Galiano Island is one of BC’s Southern Gulf Islands located between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Travelling by ferry from Tsawwasen, you can be on Galiano Island in under an hour! With a population of only one thousand, the island makes for a quiet and relaxing getaway from Vancouver. Known for its well preserved provincial parks, beautiful beaches, and sandstone cliffs and caves, Galiano is a special place that is certainly worth a visit. We cannot recommend it enough! Keep reading for our full guide to Galiano Island.
When to Visit
Galiano welcomes visitors all year round, and each season offers something special depending on what you’re looking for! Whether you want to go kayaking in the summer sun, or cozy up in a cabin for winter, Galiano offers plenty to do and see any time of year. The island is in a fairly dry region with less rainfall than surrounding areas, and more of a Mediterranean type climate. The winters are still cold and wet, but summers are warm with lots of sunshine and not a lot of rain. We visited in September and can imagine how beautiful Galiano would be anytime of year!
What to Do
Galiano Island has the highest percentage of artists per capita in the entire province of BC! Many people are drawn to the island because of its amazing arts and culture. That, along with absolutely beautiful sightseeing makes Galiano Island an ideal destination for many. Here is our list of must-do activities for your visit!
Appreciate the Local Art Scene
If you want to check out the work of some of the local artists, be sure to read this list of galleries, artists, and craftspeople on Galiano! You can also find a list of island businesses and local products here. The community is full of artists and creators and it’s one of the many things that makes Galiano so special.
Enjoy the Provincial Parks
Galiano island is quite underdeveloped, leaving so much beautiful green space and gorgeous parks to explore during your trip. Be sure to visit Collinson Point Provincial Park and Bellhouse Provincial Park on the south end of the island, both just a short drive from the ferry. If you venture a bit further, Montague Marine Provincial Park is a must see! Further north up the island is Bodega Ridge Provincial Park, well worth the drive from the main town. There are plenty of trails and lovely beaches in the parks, and the views of the water and neighbouring islands are truly stunning. Enjoy!
Explore Sturdies Bay
The small town of Sturdies Bay will welcome you as soon as you step off the ferry. There are a handful of small businesses including bakeries, cafes, restaurants, and a food truck! (Keep reading for all of our food recommendations below). You will also find the only gas station, a small grocery/liquor store, a book store, and a boutique. Be sure to spend some time walking around town to truly get a feel for this welcoming community.
Go Hiking
If you’re looking for additional places to hike during your time on the island, check out Mount Galiano and Bluffs Park. Both are located just a short drive from Sturdies Bay and offer gorgeous lookout points and great trails of varying ability levels.
Go Kayaking
One of the best ways to truly experience Galiano is by kayak! Gulf Island Kayaking is located just a short drive from the ferry and offers both guided tours and rentals. You can rent single or double kayaks (as well as SUPs and canoes) to take out on your own, or you can join a small group tour with an expert guide. Paddling along the coast of the island is a great way to see the gorgeous sandstone cliffs that Galiano is well known for. When it’s high tide you can get nice and close to admire the unique rock formations. It’s also common to spot seals out in the water! The afternoon we spent kayaking was definitely one of the highlights of our trip and we can’t recommend it enough. Be sure to add this to your itinerary!
Where to Stay
The main hotel accommodation on the island is at the Galiano Inn & Spa. The beautiful beachfront property has inn rooms as well as full villas, a beautiful restaurant, a pizza patio, and a spa! The grounds are truly stunning and the views are perfect for watching ferries pass by on the water. If you’re looking for something really special, be sure to book a villa with a full kitchen, spacious bedroom, comfortable living room, and incredible outdoor space. The patios have a fireplace, BBQ, and hydrotherapy tub! Some rooms and villas are pet-friendly so you can bring along your fur baby which is always a bonus for us. We loved our stay at the Galiano Inn & Spa, and it was in the perfect location just steps from the ferry. Highly recommend!
If a hotel in town isn’t your style, you might prefer a cozy cabin in the woods. (Or our best advice is to do a couple of nights at each property so you can have both experiences!) Bodega Ridge is the most incredible cabin property, located on the quiet and secluded north end of the island. The main cabins sit on 22 acres, and additional cabins are located at their sister property, Bodega Cove. There are one, two, and three bedroom options, and all of the cabins are pet-friendly! The private cabins all have gorgeous interiors with luxury amenities, and there is a restaurant at the main property. Cozy up by the fire, relax on the deck, or take a bath in the soaker tub. This place is special and you will not want to leave!
In addition to these properties, there are some B&Bs, cottages, and vacation rentals on Galiano. You can also camp at Montague Marine Provincial Park! The island definitely has accommodations to suit any budget and style of travel, but be sure to book in advance as things can fill up. You can find a full list of accommodation options here.
Where to Eat & Drink
Galiano Island has everything from food trucks like Max & Moritz Spicy Food (try their Vietnamese dishes!) to high end fine dining like Pilgrimme. If you’re looking for a cozy cafe you can try Sturdies Bay Bakery & Cafe, or Babes in the Woods is great for a casual restaurant. The Galiano Inn & Spa has a full-service restaurant called Atrevida, as well as an amazing pizza patio La Lena Pizza (with a delicious vegan option!) If you’re up at Bodega Ridge you can check out Tranquilo and their Baja inspired menu. The local pub can be found at Hummingbird Pub & Family Restaurant, and The Crane and Robin Restaurant makes for a perfect patio experience. The grocery stores and markets on the island will have some grocery options, but if you plan to cook a lot of your meals you may want to bring some of your own food (especially if you have dietary restrictions). We both eat a plant-based diet and tend to cook most of our meals while travelling, so we brought a lot of our own food to the island. If you’re staying in accommodations with a kitchen like the Galiano Inn & Spa, Bodega Ridge, or a cottage on the island, it will be easy to cook your own meals during your visit! We did plenty of cooking in our villa at the Galiano Inn, as well as in our cabin at Bodega Cove.
Lesbian Friendly
We feel so incredibly fortunate to be from such an LGBTQ+ friendly country as Canada. Vancouver and the surrounding areas are so welcoming, and we love travelling locally within our province. The Gulf Islands are home to very kind and open-minded residents. The locals are extremely friendly and love having visitors! We felt completely safe to be ourselves during our time on Galiano and were entirely out and open as a same-sex couple. We can definitely recommend it as a lesbian friendly destination and think it’s a perfect getaway for LGBTQ+ travellers. Both the Galiano Inn & Spa and Bodega Ridge are LGBTQ+ friendly accommodations, and all of the business owners we met on the island were absolutely lovely. The community feels like a very warm and inclusive place. Galiano Island definitely needs to go on your BC travel list!
Has anyone else visited Galiano Island? Let us know in the comments!
Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored by Galiano Island Tourism. Galiano Inn & Spa and Bodega Ridge did generously host us for our time on the island, and we had wonderful experiences at both properties. Gulf Island Kayaking also offered a kayak rental during our stay. We really enjoyed our visit and highly recommend this destination!
