Go on an adventure with the experts
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
Going out with one of our licensed operators is a great way to experience the park. Whether you are looking for a guided tour to discover the unique history and natural beauty of the park reserve or want to take a kayak adventure in the many sheltered bays and coves around the islands, you will benefit from a local operator’s expertise and knowledge on your visit to Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.
Note:The service descriptions below are provided by the operators, and Gulf Islands National Park Reserve does not endorse any of these services. See here for information on obtaining a business licence.
Kayaking / paddlesports / hiking
Best Coast Outfitters
Email: lee@bestcoastoutfitters.com
Website: www.bestcoastoutfitters.com
Blue Dog Kayaking
Blue Dog Kayaking are committed to bringing you the best that sea kayaking can offer, paddling along some of the most beautiful, unspoiled coastlines in the world – and offers the entire Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking program along with guided trips in the beautiful Gulf Islands.
Email: paddle@bluedogkayaking.com
Website: www.bluedogkayaking.com
Coastal Bliss Adventures Ltd. / Cowichan Bay Kayaking
Coastal Bliss Adventures Ltd. offers guided single and multi-day hiking, and kayaking tours to wilderness locations on and around Vancouver Island and BC’s coastal regions. Coastal Bliss Adventures also offers single & multi-day instructional kayak programs accredited by Paddle Canada.
E-mail: coastalbliss@shaw.ca
Website:https://coastalbliss.ca/
Coastal Current Adventures
The Snow Rosen family and Coastal Current Adventures have a heartfelt mandate to adventure but tread lightly; to create opportunities for others to learn about and be captivated by nature. We protect what we love and it is imperative that we contribute t a more sustainable future for the earth and all of its inhabitants. We have operated for 33 years initially as Island Escapades and now reincarnated at Coastal Current Adventures – kayak courses, outdoor education for schools, kayak expeditions and youth adventure camps.
Email: coastalcurrentadventures@gmail.com
Website: www.coastalcurrentadventures.com
Jericho Beach Kayak
Jericho Beach Kayak offers sea kayak and surfski paddling lessons, tours, and rentals form Jericho Beach location in Vancouver. They also run advanced Paddle Canada courses in select locations around BC.
Email: info@jerichobeachkayak.com
Website: www.jerichobeachkayak.com
Kayak Salt Spring
Kayak Salt Spring is a small guiding company with a mission to provide family oriented, educational, and environmentally friendly kayaking adventures. Tours are available from Salt Spring Island to Russell, Portland and Prevost Islands. Your guide, John, has a background in natural history and over 100 commercial kayaking days. We offer customized, private kayak tours for up to 6 people.
Email: kayaksaltspring@gmail.com
Website: www.kayaksaltspring.ca
Nature Trek Canada
Nature Trek Canada specializes in wilderness travel. They offer trip planning with experienced guides as well as trip planning for independent expeditions, and have designed more than 260 multi-week expeditions and 800 itineraries for individual travelers.
E-mail: information@naturetrek.ca
Website: www.naturetrek.ca
Ocean River Sports
Ocean River Adventures offers premium paddlesport facilities on Vancouver Island. Offers guided kayak experiences supported by a 36’ landing craft. Tours highlight the area’s spectacular scenery of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, while inspiring a passion for paddling.
E-mail: adventure@oceanriver.com
Website: www.oceanriveradventures.com
Pender Island Kayak Adventures
Pender Island Kayak Adventures offers kayak tours ranging from two hours to four days, featuring Gulf Islands National Park Reserve on most tours. Beginners welcome. Offers rentals for those who want to explore at their own pace. Offers lessons to teach you the necessary skills to paddle with confidence.
E-mail: info@kayakpenderisland.com
Website: www.kayakpenderisland.com
Power To Be Adventure Therapy Society
Power To Be provides inclusive adventure programs designed to support people facing significant life barriers. Through collaboration, they connect individuals with nature. The Adaptive Recreation program is a positive community response for people living with a disability to gain access to outdoor programs, while their Wilderness School fosters positive social development and life skills in youth, which encourage leadership and success in other areas of life.
E-mail: info@powertobe.ca
Website: www.powertobe.ca
Ridge Wilderness Adventures Ltd.
Email: info@exploreridge.com
Website: www.ridgewilderness.com
Salt Spring Adventure Company
Salt Spring Adventure Company has various offers including Gulf Islands kayaking expeditions, a Tofino youth surf camp, a sailing charter, or casual bike ride around the island.
E-mail: info@saltspringadventures.com
Website: www.saltspringadventures.com
South Island SUP
South Island SUP offers single and multi-day stand up paddleboarding experiences on southern Vancouver Island. They operate year-round with quality boards and carbon paddles, dry suits, and safety gear. Tours are led by Paddle Canada accredited guides with years of local ocean paddling experience.
E-mail: brian@southislandsup.com
Website: www.southislandsup.com
SKILS
SKILS offers kayaking, canoeing, SUP and kayak fishing courses as well as private customized instructional courses and guided trips.
E-mail: info@skils.ca
Website: www.skils.ca
Tyak Sea Kayaking
Tyak Sea Kayaking offers day and multi-day sea kayak adventures for youth and adults. Experienced and certified sea kayak guides ensure excellent instruction and fun memorable experiences. Provide a focus on safety.
E-mail: dougt@islandnet.com
West Beach Paddle
Provides sea kayak, paddle board and canoe instruction and tours. Paddle Canada certified courses. Based in White Rock, BC - Greater Vancouver Area.
E-mail: info@kayakcourses.ca
Website: www.kayakcourses.ca
Wilderness cruising / sailing adventures
Big Blue Sailing Adventures
Offers sailing instruction and wilderness charters. If you’ve dreamed about sailing then the lovely scenery, sheltered waters and convenient services of the Gulf Islands make it an ideal destination. They take you on a ‘Cruising’ sailboat and give you the experience of mastering your own vessel. Whether you want a course or you want to just have fun and explore, we’re here to provide a positive experience in the Gulf Islands.
E-mail: paul@bigbluesailing.ca
Website: www.bigbluesailing.ca
Bluewater Adventures Ltd.
Offers multi-day wilderness, wildlife and cultural tours. They provide learning journeys for students and adults along coastal B.C. and into southeast Alaska. Their crew lead small group tours along the BC coast on a liveaboard 68” motor-sailors–the Island Odyssey and the Island Roamer.
E-mail: info@bluewateradventures.ca
Website: www.bluewateradventures.ca
Duen Sailing Adventures/ The Natural Coast
We provide learning opportunities which embody environmental stewardship, life skills, and group dynamics, creating awareness for preservation and education of the marine environment. We share our knowledge of local waters, marine plants, forest ecology, animal life, while participating in the world of sailing. Our experienced crew offer participants an understanding and appreciation of coastal habitats in a safe environment.
E-mail: explore@thenaturalcoast.com
Website: www.thenaturalcoast.com & www.threehoursail.com
Pacific Yellowfin Charters
Specializes in cruises along the BC Coast aboard the 1943 wooden-hull and interiors Pacific Yellowfin. Offers culinary cruises through the calm waters of picturesque Gulf Islands. Offers trips further afield outside the park to discover the spectacular fjords of Desolation Sound or venture into the majestic Great Bear Rainforest, home to grizzly, black and the most elusive Spirit Bear.
E-mail: info@pacificyellowfin.com
Website: www.pacificyellowfin.com
Maple Leaf Adventures
Explore the natural and cultural worlds of the Salish Sea on a 5-day expedition cruise aboard either a 92-foot classic schooner, a 90-foot classic tugboat, or a 138-foot expedition catamaran. Local guides take you on frequent shore trips to islands off the beaten track for walks, wildlife viewing and cultural experiences. Some trips include visits with Indigenous teachers and optional kayaking.
Website: www.mapleleafadventures.com
Wilderness cruising / sailing adventures (educational excursions)
Providence 1903 Charters Ltd.
Providence is a historical tall ship with stories to share from its journey around the world. Built in 1903, it is the oldest working vessel in BC. Providence is available for charters in the southwest coast of British Columbia and is Transport Canada certified to carry 24 day-passengers and 12 overnight passengers
Website: www.providence1903.com
Raincoast Conservation Foundation
Raincoast Conservation Foundation is a group of scientists and conservationists dedicated to protecting the land, water, and wildlife in coastal British Columbia. Science based research and community engagement are used to further conservation efforts. Environmental education programs are offered to local indigenous and at risk youths on the research vessel, Achiever.
E-mail: greatbear@raincoast.org
Website: www.raincoast.org
SALTS Sail and Life Training Society
Groups participate in five-day voyages to the Gulf Islands each spring and fall. Individual young people join in ten-day summer voyages. Trainees aboard the tall ships Pacific Grace and Pacific Swift are exposed to technical, personal, critical thinking and decision skills required for life and are given opportunities to practice, and learn these skills in a dynamic and genuine environment throughout a sail training voyage.
E-mail: info@salts.ca
Website: www.salts.ca
Sidney Sailing
Day sailing school to one of the lovely Gulf Islands National Park Reserve areas. Anchor then walk trails and have a beach picnic.
E-mail: contact@sidneysailing.com
Website: www.sidneysailing.com
Wilderness learning opportunities for youth
Gulf Islands Centre for Ecological Learning
GICEL has been offering nature-based summer day programs within the Southern Gulf Islands since 2001. We focus on large ecosystems such as forests and marine to provide participants with varied experiences. We use natural history, science, games, art, and music to convey information. We also strive to provide and demonstrate a comfort in nature that will last a lifetime.
E-mail: gicel@gicel.ca
Website: www.gicel.ca
Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea
The centre offers Salish Sea School Summer Camps at various locations in Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. Children will enjoy learning about the natural history of the creatures and plants of the Salish Sea with a focus on instilling respect for natural spaces, wildlife and First Nations knowledge.
E-mail: oceaneer1@oceandiscovery.ca
Website: www.salishseacentre.org
Western Educational Adventures Inc.
Provides outdoor educational adventures primarily for youth with the aim of teaching valuable outdoor, academic, life and health skills.
Website: www.westernadventures.ca
Water taxi / eco tours
Bay to Bay Charters
Bay to Bay Charters offers a water taxi service to many bays and harbours from Nanaimo to Victoria and a private charter service to showcase the beautiful and prestigious Gulf Islands. Complimentary ground transportation for Victoria Airport, BC Ferries Swartz Bay and the greater Sidney area.
Email: miles@baytobay.ca
Website: www.baytobay.ca
Sidney Harbour Cruises Ltd. / EcoCruising Tours and Charters
Within the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, EcoCruising Tours and Charters offers scheduled boat tours and private group charters along Sidney waterfront including the waters around the Little Group islets and Dock Island. The company also provides water taxi service for hikers and campers to Portland Island, Russell Island and Isle-de-Lis (Rum Island). A water taxi service is available to Sidney Spit during the off-season of the Sidney Spit Alpine ferry service usually early September through to mid-May. Departures in two 12-passenger enclosed vessels are from Sidney Pier (June-September) and Canoe Cove Marina (year-round). Skippers are ecologist guides.
E-mail: info@ecocruising.com
Website: www.ecocruising.com
Sidney Water Taxi
Water taxi services to the Southern Gulf Islands.
Website: www.sidneywatertaxi.com
Wet Coast Marine
Wet Coast Marine operates a 32-foot landing craft in the sheltered waters of the southern gulf Islands form our Base in Port Browning on Pender Island. They can customize eco tours, transfers, and charters for groups up to 12 people. Their large open deck is suitable for transferring groups of kayakers, campers, and cyclists between Islands. They specialize in beach landings, remote access, and dive charters.
E-mail: info@wetcoastmarine.com
Website: www.wetcoastmarine.com
Museums
Pender Island Museum
Situated at Roesland in the beautiful Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, this great little museum serves the island community and its many visitors by telling stories that connect past and present. The museum preserves and interprets an historic farm-resort building and a collection of local artifacts and archives. Open every weekend from Easter to Thanksgiving.
E-mail: pendermuseum@shaw.ca
Website: www.penderislandsmuseum.ca
Other
Mile Zero Tours
E-mail: info@milezerotours.com
Website: www.milezerotours.com
Orca Spirit Adventures Ltd.
Carbon friendly whale watching company located in Victoria, offering tours in Victoria and Port Renfrew, BC.
E-mail: hailey@orcaspirit.com
Website: www.orcaspirit.com
Saturna Island Marine Research & Education Society (SIMRES)
Saturna Island Marine Research & Education Society / SIMRES is a community based, non-profit organization that builds awareness of marine life and ecosystems in the Salish Sea. SIMRES organizes sea talks, a series of educational programs for the public. We promote scientific, evidence based research, providing support and facilities for marine research and education on Saturna Island. Many programs are ‘walk and talk’ presentations in the parks. The organization also assists marine scientists in their research based on Saturna Island.
Website: www.simres.ca
Saturna Recreation & Cultural Centre
The Saturna Recreation and Cultural Centre is committed to providing individuals, families and the community with quality leisure, cultural and recreational experiences and opportunities in an accessible and affordable manner.
E-mail: info@saturnarec.org
Website: www.saturnarec.org
Sidney Whale Watching / Sea Quest Adventures
Sidney Whale Watching offers whale watching trips right out of Sidney, in the heart of the “whale zone.”
E-mail: info@sidneywhalewatching.com
Website: www.sidneywhalewatching.com
Westcoast Adventure College
Westcoast Adventure College offers comprehensive training for people who want to work in the Adventure Tourism industry in BC, Canada and throughout the world.
E-mail: info@westcoastadventurecollege.com
Website: www.westcoastadventurecollege.com
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