Canada · British Columbia · Strait of Georgia

Best Beaches in Hornby Island

Your guide to the finest beaches in Hornby Island — Caribbean-like turquoise waters, white sandy shores, and laid-back Gulf Island charm in British Columbia.

Exploring Hornby Island

Hornby Island is a small Gulf Island off the east coast of Vancouver Island, beloved for its artistic community, old-growth forests, and one of Canada's most unexpectedly beautiful beaches. Tribune Bay Beach — often called the "Hawaii of Canada" — is a wide crescent of fine white sand backed by arbutus trees and lapped by stunningly clear turquoise water that warms to comfortable swimming temperatures in summer. The shallow, sandy bottom makes it perfect for families and snorkelers who can spot colourful starfish and small fish in the clear shallows. Reached by two ferry rides from the mainland, Hornby Island retains a wonderfully unhurried, bohemian atmosphere with farmers' markets, pottery studios, and trails through forests draped with old-man's beard moss.