Sea Otter Encounters

• General admission is required on top of your Encounter tickets. General admission must be purchased for the same day as your selected Otter Encounter for all guests in your group who are not Vancouver Aquarium members. If you arrive to your Encounter without general admission tickets, you will be asked to purchase them at our Admissions desk before entering the aquarium.

• Encounters start at 1:00 PM sharp. Please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early. One of our Interpreters will meet you at the Sea Otter Encounter sign next to our Guest Services desk, located near the Aquarium entrance.
  
  
• Sea Otter Encounters are approximately 50-60 minutes from start to finish, but you are welcome to explore the other wonders of the Aquarium before or after your encounter! Don't miss our all-new limited time exhibit, Monsters Of The Abyss.

• Secure storage is available for personal items like coats and bags, though we recommend leaving valuables at home. Vancouver Aquarium is not held responsible for any lost items.

• Filming of any kind is strictly prohibited behind-the-scenes where our Marine Mammal Team is hard at work, but you’re welcome to take photos and videos during your Otter Encounter!

• The encounter takes place rain or shine, allowing you to experience the authentic Canadian climate just like our sea otters. Dress accordingly based on the weather forecast.
  
  
• Closed toe shoes are required for all participating guests during the program. We strongly recommend wearing shoes that you don’t mind getting wet. After all, every zone is a potential splash zone when playful otters are involved!

• This program is protective contact for the safety of our animals, and guests will always be protected by a barrier. You may have the opportunity for hand-to-paw contact. While our otters are usually eager to extend a paw, we cannot guarantee it. Just like humans, otters have their own unique personalities and sometimes, they simply might not feel like it. We do our best to mentally enrich and positively reinforce our rescues to display certain behaviours but will never make them do anything they don’t want to. Rest assured you will still have a paw-some time!

• Important: At the Vancouver Aquarium, respect is like a current that flows both ways during every Sea Otter Encounter. We kindly request that all participants treat our dedicated staff and incredible animals with the utmost respect and consideration. For the safety of our valued guests, staff, and animals, the minimum age to participate in an Sea Otter Encounter is 8 and up. Your party will be asked to present valid government-issued I.D. upon arrival. Vancouver Aquarium reserves the right to deny entry to guests in violation of our code of conduct or age requirement. No refunds or requests to reschedule will be accommodated.
• Please note your scheduled Sea Otter Encounter may be cancelled at any time, should it be deemed necessary to prioritize the health and welfare of our sea otters. In such an event, we will promptly arrange for your experience to be rescheduled for a later date. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in ensuring the well-being of our furry friends!

Please be aware that our new Sea Otter Encounter program may pose physical challenges for some guests. Currently, the experience involves navigating stairs, traversing uneven surfaces, as well as periods of crouching, kneeling, and standing for extended periods (1+ hours).

Regrettably, we are unable to accommodate walkers or wheelchairs at this time. However, we're committed to exploring innovative solutions to enhance accessibility for all guests. For more information, please visit our Accessibility page.

For all Animal Encounter experiences that are cancelled with more than 48-hour notice, we will provide a 50% refund. No refunds will be offered if the guest(s) cancel within 48 hours of or do not show up for the experience. Subject to availability, we will charge a $100 change fee to rebook for another date and/or time.