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The Infinite Coast

The Journey Is Part of the Adventure

Travelling the coast in British Columbia is not a road trip; it’s the trip of a lifetime.

Where the water ends, hike past 1,000-year-old trees in a temperate rainforest, feeling soft mist on your face. From a floatplane or helicopter, spy whales and salmon, bears and wolves, co-existing with the more than 50 First Nations who steward these lands. Patient travellers will be rewarded by The Infinite Coast of BC by moving along it, by water, air, or land.

Watch the Journey

Take a ferry, water taxi, or kayak to experience the slow undulations of the Pacific Ocean.

Experience the BC Coast by Sea

The BC coast would be an 800-km (500-mi) journey—if it was all passable by car. Instead, it’s best absorbed (and in some cases, only accessible) by water. The salt spray of the Pacific Ocean infuses these unforgettable journeys.

Here are some ways to experience The Infinite Coast by sea.

Seattle to Victoria – Walk on to the Victoria Clipper V and in less than three hours, step ashore in Victoria’s strollable Inner Harbour. Consider a day trip to The Butchart Gardens, a national historic site and one of North America’s most renowned gardens with 22 groomed hectares (55 acres) and more than 300,000 blooms.

Vancouver to Nanaimo – Cruise to Vancouver Island on a passenger ferry that takes just 70 minutes, downtown to downtown. Nanaimo is a gateway to whale-watching tours, hiking in Pipers Lagoon Park, or a sweet-tooth circuit chasing a local treat, the Nanaimo Bar Trail.

Whale-watch in Clayoquot Sound – This secluded coastal waterway is a UNESCO Biosphere Region, recognized for conserving ecosystems, building climate resistance, and promoting reconciliation with the region’s Indigenous Peoples. Clayoquot Wild offers Indigenous-led cultural and history tours, along with whale- expeditions. 

Soak in oceanside Weewanie Hot Springs – These natural mineral waters can be reached only by boat via the Douglas Channel from Kitimat Lodge, which can also arrange whale-watching and halibut or salmon fishing.

Kayak or canoe on the Sunshine Coast – On the water you’ll feel in harmony with this 60-km (100-mi) stretch of coastline, only accessible from the mainland via BC Ferries (Vancouver to Langdale). From Sechelt, take an Indigenous-guided paddle tour of the Salish Sea territories of the shíshálh and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations.

Experience the BC Coast by Air

Where the land or water ends, get airborne. From a helicopter, floatplane, or airplane you will see the big picture: Hundreds of kilometres of coast, where BC First Nations have lived, worked, and played since time immemorial. Touch down on Vancouver Island or the northern coast of BC to find your adventure. 

Here are some ways to experience The Infinite Coast by air.

Vancouver to Qualicum Beach twin-engine flight – Iskwew Air, named for the Cree word for “woman,” is Canada’s first Indigenous woman-owned airline. This flight is a gateway to the Parksville-Qualicum Beach area and its oceanside bike paths, beaches, and hiking in Horn Lake Caves Provincial Park.

Desolation Sound and Discovery Islands helicopter tour – From Campbell River on Vancouver Island, buckle in for a spectacular aerial loop with views of mountains, inlets, and the wildlife that thrives here.

Floatplane tour of the Sunshine Coast – The old-growth forest, mountains, and rivers of the Sechelt Peninsula are even more exceptional when accompanied by storytelling, drum beats, and songs of its Indigenous stewards, as part of an audio tour narrated by the Shíshálh Nation guide Candance Campo.

Kermode (Spirit) Bear viewing in the Great Bear Rainforest – Found only in BC, the cream-coloured Kermode (Spirit) bear is revered in local First Nations cultures. Indigenous-owned Spirit Bear Lodge in Klemtu offers viewing expeditions on the traditional lands of the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation.

Experience the BC Coast by Land

By rail or road, bike path or trail, feel the rhythm of the coastal land of BC, which is at the peak of its natural beauty—and accessible conditions—during the warm days and cool nights of fall.

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Here are some ways to experience The Infinite Coast by land.

The Skeena route by rail – One of the great rail journeys of the world, this swath of northern BC scenery can be viewed only by train. Packages bundle the two-day Skeena train from Jasper, Alberta, with grizzly bear and whale-watching tours in Prince George, the BC terminus of the route.

Cycle the Spirit Loop – Fall on Vancouver Island means ideal cycling conditions. Cycle (or e-bike) coastal roads and a portion of the Galloping Goose Trail, a former rail line. Stop at leisure to sample wine in the Cowichan Valley, hike tidal pools, and eat fresh seafood.

Drive to a slow city, a luxury lodge, or the world’s tallest carved pole – Cittaslow Cowichan – Visit the first North American Slow City, less than an hour by car from Victoria. Stroll the historic floating boardwalk and visit the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre to experience its commitment to sustainability, craftmanship, and local businesses, including paddleboard rentals and restaurants celebrating local slow food.

Villa Eyrie Resort – Sleep on the summit of a spectacular, 125-km (15-mi) mountainous section of Trans-Canada Highway on Vancouver Island, known as the Malahat. This resort combines the finest creature comforts with experiences such as local wine tasting and mushroom foraging.

Alert Bay – The salmon-fishing hub of Campbell River is a three-hour drive from Victoria; truly intrepid travellers drive another two hours to Port McNeill, then drive or walk on a BC Ferries crossing of less than an hour to Cormorant Island. In the village of Alert Bay, the U’Mista Cultural Centre holds precious ceremonial artifacts. A 53-m (170-ft) carved pole—the world’s tallest—towers near the ’Namgis First Nation Traditional Big House.

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