Getting here

Start your adventure with an exciting journey to Cortes Island and Desolation Sound!
Our location is remote for a reason but getting here is not as hard as it first appears. 

find out more

Join us on beautiful and unique Cortes Island.

We have chosen this somewhat remote location, away from the busy city centers and the hassle and bustle of the larger islands, to achieve a greater feeling of tranquility, and to be always surrounded by nature and the small island ambiance.
For our overnight tours and courses, for ultimate convenience, we suggest spending the nights prior and after the trip either on Cortes Island, Quadra Island or in Campbell River. Our sailing trips start and end at either the Gorge Harbour Marina Resort or Squirrel Cove.

We can pick-up guests at the Whaletown BC Ferry Terminal on Cortes Is., so you can leave your car in Heriot Bay on Quadra Island and save time as a foot-passenger.

Quadra Island At the Heriot Bay Inn

https://heriotbayinn.com/
Located a 10-minute ferry ride from Campbell River on Vancouver Island, easily accessible from Victoria or Vancouver.

For added convenience, for private overnight Sailing Tours and private live-aboard Sailing Courses, we can additionally start and end our sailing trips from Quadra Island at the Heriot Bay Inn, or from Lund on the mainland, for an additional fee of $600.

lund

http://lundbc.ca/

Located on the mainland side, for those needing easier access from the Sunshine Coast.

Your adventure can start with an exciting journey to Cortes Island, and getting here is not as hard as it first appears.

Below we suggest different options with estimated pricing and travel times – click an option or scroll down:
Seaplane
  • 1-2 hours from Vancouver, Victoria or Seattle
  • $800 – $1700 round-trip
read more
Fly & Water taxi
  • 2-3 hours from Vancouver, Victoria or Seattle
  • $400 – $1100 round-trip
read more
Road-trip & Ferry
  • 5-6 hours from Victoria or Vancouver
  • $200 – $300 round-trip
read more
Travelling without a vehicle
  • 6-7 hours from Victoria or Vancouver
  • $100 – $200 round-trip
read more

Find out more about Cortes Island:

https://ourcortes.com/
https://www.cortesisland.com/cgi-bin/tideline/show_home.cgi
seaplane

Fly direct to Cortes Island (Gorge Harbour or Mansons Landing) by float plane from many locations in BC.

  • 1 hour from Vancouver or Victoria, BC
  • 2 hours from Seattle, Washington
  • Approx. $800 – $1700 round-trip
Seaplane providers:
Corilair Seaplanes (Vancouver to Cortes Island)
1-888-287-8366 | corilair.com
Harbour Air (Vancouver or Victoria to Cortes Island)
1-800-665-0212 | harbourair.com
Gulf Island Seaplanes (Vancouver to Cortes Island)
1-800-665-2359 | gulfislandseaplanes.com
Kenmore Air Seaplanes (Seattle to Cortes Island)
1-866-435-9524 | kenmoreair.com
Fly & Water taxi

Fly to Campbell River & water taxi to Cortes Island (Gorge Harbour).

  • 2 hours from Vancouver or Victoria, BC
  • 3 hours from Seattle, Washington
  • Approx. $400 – $1100 round-trip
Flight: $300-$1000 (round-trip). Shuttle or Taxi from airport to water taxi dock: $20-30 (each way). Water Taxi: $30-$270 (each way, depending on number of passengers).
Air providers:
Central Mountain Air (Vancouver to Campbell River)
1-888-865-8585 | flycma.com
Pacific Coastal Airlines (Victoria or Vancouver to Campbell River) 1-800-663-2872 | pacificcoastal.com
Campbell River Airport Taxi/Shuttle (from Airport to Water Taxi dock)
1-250-287-8383 Bee Line Taxi Ltd.
1-250-339-5252 Ambassador Transportation Corp. Shuttle
Water Taxi Providers
Discovery Launch Water Taxi (Campbell River to Cortes Island)
1-250-287-7577 | discoverylaunch.com
Way West Water Taxi (Campbell River to Cortes Island)
1-250-286-3050 | waywest.ca
Quest Water Taxi (Campbell River to Cortes Island)
1-855-659-2327 | campbellriver-watertaxi.ca
Road-trip & Ferry

Drive to Campbell River & Ferry to Cortes Island.

  • 6 hours from Vancouver, BC
  • 5 hours from Victoria, BC
  • Approx. $200 - $300 round-trip with vehicle
Step 1. Drive from Victoria to Campbell River (3 hours). Or ferry from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) and drive to Campbell River (4 hours total).

Step 2. Ferry to Cortes Island (Whaletown) via Quadra Island (drive from
Quathiaski Cove to Heriot Bay) (2 hours). Alternatively, leave your car in Heriot Bay and travel as a foot-passenger to save time and money, and let us pick you up at the BC Ferry Terminal in Whaletown.

Road-trip & water taxi

Alternative from Sunshine Coast: Drive & Ferry to Lund and Water taxi to Cortes Island

Step 1. Follow the Sunshine Coast Hwy and ferry from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay, then drive to Lund.
Step 2. Water taxi from Lund to Cortes Island (Gorge Harbour) – Check for water taxi availability ahead of time.
Ferry
BC Ferries 1-888-223-3779 | bcferries.com
Water Taxi from Lund & Sunshine Coast
Lund Water Taxi (Sunshine Coast to Cortes Island)
1-604-483-9749 | lundwatertaxi.com
Air Providers
BC Air (Campbell River to Cortes Island)
1-250-895-9979 | flybcair.com
Road-trip & Ferry

Travelling without a vehicle

  • 7 hours from Vancouver, BC
  • 6 hours from Victoria, BC
  • Approx. $100 – $200 round-trip

Travel as indicated for vehicle above taking advantage of the listed bus and shuttle providers between Victoria or Vancouver and Campbell River and take a taxi or hitch a ride on Quadra Island. Once on Cortes Island, we can pick-up guests from the BC Ferry Terminal in Whaletown.

Bus providers:
IslandLink Express Bus (Victoria or Nanaimo to Campbell River)
islandlinkbus.com
Vancouver Island Connector Bus (Victoria or Nanaimo to Campbell River)
1-866-986-3466 | viconnector.com
Taxi or Ride Share
Ride-sharing across Quadra Island – Look for Room for Rider mirror tag
https://www.friendsofcortes.org/education/room-for-rider/
Taxi across Quadra Island with Al your Pal:
1-250-204-0709

Join us and begin your sailing adventure

Did not find what you were looking for?
We would be happy to discuss other options.
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