You can tell a lot about a hotel by their entrance; there are grand over-the-top entrances, hidden ones, hard-to-get-to ones, and then there are treks. This was one of those special hard-to-get-to ones except getting to Sonora Resort was half the adventure. A boat picks you up from the harbor on Vancouver Island and from there it is a one-hour boat ride through the islands of British Columbia. Along the way you pass pods of dolphins and orcas and fisherman catching the freshest Salmon. Pulling up to Sonora Island Resort in the stunning Desolation Sound, the hotel is perched along the ocean’s edge perfectly hidden by the trees.
The hotel manager will greet you at the docks and usher you into the restaurant for a drink and some cheese sampling. Afterwards you will be guided to your hotel room to rest and get ready for dinner. There are 12 West Coast inspired lodges, with up to 19 rooms, and each room offers partial river views, insanely comfortable beds, and a complimentary bottle of wine. I stayed in the Yuculta Diamond Room which was absolutely incredible and probably my favorite room in the whole place, however you cannot go wrong with any of the rooms. If you’re staying with a larger family rent out Sea Lion Pointe, it’s extremely private, large, luxurious, and modern. All of the lodges have Native American influence in the design and art, paying tribute to the area’s history. After a long day of sight-seeing and adventure, soak your feet in one of the lodge’s hot tubs, there are 30 hot tubs on property!
The Resort also offers a swimming pool, hiking and biking trails, tennis court, putting green, 12-seat movie theatre, fly fishing ponds and more. I usually find that island resorts lack in incredible food due to their isolation but that was not the case at Sonora Resort. Every meal I had was incredibly fresh and innovative. I opted for the tasting menu every night and it did not disappoint. All your meals are included in the rate so eat your heart out while you can!
A must-do activity is the Eco-Tour, especially in the fall when Grizzly Bears are plentiful. I also recommend the Salmon Fishing half-day excursion and the Helicopter Glacier Tour, although the latter is not for the faint of heart! Since this is the only Resort on the island, the whole island is your playground. The best time of the year to visit would be June-August when the weather is still warm and the sun is out and shining. My trip to Sonora Resort was by far too short and I will be coming back. This is one of those places where each visit offers your something different- you will never ever get bored. It is pure bliss for those who appreciate both the outdoors and luxury accommodation.
Photographs courtesy of the property.