Located off the mainland of British Columbia, Vancouver Island is stunningly beautiful with diverse habitats ranging from incredible beaches to amazing old-growth forests and high mountains. Add in some of the densest populations of Black Bear and Mountain Lion in North America, over 350 bird species, and a multitude of marine mammals just off the coast, this is an island not to be missed! We’ve chosen three of the best spots on the island to explore in detail as we watch an exciting array of wildlife backdropped by inspiring scenery.

We begin on the south end of Vancouver Island in the delightful city of Victoria, exploring both coastal and inland spots to see a great variety of birds, including an assortment of gulls, shorebirds, and songbirds like Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Bushtit. After two nights in Victoria, we move to the dramatic west coast to explore Tofino and the surrounding Clayoquot Sound. We have three nights here to savor this incredible part of the island. We enjoy two boat tours to search for Black Bear, Humpback Whale, Grey Whale, and pelagic birds such as Pink-footed Shearwater and Black-footed Albatross. In addition to exploring the waters around the island, we also spend time birding on the white sandy beaches and temperate rainforests in Pacific Rim National Park.

Moving back to the east coast of the island, we head to Campbell River, located at the south end of the Discovery Passage. Here, we have an exciting day exploring rivers to search for Grizzly Bear feeding on salmon and learn about traditional culture with a Homalco First Nation guide. Our tour comes to an end back in the vibrant city of Victoria, but you won’t soon forget this incredible island!

Tour Highlights

  • Explore the wonderful city of Victoria known for its gardens; for birders—its shorebirds and gulls
  • Visit the Nanaimo River Estuary, the largest on the island
  • Be amazed at 800-year-old Douglas fir trees in the Cathedral Grove
  • Find seabirds and marine mammals on two exciting boat tours from Tofino
  • Search for bears, whales, otters, puffins, and songbirds!
  • Dine on delicious fresh seafood and try local wines
  • Visit the beautiful beaches and lush rainforests of Pacific Rim National Park
  • Explore rivers near Campbell River to search for Grizzly Bear with a First Nations guide
  • Enjoy the amazing scenery throughout Vancouver Island

Trip Itinerary

Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary may occur to account for weather, road conditions, closures, etc. and to maximize your experience.

Wed., Sept. 3       Arrivals in Victoria    

Welcome to Victoria! Located at the southern end of Vancouver Island, Victoria is known as the “Garden City” due to its many parks and gardens. We head to our hotel, situated in a beautiful part of the city near the downtown area and across from the ferry terminal. 

Tonight, we gather for a welcome dinner to meet our guides and fellow travelers and prepare for an exciting adventure.
Accommodations at Best Western Inner Harbour, Victoria (D)

Thurs., Sept. 4      Birding in Victoria | Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary 

Today, we begin our exploration of Vancouver Island. With a mild climate, beautiful beaches, temperate rainforests, and high mountains, it is sure to be an exciting trip filled with incredible scenery. And the diverse habitat means a wonderful array of birds and wildlife! 

We start in Victoria, the picturesque capital of British Columbia. First inhabited by several First Nation groups, it was later colonized by the British in the mid-1800s. This British colonial past is evident throughout the city with its beautiful Victorian architecture and English-inspired gardens. Scenery in this coastal city is outstanding and on a clear day, the Olympic Mountains of Washington State in the US can be seen to the south. 

There is no shortage of areas to visit for great birding in Victoria and we make the most of our time here. Some of the most prominent locales are around Esquimalt Lagoon, located west of the city. A shallow lagoon that is enclosed by a sand and gravel bar, this is a great spot for birds and we expect a large concentration of gulls here, including Glaucous-winged, Short-billed, and California. We may also spot a scarce Western Gull or the attractive Heerman’s Gull. We search the rocky shorelines for flocks of Black Turnstone and Surfbird as they feed. 

In the afternoon, we visit several inland parks, including Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary, which includes both wetland and oak forest habitat and has recorded over 225 species of birds. These inland areas should be productive for Anna’s Hummingbird, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, and a variety of other songbirds.  
Accommodations at Best Western Inner Harbour, Victoria (B,L,D)

Fri., Sept. 5    Nanaimo River Estuary Birding | Ancient Forests at Cathedral Grove | Tofino

After breakfast, we pack up and head north to Nanaimo on our way to Tofino. Famous for the delicious Nanaimo bar dessert, which features layers of custard and chocolate ganache on top of a graham cracker base with coconut and cocoa, Nanaimo is on the east coast of Vancouver Island and almost directly across the Strait of Georgia from the city of Vancouver. 

We visit the Nanaimo River Estuary, the largest estuary on the island and abundant in natural resources with five of the Pacific salmon species occurring here, along with over 200 bird species. This location is also popular with migrating shorebirds such as Least, Pectoral, and Western Sandpipers. After an enjoyable visit to the estuary, we have lunch, perhaps with one of those famous Nanaimo bars for dessert!

After lunch, we head over to the west side of the island on a scenic three-hour drive over the mountains, through old growth forests, and by scenic lakes. We stop at the stunning Cathedral Grove on the way. Here we are immersed in towering stands of Douglas fir trees, some of which are over 800 years old! Some of the largest trees here are more than 30 feet in circumference and will surely leave you in awe. After spending time admiring these massive trees, we continue to Tofino, arriving in the late afternoon. 

One of the most beautiful places on Vancouver Island, Tofino is situated at the end of the Esowista Peninsula on the Clayoquot Sound. We arrive and check into our hotel, perched above the Tofino inlet with fabulous views of the water. 
Accommodations at the Tofino Resort and Marina (B,L,D)

Sat., Sept. 6    Whales & Bears | Ucluelet   

After breakfast, we enjoy our first of three boat trips on the tour. Today’s focus is Black Bear, Humpback Whale, and Gray Whale, along with numerous bird species. Coastal Black Bear can typically be found feeding in tidal pools along the shoreline, overturning rocks to look for prey. Vancouver Island has a dense population of these bears, with over 7,000 living on the island. Humpback Whale, the largest whale in the waters around Vancouver Island, are typically present and if we are lucky, we see one of the nearly 200 resident Gray Whales that live off the coast of the island. As always, we search for birds and hope to find Marbled Murrelet and Tufted Puffin in the waters, while we scan the shorelines for Black Oystercatcher and Wandering Tattler. We also keep our eyes peeled for Orca and Sea Otter along the way.

After an exciting day, we visit Pacific Rim National Park in the evening to watch sunset on one of the many spectacular white, sandy beaches. Along with beautiful views, we likely spot surfers out in the water—Tofino is one of the best surfing spots in Canada. What a terrific end to a truly great day!
Accommodations at the Tofino Resort and Marina (B,L,D)

Sun., Sept. 7    Pelagic Trip from Tofino   

Another exciting day in Tofino and another wonderful boat trip! Today, our focus is seabirds and we venture out to the continental shelf at Clayoquot Canyon in search of them. On our journey out, we see our first seabirds as Sooty Shearwater glide between the waves. We also look for Pink-footed Shearwater with their namesake pink feet and dark tipped pink bill, along with Black-footed Albatross and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel at the shelf. Alcids such as Cassin’s Auklet, Marbled Murrelet, and Tufted Puffin are seen as well and if we’re lucky, we spot jaeger species, Sabine’s Gull, and Arctic Tern. Rarities have also been seen in these pelagic waters and include both Short-tailed and Laysan Albatross. 

We arrive back in Tofino by mid-afternoon and enjoy a relaxing evening in this beautiful town.
Accommodations at the Tofino Resort and Marina (B,L,D)

Mon., Sept. 8      Pacific Rim National Park | Campbell River     

This morning, we say goodbye to Tofino and slowly work our way south along the west coast, birding as we go, before heading east to Campbell River. We make several stops in Pacific Rim National Park to search the beautiful beaches for migrant shorebirds and flocks of gulls. At 200 square miles, this park is big in size as well as beauty. Containing rugged coastline, spectacular beaches, and lush rainforests, this park has a great deal of diversity. Over 300 bird species have been found here and mammals include Black Bear, Black-tailed Deer, Cougar, and Vancouver Island Wolf, a semi-aquatic subspecies of the Grey Wolf. 

We search for Sanderling scampering back and forth on the beach, along with Western Sandpiper and perhaps a Pelagic Cormorant flying by. In the forests lining the beaches, we may see Steller’s Jay, Golden-crowned Kinglet, or Pacific Wren. 

On the way to Campbell River, we make stops for birding in the high elevation forests and look for Sooty Grouse, and if we’re lucky, Northern Pygmy Owl. We arrive in late afternoon and settle into our hotel in this quaint town.
Accommodations at the Comfort Inn (B,L,D) 

Tues., Sept. 9      Grizzly Bears in Campbell River

We awaken in Campbell River, known as the “Salmon Capital of the World.” Located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, this town is popular with fishing enthusiasts, and five species of Pacific salmon can be found here. This area is also known for its many hiking and biking trails and beautiful scenery.  

Today we enjoy our third boat tour of the trip, this time to search for Grizzly Bear! This boat tour differs from the others in Tofino in that we navigate the rivers rather than the ocean. We have a long, but very exciting day as we leave in the early morning and do not return until the evening. A local guide from the Homalco First Nation joins us and teaches us about the traditional culture and historical significance of this region as we search for Grizzly Bear feeding on spawning salmon that travel up the rivers. 

We return to our hotel for a relaxing evening, perhaps trying some of that delicious fresh salmon ourselves, after our exciting day on the river.
Accommodations at the Comfort Inn (B,L,D)

Wed., Sept. 10        Campbell River | Victoria   

This morning, we head south along the coast of Vancouver Island toward Victoria. We make multiple stops along the way for birding. On the beaches, we look for migrating shorebirds like Whimbrel, along with Surf Scoter, Pacific Loon, and Harlequin Duck. Large numbers of gulls concentrate in this area and we spend some time exploring the minor differences and extensive hybridization that occurs along the west coast of North America. 

We reach Victoria in the late afternoon. This evening, we enjoy a celebratory dinner and recount the many highlights of a wonderful time on Vancouver Island.
Accommodations at Best Western Inner Harbour, Victoria (B,L,D)

Thurs., Sept. 11      Departures    

Today, departures are at your leisure. Depending on the flight times, there may be time in the morning for some casual birding. Some may wish to stay on at leisure to enjoy the many attractions of this popular city, such as the Butchart Gardens. (B)

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Vancouver Island Coastline

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Black Bear

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Anna's Hummingbird

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Steller's Jay

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Sea Otter

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Discovery Passage

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Pink-footed Shearwater

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Whale-watching Vancouver Island

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Tofino

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Golden-crowned Kinglet

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Cathedral Grove

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Black Oystercatcher

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Nanaimo River Estuary

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Marbled Murrelet

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Pacific Rim National Park

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Glaucous-winged Gull

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Cathedral Grove

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Pacific Rim National Park

  • Birding Canada, Bird Watching Canada, Birding North America, Naturalist Journeys, Wildlife Tour, Wildlife Photography, Ecotourism, Specialty Birds, Endemic Birds, Birding Hotspot, Banff National Park

    Grizzly Bear by Tina Greenawalt

Browse below for trip reports and species lists from past versions of this and other tours from this destination.

Arctic

Canada

Pace & Protocols +

Pace of the Tour & What to Expect You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of Read more

Pace of the Tour & What to Expect

You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of hotels (our eContact List) a few weeks before your departure. This will serve as an outline for each day and alert you to any recent changes made in the schedule or to our hotels, if needed.

Our journeys are set up to follow the rhythm of nature. Our focus is on birding and nature; we offer full, well-planned field days and often get up early for that magical time around dawn. We generally follow the published itinerary, but we stay flexible to the weather, wildlife opportunities and the interests of the group. Your guide will keep you apprised of the next day’s schedule at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.

The pace of our Naturalist Journeys tours is moderate; to fully participate you should be able to get in and out of vehicles several times a day, and walk 1-3 miles over uneven terrain. It is important to participate with a flexible attitude as adjustments may be made in our schedule to make the most of our time in the field or for other purposes at your guide's discretion. We are not a “listing” bird company that drills down on target species, but at times we do wait for those special species unique to the places we visit. During the day, we take time to stop for photos and for educational opportunities to learn about conservation projects, landscapes, and geology. We appreciate other taxa as well as birds, with mammals often the biggest draw but plants and butterflies are also very popular. Our clients often lend their own expertise to the mix.

We like to make meals a fun and memorable part of the experience, too. Breakfasts are often at hotels, and we carry snacks, fruit, and water in the vans each day. Lunches are a mix of picnics in the field (weather dependent) and a chance to dine with locals at small cafes and restaurants. For dinner, we pride ourselves in our homework to keep up with the best choices for dining, choosing restaurants with atmosphere that specialize in local foods. On occasion we keep dinner simple to go back out in the field for sunset wildlife viewing or night walks. In some remote locations, our choices are limited. If you are tired, room service for dinner may be an option you can choose.

Naturalist Journeys International Trips: Guide Role

Naturalist Journeys supports ecotourism and the development of excellent local guides. Once we know our international partners and guides well, we can send out small groups working directly with these trusted partners, adding a Naturalist Journeys guide to assist the local expert when we have a group of 6-7 or more. This helps us keep your costs down while retaining tour quality. The local guide is your main guide. You can expect your Naturalist Journeys guide to be well-researched and often they are experienced in the destination, but their role is not to be primary, it is to help to organize logistics, help you find birds, mammals, and interesting other species in the field, keep reports, help facilitate group interactions, and to keep the trip within Naturalist Journeys' style. Local guides live in the countries we travel to, know the destinations intimately, and are often the strongest force for conservation in their countries. They open many doors for us to have a rich experience.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in any vehicle or in any situation where the group is participating in an activity together, such as a vehicle excursion or a guided walk. Please respect all designated smoking areas at hotels and restaurants.

Transportation

As a courtesy to each other, we ask that all travelers please rotate seating. On international trips we may all be in one small bus, on some trips we are in vans, particularly the roomy Sprinter Vans when available. Some areas require us to be in smaller 4-wheel drive or safari vehicles. Rotation allows you to sit with different drivers and alternate front and back seating.

Photo Release & Sharing

We take many group photos and will share photos with the group. And after your tour, we will organize a chance to share photos via Dropbox or Google Photos. Please note that this is our policy and if you prefer to be excluded, we need to know ahead of your tour.

By registering for this tour, you agree to grant to Naturalist Journeys and its authorized representatives’ permission to record on photography film and/or video, pictures of my participation in the tour. You further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochure, or other printed materials used to promote Naturalist Journeys, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation.

Travel Insurance

You are traveling in remote areas. Naturalist Journeys strongly recommends you have full medical and evacuation insurance from a company such as Allianz, for all international travel. If you do not have medical coverage or evacuation coverage on your existing travel insurance policy or for some reason elected not to take that out, we advise getting an evacuation plan with Global Rescue, World Nomads, Medjet, Allianz (they can do evacuation only) or a similar company. These plans are typically $300-$400 for a year for multiple destinations. This coverage may be a part of a larger Travel Insurance policy but can also be purchased on its own.

Questions?

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at clientservices@naturalistjourneys.com or telephone our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey.

 


Photo credits coming soon.

×

Like what we do?

Sign up for our weekly eNews to stay up to date!

Get to know our favorite destinations each week. We promise no spam.

No Thanks