Canada’s Own Galapagos

Tufted Puffins in Gwaii Haanas Park

An amazing gem right here in beautiful BC was featured on one of National Geographic’s BEST lists - Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site was rated #1 Park Destination in North America!

Did you notice? Not just in Canada but in North America!!! We’re talking about competing against parks like the Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone, Denali National Park, and Grand Teton National Park! Now that’s what I call underestimating what we have to offer right here at home!!!

Did you know we could see sights like this in our own backyard?

Spirit Bear Cubs seen in September

Haida Gwaii, formerly called the Queen Charlotte Islands, is our own awe inspiring archipelago of islands off B.C.’s north coast. Home to one of the most powerful aboriginal cultures on earth and unique flora and fauna, they have earned the title the Canadian Galapagos.

Because Haida Gwaii has been separated from the British Columbia mainland for so long and much of the land escaped the last ice age, there exist many unique and genetically different species that cannot be found anywhere else in Canada. (Even the larger Black Bears found here are genetically different from their relatives on the mainland.)

These islands are a bird watchers 'Eden': you may see Tufted Puffins, Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes, Murrelets, Shearwaters, Cormorants, Oyster Catchers, some of which only come on land to nest in the summer and spend the rest of their lives at sea. Throughout our trips, it is not unusual to be surrounded by as many as 50 Humpback whales as they feed in these nutrient rich waters. Minke and Fin Whales as well as Dall’s Porpoises and Pacific White Sided Dolphins are also seen here.

Because the Haida First Nations People had such an abundance of food, they had time to develop one of the world's most powerful and creative aboriginal cultures. The Haida culture and the unique flora and fauna of Haida Gwaii are the main focus of our tours in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. Travel to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and discover why this name means “Place of Wonder”.
 

What Canada has to offer

Canada stands second to none when it comes to adventure travel! There is something for everyone and every season in this vast country of ours.

We have majestic mountains to scale, rich fossil fields to explore, swift rivers to raft, spectacular vistas to cycle, hike, or walk, quiet rivers and oceans to traverse by kayak and canoe, and deep seas or swollen streams where you can spin your tall tale about the one that got away! You don’t have to travel to Hawaii for picturesque helicopter tours or to Arizona for hot air balloon rides that take your breath away.

Does Vancouver’s wet winter get to you? No need to head for a beach destination in the south! Get a group together and head to one of our mountains to play in the sun and snow. No matter where you are in Canada you can find winter fun – alpine ski, cross country ski, snowshoe, skate on one of many outdoor rinks, try your hand at curling, explore by snowmobile, join the fun of a winter carnival.

As soon as we get the first thaw, take the kids to Ontario or Quebec to learn how to tap the red maple trees and make maple syrup! There is no lack of vacation ideas for the whole family that are fun and entertain while they educate at the same time. The gold rush history in Barkerville, BC, Anne of Green Gables in PEI, New Brunswick’s reversing falls caused by the highest tides in the world in the Bay of Fundy, Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island are just the tip of the iceberg.

In fact, did you know that Travel & Leisure Magazine’s list of the Top 10 Islands in the World puts Cape Breton Island as number 3? Breath taking scenery, welcoming people, quaint seaports, and history all await your visit. Newfoundland is another island rich in Canadian culture and history just waiting to be explored. You can take a cruise that circumnavigates the whole island.

Are you one of those people who has an African safari on your bucket list? I’ll bet you’ve never even thought about an Arctic safari! Staying in 5-Star tents you get close to walrus, caribou, muskoxen, whales, and the great white polar bear. You’ll encounter endless landscapes, massive ice, long days under the midnight sun, blooming tundra flowers, and areas of great cultural, historical, and natural significance.

If you haven’t explored your home turf, you don’t know what wonderful treasures you are missing! If you have, share your comments below about what are your favorite sites to visit in Canada.

We'd love to help you plan, mail@travelg.com or 604-681-6345

Canadian UNESCO sites

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Did you know that we have 15 UNESCO Heritage sites right here in Canada ?

Our UNESCO sites range from spectacular scenery like the Rocky Mountain Parks, to world renowned fossil sites, to historic old towns like Lunenburg and Quebec City, to wonders like the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.

In addition to the 15 UNESCO sites we have presently, there are another 9 on the tentative list waiting for the United Nations to declare them protected Heritage Sites. 

You can find the complete list at http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/ca Have you seen them all? Comment and share with us which ones you’ve seen, which ones you like the best, and/or what sites you think should be put on the list that haven’t made it yet.