10 Outdoor Activities in Downtown That You Shouldn't Miss

WHALE WATCH with SpringTide on the 84 passenger, 61-foot Marauder. Experience the joy, excitement and wonderful memories of our mammals, whales, porpoise, seals and marine birds! Enjoy complimentary beverages while listening to professional biologists provide informative narrations. Or, join an exhilarating excursion onboard one of our high-speed, open Zodiacs. SPORTFISH year round for Salmon & Halibut on SpringTide’s 42’ Sportfisher.

Come enjoy the ultimate Victoria Kayaking Experience with Ocean River Adventures. Located in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, kayaking is a great way to explore our historic city. Join us on one of our Harbour Kayak tours or Sunset Tours. We also offer an Oak Bay Shoreline Kayaking Tour as well as our unique Discovery Island Kayak Tour, recognised as one of the top tours in Victoria. Offering expeditions, tours and courses throughout the Vancouver Island region, our guests will experience all the wild West Coast has to offer. Hands-on education about water and marine conservation is a key theme and we only employ certified guides that respect sensitive ecosystems and species while teaching about the importance of ocean sustainability, preservation and conservation. Victoria’s premier paddling and outdoor adventure company. Want to try something different? We are also a premium stand up paddle tour operator in the southern Vancouver Island and Victoria region.

Discovery EcoTours provides all-inclusive nature tours in the beautiful wilderness parks surrounding Victoria. Our half-day fully-guided tours include transportation from your hotel, refreshments, and snacks. Explore ancient rainforests, look up at 500 year old trees, and keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles as you join us on an adventure through some of the best kept secrets on Vancouver Island. We have hiking tours for all ages and ability levels. Tours depart regularly.

Welcome to CycleTreks, located in beautiful Victoria BC. We offer a variety of full service bike tours, using top quality equipment, for cycling enthusiasts with all levels of riding ability. We have everything from single day bike rentals and guided tours around Victoria, to exhilarating, fully inclusive, multi day guided bicycle adventure tours on Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands.

Kayaking is the best way to see Victoria. We specialize in safe, fun and educational kayak tours of Victoria's Harbour and waterfront. Our floating location at Fisherman's Wharf is a 10 minute walk from the cruise ship terminal and 20 minutes from downtown on the scenic boardwalk. We are the closest kayak shop to the Juan de Fuca straight, so when conditions allow, we will paddle along the coast to the kelp forests and an island the harbour seals frequent. Along the way we may see different shore birds like eagles, osprey, oystercatchers, cormorants, and the great blue heron. Starfish, jelly fish and kelp crabs are usually hiding just below the surface. Kayaking is easy and we make it easier by offering paddling jackets, gloves and a bottle of water. Plus on our kayak launch you won't even get your feet wet!

Join us for a magical sail aboard the historic Tall Ship Duen. Smell the gentle ocean breeze as it lures you away from the dock through Victoria’s bustling Inner Harbour and out into the beautiful Strait of Juan de Fuca. All guests young and old are encouraged to participate in sailing, so come prepared to tug on the sheets that haul the sails! As we cruise towards the magnificent snow-capped Olympic Mountains, take a turn on the bowsprit or see the majesty of the ship under full sail from our inflatable vessel. Relax and savor your picnic or a sip of wine as we keep our eyes peeled for some of BC’s world famous killer whales, or sea lions and bald eagles. We offer three hour sailing trips and 1.5 hour evening cruises, as well as private charters. Contact us today to get on board! Face masks required as of Transport Canada mandate.

We are located in the best location to kayak Victoria's Outer Harbour! Avoid busy downtown harbour traffic and quickly paddle with amazing Olympic Mountain vistas, harbour seal colonies, blue herons, eagles, jellies, star fish and kelp forests just around the headland from our shop. We offer several guided sea kayaking tours that range from an Inner Harbour paddle to a true West Coast paddling experience on a full day kayaking tour to a historic lighthouse. Enjoy the flavor of a local marina and paddle with us in Victoria's amazing ocean environment. Our tours include a lesson at the beginning of each tour as well as all of the kayakiing equipment needed. We look forward to exploring with you!

Leave the crowds behind on our custom made vessels specifically designed for comfort, speed and safety that carry only 12 guests at a time. The rugged beauty of the West Coast is something that should be experienced with Victoria’s boutique whale watching company. The wildlife and limitless adventure that the Salish Sea has to offer is easily enjoyed when experienced in the comfort of our state-of-the-art vessels! Our knowledgeable crew ensure that each and every trip is an inspiring and educational experience.

The Victoria Bug Zoo opened its doors in 1997 and has been showing visitors of downtown Victoria our awe-inspiring bugs ever since. A visit to this must-see mini zoo offers an excellent opportunity to view and experience live tropical bugs from around the world. All the animals are alive and in tanks. Discover roughly 50 fascinating species including giant walking sticks, beautiful praying mantis, glow-in-the-dark scorpions, hairy tarantulas, and Canada’s largest ant colony. Knowledgeable tour guides will introduce you to the wonderful world of bugs, give a wealth of information about the animals on display, and provide a safe bug handling experience for the more adventurous. You can choose the level of interaction you have with our friendly animals. Don’t forget your camera to document this unique experience! The displays are ever changing so come in and be amazed by the extensive collection of invertebrates from around the world any time of the year. This stop is sure to thrill everyone; from children, adults, bug-lovers to even the more skeptical visitors! Tours always in progress, so no matter when you come, you are always right on time. Don’t miss this unforgettable, hands-on adventure while in Victoria, BC!

Orca Spirit Adventures is Victoria's premier whale watching company, offering carbon neutral tours led by captains and naturalists whose knowledge and passion for Vancouver Island’s marine wildlife is unequaled in the industry. April through October are the peak whale watching months and during this time we boast a greater than 95% success rate of spotting whales, including humpback whales, transient & resident orcas, minke, & gray whales! Other wildlife you may encounter include Dall’s and harbour porpoises, harbour and elephant seals, otters & marine birds such as cormorants and bald eagles. Unlucky tour? Join us again using our WHALE GUARANTEE for a complimentary tour to bring your dreams of seeing these magnificent animals to life. Choose between a covered vessel with indoor and outdoor viewing areas and the 12-passenger zodiac vessel, for the more wild at heart. For all guests we offer complimentary shuttle pick up from all hotels in downtown Victoria. Tour length is 3-hours.