Saturna Island Vacation Home for Rent

Saturna is a unique location amongst the southern gulf islands, priding itself on its nature. Two thirds of the island is part of the mational park, and with a population of only around 300, it is an ideal place to relax away from the crowds. Saturna also boasts the highest number of sunshine hours of all the Gulf Islands, lending itself to excellent growing conditions for the Saturna Island Vineyard. The summer orca population transit daily just a stone's throw from the shores and there are ample opportunities for hiking, cycling and canoe/kayaking.

Our place

Our home is located on an approximately 1 acre lot across from a public beach access close to East Point. The lot is a mixture of open grassy garden at the front and mixed grass/woodland at the back. The large wrap around deck and floor to ceiling windows all look out to the ocean, encompassing both the Georgia Straits and Tumbo Island.

The house is 1800 square feet and has 2 bedrooms plus a sleeping loft, each with a queen, comfortably sleeping 6. There is also a day bed in the living room. The master bedroom has an ensuite with shower, and downstairs there is a second bathroom with bath and shower. Wood floors throughout the main area and massive windows give a light, fresh ambiance year-round. For winter visitors there is a wood stove in the living room, as well as full electric base-board heating thoughout the house. There is a TV and DVD player, but no phone or internet (internet is accessible on the island at the Saturna Island Cafe and Lighthouse Pub). There is also a laundry room, and of course the kitchen is fully stocked with utensils, crockery, pots and pans.

Getting here

Unless you have your own boat, you will most likely arrive courtesy of BC ferries (although there is also a seaplane service). All ferries depart from Swartz Bay and go to Lyall Harbour on Saturna. Some of the ferries are direct (taking about an hour an 10 minutes), most have a stop at either Pender or Mayne, and a few stop at both. Check the schedule carefully to avoid the milkrun! There are no reservations possible on this route, but on all but the most popular holidays, the ferry is rarely full. If you plan on visiting several of the Gulf Islands over time, a BC ferries experience card can save you a lot of money.

We are located at 688 Tumbo Channel Road, close to East Point, which is about 14 km from the ferry terminal at Lyall harbour. There is no real public transport on the island, so you'll want to come with either a car or bikes. The cycle is fine - two hills to get over in the first 4 km, but then largely flat with just gentle undulations along an excellent paved road with gorgeous views of Mt Baker and the Straits.

Things to do

The transient killer whale pods typically pass Saturna's north coast one or twice a day in the summer months. A 10 minute walk from our house gets you to the ideal viewing spots, either along South Cliff or at East Point. The orcas come very close to the steep cliffs and are literally a stone's throw away!

If you have a canoe or kayak, a short (500 metre) paddle takes you to lovely Tumbo Island. In addition to the sea safari around its shores, where the sea creatures and seals abound, the island is home to large colonies of otters and abundant birdlife. Explore the salt marsh across the middle and old settlements where some of the farming and mining equipment remain, along with the farmhouse and orchards. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the deserted beach and then paddle on around Cabbage Island (or walk it at low tide!) to make a day trip of it. If you catch the currents right, you can get a free ride the whole way.

East Point is home to the island's historic, and modern lighthouses, the former of which is often open to visitors during the summer months. The Parks service also hold regular events here, often focussing on either the orcas or seals, both of which are regular visitors to this spot. There is a nice sandy beach, from which my slightly insane husband likes to snorkel, and also a cliffside walk.

Other nice hikes include Warburton Pike (the highest point on the island), Fiddler's Cove and Winter Cove.

No visit to Saturna would be complete without a trip to the Saturna Island Vineyard. There are tastings (of course) and a lovely restaurant. There is an annual harvest celebration in September every year which includes food, wine, music and family activities. If you are a foodie, you should also check out Saturna Island's food network.

There are numerous other special events through the year, including the famous lamb roast (July 1), Parks salmon BBQ, firefighters pig BBQ (are you seeing a trend?). Parks Canada also puts on regular events on summer weekends, often at either Winter Cover or East Point. There is a Saturday market during the summer.

Orcas

Tumbo Island Beach

Mt Baker from East Point

Useful links

Saturna Island Tourism
Map
BC ferries

Rental rates for friends and colleagues