UNESCO Biosphere and Bowen Island Boat Tour with Island Visit
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Discover the beauty of Howe Sound Fjord, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, on an unforgettable Vancouver adventure. You'll ride alongside the stunning Tantalus Mountain Range, explore vibrant islands and marine wildlife sanctuaries, and enjoy a complimentary beer, wine, coffee, or ice cream at Bowen Island's Snug Cove during a short stop. This is one of Vancouver’s must-do experiences—perfect for creating memories you'll be excited to share with friends and family!
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum height of 4 ft tall
Minimum 4 guests required to run a tour. Minimum can be met by multiple parties.
Not recommended for pregnant guests
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Granville Island
We will start our journey here. Please Arrive 30 minutes prior to your tour start time. Granville Island is a lively cultural hub known for its public market, artisan shops, theaters, and waterfront views.
False Creek
We will start and finish our tour in these waters.
What‘s Included
You will get a beer, wine, specialty coffee or ice cream at one of the shops on Bowen Island
Lifejacket / Warming suit
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop off
Options
UBBI Tour Departures
Stop at Bowen Island: Explore the charming shops at Snug Cove! Exchange your complimentary ticket for a snack or drink.
Choice of Snack: Smoothie, coffee, beer or ice cream.
Route: See the best of the UNESCO reserve, Howe Sound, before stopping at Bowen Island and exploring the local shops and restaurants
Zodiac Boat: Cruise in style aboard our 30-foot rigid-hull Zodiac boats!
Check-in time: Please check in 30 minutes before departure
Reviews
35 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Greg our captain was very...
Heather M,Jan 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Greg our captain was very knowledgeable and gave us a great ride... even worth the trip in the rain... saw lots of seals and eagles!! The Snug Cafe on Bowen Island has excellent sandwiches and coffee to warm you up! Beautiful view of Vancouver on the way back!!
Amazing day on the water!
Jessica K,Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful day out on the water-fabulous experience, knowledgeable guide and just an overall great day out on the water. Would highly recommend!
Thanks Captain Ray
Juliana F,Sep 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Awesome experience, one of the best family activities we took in Vancouver. Great scenery, thrilling donuts & excellent commentary.
Fun and exploratory...
Roudabeh L,Aug 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Fun and exploratory experience. I would definitely recommend this experience to other travelers. People should explore things out of their comfort zone which I definitely did with this tour
Exhilarating half-day on the water
LeighAnn K,Jul 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00An exhilarating ride to see gorgeous scenery and quaint Bowen Island. Simon's enthusiasm for his job amd love for the environment and history of the region is contagious. The boat, The Pearl, skipped along the top of the waves at high speed and necessary shock-absorbing seats. This is a GREAT outing for anyone who loves fast boats and the most beautiful scenery in the world. If you don't like boats or would have trouble with a bouncy ride, this might not be for you. I loved it!
Perfect
353marciaz,Jul 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Everything I was looking for. Seals and beautiful scenery. Our guide, Marco, was delightful and knowledgable. The 4 hours was just the right length.
Don’t miss this in Vancouver
Angela A,Jul 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Wonderful excursion! Beautiful scenery from a unique perspective plus lots of background information. Our tour guide Zack was topnotch. We’d go again!
Most Exciting 4 Hour Boat Ride!
norasY4312MY,Jun 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Zak & Meagan were our boat guides. Zak kept us entertained with interesting, fun facts and knowledge about Howse Sound & the surrounding waters. We saw Pacific Harbour Seals & a bald eagle on our trip. The new boat had great speakers which blasted awesome music as we ripped through the water. Zak stopped at beautiful spots to tell us about the view while Meagan did an awesome job driving the boat. My husband & I had so much fun & would recommend a boat tour with Vancouver Water Adventures.
Breathtakingly Beautiful!
Katherine T,Jun 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This experience delivered everything and more. Our skipper snd tour guide Graydon was extremely knowledgeable as we made our way passing along multiple attractions while stopping to take in the seals and bald eagle along our journey to Howe Sound and Bowen Island. We learned so much about the Unesco biosphere reserve as the views and colour of the water are something to be seen. We had a lovely visit on Bowen Island which will visit again. Thanks for an enjoyable adventure.
This was an amazing...
Derek P,May 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was an amazing experience! It was great to see all of the wildlife in their environment. The scenery was spectacular. We had a great lunch at Tippy's on Bowen Island. The meeting place was a little challenging to locate. The address did not show up on any map. The "Lobster Man" had an address on the road that showed on the map. Once you get there, walk towards the harbor and the meeting place is at the end on the left side.
From CA$189.00
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Operated by Vancouver Water Adventures