Beluga Whale Trip Report 2026
- WEEK 4 -

Churchill, Canada
August 11 - 17, 2026

August 12, 2026.  Day 1. 

We kicked off Week 4 with a morning wildlife safari and found our first polar bear hanging out near the dump. It was pretty far out.

We snapped a few proof-of-life images and continued on.

When we reached Bird Cove, we noticed a few trucks gathered in the distance. We headed over to investigate and spotted a mom with two cubs far out across the landscape. We believe these were the same sleepy bears we encountered a few days ago resting on the rocks, the family that had the encounter with another mom and her cubs last week.

It looked like mom was eating something out there. Maybe a seal carcass?

We watched them for a while and were treated to a really sweet moment when mom stopped to nurse her cubs.

Always sweet to see them be motherly. 

On the way back, we stopped near the gun range and found another mom with two cubs near the trash dump.

Seven polar bears on Day 1. Not a bad way to start the week.

At 6:30 PM, we headed out onto the Churchill River. The sun teased us throughout the evening, peeking in and out from behind thick rain clouds.

The good news was there was no wind. The river was flat calm and beautiful.

The belugas, however, were very spread out and weren't particularly interested in the boats. We had a couple of nice passes, but not many up-close encounters.

But sadly it was dark. Bad vis and bad light.

Still, we had a few moments that made the day for our friends, and that made me happy.

By the time we left it was almost sunset.

Here in Churchill we go out only during high tide. The reason is, during low tide, the water visibility is a thick brown soup.

So for any chance of seeing belugas underwater, we need high tide, and hopefully the day brings in nice-ish water .

Thankfully tomorrow we start at 8:00 AM, and with it, a lot more day light.

Hopefully, the whales will be ready to play.