A wonderland of azure bays, rippling lakes, old-growth forests and lofty mountain peaks, Vancouver Island lies simply off the coast of mainland British Columbia, however in lots of respects it appears like its personal distinct province.

Though British Columbia’s capital metropolis, Victoria, lies at its southeastern tip, most of Vancouver Island is virgin wilderness. At 12,079 sq. miles, it is practically six occasions bigger than Canada‘s solely island province, Prince Edward Island.

But, as immense as it’s, you may get to know the highest locations on the extra populous but nonetheless ruggedly gorgeous southern third of the island in lower than per week. The highlights embody Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula, the far southwestern shoreline out to Port Renfrew, and the Gulf Islands archipelago. And if in case you have a bit additional time, you may tack on a facet journey to idyllic and idiosyncratic Tofino, on the island’s wild west coast.

An journey on this a part of Canada appeals to recreation fans, foodies, artists and tradition seekers. Hikers and beachcombers will uncover infinite alternatives to commune with nature and consider dramatic wildlife, from formidable orcas (killer whales) to myriad migratory birds.

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Victoria, together with even the island’s smaller cities, abounds with farm-to-table eating places and third-wave cafes, together with laid-back but typically fairly prestigious artwork galleries and crafts boutiques.

Ferries ply the area’s spectacular Salish Sea, making it straightforward to journey by automobile from the mainland to Vancouver Island after which among the many Gulf Islands, which lie simply off of Vancouver Island’s southeastern coast. From Victoria, it is a scenic 90-minute ferry trip throughout the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Port Angeles, Washington, making it straightforward to mix this journey with a further street journey across the Olympic Peninsula and San Juan Islands.

Planning recommendation

Timing and border crossings

Though you may get round Victoria’s Internal Harbour and several other of the cities within the space on foot, a automobile is required to get across the extra rural elements of the island. Factoring within the time you may spend in Vancouver if that is your gateway metropolis, give your self a minimum of eight days to expertise this itinerary. That provides you sufficient time to spend two or three nights in Victoria, an evening in Sooke or Port Renfrew, and three to 5 nights within the Gulf Islands.

Tack on two or three nights for those who’re additionally going to Tofino. Should you’re planning to ferry or drive into neighboring Washington, bear in mind to journey together with your passport and ensure that for those who’re renting a automobile, the company lets you take it over the border (most British Columbia and Washington rental businesses do enable this).

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Charges and reservations

Ferry charges, particularly when touring with a automobile, can add some expense to your journey. In excessive season, for instance, it prices round 160 Canadian {dollars} (about $118) to take the ferry (together with a standard-size car, driver and passenger) to Salt Spring Island by way of Swartz Bay after which to proceed on to Tsawwassen on the British Columbia mainland. If taking the Black Ball Ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles, plan to spend about CA$135 ($100).

Though ferry reservations aren’t required, they’re a good suggestion for those who’re bringing a automobile, particularly on weekends and throughout the busy mid-spring to mid-fall excessive season.

Greatest begin and finish factors

Together with time spent on the ferry, it is just a few hours’ drive from Vancouver on the British Columbia mainland to get to Victoria. If renting a automobile, keep in mind that you will must return your car in the identical nation that you simply picked it up, and that returning it at a unique location inside Canada can lead to steep one-way charges.

This journey begins in Victoria; nonetheless, the area’s largest airport with the best variety of direct flights is Vancouver Worldwide Airport (YVR), so it might take advantage of sense to begin and finish your travels there, after which catch a ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, a brief drive from Victoria.

Though there are fewer direct flights to Victoria Worldwide Airport (YYJ) than to Vancouver, it could actually nonetheless make sense to begin and finish your journey there, particularly for those who’re brief on time or touring solely a portion of this itinerary.

The perfect time to go to Vancouver Island

The preferred season for exploring this area is mid-Might by way of mid-October. That is when you may rely on the driest and sunniest climate. That mentioned, Victoria and the Gulf Islands are within the Olympic rain shadow and thus usually obtain much less rain and cloud cowl than a lot of the remainder of western British Columbia.

So even when visiting within the coronary heart of winter, it is attainable to expertise a minimum of some partly sunny days. As you may count on, resort charges are significantly greater throughout the excessive season, and you may additionally expertise extra crowds presently. Attempt to reserve resort rooms properly prematurely throughout the busy interval, and put together for probably lengthy waits to board the ferry.

If visiting throughout the quieter months, from mid-autumn by way of mid-spring, you will have rather more of the island and its scenic roads to your self, and you may additionally probably save fairly some huge cash.

Moreover, the dramatic squalls that always blow by way of the coastal Pacific Northwest from mid-November by way of March have created a extremely widespread phenomenon often known as storm-watching, which usually entails some mixture of braving the weather to stroll on or close to the seaside (however safely away from the possibly harmful surf) after which holing up afterward in a comfy room adorned with tall home windows and perhaps — hopefully — a fuel fire, with an excellent e book, a favourite companion and/or a bottle of wine.

Victoria, British Columbia

From Port Angeles, it is a 90-minute ferry trip throughout the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Victoria, the dignified and — by Canadian requirements — balmy capital of British Columbia. With a inhabitants of about 92,000, it is also the second-largest metropolis (after Nanaimo, which is just barely bigger) on Vancouver Island, an enormous (it is practically half as giant as Eire) however minimally developed tract of sculpted inlets, jagged mountain peaks and temperate rainforest.

Because it approaches downtown’s compact skyline of midrise towers, the ferry chugs slowly by way of the sheltered, picturesque Internal Harbour, which is house to the fixed hum of seaplanes, pleasure boats and water taxis.

From the terminal, you may stroll to lots of this leafy metropolis’s high sights, together with the ornately neo-baroque provincial parliament buildings, the participating Royal BC Museum and the Fairmont Empress resort. Afternoon excessive tea on this venerable 1908 resort is a treasured ceremony in addition to a testomony to Victoria’s conventional — some may say fusty —British repute.

In actuality, Victoria has develop into quickly youthful, extra numerous and dynamic in recent times, and hip craft breweries, third-wave coffeehouses, stylish worldwide bistros and sceney (however pleasant) cocktail lounges now proliferate. Lots of the greatest eating and ingesting spots are set alongside downtown’s Fisgard Road, which varieties the guts of town’s historic Chinatown.

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It is a brief stroll from the waterfront to town’s most celebrated inexperienced area, Beacon Hill Park, with its pine-shaded trails that lead south to Spiral Seaside and Finlayson Level — these are two fabulous spots for watching the sundown throughout the water, again towards Washington’s snowcapped Olympic Mountains. A favourite a part of the park is Beacon Hill Kids’s Farm, the place you may see and typically pet pot-bellied pigs, miniature donkeys, goats and different cute critters. Attempt to time your go to to look at the ridiculously cute every day goat stampedes at round 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Go away the park by driving east alongside scenic Dallas Highway and Seaside Drive, following the curving shoreline and admiring genteel Oak Bay, after which take Freeway 17 north to the lovable port city of Sidney, which is house to the terrific Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea aquarium.

On the way in which to Sidney, put aside a minimum of a few hours to detour a number of miles west on Keating Cross Highway to the famend Butchart Gardens, a 55-acre former limestone quarry on Brentwood Bay that in 1921 was remodeled right into a collection of rigorously deliberate and curated gardens.

The place to remain

Get pleasure from views of the ferries, yachts and seaplanes that ply Victoria’s Internal Harbour from the balcony of your room on the fashionably glossy Inn at Laurel Level (charges begin at CA$289 per night time), with a Japanese backyard, a pool and a very good Pacific Rim-inspired restaurant, Aura.

Abigail’s Resort (charges begin at CA$429 per night time) is an expensive old-world Tudor Revival inn constructed within the Nineteen Thirties. It stands out for its attentive service and gourmand breakfasts, and it is near each Beacon Hill Park and historic downtown.

A scenic 10-minute drive east of the Internal Harbour by way of famously lovely Dallas Highway, the Oak Bay Seaside Resort (charges begin at CA$277 per night time) options gorgeously appointed, up to date rooms in addition to three curvaceous heated mineral swimming pools overlooking the ocean and San Juan Island within the distance. This boutique resort’s Boathouse Spa affords a full slate of ultrarelaxing therapeutic massage companies and physique remedies, and since 1954, the Comfortable Pub has been a beloved spot for waterfront cocktails and informal eating.

With a full-service spa and an excellent location steps from Glass Seaside and the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea aquarium, the up to date Sidney Pier Resort & Spa (charges begin at CA$249 per night time) is only a brief drive from the ferries to the Gulf Islands.

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Sooke and Port Renfrew, British Columbia

For a splendid drive alongside Vancouver Island’s verdant and unhurried southern coast, make the two-hour trek to Port Renfrew, which lies actually on the finish of the street.

From Victoria, take gently rolling and lushly forested Freeway 14 — stopping in Sooke, with its farm-to-table eating places and posh nation inns — and proceed because the street hugs the pristine shoreline.

Magnificent vistas of Washington’s Olympic Mountains await, and you may uncover a number of lovely parks and seashores alongside the route, together with French Seaside, Jordan River Regional Park (the place you may cease contained in the quirky Chilly Shoulder Cafe for an Earl Gray latte or a bowl of chanterelle mushroom soup), and Sombrio Seaside. On the finish of Freeway 14, you will lastly come to tiny Port Renfrew, a hub of First Nations tradition that lies the place the San Juan and Gordon rivers empty into the ocean.

Great spots for a stroll embody the tide swimming pools and dramatic rock formations of Botanical Seaside Provincial Park and Avatar Grove, with its hulking, gnarled old-growth cedars.

You may return to Victoria the way in which you got here, or you may make a half-hour-longer scenic loop by way of dense evergreen forests to Lake Cowichan after which alongside the west facet of Saanich Inlet.

The place to remain

One of the acclaimed nation inns in British Columbia, the Sooke Harbour Home (charges begin at CA$429 per night time) closed in 2020 to be able to bear a significant renovation. As of this writing, the 28-room inn was planning to reopen someday in early 2024, and the vaunted locavore-minded restaurant — which has drawn foodies because it opened within the late Seventies — might be helmed by celebrated chef Melissa Craig.

A shocking up to date compound of log-style bungalows perched over the ocean or overlooking aromatic gardens, Wild Renfrew Seaside Cottages (charges begin at CA$249 per night time) sits amid the traditional forests lining Port San Juan Inlet. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling home windows, and lots of have non-public decks, fireplaces and sizzling tubs.

Extra reasonably priced lodgings are discovered within the close by motel-style West Coast Path Lodge (charges begin at CA$139 per night time), which is owned and operated by the identical crew. It is only a brief stroll from both property to the pleasant Renfrew Pub, an off-the-cuff eatery with elevated Canadian fare and expansive water views.

The Gulf Islands, British Columbia

From Swartz Bay, only a 30-minute drive north of Sidney, you may catch frequent ferries to discover the easygoing and extremely picturesque southern Gulf Islands, that are geologically a part of the identical archipelago because the San Juan Islands, simply throughout the maritime border with america.

Just like the San Juans, these emerald isles are sparsely populated and minimally developed, making them ultimate for a peaceable getaway amid breathtaking pure surroundings. Biking, mountaineering, fishing and kayaking are prime actions in these elements.

All the islands coated on this itinerary are served by BC Ferries, however remember that ferry schedules can change typically, so at all times affirm on-line when boats are working and to the place.

A superb technique is to spend a few nights on the biggest and most populous of the group, Salt Spring Island, after which put aside one other day or two to go to as much as three extra islands set alongside the principle ferry route between Swartz Bay and the mainland city of Tsawwassen: Pender, Mayne and Galiano.

Salt Spring Island

It is a simple 35-minute ferry trip from Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour, on the south facet of Salt Spring Island. The most important of the Gulf Islands, Salt Spring has about 11,600 year-round residents, together with a large variety of artists, makers and different artistic spirits. The vigorous harborside village of Ganges anchors this hilly, agrarian island and comprises a wealth of galleries, recreation outfitters, cafes and retailers.

For a stunning view of the harbor, seize a seat on the waterfront deck at Moby’s Pub, which serves up tasty burgers and native beer. Scenic roads lace the island and entry the coastal trails of Ruckle Provincial Park, a wonderful place for viewing whales and sea lions in Captain Passage, and Mount Maxwell Provincial Park, the place you may drive a gravel street or hike well-maintained trails to 1,175-foot-high Baynes Peak for panoramic island vistas.

Pender Island

The opposite stops you will encounter for those who select the multi-island ferry route from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen every have their very own distinct personalities.

Easygoing Pender Island (technically North Pender and South Pender islands, that are separated by a brief bridge) attracts guests for hikes by way of the Roesland and Beaumont sections of Gulf Islands Nationwide Park Protect — the 1.6-mile climb to Mount Norman is very widespread.

Reward your self after a day of outside adventures by visiting the sun-filled, up to date tasting room at Sea Star Winery and Vineyard or sampling the scrumptious sips at Twin Island Cider.

Mayne Island

With round 1,300 residents, compact Mayne Island is understood for the gorgeous flower beds and punctiliously tended specimen timber and shrubs at Japanese Memorial Gardens.

On the island’s northern tip, spend a while strolling across the 45-foot-tall Energetic Move Lighthouse — the tree-shaded grounds overlooking the go between Mayne and Galiano islands are a memorable spot for a picnic.

Galiano Island

About 17 miles lengthy, slim and undulating Galiano Island is a high draw amongst followers of wildlife viewing — you may spy all the pieces from bald eagles and cormorants to seals and orca whales from the shores of this serene isle that abounds with mountaineering preserves and quiet pebbly seashores.

Bellhouse Provincial Park and Montague Harbour Marine Provincial Park are among the many greatest locations to absorb the sumptuous pure surroundings. The island additionally boasts a top-notch golf course, and you will find a handful of endearing retailers and eateries inside strolling distance of the ferry terminal at Sturdies Bay.

The place to remain

Providing country-chic sophistication and a peaceable setting amid 22 acres of gardens and woodlands on the sting of Salt Spring Island’s primary village, the Relais & Chateaux-branded Hastings Home Nation Home Resort (charges begin at CA$525 per night time) affords the last word Gulf Islands splurge. The 18 bungalows and suites include luxurious touches like recent floral bouquets, fireplaces and full gourmand breakfasts. Facials and massages within the warmly appointed Wellspring Spa incorporate native herbs, and the excellent restaurant serves seafood, lamb and produce sourced domestically.

Set on the quiet north finish of Salt Spring Island, the intimate and romantic Quarrystone Home B&B (charges begin at CA$290 per night time) has 4 spacious, light-filled rooms with Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, and patios or decks with sweeping westerly panoramas throughout the water. The three-course breakfasts characteristic house-made jams and native cheeses, eggs and meats.

On South Pender Island, contemplate overnighting at Poets Cove Resort & Spa (charges begin at CA$220 per night time), a wood-frame Arts and Crafts-style property nestled beneath a pine-dotted hillside overlooking Bedwell Harbour Marina. With a mixture of villas, cottages and traditional resort rooms, Poets Cove is understood for its enjoyable spa, full with a eucalyptus steam cave and sizzling tub. There are three eating places, too.

On the low-key east facet of the isle, Mayne Island Resort (charges begin at CA$139 per night time) has each posh up to date villas and cottages and reasonably priced normal rooms within the authentic 1912 primary lodge constructing. The resort is house to the convivial Bennett Bay Bistro, a memorable spot to sup on native salmon, prawns and scallops.

On Galiano Island, you may watch ferries and pleasure boats come and go from an ethereal glass-walled room on the Galiano Oceanfront Inn and Spa (charges begin at CA$234 per night time) overlooking scenic Sturdies Bay. Madrona del Mar Spa affords an array of natural skincare remedies, and e-bike leases can be found if you would like to provide the automobile a relaxation.

Nanaimo and Tofino facet journey

Should you’re up for seeing extra of Vancouver Island, one choice is to depart Salt Spring Island by ferry from the Vesuvius Bay terminal after which drive from Crofton to the laid-back coastal metropolis of Nanaimo, which is house to a handful of notable sights, together with the participating Nanaimo Museum, which touches on the area’s wealthy First Nations heritage and coal-mining heritage, and the bustling Harbourfront Walkway, a scenic pathway that fringes town’s colourful waterfront and affords easy accessibility to plenty of close by eating places and retailers.

You’ll want to deal with your self to a Nanaimo bar, the native chocolate layered confection that is adored all through British Columbia. You’ll find these throughout city, with Mon Petit Choux Bakery — close to each the Nanaimo Museum and the Harbourfront Walkway — serving a number of the greatest.

It is a three-hour drive from Nanaimo, by way of highways 19 and 4, by way of prolific logging cities and throughout the Pacific Coast mountains to secluded Tofino, a nature lovers utopia that fringes Pacific Rim Nationwide Park Reserve and enjoys a magical, windswept setting the place Clayoquot Sound meets the ocean.

That is one among Canada’s most enchanting small cities, an exquisite place to embark on dramatic hikes by way of misty temperate rainforests and to set out on sea-kayaking, whale-watching and fishing excursions.

Though inhabited by solely round 2,500 residents, Tofino has a thriving artwork and culinary scene, together with a number of the province’s most acclaimed eating places — Wolf within the Frog and Shelter are a few standouts.

The place to remain

Though it is a 15-minute drive northwest of Nanaimo’s colourful harbor, the 62-room Inn on Lengthy Lake (charges begin at 239 Canadian {dollars} per night time) enjoys a soothing setting on a stunning lake with kayak and paddleboard leases. Lots of the spacious, fashionable rooms face the water.

Should you’d desire spending the night time proper within the coronary heart of town, the 15-story Coast Bastion Resort (charges begin at CA$215 per night time) affords sweeping views of the neighboring Port of Nanaimo and the encompassing Salish Sea and mountains — attempt to e book a room on a excessive ground for the most effective vistas. Facilities embody a preferred seasonally centered restaurant with harbor views and a well-equipped health middle.

A part of the unique Relais & Chateaux affiliation, the casually elegant Wickaninnish Inn (charges begin at CA$620 per night time) has one of the vital alluring settings on the islands — throughout the winter months, the 75 soft rooms are perfect for storm-watching, however it’s spectacular right here year-round. The resort’s Pointe Restaurant serves artfully ready fresh-caught seafood in an ethereal eating room with grand vistas of the ocean. Deal with your self to some pampering within the full-service spa, and assist your self to the complimentary bike leases.

A few miles south on a driftwood-strewn seaside overlooking pristine Cox Bay, the Pacific Sands Seaside Resort (charges begin at CA$307 per night time) options a mixture of suites and seaside homes with excessive ceilings, tall home windows, fuel fireplaces and top-of-the-line bedding and tub merchandise. Soothe your soul in one of many beachfront wood-fired saunas, and savor scrumptious farm-to-table fare within the three eating places.

Steps from downtown Tofino’s inviting retailers and eating places, the glossy and up to date Duffin Cove Oceanfront Lodging (charges begin at CA$299 per night time) affords each two-person studios with waterfront balconies and roomier A-frame cabins with pitched roofs and absolutely outfitted condos.

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