English Bay City and Seals Boat Tour Vancouver

Granville Island and False Creek

Every tour departs from Granville Island, the lively peninsula under the Granville Bridge that was once full of factories and sawmills. Since its transformation in the 1970s it has become one of the most visited places in Vancouver, with the public market, artists' studios, theatres and marinas. You meet at Mast Tower Lane 30 minutes before departure to be fitted with your weather suit and life jacket and to hear the safety briefing.

The boat then glides out along False Creek, the long inlet that cuts into the heart of the city. On both sides rise the glass towers of Yaletown and the West End, with small ferries criss-crossing the water and paddlers along the shore. Granville Island boat tours rarely get a better start, and many guests arrive early to browse the market before boarding.

English Bay, Stanley Park and Siwash Rock

Leaving False Creek, the boat opens up across English Bay, the broad stretch of water in front of the West End. You pass English Bay Beach, one of the city's favourite places to watch the sunset, and often large cargo ships anchored offshore, waiting to enter the busy port of Vancouver.

Ahead lies Stanley Park, the forested peninsula of about 400 hectares that has been a public park since 1888. From the water you see its tall cedars and firs coming right down to the seawall, and Siwash Rock, a lonely sea stack crowned by a small tree that rises straight from the waves and features in a traditional legend of the local First Nations. Seeing Stanley Park from the water gives a sense of how wild this city park really is, and it is a highlight for photographers.

Lions Gate Bridge and the West Vancouver shoreline

The boat then passes under the Lions Gate Bridge, the green suspension bridge that has spanned the First Narrows since 1938 and links downtown Vancouver with the North Shore. Seen from water level, its towers and cables high above your head are far more impressive than from the road, and your guide explains how it was built and why it remains a symbol of the city.

Beyond the bridge you follow the West Vancouver shoreline, where grand waterfront houses sit among rocks and evergreen trees at the foot of the North Shore mountains. On clear days the peaks rise steeply above the water, and the view back towards the city skyline across the inlet is one of the finest of the whole trip. This stretch is also where you feel the speed of the boat on the open water.

Lighthouse Park and the seal colony

The turning point of the tour is Lighthouse Park, a wild headland of old-growth Douglas fir and smooth granite rocks guarding the entrance to the harbour. Its white lighthouse at Point Atkinson has stood here since 1912, and from the water you see how the forest runs right down to the waves. This is a protected natural area, a world apart from the city just a few kilometres away.

Nearby, the boat slows down near a colony of harbour seals that rest on the rocks along the coast. Your guide keeps a respectful distance so that the animals are not disturbed, and you can watch them basking, diving and popping their heads up to look at the boat. For many guests this is the best moment of the Vancouver seal tour, so keep your camera or phone ready, ideally on a wrist strap.

Jericho, Kitsilano and the return to False Creek

On the way back the boat crosses English Bay towards the southern shore, passing the Jericho sailing area, where small dinghies and windsurfers dot the water on breezy days, and the long sandy beaches of Jericho and Kitsilano with the mountains behind them. Kitsilano Beach, with its big saltwater pool and volleyball courts, is one of the liveliest beaches in the city during summer.

The tour then enters False Creek again and returns to Granville Island after about 1.5 hours on the water. Tours run rain or shine, and the weather suit keeps you dry and warm. Back on shore, the public market, the cafes and the waterfront paths are right next to the dock, so it is easy to continue your day without any transport. Ask your guide for tips on the best spots nearby.