Discover Vancouver’s North Shore with Takaya Tours

One of the best ways to experience Summer on Vancouver’s North Shore is to spend a whole day out on the sparkling ocean water just off the coast. And when you North Shore Like a Local, you throw in an extra dash of education, culture and storytelling – all of which you’ll find with Takaya Tours.

Started in 1999, Takaya Tours is the Lower Mainland’s premier First Nation-owned eco-tourism business. Based in the heart of Vancouver’s North Shore on the Burrard Inlet between North Vancouver and Deep Cove, Takaya Tours focuses on appreciating nature through the lens of Indigenous stories and legends. 

Takaya Tours’ main offering is their Canoe Tours, a wonderfully rich and lively opportunity to Learn Like a Local by taking to the water in authentic replicas of traditional carved canoes. Guests are given a traditionally decorated paddle and move their group through the protected waters of the Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm. Leading tours through fascinating points of interest, each vessel is guided by an experienced storyteller who teaches songs, identifies wildlife, and shares the history of the ancient village sites along the shore. 

Two important sites that are visited on the Canoe Tours are Tum-Tumay-Whueton (Belcarra Park), a large winter gathering site where long houses once stood, and Whey-ah-wichen (Cates Park), an ancestral village on the inlet. Split Tours offer guided exploration of these areas on foot as well as canoe, and there is also a chance to explore at your own pace with their dedicated kayak rental service. 

To take the experience even further, Takaya Tours offers Boat Excursions deeper out into Indian Arm or First Nation Multi-Day Tours that combine paddling and camping at multiple shoreline sites. Spawning Salmon Tours take guests through ancestral trails along local river banks to learn more about one of the Tsleil-Waututh’s most important food sources.

A day with Takaya Tours is also a great way to Love it Like a Local on the North Shore thanks to their commitment to sustainability and stewardship of the land that the Tsleil-Waututh have called home since time immemorial. In everything they do, there is respect and mindful interaction that follows their ‘Tread Softly in Nature’ philosophy. Their non-motorized canoes are designed to leave the most minimal impact through the delicate eco-systems they navigate. Not only does this create a peaceful, back-to-nature experience for their guests, but ensures that the natural beauty of each tour is preserved for generations to come.

The inaugural recipient of the Naturally North Shore Tourism Business Award, Takaya Tours has made a name for itself by championing sustainable business practices, building community, and educating locals and visitors on the culture, tradition, and history of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation. In fact, Takaya means wolf in their Downriver Halkomelem language, an homage to their Nation’s representative animal, and a nod to the formidable protection of the Tsleil-Waututh way of life that is so deeply intertwined with nature on the North Shore.

Takaya Tours is a vital part of a wide network of North Shore businesses that are championing community, local culture and environmental preservation through everyday actions. If you’d like to join this movement to protect and keep Vancouver’s North Shore safe and accessible for all, we invite you to take the pledge to North Shore Like a Local today!