your tour time. The boat leaves on time.
Hoonah sits in a rainforest — expect 45–65°F and rain is common. Dress in layers with a light rain jacket.
Less than 1 in 1,000 guests report it, and the water is usually calm, but a small-boat tour isn't recommended if you're prone to vertigo or seasickness. If conditions are too rough to safely go out, the tour is cancelled and fully refunded.
Full refund with more than 24 hours' notice. Same-day cancellations aren't refunded unless it's a ship delay or weather call outside your control.
Getting to the boat
The tour meets at the Excursion Hub inside Icy Strait Point, or at their bright yellow house next to the brewery if you're already in town at 272 Marine Way.
Exit through the Port of Icy Strait Adventure Center via door 2, then follow the Excursion Hub signs along the gravel path — about 6–8 minutes on foot.
Ride the Green Transporter Gondola (about 4 minutes) to Adventure Landing, exit left, then follow the gravel path signs to the Excursion Hub — another 4 minutes. Expect longer gondola lines right when a ship first arrives.
It's about a 20-minute walk along the shoreline into Hoonah, or a quick ride on the Icy Strait Point shuttle bus, which stops directly at their yellow house. See our full walking + shuttle guide for timing.
Every trip
Quick answers
Yes. Whales of Xunaa guarantees a humpback whale sighting on every tour, year-round, thanks to the reliable feeding grounds near Point Adolphus off Hoonah.
$205 per person plus local sales tax. The boat holds six guests total, including infants, so tours sell out and booking ahead is recommended.
Layers with a light rain jacket. Temperatures on the water typically run 45–65°F and rain is common in this rainforest climate.
At the Excursion Hub inside Icy Strait Point, or at their yellow house next to the brewery at 272 Marine Way if you're already in Hoonah. Check in 15 minutes before your tour time.
Seasickness is rare on these tours, but a small boat isn't recommended if you're prone to vertigo. If conditions are unsafe, Whales of Xunaa cancels and fully refunds the tour.
Book directly with Whales of Xunaa, or read our full whale watching guide for how this compares to other options in Hoonah.
Whales of Xunaa is a founding member of the Hoonah Off Ship directory. See their full listing, call direct at (907) 321-5501, email info@whalesofxunaa.com, or get directions.