Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours

We made a tour with Homalco wildlife and cultural tour with our students and everything was great, from booking all the way to the end of the 4 hours trip! The guide was knowledgable and friendly, they shared cultural facts about some islands, as well as information about the wildlife we observed. They offered hot beverages as well as snacks, and made sure everyone on board was safe.I truly recommend this company for locals and tourists to get to know the local wildlife as well as some cultural aspects about the Homalco Nation.

We had a wonderful day with Janet and Ron. Our visit to see the Grizzly Bears on Stuart Island was very memorable and most enjoyable. Their experience and knowledge made them excellent guides. Booking a tour through a First Nation company not only supported a local business but gave us an extra insight and enhanced the experience of the day.We had booked a second day with them to go Whale watching but this was cancelled, the company were most professional, asked us what we wanted to do. Once we described the day we had in mind they arranged for a competing company to take us out on a Rib Safari and we did indeed see 7 whales. The Whale watching companies appear to work together to give all visitors to Campbell River, who want to see the whales, the best experience possible.We would thoroughly recommend Homalco Tours.

I had the most incredible whale watching experience with Homalco Tours! I’ve been on whale watching tours with other companies in the area and they felt rushed to me. I really appreciated the relaxed pace of this tour and how much time we had to watch the whales at each stop. We saw somewhere between 9-12 humpback whales on our tour! This was by far the nicest whale watching boat that I've been on with comfortable seating both inside and on deck. The Captain Flavian is a master at handling a boat at sea. He is extremely skilled at predicting the path of the whales and positioning the boat in a way that is respectful to the whales but also provides amazing views for everyone on the boat. Overall, I was very impressed with the quality of this tour and I like that Homalco Tours supports the revitalization of Homalco culture and the Homalco Salmon Hatchery. I definitely plan to book with Homalco Tours for our next vacation. Thanks so much for an amazing day!

Wildlife Whale Spotting with Homalco: A Beautiful Memory!In May, we embarked on the vessel Howgus. From the moment we stepped on board, it was evident that this vessel was not only new but also incredibly accessible and well-maintained. A warm and genuine smile greeted us when Captain All introduced himself. All is a friendly and competent skipper.Our experience was further enhanced by the delightful presence of Julia, our guide, who effortlessly combined friendliness, entertainment, and an unwavering passion for her job. All and Julia were more than just guides; they shared their knowledge of the land, sea, and the magnificent creatures that call this place home.We cannot express enough gratitude for the way they brought the culture and traditions of their people to life, both past and present. It was truly awe-inspiring to hear their stories and gain insight into their ways of thinking and living. Every question we posed was met with enthusiasm as they eagerly shared their wisdom and sprinkled in a touch of humour and honest emotion.Our time with Homalco was extraordinary, leaving us with cherished memories that will last a lifetime. All and Julia exemplify what sustainable tourism should be—an enlightening journey that respects both the animals and the local community, providing a glimpse of their beautiful culture.In conclusion, our wildlife whale-spotting adventure with Homalco was an absolute joy. The seamless combination of a top-notch vessel, the incredible knowledge and warmth of Captain All, and the captivating presence of Julia made for an experience beyond compare. We wholeheartedly recommend this exceptional team and their commitment to creating a positive impact through responsible and respectful tourism.

We enjoyed this tour so much! Ron and Cassie did an excellent job of finding and teaching us about the whales in the area - we saw several humpbacks and orcas!!! The cultural teachings and personal experiences that were shared with the tour have made a strong impression on all of us since visiting the village site last week. This is such a beautiful area. They also took great care of us and were so pleasant to chat with for the day. Thanks again for a great day - we will be back!!

It was an unforgettable time in an impressive landscape. Eagles, whales, seals, Deer, black bear and much more.. Homalco Wildlife & Cultural tours is authentic, you can feel the respect for nature and the environment. Thanks to Rosella, Julia and Al, our skipper.It's not to be missed when in Campbell River.Clear recommendation.

Thank You Homalco Wildlife Tours! The cultural tour I got to go on was awesome! Thank you to the guide and boat operator. They shared their knowledge and on the way back we got to see Humpback Whales. I loved every minute of the tour!Thank You Homalco!

Amazing people, stories and culture. I was on the People Water Land tour and it was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. It was worth it to find a wildlife tour that's owned by an indigenous group because it made the experience so much more cultural, meaningful and connected to the stories of the land we were in. It's also great that the profit from these tours go back into benefiting the people, the land and the wildlife as well.Our guides, Cassie and Ron, were very personable and knowledgeable. Hearing Ron's firsthand stories of growing up in the village site we visited and stories about the people who lived and had connections to this village were very compelling. Cassie also taught us many words from their traditional language, told us cultural stories that she grew up hearing and even performed a song for us. Listening to her sing the MMIW&G song in the forest overlooking the village site and the sea was a very special moment that's etched into my memory.Our guides were also very well-prepared with knowledge about the wildlife that we saw on the tour and took great care of everyone on the trip. We saw alot of humpback activity. The boat ride was very comfortable with both indoor and outdoor seating and they even provided us with a pair of binoculars since we didn't bring one. It was a very serene and relaxing ride.We also weaved a cedar bracelet, which I didn't think much of before the tour, but it was alot more significant to me when I was actually creating something with my hands in the forest and it felt really good to bring home a physical piece of my memory there. Also, the clearing where we weaved the bracelet was beautiful. Amazing view and a great place to sit on the ledge for a picture or just to watch the calm waters below.Thank you for such a welcoming experience and for sharing so much of your culture with us. I enjoyed it so much that I might come back next time for the bear tour as well!TL;DR: Highly recommend if you're looking for a more culturally rich and meaningful experience from guides with a strong and personal connection to the stories of this land.

Ron and Cassie were absolutely perfect as captain and naturalist. My ten year old daughter and I went on the people/water/land tour and were educated, allowed to ask questions, and entertained. I’ve been on several wildlife tours but this was by far the best experience I’ve had. Boat and “facilities” were clean, well experienced captain and the naturalist was dripping with information in a fun and engaging way. I would recommend having Frank/honest first people history conversations with your kids before you go (which I have.) Discussions about European colonization and resultant trauma and attempted cultural genocide are likely to be discussed as it is relevant to the Homalco People (and other First Nations); also and more importantly to recognize and discuss with your kids (if they/you aren’t First People) the fortitude and resiliency as their communities work hard at reconstruction/reclamation of their culture, history, and language under their own management.

What a wonderful tour! Guides were extremely knowledgeable and we lucked out with phenomenal weather. We were also able to see a humpback whale breach the water and the guides talked us through safe viewing distance to respect the wildlife, a bit of biology and background on the animals, and how they contribute to research efforts on different species. We then got to explore the traditional lands of the Homalco peoples and talk about some of the history surrounding colonization and how the Nation is working hard to preserve their culture, stories, practices, and lands. Just overall an incredible experience!