The pristine Gulf Islands on the Coast of beautiful British Columbia, our hidden jewels, await you.

BC’s Gulf Islands Location

The Gulf Islands are located in the Pacific Northwest, about 200 miles north of Seattle. This magical cluster of often remote islands straddles the 49th degree of parallel. They are located in the Gulf of Georgia, between Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, just North of the San Juan Islands in Washington State, USA.

There are over 300 islands in the Southern Gulf Islands. Galiano, Mayne, Saturna, North and South Pender and Saltspring are the largest of the islands and support the local population. Saltspring Island has a population of 10,000 permanent residents, a colorful harbor and the vibrant village of Ganges. The secondary school for all island children is on Saltspring Island as is the hospital. It is the hub and the largest economic base within this community of islands.

What to Expect from the Islands

First and foremost, you’ll find a natural beauty: miles of roads where you will meet more deer than motorists, vast stretches of uninterrupted shoreline redolent with Madronna, Douglas Fir and Garry Oak, beaches and vast ocean parks. Small farms supporting organic gardening and a large natural seed repository reflect the history of the islands’ agricultural past including vineyards that are commanding international recognition.

And of course you’ll find artists. The BC Gulf Islands have attracted a varied and talented group of artisans. Local studios owned by potters, painters, weavers and spinners, wood carvers and fabricants produce products that are prized worldwide. Music is also a large part of island culture and our world-renowned musicians are often found playing impromptu concerts for the locals in small pubs and cafés throughout the islands.

Accommodations on the Islands

One of the best kept secrets of the Gulf Islands is the high quality of accommodation. Magnificent homes built by early retirees from urban centers have been opened to the public as exquisite bed and breakfasts. Located on the waters edge, in the forests, on small farms and along the lakeshore, these superb homes offer a level of comfort and privacy rarely found elsewhere. Serving sumptuous breakfasts in truly elegant surroundings, there is no better way to start the day. All of the bed and breakfasts chosen by Gulf Escapes represent the best accommodation that the island has to offer.

A Host of Things to Do in the Gulf Islands

First, you can relax. The quiet of the Gulf Islands quickly takes over and the visitor finds that early to bed and early to rise is a phrase based on timeless wisdom. The days are filled with pleasant walks over a network of well kept trails, as easy or as challenging as needed. Our local studio map included in your Gulf Escapes ‘On the Road’ travel kit details directions to remote studios around the island, where resident artists apply their special gifts.

You’ll also find a number of fine restaurants, pubs and cafés. Exquisite cuisine in comfortable surroundings provides a variety of choices. Music is everywhere and you’ll find several music festivals where local talent is on display. On Saltspring Island, Artspring Theatre offers performances from around the world in a country friendly environment.

Surrounded by water and boasting more than a few lakes, marine exploration is a must. Kayaks and motorboats are available by the hour or by the day. A brief instruction period is all you need to open up to the marine world around you. Fishing, both fresh water for black-mouthed bass and the ocean for salmon and cod is inexpensive and easy to arrange.

Motorboats that will open up the shoreline are available for rent and easy to operate. The cold waters of the Pacific are a scuba divers wonderland and with two underwater marine parks and a modern dive shop awaiting your visit there is no shortage of spectacular dives.

And finally, a golf course on Mayne and two on Saltspring Island offer easy to book tee times, challenging fairways and immaculate greens. Not only is it great exercise but it’s also a nice way to meet the locals!

Vancouver Island
and the Inside Coast

Canada's Vancouver Island provides the ultimate opportunity to get away from it all. Tucked against the mainland edge of British Columbia and the north shore of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, Vancouver Island stretches approximately 500 km (300 miles) southeast to northwest, from the US/Canada border to Alaska. As a vacation destination it has been rated "The number one Island destination in North America" by Conde Naste for the past six years.

A Host of Things to Do on Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island offers memorable and varied activities such as golfing, salt and freshwater fishing, boating, sailing, kayaking, whale and wildlife watching, caving, hiking and scuba diving. It’s a year round destination offering relaxing short stay retreats in superb accommodations surrounded by nature. Whether you're yearning for the solitude of a surf-swept beach, or the charm of a rural village, the silence of the forest or the hustle and bustle of the provincial capital, you'll find it all and much more.

North of Victoria, over the Malahat Pass with its spectacular views over the Southern Gulf Islands into the Cofton Valley, the mountainous terrain opens up to rolling hills and valleys scattered with wineries and dairy farms. The varied countryside changes to a coastal environment that includes secluded coves and marinas where one can charter a boat, or enjoy a fresh seafood dinner at a friendly marine pub. There are many scenic communities to visit including Duncan, the "City of Totems", and Chemainus where more than 30 painted murals decorate the walls around the town, and the heritage buildings lining the downtown of Ladysmith. Don't forget the Gulf Islands - "Island-hopping" is a favorite pastime for an afternoon!

Nanaimo, the "Harbour City" is the second largest city on the Island and a major terminus for BC Ferries. The Island Highway leads to the central Island. Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet on the dramatic West Coast are all within a few hours travel from Nanaimo. The great gray whale migration is in full swing during March and April where more than 20,000 whales pass close by the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on their annual migration from Baja Mexico to Alaska. Spectacular winter storms of great intensity are an attraction found nowhere else on the Pacific Coast.

With over 50 golf courses on Vancouver Island, golfing is a great experience at any time of year. Uncrowded, world-class courses line the coast waiting for you to tee off! Parksville, Qualicum and the Comox Valley all boast scenic and stimulating Championship courses that present opportunities to improve your game at rates well below those of major cities.

Fishing is a favorite sport and is enjoyed throughout the island. Freshwater fishing in rivers and lakes is some of the best in the province. Two of the top Steelhead producing rivers in Canada are located on the Island - the Stamp in Port Alberni and the Gold in the town of Gold River.

Campbell River and the northern communities on Vancouver Island are spectacular for outdoor adventure and wildlife viewing. The wealth of natural beauty in this region is phenomenal. The Northwest Coast of this huge island paradise offers up close and personal contact with nature that can only exists where tourism has yet to go.

The Inside Coast, that body of waterways and inlets that lie between Vancouver Island and the mainland, host wilderness cruises that visit nature on its own terms. Grizzly Bear, Orca Whales, Dolphin and Porpoise of every stripe, First Nations Villages and Museums are but a few of this regions offering. Kayaking in Johnson Strait and the Broughton Archipelago from an attentive mother ship effectively severs the cord from a demanding society of pressures and stress and impossible deadlines.

Escape to the Islands for your next vacation! Contact us to book a Gulf Escapes self-guided getaway today.