Seetee's Blog

Did you know that you can swim with Beluga Whales??

Vivian knows that I love beluga whales (they’re just so cute) so she sent me this article from the San Francisco Chronicle.

By the way, “beluga” is derived from the Russian word meaning “white”. ..fitting yes?

Time to start saving up!!

When to go

The beluga-viewing season in Churchill runs from mid-July to mid-August.

Getting there

Winnipeg is the jumping-off point for flights north to Churchill. Air fare is typically included in beluga-watching packages, but if it’s not, Calm Air flies between the two cities for about $1,000 round trip; www.calmair.com.Via Rail runs a train from Winnipeg to Churchill three times a week; it takes a day and a half and costs about $500 ($490 U.S.). www.viarail.ca, (888) 842-7245.

Tours

In Churchill, Lazy Bear Lodge offers packages with air fare, lodging and tours. They have yet to set prices for the summer of 2010. The basic two-night Beluga Whale Dream Tour includes a three-hour boat tour, breakfasts and one dinner – but not snorkeling or kayaking. Last summer it cost $1,350 ($1,320 U.S.) per person with air fare, $350 ($340 U.S.) without. A four-night package includes a longer boat tour and last summer cost $2,475 ($2,415 U.S.) with air fare, $1,475 ($1,440 U.S.) without. Add-on snorkeling tours last summer cost $202.50 ($198 U.S.); kayaking tours cost $112 ($109 U.S.). www.lazybearlodge.com, (866) 687-2327.

Up the coast, the much fancier Seal River Heritage Lodge offers a six-night Birds, Bears and Belugas program on the Seal River estuary that last summer cost $6,195 ($6,045 U.S.). It includes air fare from Winnipeg, lodging, meals and kayaking and snorkeling outings. (866) 846-9453, www.churchillwild.com.

Do it yourself

For those with their own transportation and lodging, Sea North Tours offers three-hour beluga-viewing boat tours out of Churchill for $90 ($88 U.S.) per adult and $45 ($44 U.S.) for children younger than 12. Kayaking is $120 ($117 U.S.) per person for 2 1/2 hours. Snorkeling with belugas costs $170 ($166 U.S.) per person for two hours. www.seanorthtours.com, (204) 675-2195. The Sea North Web site has listings for Churchill lodging.

For more information

www.destinationchurchill.com, www.travelmanitoba.com.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/25/TR2A1A5MGK.DTL#ixzz0V1WTHlMq

VIA SF Chronicle