Tour operator
Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours
Award-winning storytelling walks of about two hours through Gastown, Stanley Park, Davie Village and downtown, covering Prohibition, crime, fires and hidden history.
Harbour Air Seaplanes
Flying from the Coal Harbour seaplane terminal since 1982, Harbour Air offers scenic flights over Vancouver and scheduled floatplanes to Victoria and the coast.
At a glance
- Type
- Seaplane sightseeing flights
- Area
- Coal Harbour, Vancouver, Canada
- Official site
- harbourair.com
Good to know
- Scenic flights
- Scheduled floatplane routes
- Carbon-offset tickets
Why we recommend it
Harbour Air began in 1982 as Windoak Air Service, flying seaplane charters for British Columbia's forestry industry, and has grown into what it calls the world's largest all-seaplane airline. Its fleet of more than 35 aircraft includes de Havilland Beavers, Single and Twin Otters and Cessna Caravans, and its downtown terminal is in Coal Harbour, at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre on Burrard Inlet.
For visitors the main draw is the scenic flights. These short sightseeing trips take off from Coal Harbour and give an overview of the city, the harbour and the surrounding mountains and coastline that is impossible to get from the ground. The scenic tours are listed on the Harbour Air website and can be booked online.
Harbour Air is also a working airline. Scheduled flights link downtown Vancouver with Victoria's Inner Harbour, Nanaimo, Salt Spring Island, Sechelt, Powell River, Comox, Campbell River and Ucluelet, as well as Lake Union in Seattle, about an hour away. The airline also flies from Vancouver International Airport, and its other hubs are Victoria's Inner Harbour and Nanaimo Harbour, so a flight can be part of a wider trip around the coast.
The company has a strong environmental record. In 2007 it became the first North American airline to reach full carbon neutrality across its flights and corporate operations, and every ticket includes a carbon offset that funds renewable energy projects. On 10 December 2019 it flew the eBeaver, a Beaver seaplane converted to electric power with a magniX motor.
Seaplane flights suit couples, photographers and anyone celebrating a special occasion, and they are a good choice for visitors short on time who want to see a lot at once. Read the luggage guidance on the website before you fly, as the aircraft are small and space on board is limited.
The Coal Harbour terminal is on the downtown waterfront near Canada Place and Fairmont Pacific Rim, so a flight fits easily into a morning downtown. The seawall begins in Coal Harbour and leads around Stanley Park, and Botanist Bar at Fairmont Pacific Rim is close by for a celebratory drink after landing.
Harbour Air Seaplanes FAQs
Where do Harbour Air flights leave from in Vancouver?
From the downtown terminal in Coal Harbour, at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre on Burrard Inlet.
Does Harbour Air offer sightseeing flights?
Yes, scenic tours take off from Coal Harbour and can be booked online.
Can you fly to Victoria?
Yes. Scheduled flights link downtown Vancouver with Victoria's Inner Harbour.
When was Harbour Air founded?
In 1982, as Windoak Air Service.
What aircraft does it fly?
Seaplanes including de Havilland Beavers, Single and Twin Otters and Cessna Caravans.
Is Harbour Air carbon neutral?
In 2007 it became the first North American airline to reach full carbon neutrality, and tickets include a carbon offset.
Can you fly to Seattle?
Yes, there are flights to Lake Union in Seattle, about an hour away.
Are there luggage rules?
Yes, check the luggage guidance on the website before flying.