It may seem like Canadian vacations are limited to big cities, with the exception of some small-town charmers north of Maine.
But we’re here to tell you Canadians aren’t just good at whipping up every maple concoction known to man and beating the living you know what out of each other on ice.
Apparently, they’re great at keeping secrets too!
Rarely would you ever put “Hawaii” and “Canada” in the same sentence, and that’s because one of the country’s top hidden gems has remained hush-hush...until now.
Far removed from the bustle of Toronto, the culture of Montreal, and the immaculate beauty of Vancouver lies what’s been dubbed the “Hawaii” of Canada — and it’s the real deal.
No, you won’t find luaus or surfboards here — but the beaches are pristine, with white sand and aquamarine waters.
Hornby Island Is Canada’s “Hawaii”
Hornby is one of Canada’s Gulf Islands. To that I say, who knew Canada has Gulf Islands?
The more ya know…
Hornby is considered the crown jewel of the bunch, but doesn’t ooze Honolulu vibes at all. In fact, it’s fair to say it’s more comparable to Lanai, an actual Hawaiian island few tourists get to see.
With no flashy resorts, no shaka-flashing surfers, and certainly no overpriced mai tais, this remote spot boasts the same postcard scenery without the crowds ruining your photos.
It’s a map-dot paradise waiting to be discovered by the masses, though locals in the know have been flocking here for years to kickstart their summers.
Tribune Bay is easily the island’s showstopper — a sweeping half-mile of soft, sugar-white sand slipping into clear, turquoise water, looking every bit like it was airlifted from the Caribbean.
Adding to the scene are the dramatic sandstone formations framing the bay, which also separate the most popular beach, Big Tribune, from the unofficial clothing-optional area known as Little Tribune — a name that feels too on the nose for a nudist section, especially since the waters aren’t known to be cold.
Hey, we don’t ask questions…
Immerse In Canada’s Wild Side
Let’s be honest — Canada’s “wild side” extends far and wide, but not like this…
As we said, “Hawaii” and “Canada” rarely go together, but beaches in general aren’t synonymous with The North either.
Hornby is chock-full of amazing beaches, not just the Big Tribune and poorly-named nude beach.
According to Explore, these 4 beaches feel truly undiscovered with the caveat they are less ‘Hawaiian’:
- Mushroom Beach
- Sandpiper Beach
- Fossil Beach
- Pebble Beach
Not to mention, the forested side of the island.
There are miles of tree-lined hiking trails with quick peaks of the sea through dense woods if you stick to the coastal side.
Can You Stay On The Island?
While there are no towering high-rises like Waikiki, there are a handful of cozy stays to make Hornby a full-fledged vacation destination.
Aforementioned Sandpiper Beach is the best spot if you ask us.
The waterfront Sandpiper Beach Retreat has yet to receive a bad review on Google, only rave reviews like one guest who exclaimed, “The best vacation rental we’ve stayed at on Hornby by far!”.
If you want a real treat (literally), make sure you hop over to the flip-side of the island to Ford’s Cove Store, for an old-school general store whipping up golden fish & chips said to be just as good as a London pub.
Getting Here
We’re not going to sugarcoat it — Hornby can be a trek to reach, and that’s one key reason it still feels like a secret escape.
This isn’t a “fly in, grab your luggage, and you’re on the beach in 20 minutes” kind of island getaway.
There are multiple ferries involved.
Explore explained it best by saying, “The quickest and easiest way to get there is by plane, arriving at Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) which is just half an hour away by car and ferry. The drive from Vancouver International Airport (YVR), the nearest major hub, takes around 5 hours”.
That journey includes 3 different ferries, for perspective. There’s one across the Salish Sea to Nanaimo, another from Vancouver Island to Denman Island, and one final stretch from Denman to Hornby.
It’s a lot, but we promise it’s worth it.
How Safe Is Canada Right Now?
Another thing we can almost promise is that you will not feel safer anywhere else than in Hornby.
Locals are salt-of-the-Earth people, the kind who still wave from the roadside and care deeply about keeping Hornby quiet, welcoming, clean, and wildly beautiful.
Additionally, according to our Safety Index, travelers are currently scoring Canada’s safety levels with 90/100.
You can’t do much better than that!
