The Canadian seaport of Vancouver is a sight to behold from any vantage point, but is perhaps at its most captivating when seen from the air.
(Photo: Harbour Air Seaplanes / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
With their ability to take off and land on water, travelling on a seaplane can be an enthralling experience. In Vancouver, there are several seaplane tours that transport you high above the city and beyond, with flights remaining at an altitude that allows for mesmerising views down below. If you like the idea of admiring Vancouver and its surroundings in this way, we’ve picked out 3 of the best city seaplane tours currently available.
Extended Panorama Flight by Seaplane
The standard Vancouver seaplane tours are available as either 20 or 35-minute flights and this extended option lets you discover even more of the majestic mountains and expansive coastline that surround the city. Meeting at the downtown seaplane terminal in Coal Harbour, you’ll take to the sky to enjoy the spectacular aerial views, passing over the beautiful North Shore mountains and following the coast further north towards Whistler, then looping back down over the Islands and exploring the incredible Sunshine Coast before returning to the terminal with a gentle landing. From CA$233 per person.
Floatplane and Capilano Suspension Bridge Combo
(Photo: Harbour Air Seaplanes / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
This tour includes a 20-minute seaplane flight followed by a visit to one of Vancouver’s most distinctive attractions, the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Departing from the seaplane terminal in Coal Harbour, you’ll be whisked up into the sky to soak up the sublime vistas over the city. After landing, you’ll then board a complimentary shuttle to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park where you’ll get to traverse the historic bridge via the Cliffwalk which follows a precipice along the Capilano River on a maze-like series of bridges, stairs, and platforms through rainforest vegetation. Later, the shuttle will return you to the terminal to bring the tour to a close. From CA$198 per person.
Seaplane Flight to Victoria and Whale-Watching Cruise
(Photo: Harbour Air Seaplanes / Courtesy Viator)
Operating from March to October, this small-group all-day excursion combines a seaplane flight from Vancouver to Victoria with an exhilarating whale-watching cruise. After a thrilling water take-off, delight in the views of snow-capped mountains and verdant coastline as you cross the Strait of Georgia by seaplane before landing in Victoria. Here, you’ll embark on a boat cruise through the Haro Strait, native home to orcas (killer whales), sea lions, sea otters, seals, and more. Throughout the cruise, your guide will share facts about the resident marine life, and explain the area’s unique oceanic ecosystem. Afterwards, choose to head directly back to Vancouver seaplane, or stay on to visit other Victoria attractions before catching a later flight back. From CA$617 per person.