Explore the Waters of the Sunshine Coast with these Operators

The Sunshine Coast is home to some of BC's most spectacular coastline. From Howe Sound to Desolation Sound, and every inlet, lake, and waterway in between, there's no shortage of wildly scenic and diverse waters to explore.

We've put together a list of paddlesport and scenic tour operators, organized by community, that can help you explore the waters of the Sunshine Coast. 
 

It is imperative to stay safe when playing on or near water. Be prepared, wear a lifejacket or PFD (personal flotation device), don’t drink alcohol, and make sure you are familiar with your chosen activity. AdventureSmart and Leave No Trace are great resources to help you get informed before heading outdoors.

Ways to Explore the Coast: Paddle, Boat, and Jet Ski

Canoe, kayak, paddleboard, jet ski, boat, guided or self-guided—however you prefer to take to the water, you'll find options here.

You can tackle one of BC's most underrated paddle routes in a canoe, point your SUP towards sandy shorelines and sheltered bays, or sea kayak to nearby islands. Hop on a jet ski to explore Jervis Inlet or Hotham Sound, or take a boat tour to spectacular spots like Princess Louisa Inlet. 

There are options for both guided tours and self-guided exploration. For a unique experience, book a custom tour with Talaysay Tours. This Indigenous-owned company offers an immersive kayaking experience that combines shíshálh history and culture with hands-on paddling. Kayak through the sacred fjords of ?alhtulich (Sechelt Inlet) and listen as your guide shares the stories, history, and culture of the people who have stewarded these waters for millenia.

Looking to take the guesswork out of planning? Operators like 7 Adventures and Mosaic Earth Travel offer packages that include pre-booked tours for activities like sea kayaking and boating.

Powell River & Lund

On the Northern Sunshine Coast, you're spoiled for choice. Do you choose from exploring magnificent Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park featuring more than 60-kilometres of shoreline, islands, inlets, and bays? Or maybe you'd prefer a 57-kilometre, 5-day paddle route that allows you to explore serene lakes instead? However you decide to explore the waterways, you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy the warm waters of Desolation Sound on a kayak trip with Footprint Nature Explorations, Powell River Sea Kayak, or Terracentic Coastal Adventures. If travelling by boat is more your speed, Terracentric can also take you on a Zodiac tour of Desolation Sound and islands near Lund, including the Copelands and Mitlenatch. And as part of their vacation packages, Klahoose Wilderness Resort (located in Toba Inlet) offers boat tours and the use of kayaks and paddleboards. 

Near Powell River, Mitchell's Canoe, Kayak & SUP can supply you with the gear required to take on the Powell River Canoe Route, while Stillwater Paddleboards and Palli Palli Adventure Rentals both offer SUP rentals and delivery/pick up. Skip the hassle of transporting a SUP and arrange to have your board delivered (and picked up) at the address of your choosing, whether that's your vacation rental, campsite, or a nearby lake. Palli Palli also services the Southern Sunshine Coast, with mobile service in the Pender Harbour, Sechelt, and Gibsons areas.

Egmont

Egmont's rugged harbour is just the beginning: the wide mouth of Jervis Inlet narrows into the soaring, granite-walled Princess Louisa Inlet, studded with cascading waterfalls, craggy bluffs, and treed shoreline; while Sechelt Inlet is where you’ll find the famous Skookumchuck Narrows and the Sechelt Rapids.

Unless you’re experienced and have access to your own boat, a guided tour is the best way to see Princess Louisa Inlet (and its famous Chatterbox Falls) and the rapids of Skookumchuck Narrows. Sunshine Coast Tours, Egmont Adventure Centre, and Metta Eco Experiences offer a variety of boat tours, depending on what you’re looking for—whether it be waterfalls or wildlife. 

Egmont Adventure Centre also rents jet skis and boats, and offers both kayaking rentals and guided tours. The Backeddy Resort & Marina has kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and canoes available to rent for a quieter exploration of Egmont. And if you’re looking for something a little different, Metta Eco Experiences offers an “Into the Night” guided kayak tour where you can check out the glow of bioluminescence in Sechelt Inlet.

Pender Harbour

​Pender Harbour is home to a maze of sheltered, calm waterways that make it an ideal destination for kayaking and boating (though be warned: there's a strong undercurrent here). You'll also find numerous lakes near Pender Harbour where you can paddle glassy, quiet waters. 

Both Sunshine Coast Resort & Marina and Pender Harbour Resort & Marina have motorboat rentals available; additionally you can rent kayaks and SUPs at Pender Harbour Resort. If you prefer to sit back and relax, Slo-Cat Harbour Tours runs guided tours on pontoon boats that fit up to 12 passengers. These tours are a great way to take in the wildlife and spectacular scenery in comfort. 

Alpha Adventures runs a seasonal outpost in Pender Harbour, where you can rent canoes, kayaks, or SUPs, and book guided tours and lessons. You can also head out on the water with Natural West Coast Adventures, a family-run business providing guided kayak tours, courses, and vacation packages. And over at Ruby Lake, a stay at Ruby Lake Resort grants you access to the resort's private dock, perfect for launching your SUP, kayak, or canoe (the resort rents them onsite) into the blue-tinged waters of this popular freshwater lake.

Sechelt and Surrounding Area

On one side of Sechelt lies the Pacific Ocean and on the other, the fjord-like Sechelt Inlet, with its calm, sheltered waters and mountainous scenery. Nearby Halfmoon Bay & Secret Cove, which lies north of Sechelt, is a great launching point to explore the arbutus-lined shoreline and many quiet islands of this section of the Coast. To the south, Davis Bay is a popular spot to explore the coast, thanks to its central proximity to amenities and sandy shoreline.

Pedals & Paddles, based out of the small cabin community of Tuwanek, offers canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals, along with a variety of two-hour guided sea kayak tours into Sechelt Inlet. Halfmoon Sea Kayaks provides half-day, full-day, and overnight kayak tours, along with some special dates for full moon or bioluminescence tours. And there’s also an Alpha Adventures location in Sechelt, offering both day and overnight kayak tours, along with canoe, kayak, and SUP rentals. They even deliver for a small fee.

Gibsons

Gibsons Harbour is idyllic and scenic, and is also in close proximity to the nearby islands of Keats and Gambier (and farther afield, the Pasley Islands and Howe Sound, including the rugged Howe Sound Marine Trail). You’ll also want to note that the harbour is a stone's throw from numerous oceanside restaurants, ideal for an end of day toast to your ocean-fuelled adventures.

Alpha Adventures, located on Molly's Lane in Gibsons Landing, offers canoe and kayak rentals, along with guided day trips and multi-day adventures to popular places across the coast. Meanwhile, Sunshine Coast Kayaking is based out of the Gibsons Marina (next to the Gibsons Public Market), and offers kayak rentals and guided tours. Consider renting a kayak for the day and heading to nearby Plumper Cove on Keats Island where you can picnic and swim in the shallow warm waters.