Discovering Estero

It’s not uncommon at Coast Mountain to encounter guests returning for their second or third kayak tour. We have a lot of fun getting to know all of you a little better, and we take great pride in knowing we offer an experience worth returning to.

But when people began returning for their fourth, fifth and sixth trip – and a few started doing each one twice, we realized that we needed to plan a new tour. We’ve been thinking about the Estero Basin for a while now, but it wasn’t until we boated the route with an eye for kayaking that we realized what a special tour it would be. Bountiful intertidal life, spectacular mountain vistas, First Nations historical sites, pictographs, sea lion islands…This tour has it all.

…And then there’s the destination. Now a British Columbia protected area, rarely visited Estero Basin is a tidally influenced lake nestled between steep mountains. Seals disturb the water from time to time - other than that it is almost perfectly smooth. Steep mountains rising to either side of the basin add perspective to several tiny islands that dot the surface of the basin. It is truly one of the most unique, quiet, and unspoiled places I have visited.

There are many exciting aspects to this trip, and many secret spots still left to discover. Those of us who have visited the basin are the most excited to return!