Sail the Great Bear Rainforest....See the Kermode! The BC Central Coast Awaits
Tour the Great Bear Rainforest aboard our 70' sailing vessels. An unforgettable journey through the BC central coast.
Come cruise the Great Bear Rainforest / BC Central coast with us in 2010! The focus on our 'Great Bear Rainforest' trip is on exploring the remote islands and inlets of this special area. See magnificent waterfalls, view ancient Petroglyphs, see whales frolic in the waters and watch grizzly bears fish for salmon in the estuaries. We expect to see Grizzly bears, black bears and Kermode / Spirit bears and benefit from the knowledge of local native Gitga'at guides. This nature cruise through the Great Bear Rainforest is full of spectacular scenery and wildlife. Come explore the BC Coast!
Be a part of history and sign the Petition to stop the BC trophy hunt
Imagine making a difference. The “Faltering Light” visual petition is a high quality book containing: an open letter to the BC government requesting that trophy hunting of bears is stopped, essays from leading environmentalists, sepia toned bear photographs and YOUR SIGNATURES supporting the termination of the trophy hunt. The book will be delivered to Premier Gordon Campbell & Environment Minister Barry Penner before the trophy hunt resumes in April. The book will also be given to the Vancouver city archive as a record of every individual's historic contribution. So let's make history, record your name and join conservation photographer Andy Wright with founding supporters Simon Jackson (www.spiritbearyouth.org) and Ian McAllister (www.pacificwild.org) to make this visual petition a significant creation that changes history and saves the magnificent bears of British Columbia.http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/trophyhunt.html
Download an itinerary!
Bella Bella to Bella Bella Itinerary | Prince Rupert to Bella Bella Itinerary | Bella Bella to Prince Rupert Itinerary |
Natural History of the Great Bear Rainforest
When you sail the Great Bear Rainforest you will see Islands and intricate waterways beneath towering mountains...lush, coastal temperate forests...wilderness alive with eagles, ravens, salmon, bears and wolves...ten thousand year old native cultures...and now the opportunity to adventure along these waterways, inside the forest, seek for wildlife, meet native guides and learn the why the Great Bear Rainforest is one of the last gems on the Pacific Coast. This small ship cruise of central BC, is comparable to no other.
The description “Great Bear Rainforest” was created because the region holds the largest remaining areas of original coastal rainforest left on the entire Pacific coast. Ecologically, the name refers to the significant populations of black, grizzly and kermode bear that are supported by the abundant salmon runs for food, and lack of human development. It is a long, convoluted maze of narrow waterways and fiords. Emerald forests of western hemlock and red cedar clock lush river valleys and broad estuaries. Biologically abundant and diverse, the area is also ecologically fragile.
Trip Highlights
Grizzly and Black Bear ViewingHumpback Whales/Orcas
Hot Springs
See the Spirit Bear
Visiting native villages and Big houses
Towering Waterfalls
Wildlife
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| Kermode Bear & Black Bears These primeval forests are the only habitat of the Kermode or “spirit bear”. An elusive and rarely seen wonder, the Kermode is a genetic throwback - a black bear with a “recessive” gene giving it snow-white fur. Princess Royal Island is one of the few areas on the coast where one can find the Kermode. Only 10% of black bears in the area are Kermode, so though we expect to see black bears, it will require good luck and perseverance to spot a Spirit Bear. |
Grizzly Bears This area is home to the magnificent grizzly bear, a species that requires large areas of habitat undisturbed by human activity. These great bears, once roamed across North America but due to the advance of civilization, diminished food supply and continued hunting; they are now threatened in their remaining range. Weighing in at more than a quarter of a ton, grizzly bears sit at the top of the food chain and are a critical part of the coastal ecosystem. |
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| Wolves & Birds The Rainforest is home to a significant population of gray wolves. Scientific studies presently underway suggest they may be genetically distinct from their inland cousins. The area has a very rich and varied bird population. Many people will be amazed at the number of bald eagles we see on the trip. Colourful seabirds such as pigeon guillemots, oystercatchers and rhinoceros auklets are common and we will see large numbers of smaller water birds, such as phalaropes. |
Marine Mammals During our voyage there are excellent chances of seeing various species of marine mammals. Fitzhugh Sound and Whale Channel are good areas for viewing humpback whales. The coastline near Cape Caution supports a summer population of gray whales; and this entire coast is famous for its population of orca (killer whales). |
Native Culture
The central coast region of British Columbia’s scenic and intricate shoreline has a long history. Stretching from Vancouver Island north along the mainland coast, it forms a significant section of the famous “Inside Passage” route to Alaska - a term that started with the gold rush of the 1800’s. Many of the gold seekers stayed on the coast, attracted to the plentiful resources of fishing and the lush forests. Native peoples have lived along this coast for at least 10,000 years, and built a renowned culture based upon these same fish and trees.Unfortunately, diseases spread from the first European traders decimated the old villages, and now the native peoples are centered in a few, small coastal villages, with names like Bella Bella, Klemtu and Hartley Bay.
photo credit Kitasoo First Nation
We visit and explore with permission of the local Gitga’at and Kitasoo native groups (both members of the Tshimshian Nation). The concept of eco-tourism demands that visitors respect local cultures and share a portion of our revenues with local communities. Bluewater Adventures fully supports this concept. We plan to spend a day with local Gitga’t guides sharing their culture and history, and leading us to their favourite bear viewing sites. This small ship cruise in the Great Bear Rainforest will explore the culture, wilderness and wildlife of British Columbia's central coast.
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Great Bear Rainforest - Trip BrochureDownload Now! Download your 4-page brochure on the Great Bear Rainforest! You will need a PDF reader to view this. This brochure highlights the wildlife, native culture and more.... |
Getting to Bella Bella
Airlines: Pacific Coastal Airlines provides daily service between Bella Bella and Vancouver International South Terminal. The airline operates a free shuttle bus between Vancouver's main terminal and the South Terminal (every 30 minutes). www.pacificcoastal.com
You can chose to arrive in Bella Bella the day before the trip, or the morning of the trip. All of our Great Bear Rainforest departures start and finish at 12pm noon. Once you arrive in Bella Bella, the municipal dock where our vessel will be moored, is a short 10 minute taxi ride away. Bluewater covers the cost of this shuttle.
Accommodation in Bella Bella
If you do choose to stay overnight to avoid travel delays or to enjoy your morning in Bella Bella, here are some suggestions for places to stay:
The Shearwater Marine Resort 1.800.663.2370 www.shearwater.ca
The resort provides a free shuttle water taxi service for their guests between Shearwater and Bella Bella. You can only access the Shearwater resort by this water taxi. Service is provided approximately every 1 ½ hours, and is coordinated with the airline schedules. The costs is $5 per person each way if you are not staying at Shearwater.
Whiskey Cove B&B 1.250.957.4234 www.whiskeycovebedandbreakfast.com
Located in Bella Bella
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| Bear Viewing | We hope to see an abundance of bears on this trip. We will visit bear viewing stands where we hope to see the Kermode bear feeding on salmon in the rivers and estuaries. Grizzly and Black bears will be roaming the shores, as they are also coming down to feed on the wild salmon. |
| Whale Watching | Humpback whales, orcas and other species will be seen on this departure. |
| Native Culture | On this small ship cruise through the Inside Passage, we will visit ancient native villages where old remains of buildings lie, see petroglyphs, or visit villages like Klemtu or Hartley Bay. See Longhouses, ancient culture and meet native elders and guides. |