Port Hardy, British Columbia
Coastal Rainforest Safari’s tours depart from the town of Port Hardy, which is located at the northern end of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
Port Hardy Office and Departure Location
7185 Market Street
Port Hardy, BC
You can travel to Port Hardy by car (and ferry) or plane. Get directions from Google Maps.
Driving to Port Hardy is quite straight forward. When you are starting on Vancouver Island: From Victoria drive north on Highway 1 to Nanaimo. From Nanaimo head north on Highway 19 until you can’t go any further. The only other option to this route is north of Nanaimo just before you reach Parksville you can take the seaside route on Highway 19A. This route rejoins the main Highway 19 at Campbell River. The seaside route may add an extra hour to your trip.
Drive time from Victoria to Port Hardy is approximately 6 hours, from Nanaimo to Port Hardy is approximately 4 ½ hours and from Campbell River to Port Hardy is about 2 ½ hours.
If you are coming from the lower mainland of British Columbia (Vancouver area), you first need to sail on BC Ferries to either Nanaimo or Victoria on Vancouver Island and then follow the directions above.
If you are coming from central or northern British Columbia or Alberta, you could also drive to Prince Rupert and sail on BC Ferries to Port Hardy.
If you are coming from the USA, you can take the Coho Ferry from Washington State that sails between Port Angeles and Victoria on Vancouver Island. And follow the directions above for driving from Victoria.
Car rentals are available through various rental locations in Vancouver, Victoria or Nanaimo. If you are planning a one-way rental, your only option is Budget who have a location at the Port Hardy Airport.
Flights to Port Hardy (YZT) depart from the South Terminal of Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and are approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. These flights are operated by Pacific Coastal Airlines.
Port Hardy airport is a 10 minute taxi ride from town. We recommend reserving a taxi with Waivin Flags Taxi.
There are various accommodation options available in and around Port Hardy. These are our recommended options:
Kwa’lilas Hotel
Cluxewe Resort – RV, Camping, Cottages
Additional Activities in Port McNeill and Northern Vancouver Island
The website www.vancouverislandnorth.ca provides lots of suggestions for things to do and places to stay and below we have compiled some of our favourites.
Quatse Salmon Stewardship Centre (Port Hardy)
Copper Maker Gallery (Port Hardy)
Cove Adventure Tours (Port Hardy)
k’awat’si Tours (Port Hardy)
Sea Wolf Adventures (Port McNeill)
Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures (Port McNeill)
U’mista Cultural Centre (Alert Bay)
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Fun, informative and professional We had a wonderful time today with Andrew our guide, visiting the islands, coves and waters around Port Hardy. Andrew (one of the owners of the company) was a terrific host and guide, as he was very safety oriented, respectful of the wildlife and knowledgeable about the area. We saw Humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, bald eagles and... read moreWe had a wonderful time today with Andrew our guide, visiting the islands, coves and waters around Port Hardy. Andrew (one of the owners of the company) was a terrific host and guide, as he was very safety oriented, respectful of the wildlife and knowledgeable about the area. We saw Humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, seals, bald eagles and many birds, as well as breathtaking scenery. Lunch was a bonus, with a healthy salad, well made sandwich and home baked cookie, with your choice of hot beverage. This was one of the highlights of our three week Island tour - highly recommend. Great value for the money spent. A shout out to Zoe in the office as well - she was very friendly and helpful. Thanks! read less
NorthVanPat -
Outstanding sea otter and wildlife tour with Coastal Rainforest Safaris! We had a fabulous wildlife tour with Andrew! We saw dozens of sea otters, Dall's porpoises, humpback whales, stellar sea lions, seals, and orcas! Andrew is an excellent and knowledgeable guide, who went the extra mile (many miles, actually!) to locate a large pod of orcas that had been spotted in the area. It was such as bonus to see... read moreWe had a fabulous wildlife tour with Andrew! We saw dozens of sea otters, Dall's porpoises, humpback whales, stellar sea lions, seals, and orcas! Andrew is an excellent and knowledgeable guide, who went the extra mile (many miles, actually!) to locate a large pod of orcas that had been spotted in the area. It was such as bonus to see them as part of this tour. Thank you - we heartily recommend this tour! read less
debr832 -
Incredible day on the water! Loved the small boat experience, only 8 of us passengers and it was perfect - we all had prime seating, and the ability to move around and to chat with the guide. Our guide (/owner) Andrew was incredibly knowledgable about the area, the wildlife, the history, and daily life. He led us on a 6-hour tour through open channels and... read moreLoved the small boat experience, only 8 of us passengers and it was perfect - we all had prime seating, and the ability to move around and to chat with the guide. Our guide (/owner) Andrew was incredibly knowledgable about the area, the wildlife, the history, and daily life. He led us on a 6-hour tour through open channels and small inlets, checking in regularly to make sure the experience was tailored to us. We ended up seeing 15+ orcas rubbing on the beach (so rare to see!), and with Andrew's hydrophone in the water, we had such a surreal experience as we stood in awe for almost an hour while listening to their noises and the sound of the stones. We also saw a lot of sea otters, and a couple of humpbacks from the distance. Lunch was more delicious than I could have expected - it was all fresh and healthy, with homemade cookies for dessert, and with nearly zero waste which was impressive. The weather wasn't great but it didn't matter - it's a west coast experience and these guys do it right! read less
PamDuyn -
A great tour of local wildlife! I took the 6hr tour from 10-4 and it was great. I don't expect any guides to produce wildlife for guests. I just expect that they put us in a position to see wildlife using their knowledge of the area. In this case our guide fully delivered. We saw a large pod of orcas, sea otters, 5-6 humpback whales, pacific... read moreI took the 6hr tour from 10-4 and it was great. I don't expect any guides to produce wildlife for guests. I just expect that they put us in a position to see wildlife using their knowledge of the area. In this case our guide fully delivered. We saw a large pod of orcas, sea otters, 5-6 humpback whales, pacific white-sided dolphins, bald eagles and a sea lions. Everything you could want in 6hrs. Also very knowledgeable about the indigenous cultures and traditions in the area. The boat ride was really smooth as well and a great lunch was provided. read less
Justin C. -
Otters Everywhere!! Our day on the water with guide Tommy Child was amazing - his professionalism, traditional knowledge, and the abundance of wildlife made for an epic day. We set out of Port Hardy in a fog bank but were quickly clear of it and learning about ancient First Nations use of all that the land and waters had to offer.
We were... read moreOur day on the water with guide Tommy Child was amazing - his professionalism, traditional knowledge, and the abundance of wildlife made for an epic day. We set out of Port Hardy in a fog bank but were quickly clear of it and learning about ancient First Nations use of all that the land and waters had to offer.
We were mesmerized by Dall and Harbour porpoises, sea lions, large numbers of sea otters (our main attraction) and we finished off the day being entertained by humpback whales. I really appreciated that Tom ensured that we were leaving ample room between the boat and the animals and at no point did I feel like we were harassing them.
The open zodiac tour was a lot of fun and by providing us all with buffs it ensured that we all wore masks when we weren't able to keep distant from each other. Just a stunning trip that I look forward to taking in again in the future.
I strongly recommend this company. read lessAJWheel -
An amazing birthday present! I had an incredible day on the water viewing wildlife with Coastal Rainforest Safaris! I enjoyed the scenery and all the amazing wildlife, especially the whales. The staff were knowledgeable and followed all the recommendations for COVID-19 protocol. Lunch was delicious and I felt comfortable and safe on the water. It was a wonderful day and I highly recommend... read moreI had an incredible day on the water viewing wildlife with Coastal Rainforest Safaris! I enjoyed the scenery and all the amazing wildlife, especially the whales. The staff were knowledgeable and followed all the recommendations for COVID-19 protocol. Lunch was delicious and I felt comfortable and safe on the water. It was a wonderful day and I highly recommend this trip! read less
diannehL3443RJ -
Lifetime experience I highly recommend doing a tour with Coastal Rainforest Safaris! They obey the Covid-19 rules and It was a pleasure to listen to Mike. Beside the tour he also told us more about life in the sea and Indigenous history. We really enjoyed and Mike made sure we took great photos!
Quest262151 -
Spectacular wildlife experience Wow, did this trip deliver! Although the weather did not fully co-operate, we saw 2 black bears, hundreds of sea lions, 20+ sea otters, 2 minke whales, 28 northern resident orcas, 4 humpback whales, and Dall porpoises .
Organization of the trip was very good and their equipment excellent.
Covid-19 practices were also very good.
Spectacular trip!ATL-YVR -
Be awed and inspired by the beauty of nature What an amazing experience. We were treated to sightings of numerous humpback whales, stellar sea lions, porpoises, and sea otters. Our guide was knowledgeable of the area and wildlife. If you get the opportunity to go on a tour, I recommend you don’t pass it up!
zoeelaine83
'Na̱m T̕łix̱a̱n. We felt this sea lion had the the house to himself! #homealone #selfcare #privacy ...
Tail slapping at it’s finest! Viewing humpback whales from our Zodiac style vessel is a lot of fun. Looking forward to to season! #crs #coastalrainforestsafaris #gonorthisland #indigenousbc #hellobc #wildlifeplanet #humpbackwhale ...
Looking forward to another season of hosting guests in the territory! Beautiful how the different the environments are on this trip! #crs #coastalrainforestsafaris #gonorthisland #wildlifephotography #indigenousbc #bigred #zodiac ...
Out from the fog come the magnificent ones! Spending time in the ocean environment is where we want to be! Looking forward to the season. #staysafe #explorelater #crs #coastalrainforestsafaris #gonorthisland #indigenousbc #hellobc ...
Ma̱'a̱mx̱inux̱w - knows how to stalk its prey. A great capture from one of our days out on the water. Orcas can cover great distances so it feels sacred when we do see them. Getting ready for another season this summer! #explorelater #explorebc #vancouverisland #wildlifephotography #orcas #coastalrainforestsafaris #crs @tourismvancouverisland @vancouverislandnorth ...
Hatsawi at their finest! Many Hihatsawi in our environment west of Port Hardy, they definitely bring excitement to the tours! #pacificwhitesideddolphin #dolphin #oceanphotography #wildlifephotography #gonorthisland #explorelater #explorebc #indigenousbc #indigenouscanada @tourismvancouverisland @vancouverislandnorth ...