I spent about a week on Vancouver Island back in 2002 during a trip to British Columbia and Washington State. I travelled alone which was an interesting experience. I am glad I did it but in honesty I would have preferred company. Vancouver Island is a beautiful place, with a long and rugged coastline, a plenthora of marine and other wildlife, topped of with a backdrop of the rocky mountains on the mainland in the distance. Heaven to the eyes.
Facts about Vancouver Island ********************************************************************
Vancouver Island is situated off the West Coast of Canada and at 32,134 square kilometres it is the largest North American island in the Pacific. It is part of the province of British Columbia and has a total population of approximately 600,000. Its largest City, Victoria (population 300,000) is situated on the Southern most tip of the island and is the Capital City of British Columbia.
The island has been inhabited by humans for some eight thousand years. Captain James Cook landed at Nootka Sound of the Island's western shore on March 31, 1778 and claimed it for the British Isles. Hence the City of Victoria was founded by the Hudson's Bay Company on March 14, 1843, as a trading post.
The population of the island exploded in the 1850's with the
gold rush when Victoria became a major shipping port.
Finally on July 21, 1871, British Columbia became the sixth province of the Dominion of Canada and Victoria was proclaimed the Capital City.
Getting There and Away *********************************************************************
Flights to Vancouver from London will set you back about £500-700 depending on the season. From Vancouver you will need to catch a bus out of the City to the main ferry terminal and then a ferry across the strait. Most routes will then take you directly to Victoria from there and the whole trip comes as a package. The trip takes around half a day and isn't too expensive if you travel as a foot passenger. There are hourly sailings in summer months between 7:00 am - 10:00 pm and in the winter there are sailing on all of the odd hours between 7:00 am - 9:00. It is also possible to take a car over to the Island but obviously this is going to be more expensive.
You can also fly to Victoria International airport from Vancouver if you are really short of time and have lots of money!
The transport network on the Island isn't going to win any prizes and it can be hard to get around. Hitchhiking and car sharing are popular options as buses are infrequent and don't even go to many of the popular/more obscure destinations. There is also a rail service along the lower Eastern shores of the island, but again this is not much use to tourists.
Victoria *********************************************************************
Victoria is a lovely colonial City, with a huge harbour which stands out as it's most prominent feature. All you usual amenities can be found here: bars, restaurants (I'd recommend seafood), supermarkets, shops, banks, cinema's, theatres, museums etc.
The Inner Harbour Walkway is worth doing to check out all of the boats and to soak up the atmosphere. If you are lucky you might spot herons, seals, mink, otters and sea lions along the way.
The Royal British Columbia Museum is also worth a visit. The museum contains information about the habitat and history of the island and the wildlife that can be found there. It is an informative and enjoyable way to spend half a day.
Whale Watching Trips are also a must for a visit to Victoria. Trips run from the harbour in season and are weather dependent. I took a two hour trip and was lucky enough to see porpoises and minky whales. However I missed out on seeing the Orcas (killer whales) which are often spotted in huge pods along this coats. This still saddens me to this day but there is never any guarentee that you can find the whales....
From Victoria there are many potential day-trips to be taken advantage of. For example to the coast, to waterfalls, walking trips etc. You can almost guarantee that wherever you stay they will offer a selection of tours out of the city.
Tofino and the Pacific Rim National Park. **********************************************************************
Tofino is a small relaxed community and the main reason to visit is for the variety of whale-watching and scenic or fishing boat trips. I Each spring an estimated 19,000 Gray Whales make the 16,000km round-trip journey between the Mexican Baja Peninsula and their summer feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. Their migratory journey takes them along the West Coast of Vancouver Island travelling close to the shoreline, providing excellent viewing opportunities from the rocky headlands.
The whales are the main reason for a trip to Tofino, but the wide, sandy, deserted beach and the park itself are also stunning. Natural hot tubs are also a main attraction in this area. The springs are entirely natural, containing a mixture of salt and fresh water up to 43 degree C (110F) hot which cascades through the lower pools which, at higher tides.
Tofinos itself is a small town where you can find all your basic amenities. Visit the Whale Centre Museum or go Storm-watching in the rough winter weather if you are daring. A festival is also held each year in early May to celebrate the arrival of shorebirds. Walking along the pacific rim trails and cliff paths is an absolute must. Long Beach runs to the side of Tofino and is also spectacular.
Unfortunately I did not get to explore further North of the Island than Tofino due to a lack of time.
Wildlife and whale watching, fishing, diving, snorkelling, golf, boat trips, hiking, rock climbing, surfing, sailing, canoeing, bird-watching, horse riding, camping, swimming and almost any other outdoor activity. Don't go to Vancouver Island unless you plan to spend a significant amount of time outside, there isn't much else to do outside of Victoria. So get active!
Being a city Victoria contains every type of accommodation you could possibly need, from hostels to 5 starhotels. On the rest of the island you may be quite limited as many of the communities are small and sparse. Camping is very popular everywhere and if you are there in the Summer I would recommend this but only at proper camp sites as there are bears!
Costs in Canada are about the same as the UK, maybe a little cheaper for things like take-out food. Daily expense will of course depend on what you want to do and where you want to stay. On a budget backpacking holiday like mine, I estimate that I got by on about $30 a day.
The best time of the year to visit is between May-September. Victoria has the mildest climate in Canada, due to westerly winds blowing off the Pacific Ocean. The pacific maintains a year-round, constant 10°C (50°F) temperature and so is warmer than the land in winter and cooler in summer. Victoria also has the lowest rainfall and the most sunshine recorded of any West Coast region.
Flora and Fauna *********************************************************************
The scenery is rugged, cliffs and coastline with a rugged mountainous backdrop of the Rockies back on the main land. The island is covered with forests of pine trees and wild flowers in abundance. It is a stunning and beautiful place to relax for a few days and take it all in. Bears are prevalent on the island and if you camp you must be particularly wary of them. Don't leave litter or food out in the open and if you do see them stay away from them, they are amazing yes, but also dangerous and faster than you think. Whales migrate along the western edge of the island during the Summer months, you are likely to see other marine life such as dolphins, porpoises and seals year round, as well as a large number of birds.
I have given Vancouver Island four stars. It is a great place, but I am afraid I have been lucky enough to see better and more beautiful places in my time. Still it is a lovely place and if you fancy a few days of peace and tranquillity, out in the open and away from the hustle and bustle of city life in Vancouver then this is your place!
Pictures of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
![Exploring Horizons A Rugged Beauty - North Vancouver Island British Columbia, Canada [DVD] [NTSC]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/83358820.jpg "Exploring Horizons A Rugged Beauty - North Vancouver Island British Columbia, Canada [DVD] [NTSC]")
Aug 15th, 2005
very helpful by (95%):
helpful by (5%):
