Sea kayaking Vancouver Island
 
Sea kayaking trips to Hot Springs on Vancouver Island, British Columbia,
 HOT SPRINGS COVE Classic Kayak Tour




This classic sea kayak tour launches from the west coast resort town of Tofino and covers approximatley 30 nautical miles (56km) of Clayoquot Sound by sea kayak. This point A - B kayak expedition is suitable to past guests, intermediate/experienced paddlers looking to expand their skills or adventurous beginners.
The first four days of the trip are spent paddling a mix of open coast, beach camping, and long fjord like inlets. Wildlife viewing opportunities include bears, gray whales, sea otters, seals and eagles.

Summer resident Gray whales are known to feed on the sandy bottoms of nearby bays. They begin to arrive in the spring on their 11,000 mile migration from Mexico to Alaska and a few stay the summer. Sightings are not uncommon.  

 

There is no land access to Hot Springs Cove; it is only accessible by boat, floatplane or sea kayak. A pleasant half-hour along a boardwalk trail through old-growth rainforest leads to the hot pools, which remain at an average temperature of approximately 50 degrees Celsius.  
The natural hot spring pools at this park are a very unique feature. These geothermal hot springs cascade down a waterfall into half a dozen rocky pools. The hot pools flow from one level to the next, gradually becoming cooler as the fresh spring water is cooled by ocean swells.     
We spend our last night aboard the luxury ship/ B&B the Inn Chanter, enjoying a locally inspired dinner while tasting award winning BC wines. In the evening we will have an opportunity to enjoy a relaxing soak in the pools without the day time crowds.
  A water taxi transfer from Hot Springs Cove back to Tofino allows for this expedition style trip to be completed in 5 days.   This is without question our most epic trip of the season.


Sea kayaking tours Hot Springs Cove- Kayak trip area map Clayoquot Sound Vancouver Island


5 Day Sea Kayak Trip Itinerary

DAY 1

9:00 a.m. Blue Planet guides will meet you at the kayak launch site on First St. in Tofino.  We begin our day with a refresher on safety instruction & paddling techniques. Before setting out, your guide will give an instructional talk about surf launch & landings. Practice your new skills when arriving on Medallion Beach for our first gourmet lunch. Watch for seals & sea lions along the rocky shores and reefs on the outer coast of Vargas Island, as well as rare seabirds en route to expansive Ahous Bay for our first campsite.
DAY 2

Enjoy a morning coffee while looking at the chart and checking the weather with your guides. We head for North Vargas, stopping to enjoy the sand beaches. An opportune time for a beach hike and intertidal exploring while your guides prepare lunch. After lunch we continue our paddle on the look out for summer resident Gray whales before arriving at Whitesand Cove for the evening.



DAY 3

A morning of guide led yoga stretches on the beach prepares us for another big day of paddling the fjord like inlets around Flores Island. We stop for lunch and pause for some excellent photo opportunities of paddling on the open pacific before making our way up Millar Channel and to our campsite for the evening.
DAY 4

We watch for the commonly seen deer, wolf or black bear while gliding past kelp forests along the calm inside passage of Flores Island. An exciting paddle around Sharp Point leads us into Hot Springs Cove in the afternoon. We settle into our staterooms aboard the Ship / B&B the InnChanter. Enjoy a hot shower and pull on some comfy clothes while your host/chef prepares a locally inspired dinner. With the day traffic vacated, its a great time to visit the mineral hot spring pools for a soak. Each of the trip dates fall either on the summer solstice or full moon.



DAY 5

Early risers can take advantage of the empty hot springs with morning coffee in hand. After another satisfying breakfast we await for our water taxi transfer back to civilization in village of Tofino. On the boat ride back we look for sea otters, sea lions and whales, recounting the prior days paddling with each corner. After unloading the gear & kayaks, we walk downtown for a no-host lunch, officially marking the end of this epic adventure. 



 


5-DAY HOT SPRINGS COVE
2010 Sea Kayak Tour Dates

Leaves

Returns

Status

 

June 18

June 22

  10 seats  

July 23

July 27

   10 seats  

Aug 20

Aug 24

  10 seats  

Sept 10

Sept 14

   10 seats  


$1499 CAD
(approx. or use currency exchange site)


 

Trip Facts & Overview
Duration:

5 days / 4 nights

Price:

$1499
Departs:

Tofino
Arrives Nearest:

Tofino

Accommodation:

3 nights beach camping &1 night floating B&B
Tour type:

intermediate multi-day sea kayaking tour

Inclusions:

B&B accomodation, water taxi transfer, kayaks & related equipment, camping equipment, dry bags, PFD’s, paddling jackets, meals & wine, professional guides & paddling instruction.

Exclusion:

personal sleeping bag, gratuities,transportation to & accommodation in Tofino.

Guest parking:

free
First Nations:

Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations .


 


 





Geothermal Hot Springs at Maquinna Marine Provincial Park, Clayoquot Sound, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Local Knowledge

Mineral spring water heated deep within the earth surfaces at 47 degrees Cecius (117 F) and cascades down a small waterfall shower and into a series of natural layered rock pools, cooled by the incoming Pacific Ocean surf, each pool slightly cooler than the one above it. At high tide the surf surges up into the two lower pools creating a unique blend of hot and cool water.


 

Sea kayaking tours British Columbia