Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is 456 km (283 mi) in length, 100 km (62 mi) in width at its widest point,[4] and 32,134 km2 (12,407 sq mi) in area. The island is the largest by area and the most populous along the west coasts of the Americas.

The southern part of Vancouver Island and some of the nearby Gulf Islands are the only parts of British Columbia or Western Canada to lie south of the 49th parallel. This area has one of the warmest climates in Canada, and since the mid-1990s has been mild enough in a few areas to grow Mediterranean crops such as olives and lemons.[5]

The population of Vancouver Island was 846,278 as of 2020.[3] Nearly half of that population (401,700) live in the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. Other notable cities and towns on Vancouver Island include Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Parksville, Courtenay, and Campbell River.

Indigenous peoples have inhabited Vancouver Island for thousands of years,[6] long before the arrival of Spanish and British naval expeditions in the late 18th century. The Spanish and British conjointly named it Quadra's and Vancouver's Island in commemoration of the friendly negotiations held in 1792 between the Spanish commander of Fort San Miguel in Nootka Sound, Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, and British naval captain George Vancouver, during the Nootka Crisis. (Bodega y Quadra's name was eventually dropped.) It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, who between 1791 and 1794 explored the Pacific Northwest coast.

Vancouver Island is the world's 43rd largest island, Canada's 11th largest island, and Canada's second most populous island after the Island of Montreal. - Wikipedia

Victoria

Nanaimo

Sooke

Qualicum Beach

Campbell River

Ucluelet

Tofino

Food

From the rich farmlands of Cowichan to productive waters of North Island, and every creative restauranteur and bistro in between. Vancouver Island’s multicultural makeup has resulted in a fusion of tastes and locally sourced ingredients that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

Recreation

Connect with nature in the 31,788 km² (12,273 miles²) that span Vancouver Island, from Victoria to Port Hardy and Tahsis to Campbell River. Enjoy alpine climbing in the Comox Valley, backcountry hiking to the lighthouse of Cape Scott, seaside camping in the Gulf Islands, caving at Horne Lake, and storm watching in Tofino, as well as cycling, jogging, or simply exploring the region’s roads on two wheels or four.

Attractions

Some of the best ways to experience Vancouver Island is from way up high, or way down low. Zipline your way through forest canopies, or head underground to explore natural cave formations. Visit iconic gardens, learn about local history, or challenge family members to a little friendly competition.

Breweries

Vancouver Island is home to more than 40 craft breweries spread all throughout the lower half of the Island. From Victoria at the southern tip, where the whole microbrewing movement got its start when Spinnakers Brewpub opened in 1984, to Port McNeill, and across to Tofino on the west coast, there is a diverse range of breweries sprinkled all over the Island, all producing artisanal beers and often using local ingredients. Some are ultra-local, designed to serve their own communities or neighbourhoods, which means you have to visit them in person if you want to taste their beers, while others have expanded to distribute throughout BC and even beyond its borders so you’ll see their beer on tap at bars and restaurants wherever you go.