Heads up, aspiring birders! Did you know that B.C. is home to not one, but two species of puffins? You can meet these fascinating seabirds via Coastal Rainforest Safaris, which takes bird lovers of all experience levels on a 10-hour tour to a remote section of Vancouver Island that few have set foot on.
One of Canada’s densest seabird populations
Known for having one of the densest seabird populations on Canada’s west coast, the secluded islands of Wa̱di and Hiła’s (on the traditional territories of the T̓łat̕ła̱sikwa̱la First Nation) house both Tufted Puffins and the even more rare Horned Puffins.
The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of B.C. describes Tufted Puffins as the most “oceanic of the alcids (birds of the family Alcidae), and arguably the most beautiful.”
The unmistakable birds are known for their long, wispy, golden plumes (ornamental feathers) that drape down their backs and the side of their necks. The species has an expansive range across the North Pacific Ocean, breeding from northern California to the Chukchi Sea in the Arctic, and west to Japan.
The Atlas says they tend to nest in steep, vegetated slopes of rocky islands, where human interference is low.
The exceedingly rare Horned Puffin, meanwhile, prefers crevices in large slopes on cliffs, often amid beach boulders.
This species is just as striking and is widely distributed in subarctic waters and the North Pacific off the coasts of Alaska and eastern Asia. Its tiny slice of breeding range in B.C. is the southernmost these birds go.
An internationally recognized Important Bird Area
According to Coastal Rainforest Safaris, about 85 per cent of B.C.’s 25,000 nesting pairs of Tufted Puffins (and 90 per cent in all of Canada) call this region home, alongside fewer than 100 Horned Puffins. They feed on the incredibly rich waters that surround the islands, which have been designated an internationally recognized Important Bird Area.
Know before you book
While wildlife sightings can never be 100 per cent guaranteed, last year, all Coastal Rainforest Safari tours saw both Tufted and Horned Puffins. So your odds of seeing these incredible birds up close are high!
If you’re lucky, you might even spot some humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, and sea lions during your tour.
Note that passengers on the tours must be aged 15 or above, and those aged 18 and below must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Tours depart from 7185 Market St. in Port Hardy starting at 7 a.m., though guests are urged to arrive 30 minutes before to get situated and sign a waiver.
Tours require a minimum of six people to operate, with available dates on June 6, 20, July 4, 18, 25, and August 1, 2026.
A morning snack, lunch, soft drinks, and hot drinks will be provided on the tour, as will a two-piece floatation suit, a warm hat, and a pair of goggles and binoculars.
Pack your warm layers, and get ready to add this one-of-a-kind experience to your birding bucket list.
When: June 6, 20, July 4, 18, 25, and August 1, 2026
Time: 7 a.m. departure, 10-hour duration
Where: 7185 Market St.
Cost: $595 per person, $5,355 for a private charter
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