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Known for its expansive, sandy beaches, rainforests and plentiful marine life, Pacific Rim National Park is true west coast paradise. Our explorations take us by steam train to a historic mill and local winery and aboard a historic freighter for a cruise to the village of Ucluelet. Optional activities include whale watching, black bear viewing and a marine tour to Hot Springs Cove. Vancouver return.
Vancouver, B.C. Return Day 1 Port Alberni, B.C. This tour to the west coast
of Vancouver Island begins with a 7:00 am pick-up in Vancouver in time
for the 8:30 am sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
After a stop at Coombs Country Market, we begin our drive across the spine
of Vancouver Island through villages and forested valleys to the towering
Douglas fir trees of Cathedral Grove. During an interpretive walk through
this ancient grove, our guide will describe the area's unique flora and
fauna and the traditional uses of the area's natural resources by First
Nations people. In the afternoon we arrive at the small town of Port Alberni
on the west coast of Vancouver Island. After lunch, we catch a steam train
to a historic logging mill with wood cutting demonstrations (high season
only). We then visit a local winery. Day 2 Tofino Tours / Ucluelet, B.C. We're up early this morning in time to board a passenger and cargo vessel at 8:00 am. These ships emulate the slower pace of life of yesteryear and we'll have time to look for wildlife, enjoy the scenery and make the acquaintance of our fellow passengers. Our four and half hour cruise takes us down the Alberni Inlet, dropping off supplies, mail and kayaks at small settlements and float homes until we reach our destination of Ucluelet Here lies Pacific Rim National Park, the only national park on Vancouver Island, providing protection for substantial rain forests and an amazing marine environment. Meeting at the dock, our guide re-joins the group and we drive to the Wickaninnish Interpretive Centre in Pacific Rim National Park. We'll then stretch our legs on an interpretive walk through a rainforest and explore the village of Tofino.
Accommodation: B&B Day 3 Tofino / Ucluelet, B.C. This day is set aside to explore
the land and marine environments of Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park.
Optional activities include a marine tour to Hot Springs Cove, whale watching,
bear viewing and kayak rentals. There will also be time to visit the Art
Gallery of Henry Vickers, a famous first nations painter, and enjoy a
causal walk along the sandy beaches of Pacific Rim National Park. Our
day concludes with a visit to Telegraph Hill for panoramic views of the
rugged west coast. Day 4 Return to Vancouver or Victoria, B.C. After a leisurely breakfast
we head east, over the Vancouver Island Mountain Range to Nanaimo. En
route, we divert to Sprout Lake to a local establishment for lunch. During
the forest fire season, two gigantic Martin Mars water bombers use Sprout
Lake for their runway as they thunder off to extinguish forest fires.
The largest water bombers in the world, these aircraft can scoop up to
27 tons of water off the lake surface. Depending on the demands of the
fire season, we’ll take a gander at these bombers. We’ll also
visit the prehistoric petroglyph, K'ak'awin, on the eastern end of Sprout
Lake Provincial Park. We arrive in Nanaimo in time to catch the 3:00 pm
sailing, which will enable everyone to be back in Vancouver by 5:30 pm.
Or, passengers can continue with Midnight Sun and be dropped off in Victoria.
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