Kayaking Nootka Nuchatlitz British Columbia Vancouver Island

NUCHATLITZ Wilderness Expedition

The Nuchatlitz archipelago on the remote northwest tip of Nootka Island is the quintessential sea kayak tour destination. A myriad of islands and inlets provide a combination of open coast & protected water paddling, rich in culture & history, and undoubtedly the best wilderness camping on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Named after an old native village, this park protects a number of archaeological sites & evidence that the area has been inhabited by the Mowachaht/Muchalaht first nations for thousands of years. The Spanish first came to the area in 1774; ergo many of the place names on the west coast are Spanish in origin such as Zeballos, Espinosa and Esperanza. The British followed closely behind in 1778 and initiated trade with the first nations for sea otter furs. The furs became highly valuable and sold for outrageous prices in China. This instigated hostile actions between the Spanish and British that were later resolved by the Nootka convention of 1790.

This provincial marine park is vital habitat for British Columbia's recovering sea otter population. Sea otters were hunted along the BC coast during the fur trade in 1800's and were extinct by the early 1900's. 89 Sea otters from Alaska were transplanted along the northwest coastal waters in 1969-1972. The present population is an estimated 2000 descendants, one of the largest Sea otter populations in the world. They are a common sight among the rich kelp forests, often feeding on urchins and shellfish. It is not uncommon to see large 'rafts' of Sea otters in Nootka Sound.

This expedition style trip explores the maze of islets & islands that make up the Nuchatlitz group. On this remote wilderness sea kayaking tour, we have the opportunity to paddle through giant sea caves and shower in a crisp, natural waterfall.

Nootka Sound is a popular spot for sport fishing, hosting many species of Salmon and rockfish. We often fish from our sea kayaks, one of the many reasons that this is the most popular trip among our guides. For more info on fishing refer to our FAQ.

Sea kayaking tour area map of Nuchatlitz in Nootka Sound

5 Day Sea Kayak Trip Itinerary

DAY 1

6:15 a.m. We travel 460 Kilometers north of Victoria to arrive in the former gold mining town of Zeballos by 12 noon. On this travel day we will have the opportunity to see much of Vancouver Island, as well as stop for fishing licences & tackle. This is a good opportunity to become acquainted with our traveling companions, check our gear, and meet the locals. Accomodation arrangements can be made to stay in a lodge, hotel or camp in Zeballos the evening before. We meet our water taxi at the dock upon arriving in Zeballos and load our gear. We begin our journey down a beautiful sheltered inlet and are dropped of on an islet in the heart of the Nuchatlitz group where we will set up camp for the night. Your guide will provide you with a kayak safety talk & paddling instruction with ample time in protected waters to work on our paddling style and become comfortable in our sea kayaks, with enough time for exploring before our customary wild west coast Salmon dinner.

DAY 2

After an early breakfast, we get a sense of the open coast as we paddle through Nuchatlitz Provincial Park on the exposed west coast of Nootka Island. We will stop for lunch and watch for rare sea & unique sea birds like the endangered marbled murrelet and the oyster catcher. Often we see rafts of Sea otters from our sea kayaks when paddling through this maze of islands. We explore a giant sea cave on our way to the Nuchatlitz Inlet where we make camp on a secluded sandy beach for the night.

DAY 3

After another satsifying breakfast, we set out to explore Nuchatlitz Inlet and perhaps do a little Salmon fishing. Sea otters are quiet commonly seen in this area. We will stop and watch for large rafts of otters, pause for some excellent photo opportunites & enjoy another creative lunch. A glass of BC wine after dinner around an evening campfire signals the end of another great west coast day. =

DAY 4

A refreshing natural waterfall shower in the morning starts the day. We seek out more quality photo opportunities before trolling for Salmon on our way back towards the Nuchatlitz Group. We take some time to explore some protected archaeological sites and then head for a small Island to camp for the night.

DAY 5

Today we paddle back to meet our water taxi at the launch site and enjoy a scenic cruise back up the inlet to Zeballos. A farewell to the town of Zeballos and a scenic drive out of the 70km of gravel road. Keep an eye out for commonly seen black bear & deer or the not so commonly seen cougar.

Trip Facts & Overview

2009 DATES

Leaves	Returns		Leaves	Returns
TBA $1399 CAD / $ 1185 USD (approx. or use currency exchange site)

Duration:	5 days / 4 nights
Price:	$1399
Departs:	Victoria
Arrives Nearest:	Zeballos
Accommodation:	4 nights beach camping
Tour type:	intermediate multi-day sea kayaking tour
Inclusions:	Transportation from Victoria is available, kayaks & related equipment, camping equipment, dry bags, PFD’s, paddling jackets, meals & wine, professional guides & paddling instruction.
Exclusion:	personal sleeping bag, gratuities, travel to & accommodation in Victoria.
Guest parking:	yes, free with advanced notice
First Nations:	Mowachat / Muchalat Visit a protected archealogical site.

This trip departs from Victoria on Mondays at 6:15 a.m. to return Fridays at 6:00 p.m.

Tour dates can be customized for larger groups and families. Contact our office for more information.

Itinerary, Map & Facts>>

Sea kayaking trips in Nootka Sound Vancouver Island British Columbia. photo Iain Scott

Local Knowledge

Nootka Sound has a rich history which includes exploration, exploitation, tribal wars and also a gold rush. This is where Captain Cook arrived in 1778, the first european to land in the Pacific Northwest.