Sail Northern Vancouver Island
Orcas, Totems & Grizzly Bears!
Aboard the Island Odyssey, see Orcas, Totems and Grizzly bears! These 5-7 day adventures are full of wildlife, rich waters and native culture along the British Columbia Coastline. Explore Johnstone Strait by small ship and see how diverse the wildlife of Northern Vancouver Island can be. Download a 5-day Orcas and Totems Itinerary!
Download a 7-day Orcas, Totems & Grizzlies Itinerary!
Natural History
The Johnstone Strait area once supported tens of thousands of Kwakwaka'wakw people. Village and midden sites are everywhere. Now, only a few villages remain inhabited. However, the culture and traditions remain intact. In the old villages, proud totem poles can still be found. The modern Kwakwaka’wakw in Alert Bay, preserve their heritage in wonderful carvings, canoes and masks. This area forms the southern end of what conservationists call the ‘Great Bear Rainforest’. Extending north along British Columbia’s ‘Central Coast’ lies the largest remaining areas of pristine ‘old-growth’ coastal forest in North America. Conservationists and tourism operators are struggling to protect this remaining wilderness. The whales, bears and salmon require this wilderness to survive. The forestry industry however, wants to log the ‘old-growth’ areas,in order to preserve present rates of ‘harvesting’ and protect coastal forestry jobs.
Cruise ships pass quickly along the famous Inside Passage, most of their passengers unaware of the amazing wildlife close-by. Aboard our 68’ sailing vessels participants get the opportunity to experience first-hand this fascinating ecosystem. You will be thrilled by nature’s strength and learn about its fragile balance.
Trip Highlights
Orcas in Johnstone StraitKnight Inlet Bear Viewing
U’Mista Cultural Centre in Alert Bay
Totems at Village Island
Wildlife
At the northern end of Vancouver Island lies a maze of islands and waterways, full of wildlife, beautiful scenery, and the history and traditions of the Kwakwaka’wakw people (Kwakiutl). The Pacific Ocean funnels into the protected waters of Johnstone Strait creating strong tidal currents, and incredibly nutrient-rich waters. Millions of salmon, returning to spawn in the mainland rivers, must converge to pass through the Strait. Groups of orcas (or killer whales) wait to hunt the salmon in the passages. Gray whales feed in the shallow bays, while humpback whales are found just offshore. Along the shore, black bears roam feeding in the intertidal zone. The wealth of life and food attracts a variety of marine mammals, seabirds, eagles and anyone interested in spectacular natural history.
This is a good area for seeing bears. Black bears are frequently spotted among the islands. They like to roam the shore, feeding on crabs and other intertidal organisms. Grizzly Bears frequent Knight Inlet as well as on the shores throughout the trip.
The waters of Johnstone Strait and Queen Charlotte Strait are considered the best place in the world to observe Orcinus orca (killer whales). For a few months of the year these beautiful marine mammals are present on a daily basis.We should have excellent opportunities for observation and photography of whales. A few of the exciting whale behaviours we have seen from “Island Roamer”:
- Orcas swim over to the boat, surface, giving us a chance to see their full bodies under the water, and sometimes roll on their side to look at us.
- Breaching is when an orca leaps clear of the water and falls back with a huge splash. (What a challenge to capture this activity on film!)
- Orcas often spyhop, raising their upper bodies clear of the water to look at the above-water environment.
- The ship’s hydrophone (underwater microphone) enables us to hear orcas vocalize - communicating under the water.
- Large numbers of orcas congregate in Johnstone Strait a few times each summer. These ‘superpod’ groups are extremely exciting and we can only hope for them to be there.
Native Culture
Very close to Robson Bight is the old Kwakwaka'wakw village of Mimquimlees. Here in 1921, the police arrested the elders holding a “potlatch” ceremony, and confiscated their prized ceremonial masks. Many of these priceless pieces of art were then secretly sold to museum collections across North America. The potlatch is a community event to witness changes in status (weddings, deaths, achievements). The government had outlawed the ceremony, believing it would help native people gain a good work ethic and speed their conversion to Christianity. Today, at Mimquimlees, with permission of the band, we will see elaborately carved totem poles and the remains of native “great houses”. Inhabited for perhaps thousands of years, the village withstood attack, disease epidemics, and the laws banning the “potlatch”, before abandonment earlier this century. The Kwakwaka’wakw people from most of the old villages moved to the government cannery town of Alert Bay. The excellent U’Mista Cultural Centre now holds some of the famous potlatch masks and other interesting artifacts .Today in Alert Bay, children are once again being taught the native language, traditional dances, art and family stories.
Tour 1: Orcas and Totems
The best place in the world to see orcas, or killer whales and the rich Kwakwaka'wakw native heritage. Enjoy various species of marine mammals, remote beaches and summer sailing.Departs: Port McNeill, BC
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Orcas & Totems - Trip BrochureDownload Now! Download your 4-page brochure on the Orcas & Totems! You will need a PDF reader to view this. This brochure highlights the wildlife, culture and more... |
Tour 2: Orcas Totems and Grizzlies
See Orcas and humpback whales in the core feeding area of Johnstone Strait, and the rich Kwakwaka'wakw native heritage. This trip you will observe grizzly bears feeding on spawning salmon up Knight Inlet from the stands.Departs: Port McNeill, BC
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Orcas, Totems & Grizzlies - Trip BrochureDownload Now! Download your 4-page brochure on the Orcas, Totems & Grizzlies ! You will need a PDF reader to view this. This brochure highlights the wildlife, culture and more... |
Getting to Northern Vancouver Island Airlines:
Pacific Coastal Airlines has daily service between Port Hardy and Vancouver International South terminal. visit www.pacificcoastal.com for further details on schedules and pricing.
Pacific Coastal Airlines operates a free shuttle bus between Vancouver's Main terminal and the South terminal every 30 minutes.
Intercity Bus:
There is a bus between Vancouver and Port McNeil that takes approximately 11 hours. For more information on schedules and fares contact: Greyhound Canada at 1.800.661.8747 or visit www.greyhound.ca
Rainbow Express Taxi:
Once you are in Port Hardy, Rainbow Taxi operates a shuttle/taxi service between Port Hardy (airport) and Port McNeil. Travel between Port Hardy and Port McNeil takes about an hour and costs approx $40 Cdn, with discounts for additional fares (up to five persons). You should reserve 24 hours in advance by calling Rainbow Express Taxi 1.250.956.8294