Alaska Wild Coast — Attraction in Baranof Island

A must-do adventure if you find yourself in Sitka. This was our third stop in Alaska and with how great our time had been so far, our expectations were high. Beautiful scenery and Alaskan wildlife felt like the whole purpose of the trip and Captain John did not disappoint. He and his wife Alison met us at the ramp where our tender dropped us off. Alison drove my grandfather to the dock while John walked our family there along downtown, pointing out must stop locations after our trip and giving us a historical background of the town. Upon arrival at the dock we boarded his boat, the Peregrine, a 30-foot coastal landing craft. It was immediately clear the pride that Captain John takes not only in his craft but the comfort of his passengers. The vessel was extremely clean and spacious with comfortable seating, 360 views from inside and out cabin and stocked with snacks, hot and cold beverages , as well as plenty of quality binoculars and wildlife reading material for the trip. Before heading out, Captain John instructed us on safety procedures including the location and use of rescue materials and the radio, allowing us to focus all our energy on enjoying the trip but knowing we felt well prepared in an unlikely situation. We quickly set off and enjoyed several hours of what Alaska is all about. We saw all kinds of wildlife: harbor seals, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, and of course whales; both humpback and grey, some coming within probably 25 yards of our boat. Captain John took great care in making sure that we were able to get up close while respecting the wildlife, keeping our distance or even relocating to other locations if he felt the wildlife was not comfortable, a skill only honed by decades of experience. The whole trip felt extremely dynamic and customized to us with Captain John finding the best views of what wildlife we wanted to see as well as having chances to go on shore and see native fishermen catch salmon. The entire time Captain John answered the countless questions we had and educated us on the rich history of Sitka and its ecosystem. When our trip ended, Captain John offered to drop us off closer to our ship and we had plenty of time to explore town, shop and get a bite to eat.

If you are looking to have a personal and educational encounter with Alaskan wildlife, we can not recommend Alaska Wild Coast enough. You will have the best views of the marine life that can’t be matched by larger excursions and will leave more educated on the wonderful ecosystem and community. We left Captain John feeling like we had taken a boat ride with a longtime friend and a couple that is as excited to show you Alaska as you are to see it. We absolutely plan on returning to Sitka and look forward to seeing John and...

Amazing! Best Alaska experience we've had. From start to finish Captain John was thorough, communicative, friendly, and accommodating. The Peregrine is the perfect vessel for your group of up to 6 people - enclosed cabin, bathroom, and outside viewing area. We had the whole ship with Captain John guiding us, and he showed us EVERYTHING! Otters, sea lions, ORCAS, and a grey whale that came right up to our boat - a rare treat! Captain John was always considerate of the animals and careful not to approach too close; they approached us. He also showed us interesting historic military sites along the coast, and explained the history of Sitka dating back to the Aleutian and Russian era. To top it all off, he dropped us right back at our cruise ship, saving us a bus ride back. HIGHLY RECOMMEND Alaska Wild Coast for your Sitka coastal...

Five stars simply isn't enough! Our entire family enjoyed our customized outing in Sitka, Alaska. John and Allison are the most gracious hosts and give an amazing tour. We went on a custom wildlife and beach picnic tour. We were able to see sea lions, whales, otters, and a variety of birds on our excursion. We got incredibly close to the Saint Lazaria Islands. It was incredible to see the many different types of birds that inhabited this island. Captain John is incredibly respectful of the wildlife. We also enjoyed an AMAZING picnic lunch on a secluded beach. Allison is a wonderful chef and my family is still talking about the tour and lunch. This was easily the best excursion of our whole Alaska cruise. I would not hesitate to book with them again! You and your family will absolutely enjoy every minute spent on...