Daily Kayaking Tours in Vancouver

As evidenced by its choice as host for the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver has become one of the most popular cities in Canada. Vancouver's proximity to the upper Pacific Ocean, as well as the islands and aquatic wildlife located off its coast, make kayaking enjoyable for locals and visitors. While multiday trips are available, most daily tours focus on shorter ventures.

  1. 2 Hour Family Fun Tour

    • North Island Kayak offers a short trip for families that include children over 5 years old as well as first-time kayakers. The 2 Hour Family Fun Tour departs every day at 2 p.m. (with 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. trips added when necessary) and offers a chance to see many different types of wildlife including seals, porpoises, deer, mink, otters and black bears, depending on the season. The short length of the trip make it easy on the schedule and the body.

    Quadra Magic

    • Coastal Spirits Tours offers a tour of similar difficulty, making it suitable for kids and first-timers, but lasts the entire day and includes snorkeling. The Quadra Magic tour goes around Quadra Island and includes wildlife such as bald eagles, seals, shore and sea birds and 10 different species of starfish including some over 3 feet long. The trip takes a full day and rental includes a mask and snorkel as well as lunch.

    The Day Tripper

    • Wildheart Adventures Day Tripper tour is intended as an introduction to ocean and channel kayaking. Departing everyday, from May to October, at 10:30 a.m., the trip includes a course on kayaking safety and fundamentals before launch into the Stuart Channel.

      The tour continues around the DeCourcey Archipelago (with lunch on the beach), Mudge Island and down the Vancouver coastline, ending back at the launch point around 3:30 p.m..

    Johnstone Strait Orca Opportunity

    • In addition to the family tour, North Island Kayak offers a full day (9 to 3:30) trip up the Johnstone Strait. The tour moves along the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, around the Wastall Islets, Bauza Cove and Blinkhorn Peninsula, in the direction of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve and Killer Whale Sanctuary.

      The Johnstone Strait tour places an emphasis on wildlife and the chance of seeing Orca whales in the wild. Tour guides also carry hydrophones to hear the whales underwater. Tour spots are limited so they tend to fill up quickly.