Vargas Island Family Lodge Based 4 Day Getaway (28.32)

Itinerary

• Day
  1

  All participants meet at the lawn/beach to the left of the Government wharf (the end of first street next to the Tofino Air office) at 8:30 am. Here the guides will assign you to a kayak and help you get your personal gear stowed away. When everyone is ready, we'll go over some basic paddling fundamentals and a safety orientation and then launch into the waters of Tofino Harbour. With helpful advice and instruction from your guides, it won't take long till you feel you're getting the "hang of it" as we paddle through a variety of islands, making our way into the heart of Clayoquot Sound. These waters are home to inquisitive river otters, and it is not uncommon for us to encounter these playful mammals within the first few hours of our day. After a couple of hours, we'll land on one of the gorgeous beaches where you can sit back and enjoy a delicious lunch the guides will prepare. After lunch we'll launch the kayaks and make our way along the coastline of Vargas Island to our home for the next 3 nights, the charming Vargas Island Inn. After landing the kayaks, having a tour of the Inn and getting your room picked out, you’re free to unpack and explore the Inn and it’s beaches and trails. For those wanting to use their leg muscles, a gorgeous hike from the Inn across the Island to one of the large outside West Coast beaches (Ahous Bay) is an option (1 hour each way). Or you may elect to enjoy the beachfront sauna, dip in the ocean or relax, read a book and have a glass of wine...A sumptuous seafood dinner, roaring fire and a canopy of stars above is the evenings entertainment.

  Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  Accomodation: Lodge
• Day
  2

  DAY #2 and #3: Clayoquot Sound boasts some of the finest paddling on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Vast sand strewn beaches, ancient sitka and cedar rainforests and the thrill of the west coast and it’s treasure-rich tidal waters offer us innumerable chances to touch the face of nautre. We’ll spend the following days paddling these pristine waters, ever in the hopes of spying some grey whales that are present in these waters during the summer months. Porpoise and Stellar sea lions are also quite common in the waters of Clayoquot Sound, and transient pods of orca periodically frequent the waters in the summer months. As well as the marine mammals, a foraging black bear or some timid deer may be seen along the coastline and we have been fortunate to see wolves on some of the islands. Each day promises great paddling, tranquil sandy beaches to play on (a soccer or football game on the beach, anyone?), beachcombing or lazing around with a good book…you’re on holiday! And at the end of each day of paddling, we’ll return to our lovely “homebase” at the waterfront Vargas Island. Time to steam those muscles in the sauna and relive the day’s adventures over some refreshments.

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  Accomodation: Lodge
• Day
  3

  DAY #2 and #3: Clayoquot Sound boasts some of the finest paddling on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Vast sand strewn beaches, ancient sitka and cedar rainforests and the thrill of the west coast and it’s treasure-rich tidal waters offer us innumerable chances to touch the face of nautre. We’ll spend the following days paddling these pristine waters, ever in the hopes of spying some grey whales that are present in these waters during the summer months. Porpoise and Stellar sea lions are also quite common in the waters of Clayoquot Sound, and transient pods of orca periodically frequent the waters in the summer months. As well as the marine mammals, a foraging black bear or some timid deer may be seen along the coastline and we have been fortunate to see wolves on some of the islands. Each day promises great paddling, tranquil sandy beaches to play on (a soccer or football game on the beach, anyone?), beachcombing or lazing around with a good book…you’re on holiday! And at the end of each day of paddling, we’ll return to our lovely “homebase” at the waterfront Vargas Island. Time to steam those muscles in the sauna and relive the day’s adventures over some refreshments.

  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  Accomodation: Lodge
• Day
  4

  We'll wake to the aroma's of coffee, cooked breakfast and the sounds of the lapping waves for our final day in majestic Clayoquot Sound. After breakfast, we'll break “camp” and load up all the kayaks with our gear..."this stuff should all fit, shouldn't it?". We’ll then bid good bye to our lovely Vargas Island Inn and make our way back through a maze of islands. With the tides in our favour and sunshine and warm breezes on our faces, we should arrive back at our embarkation point of Tofino between noon and 1:00pm.

  Meals: Breakfast

  Accomodation: Accommodation by Customer