The Sunshine Coast is a region of the southern mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada, on the eastern shore of the Strait of Georgia, just northwest of Greater Vancouver. These are the traditional territories of the Squamish (skwxwú7mesh), Sechelt (shíshálh), Sliammon (tla’Amin), and Kla’hoose First Nations. To help us connect with the people who have been here since time immemorial, road signs in the shíshálh nation have been updated to reflect tradition place names along the Coast. We will have to wait for Google Maps to catch up with the original names before you can hail a ride to xwesam or salasus.
For safe, convenient travel to all areas of the Sunshine Coast, Coastal Rides is the local ride-hailing service in the area. The Coastal Rides app offers the ability to order and pay for a ride through your smartphone, or on your computer. There are lots of great places to eat and drink on the Coast, and it is always nice to have a safe ride home!
Because there is no road access from the rest of the province, the Sunshine Coast can be reached only by ferry (via BC ferries), water taxi or by plane. From the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), you can fly direct to Powell River via Pacific Coastal Airlines, and to Sechelt via Harbour Air or Fly! Coastal. From Vancouver Island, both Sunshine Coast Air and Harbour Air operate regular flights from Victoria and Nanaimo to Sechelt, or straight from Downtown Vancouver with Harbour Air as they operate a direct service from March to October.
Once you are on the Coast, there are a number of options to get you moving. BC transit offers an express service from Langdale to Sechelt, which will often connect with the ferry. BC transit also serves the Powell River area. Sunshine Coast Connector offers seasonal bus service along highway 101 and Harbour Air offers a seasonal shuttle from Sechelt to Pender Harbour. There are also traditional taxi services that operate in Gibsons, Sechelt, and Powell River. For safe, convenient travel to all areas of the Sunshine Coast, Coastal Rides is the local ride-hailing service in the area. The Coastal Rides app offers the ability to order and pay for a ride through your smartphone, or on your computer. There are lots of great places to eat and drink on the Coast, and it is always nice to have a safe ride home!
The Coast’s southern population centres include Gibsons, Roberts Creek, and Sechelt on the isthmus. On the Sechelt Peninsula are Halfmoon Bay, Secret Cove and Pender Harbour. At the peninsula’s north end, the ferry to Powell River docks north of Egmont at Earl’s Cove. A great destination near Egmont is Skookumchuck Narrows, where the skookumchuck (“strong water”), the world’s biggest tidal marine rapids, channels the tidal flow in and out of the fjord known as Sechelt Inlet. All along the Coast there are lots of great esperiences to help locals and visitors get out and enjoy!