Before you book that trip to the tropics, press pause. There’s a remote B.C. island halfway between Vancouver and Alaska called Calvert Island that sits at the southern edge of the Great Bear Rainforest, and it’s known as the “Canadian Caribbean.”
Originally named by Reader’s Digest Canada for its incredible underwater and paddling adventures, the island has been praised for its unpolluted, uncrowded beaches, offering visitors willing to make the trek the chance to experience a whole different side of Canada.
Underwater gardens and abundant marine life make it a fantastic deep-sea adventure spot, with some of the finest waters in the world for underwater exploration, according to BC Parks.
The area is protected under a conservatory managed by the Wuikinuxv Nation and the Province, just south of Hakai Luxvbalis Conservancy, the largest provincial marine protected area on the B.C. coast.
“Located on the outer coast near Rivers Inlet, Calvert Island rewards its visitors with unpolluted, vacant stretches of white sand beaches,” says BC Parks. “Popular recreational pursuits in the area include boating, whale watching, angling, scuba diving, hiking, wilderness camping, and advanced sea kayaking.”
If you’re planning on boating or going scuba diving, Pruth Bay and Safety Cove both offer protected anchorage, with Pruth Bay accessible via the Kwakshua Channel, and Safety Cove reached upon entering Fitz Hugh Sound.
How to get there
This remote hidden gem is accessible via boat or seaplane, with scheduled air service and chartered boats available from Vancouver, Port Hardy, Bella Coola, and Bella Bella.
Note that while underwater sea adventures and advanced kayaking are prime activities here, swimming is not recommended as the water is on the colder side and can be rough.
We can think of few things better than exploring untouched, white-sand beaches at the southwestern tip of the world’s largest remaining coastal rainforest.
Happy adventuring!
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