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

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!

 Bryan Fryer

Brian Fryer has enriched people's adventures in nature in an entertaining way for more than 20 years on B.C's west coast. He is one of Hollyhock's naturalists (10th season) and a naturalist and kayak guide for Misty Isles Adventures (8th season) here on Cortes Island. Storyteller, seaplane pilot, world traveler and actor also describe this character who will make your Cortes Adventure more than just another 'walk in the park.'

On each 2-hour nature walk ( start time to be decided by group ) you will learn about the plants and animals of the temperate rain forest. Hear some of the history of the First Nations people and about life here on Cortes Island. Walks are suitable for all ages, easy to moderate hiking but we do suggest you wear sturdy footwear.

Price: Each 2-hour event is $49 cash for up to 5 people ($10 extra for each person over 5), not including any transportation. Events start at trailhead or pre-determined rendezvous point.

Booking: To book a Walk, Talk or Paddle please enquire with Cortes Vacation Rentals re Contact Information for Brian Fryer - Naturalist Guide. Call: 250 935-6711.

Hague Lake (Kwas) Park: A - See the secret location of Cortes Island's own Inca Ruins & hear the tragic story of the Steam Donkey explosion. Meet 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. Meet 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. Meet at the peak of Cortes Bay Road between Seaford Rd and Cortes Bay.

The Bog - The Mysteries of The Bog include flesh-eating plants, the many uses of sphagnum mosses & tales of 2000-year-old Human Mummies. Meet 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 and see an ET - sightings guaranteed. Location to be decided by group. 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.

Former guest comments:

"Brian made us feel like each event he took us on (hike & kayak) was his first and that we were his favourite group. A great feeling to portray when I know he has done hundreds of guides. That's genuine leadership."

"Brian is fantastic guide, very knowledgeable."

"Brian was as entertaining as he was educating - Perfect!"

"Brian was excellent guide and teacher."

SV Misty Isles under sail

 

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 - $9494 (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

Holistic Health Arts & Transformational Bodywork with Jocelan Coty

Enjoy yoga 2 mornings per week in the Commons - $10 drop-in for 1½ hour class

 

Jocelan Coty has been one of the foremost yoga teachers on Cortes for many years, teaching at Hollyock as well as in her own studio. She draws on a life-long interest in health & well being. Extensive training in yoga, massage, cranial/sacral therapy, lymphatic drainage, aromatherapy, naturopathic healing, Reiki, & spa techniques allow Jocelan to synthesize these modalities into a unique and wonderful bodywork style.

Cell: 250-203-264 Email: jocelancoty@hotmail.com

STUDIO PROGRAMS

Advanced Esalen® Massage: full body integrative session

Cranial/Sacral Therapy: gentle harmonization of the structural body & nervous system

Lymphatic Drainage: cleansing & promoting lymphatic health

Essential Oil Treatments: therapeutic grade oils enhance your massage

Raindrop Therapy: deep cleansing with dynamic oils applied to the spine activated with hot towel packs

Reiki: ancient healing art - laying on hands

Ozone Steam Therapy: ozone cleans & oxygenates while the deep heat encourages a sweat detox

Fabulous Facials: all natural products to clarify and support skin health combined with the lymphatic ’face lift’

Private Yoga Sessions: To address individual needs & enhance your Practice

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 Quais 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.

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.

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 16
Cortes Day - July 18 Community Picnic, food, games, music, prizes and a dance
Arts and Music Festival - July 24-25 Music, food, crafts and a dance
Sandcastle Day – early August (TBA)
Bluejay Lake Children’s Camp (TBA)

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