Making the most of Alert Bay BC
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Ships anchor here and tender passengers into town; Alert Bay's downtown area is conveniently close to the dock.
Many First Nation Namgis people call Alert Bay home. The waterfront cemetery is sacred, with old gravestones and totem poles; Captain George Vancouver visited in the late 1700. Cormorant Island was used by the First Nation Namgis people as sacred burial ground, and their cemetery remains beside the water, full of totems and headstones.
Orcas, or "killer whales," are plentiful, while humpback, Minke and Grey whales have returned in recent years. Humpbacks are especially appealing to whale watchers and are the most acrobatic of the big whales: adults measure 40-50 feet (12-16m), their tails may reach 20 ft (6 m) across, and their 16-foot (5m) flippers are repeatedly rolled and smacked on the water. Occasionally, a large male may launch his 40-tonne body clear of the sea, perhaps to impress a nearby female, before landing on his back.
Bald eagles tolerate people and are present year round. Late summer brings extra interest as Arctic-nesting waterfowl and seabirds return for winter. Boardwalk walks can reveal Harlequin ducks, several loons including the unusual yellow-billed loon, marbled Murrelets, three species of mergansers, two species of grebes, groups of gulls, three species of scoters and an occasional Peregrine Falcon.
Getting around
The village is compact enough to explore on foot.
U'mista Cultural Centre is a museum and cultural centre devoted to Kwakwaka'wakw art and history. Its substantial collection of masks, carvings and other artifacts gives insight into the potlatch ceremony, an important part of local Indigenous culture.
Alert Bay's totem-pole collection includes some of the world's tallest examples. A walk through the village reveals these remarkable artworks and the stories and family histories they represent.
The waters around Alert Bay support abundant marine life, including orcas and humpback whales. Several operators run boat tours for whale watching and wildlife viewing.
Money
The Canadian dollar is used, although USD is widely accepted, even on local transit.
ATMs are found in many grocery stores, malls and airports, most connected to international networks such as Cirrus, Plus, Star and Maestro. A major credit card can also be used to withdraw cash, but this is usually costlier because it carries a service fee and interest starts immediately.
Staying connected
Canada's main languages are English 59.3% and French 23.2%, both official, with other languages at 17.5%. Quebec and New Brunswick are the most "French" areas; the rest of the country is English speaking.