Cortes Island, BC Oceanfront Accommodations, Tenting, Kayak Adventures & Yoga Retreats: T'ai Li Lodge

Cortes Island Daily Adventures.

Guided walks, star talks and kayak paddles,
Misty Isle Boat Charters, Yoga Programs and Body Work Available.

Cortes Island is located at the entrance to Desolation Sound, home to warm water lakes, stunning sandy beaches, and quaint harbours. The island's communities consist of Whaletown, which greets you at the ferry dock, Manson's Landing with its sandy beaches overlooking Vancouver Island, and Squirrel Cove, an anchorage facing Desolation Sound.

Cortes Island has a long tradition of being home to an eclectic arts and culture community. Browse the local craft stores and galleries for island-inspired drawings, paintings and sculptures by the local artists.

Much of what is special about Cortes Island has to do with the people here. Some have grown up here, and many have been attracted to Cortes from afar, resulting in a rich mix of talents and skills and lifestyles. We all feel that we have found paradise... Life here will remind you of a simpler time. There are Saturday night dances, Friday markets, summer festivals, general stores and a local craft store.

There are no fast food franchises, no malls and no night clubs. You'll find friendly people who make you feel welcome and give you the same sense of security that you might have felt as a child in a small rural town. It still feels that way here!

Ask us about the following walks and activities, and be sure to let us know if we can arrange a guide for you:

Hague Lake (Kwas) Park: A - Explore a bit of local logging history a the site of the old steam donkey. Start at park entrance across from the Cortes Motel.

Hague Lake (Kwas) Park: B - Experience the majesty of the 500-Year-Old Big Fir as we hike through second growth forest around Hague Lake & up to Cedar Ridge. Start at park entrance off Hague/Lowe Rd.

Easter Bluff - Gently climb up to Cortes Island's best lookout and be rewarded with the stunning views of Georgia Strait and the Northern Gulf Islands. Start at the peak of Cortes Bay Road between Seaford Rd and Cortes Bay.

The Bog - Another magical natural habitat.... start at the junction of Squirrel Cove, Whaletown and Manson's Landing turnoff.

Star Talk - Explore the summer night sky, learn some of the constellations, hear some fascinating stories, discover our place in the vast universe. Location to be decided. Dress warmly & bring a blanket or sleeping bag to sit on.

Other nature adventures from Bird Watching, Beach Combing to an Oyster BBQ can be arranged by request.

SV Misty Isles under sail

 

Kayak Paddles with Misty Isles Adventures

Misty Isles Half-Day Adventures

Mitlenatch Island or Desolation Sound. The schooner 'Misty Isles' offers a relaxed and leisurely way to see the area. Sit on the large open decks or help hoist the sails if the wind is right as you voyage to Mitlenatch Island, a large seabird rookery and a wildflower paradise where seals and sea lions await.

Alternatively, explore Desolation Sound, an area famous for its scenic beauty, where snow capped mountains soar up from the sea. All trips depart from Cortes Island. Price: 5 hours - $94 (Per person).

Kayaking nirvana

 

Guided Kayak Day Trips

Join our naturalist guides as we explore the natural and human history of Cortes Island and the surrounding waters. From sunset paddles to gliding over reefs while the curious seals follow, these trips are a great way to get the feel for kayaking while having a guide there to help you along. Price: 3 hours - $70, 4 hours - $85, 5 hours - $94.94 (Per person)

Bioluminescence Paddles

During the warm months of summer, the plankton which produces bioluminescence proliferates and the fairy dust sparkling that it creates swirls away from our paddles as we kayak under the stars. It makes for a magical evening!
Price: 3 hours - $70 (Per person)

Booking: (250) 935-6756
mistyis@island.net
www.mistyislesadventures.com

Cortes Island Acvitities

HIKING & BIKING

Cortes Island is crisscrossed with old logging roads, many of which are overgrown. These 'recycled' trails allow outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to explore the island off the beaten track. Carrington Bay and Von Donop Inlet provide a maze of trails, and Gunflint Lake and Hague Lake are surrounded mostly by parklands, with a series of marked trails at the end of Kwas Bay Road and across the road from the Cortes Motel. When hiking on Cortes, please remember that most small roads lead to private residences, so take care when choosing your path.

SWIMMING, SUN BATHING & BEACHCOMBING

Hague Lake Provincial Park on the eastern shore of Hague Lake has a sandy beach and is perfect for swimming and sunbathing.

Oceanside Beaches As the tide comes in during summer afternoons, the water is warmed by the sun-drenched sand and rocks, making the beaches ideal for a swim or to do some exploratory snorkeling. Great beach walks include Sutil Point from Smelt Bay Park, the sandy shoreline at Manson's Landing and the oyster rich shores at Shark Spit on Marina Island. Seals, sea lions, bald eagles, great blue herons and an abundance of seabirds are common sightings.

DESOLATION SOUND REGION CRUISING

Visit Von Donop Provincial Marine Park, a marine wilderness, home to saltwater lagoons, tidal passes and the old-growth forest Coast-Salish people call Ha'thayim. Von Donop Inlet is a long, narrow sheltered anchorage on the northwestern tip of Cortes Island. Popular with cruising boats, wilderness camping is permitted, and opportunities for rugged hiking and exploration abound.

Mitlenatch, which means "calm waters all around" in the Coast Salish language, is a small rocky island that features semi-arid conditions caused by the island's location in the rain shadow of Vancouver Island. Accessible only by boat, Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park offers excellent opportunities to observe and photograph wildflowers and birds. Birders should approach observation blinds slowly and quietly; the island is a very sensitive ecosystem that is extremely prone to damage by visitors who venture off the designated trails. Pets are not permitted on the island. Some of the largest garter snakes in British Columbia reside on Mitlenatch Island. These harmless snakes may grow to more than 90 cm (36 inches).

CORTES ISLAND ANNUAL EVENTS

Oyster Fest - May
Cortes Day - July Community Picnic, food, games, music, prizes and a dance
Arts and Music Festival - July Music, food, crafts and a dance
Sandcastle Day - early August (TBA)
Bluejay Lake Children's Camp (TBA)

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