The ‘Canadian Caribbean’ Is A Stunning Island Getaway With Sandy Beaches And Peaceful Paddling
If you didn’t know better, you might mistake Calvert Island for a faraway Caribbean getaway. Of course, there are a few clues that give the island a distinctly Canadian character. There are evergreens instead of palm trees, cool Pacific breezes and a lack of glitzy resorts. Calvert Island has been named a “Canadian Caribbean” by Reader’s Digest Canada for its glassy lagoon beaches and abundant marine life, but perhaps the biggest thing that sets it apart is its lack of crowds. The island is very isolated and you won’t find any beach clubs or souvenir stands along its shores. This could make it a perfect outing for the solitude-seeking traveler who wants to enjoy the sand and nature without jostling with tourists.
Some of British Columbia’s popular Pacific islands are accessible by regular ferry services, such as Vancouver Island, which is also home to a roadside town with delicious restaurants. This is not the case for Calvert Island. Getting directly to Calvert Island requires a multi-stage journey. You can charter a boat or book a seaplane, or take the true adventurer’s route and paddle to the island. Paddling a canoe or kayak is one of the experiences Calvert Island is best suited for, and as you glide across the island’s waters, there’s a good chance you’ll be accompanied by whales or harbor seals. Then you can disembark on one of the beaches and sunbathe with the waves and distant seabirds in your ears.
Read more: 25 Best Beaches in the Caribbean
Paddle along the secluded shores of Calvert Island
Aerial view of Calvert Island, British Columbia, with mountains in the distance – mminson/Shutterstock
Paddlers who want to enjoy the blue-green Caribbean waters of Calvert Island can either bring their own sea kayak or rent one on Vancouver Island. One rental option that gets good reviews is Comox Valley Kayaks and Canoes in Courtenay. From Vancouver Island, you can take a ferry to Bella Bella, a First Nations town that serves as a jumping off point to the island. If you prefer to join a guided tour, Spirit of the West Adventures offers a paddling expedition that covers several islands around the Great Bear Rainforest, including Calvert Island. It is, however, a serious commitment, spanning eight days and involving moving campsites from night to night.
Once you are in open water, the canals offer excellent wildlife viewing. According to BC Parks, more than 100 species of birds have been observed on the northern part of Calvert Island. You might spot bald eagles flying overhead or pelagic cormorants basking on the shores. Meanwhile, the offshore waters teem with orcas, seals, humpback whales and dolphins. “We observed humpback whales daily in Fitz Hugh Sound, several up close,” described travel blogger Adventures All Year. Fitz Hugh Sound is on the east side of Calvert Island.
Arriving via Fitz Hugh Sound, you can anchor in the sheltered waters of Safety Cove, while paddlers coming from the north can anchor in Pruth Bay. There are extensive sandy beaches all along the coasts. As British Columbia explorer and blogger 3meterswell noted, the beaches “are rarely visited other than by the omnipresent wolves.” Although there is a chance of seeing fishermen, you will likely have the coves to yourself for strolling or lounging.
What to Know Before Visiting Calvert Island
Ocean beach and cliffs on Calvert Island, British Columbia – Danita Delimont/Shutterstock
Getting to Calvert Island requires some traveling maneuvers. If you want to travel without a chartered boat or plane, you will first need to travel to the north coast of Vancouver Island. Port Hardy is a common base for traveling to the islands north of Vancouver Island. Pacific Coastal Airlines offers daily flights to Port Hardy from Vancouver International Airport, which has been voted the best in North America. From there, you can board a BC Ferry and descend to Bella Bella with a kayak in tow, if you plan to paddle from Bella Bella to Calvert Island. The ferry schedule varies depending on the season.
Calvert Island is managed by two conservancies (Hakai Lúxvbálís Conservancy for the northern part and Calvert Island Conservancy for the south), which allow free and public access. Just be sure to follow the conservancies’ responsible recreation guidelines, including only lighting campfires in designated fire pits. Another thing you may want to be wary of is the weather, a region where the island is not like the Caribbean. The waters around this part of British Columbia can get very windy and temperatures are much cooler than those in tropical regions.
Those wanting to explore some of Western Canada’s coastal islands can also visit the Discovery Islands archipelago, known for whale watching and cozy wineries.
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Read the original article about the islands.
