Cortes Island has a relaxed atmosphere that draws people in. Maybe it’s the sandy beaches backed by bluffs of twisted arbutus trees. Or maybe it’s the many satellite islands, oysters galore and a small population where everyone waves. Whatever the allure, Cortes has long been a restful haven and its protected waters are the ideal place to learn, or advance, kayaking skills.
Twin Island lodge, a place fit for royalty—literally, is a place for overnight stay for many trips. This rustic lodge, a retreat built by an industrialist in the 1930s, was later owned by titled German royalty who entertained Queen Elizabeth II here for several stays. Overnight accommodation on Twin Island is a new, and exclusive, feature of Misty Isles/Cortes Museum trips.
The guide and skipper for these trips, Mike Moore, has decades of experience as a naturalist and mariner. He’s a lifelong student of marine biology, with a passion for human history too.
Moore enlivens each trip with stories of the birds, plants, animals, Aboriginal people and settlers of Desolation Sound. Moore, who divides his time between interpretive work here and in Antarctica, has decades of experience in this area.
“We’ll see seal haul outs on the smaller islands,” says Moore, “and we’ll pass rock art sites, where the Aboriginal people painted abstract images on cliff faces….”
The departure point all trips is Cortes Island, with shuttles available to and from the island’s ferry. For more information call Cortes Island Museum at 250-935-6430 or check the Cortes Museum or Misty Isles Adventures websites.
The cost of the two-day trips, which includes meals and overnight accommodation is $400 (tax included) per person based on double occupancy or $430 per person with single occupancy. The day trip fee is $130 (tax included) per person.