Explore Our Backyard

Quadra Island Kayaks are delighted to offer the best sea kayaking adventures that British Columbia has to offer! Our trips are suitable for new kayakers as well as experienced paddlers. We work with a brilliant team of guides who are well trained, professional, knowledgeable about the local environment, and good fun to be with ☺

All of our trips launch from a beautiful dock in Drew Harbour, Heriot Bay. We are directly across from Rebecca Spit Provincial Park. Our launching facility at Taku Resort is very comfortable and ideal…the docks have carpeted kayak ramps and all! We are pleased to offer this service to some of our guests who maybe are feeling a little unsure about getting into a kayak for their first time!

Quadra Island Classic

Time

10am-4pm

Cost

$140 for adults, $125 for kids 12 and under

Includes

Certified guide, lunch, PFD, kayak, paddle and all safety equipment

This is the ultimate Quadra Island kayaking experience! A full day of kayaking, beachcombing, swimming, and wildlife viewing makes this a must to do while visiting our island paradise. Don’t worry if you have never kayaked before. This tour is great for first-timers.

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Each trip we offer includes a thorough kayaking lesson on the dock to make sure that everybody is comfortable and ready to go. Here you will learn the safety aspects of this activity, some of the gear considerations and proper paddling techniques. Your certified and knowledgeable guides will make sure that your kayak is fitted properly and that your sitting position is correct. After the orientation session we hit the water and practice our new skills!

There are several different route options available on the full day tour including: a white sand beach in Open Bay, an open water crossing out to the Breton Islands for a visit with the local seal colony, or perhaps meander along the shoreline towards Hyacinthe Bay to learn about a first nations village site and view an active salmon stream. There are plenty of options to interest all people! The full day tour gives you enough time to really get out there and explore the area. We stop on a beach or a remote island for our lunch break where people get the chance to rest, swim, stretch, beach comb or just relax and take in the views.

As for what wildlife you will see paddling around Quadra Island, there is never a dull moment. We see lots of soaring eagles, Oystercatchers, herons, cormorants, gulls, ducks, geese, harbour seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoise and sometimes even whales! There is always a wide variety of inter-tidal life to learn about including sea stars, sea urchins, jellyfish, crabs etc. The mountain views are stunning and the guides have lots of interesting info to share. This full day tour is an experience that you won’t forget!

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Experience Necessary

None

Lunch

Yup, we’ll keep you fed with a healthy “Yak Shack Power bowl” Quinoa greek style salad with chicken, green pepper, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, feta and a house made greek style dressing. Homemade hummus, veggies and kettle chips cookies and juice.(Please do let us know when booking if you have any food allergies).

What to Bring

A water bottle, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, sturdy sandals, swimsuit (if you plan to swim at lunch), a spare change of clothes (just in case you get wet!) and your camera. We have waterproof dry bags that you may borrow while paddling for your camera and extra gear.

3-Hour Tours

Time

Morning: 9am-12pm / Afternoon: 2pm-5pm

Cost

$100 for adults, $85 for kids 12 and under

Includes

Certified guide, lunch, PFD, kayak, paddle and all safety equipment

This is an excellent option for people on limited time, or if you are not sure if the full day is for you. With morning/afternoon AND sunset departures it is easy to make arrangements to get out on the water. We start this tour with a short lesson on the dock to go over the elements of kayaking including safety issues, proper paddling techniques, steering and stability tips.

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For the half-day paddle we usually head over to the Breton Islands to visit our local seal colony or we head out to Turtle Island and take the short hike to the top to enjoy the stunning view. We always take a short rest stop on shore to get out, stretch our legs and enjoy the hearty snack with spectacular views!

As for the wildlife – we love our friends the harbour seals and have a visit with them on just about every tour. In summer they are sunning themselves on the warm rocks and in July they are having their pups! Paddling around Quadra Island there is never a dull moment. We regularly see soaring eagles, red billed oystercatchers, majestic Great Blue Heron, cormorants, gulls, ducks and geese. Sandy collars of eggs from the Moon Snail are found on beaches in July. This is also a prime time to spot anemones and starfish, sea urchins, oysters and crabs. The seaweed is in full bloom. We always keep our eyes open for the chance of spotting dolphins, porpoise and sometimes even whales! The guides always have lots of interesting info to share. The mountain scenery is stunning. This is a wonderful time to be on the ocean.

This tour offers an opportunity to still get out and explore the area without spending the whole day on the water.

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Experience Necessary

None

Lunch

A hearty snack including: hummus, crackers, veggies, fruit and juice. (Please do let us know when booking if you have any food allergies).

What to Bring

A water bottle, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, sturdy sandals, swimsuit (if you plan to swim), a spare change of clothes (just in case you get wet!) and your camera. We have waterproof dry bags that you may borrow while paddling for your camera and extra gear.

Sunset Kayaking Tour

Time

Jun & Jul: 6pm–9pm / Aug 5pm–8pm

Cost

$100 for adults, $85 for kids 12 and under

Includes

Certified guide, lunch, PFD, kayak, paddle and all safety equipment

This paddle takes place in the calm of the early evening. Watch the wildlife come out to play in the ever changing evening sky. As the sun goes down, the mountains begin to glow and it truly is a magical paddle. This is an evening ritual not to be missed.

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We start this tour with a lesson on the dock to go over the elements of kayaking including safety issues, proper paddling techniques, steering and balance tips. For the sunset paddle we usually head over to the Breton Islands to visit our local seal colony or we head to Turtle Island and take the five minute hike to the top for the stunning view. Either way we always take a nice rest stop on shore to get out, stretch our legs and enjoy the hearty snack with spectacular views!

In the evening there is a calm quiet on the water. We may see soaring eagles enjoying the night sky, oystercatchers relaxing on rocks, herons standing tall to take in the sunset, cormorants, gulls, ducks and geese flying by. We nearly always see seals hanging out on the rocks. And in July these harbour seals are having their pups! There is always the magical chance of spotting dolphins, porpoise and sometimes even whales! Of course our friends the sea stars, sea urchins, anemones, and jellyfish are always there to entertain us. The coastal mountains take on an impressive glow as the sun goes down over Vancouver Island. This tour is an excellent opportunity to have a magical end to a day here on Quadra Island.

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Experience Necessary

None

Lunch

A hearty snack including: hummus, crackers, veggies, fruit and juice. (Please do let us know when booking if you have any food allergies).

What to Bring

A water bottle, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, sturdy sandals, swimsuit (if you plan to swim), a spare change of clothes (just in case you get wet!) and your camera. We have waterproof dry bags that you may borrow while paddling for your camera and extra gear.