Popular B.C. wilderness escape crowned best island in Canada
A B.C. destination popular with visitors from around the globe has been crowned the best island in Canada for the third year in a row.
The 31st anniversary of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards bestowed the honours on Vancouver Island, praising it for its natural beauty and its world-renowned stays.
With some of the best beaches in the world — Chesterman’s Beach in Tofino, Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and San Josef Bay in Northern Vancouver Island — it’s not surprising that Vancouver Island topped the list.
rvarchol/Shutterstock
- You might also like:
- Just one Canadian city cracks list of world's most livable places
- Major B.C. Highway closed as 'out of control' wildfire forces evacuation
- Celebrity lends support to striking B.C. nurses as picket lines go up
“With temperate rainforests, rocky coasts, and whale watching — plus beloved luxury lodges in towns like Tofino — this British Columbian island is the ultimate wilderness escape,” said Travel + Leisure.
Over 661,000 votes were cast in this year’s World’s Best Awards, recognizing the top cities, hotels, and destinations worldwide in conjunction with editorial expertise.
Vancouver Island beat out two competitors from the Maritimes: Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton Island, N.S.
The latter held onto the title of best island in Canada for six years before Vancouver Island dethroned it in 2024.
rvarchol/Shutterstock
“Just an easy ferry ride from the city of Vancouver, the island offers a diversity of settings for travelers, from the charming provincial capital, Victoria, to the wilds of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and picturesque small towns like Tofino and Comox,” gushed Travel + Leisure in a previous commendation for Vancouver Island.
“Vancouver Island is a microcosm of all that Canada has to offer. Its northern and westernmost reaches are untrammeled wilderness, with Douglas firs towering above the mossy forest floor, bears and Roosevelt elk roaming the grounds, and pods of orcas hunting in the waters off the coast.”
Those looking for a luxurious stay during their next visit to the island can visit the best city hotel in Canada, the Fairmont Empress in Victoria.
Fairmont Empress
Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards revealed the top 10 city hotels in Canada, and four are located in B.C.
In addition to the Fairmont Empress, this year’s prestigious list includes the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, and the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver.
A historic B.C. hotel was also recently named one of the world’s best accommodations.
TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards, based on the highest number of top reviews over 12 months, ranked Abigail’s Hotel in Victoria number one in Canada.
The adult-only, 30-room property inside a 1930s Tudor mansion also cracked the top 10 hotels in the world, sharing company with some astounding places.
And on the mainland, an iconic Vancouver museum ranked among the top 25 in a new world ranking.