About this hotel
General information
Sonora Resort occupies Sonora Island in the Discovery Islands, an archipelago off the coast of British Columbia reached only by sea or air. Around it lie ancient rainforest and channels churned by tidal currents, home to bald eagles, sea lions, whales and bears. What began in 1979 as a rustic fishing lodge has grown into one of Canada’s best-known luxury wilderness retreats, and the resort is a member of Relais & Châteaux.
Guests stay in a cluster of cedar-and-stone lodges facing the ocean and in two secluded villas. The resort opens seasonally and runs all-inclusive: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, house wines, beer and cider, soft drinks, all on-site facilities and the spa’s thermal area are covered, while cellar wines and spirits are charged separately. Sonora keeps long-standing partnerships with the K’òmoks, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, Homalco and Kwiakah First Nations, on whose lands it sits.
Location
The resort lies on Sonora Island, at the heart of the Discovery Islands on British Columbia’s rugged west coast, overlooking the Yuculta Rapids and Innes Passage. The easiest approach is a helicopter or seaplane flight of about 50 minutes from Vancouver, departing near the South Terminal of Vancouver International and landing at the resort itself. Alternatively, a water taxi runs from Campbell River on Vancouver Island in roughly 1 hour 15 minutes, and in summer seaplanes also fly in from Seattle.
Spa
Island Currents Spa takes its cue from water and the surrounding wilderness, with a menu of massages, facials, body treatments, hand and foot care and spa packages. The complimentary Water Journey leads from shower to sauna or steam room, through a warm mineral pool and Swiss shower to a cool mineral pool, the pools set outdoors above the ocean. There is also a fitness centre with a separate stretch studio, and small yoga classes are held in the mornings. Spa facilities are for guests aged 16 and over.
Sports & leisure
Most on-site facilities are included in the stay, and the wilderness excursions are led by experienced guides.
- fishing: ocean salmon fishing, helicopter fly fishing on remote rivers, fly-fishing lessons on two stocked rainbow trout ponds, and early-morning prawn and crab trapping on the Tide-to-Table outing
- eco-adventure tours in search of marine mammals, guided ocean kayaking, boat cruises through inlets and fjords, and the Blind Channel tour with an old-growth forest hike
- grizzly bear tours, helicopter glacier tours, heli-hiking, glacier walks and glacier paddling
- covered tennis court with pickleball, basketball hoop, table tennis, nine-hole putting green and archery
- 12-seat cinema, games room with billiards, shuffleboard and foosball, two golf simulators, conservatory and business centre
- rainforest hiking and biking trails, mountain bikes, the Discovery Islands Viewpoint, the Storey Pointe fire pit, and canoes and paddleboards on Florence Lake
For children
All ages are welcome, and families often take the multi-bedroom suites. There is no kids’ club or babysitting service. The youngest guests have Eaglet’s Perch, an outdoor play area in the woods; because of the island’s wildlife, children must be supervised by an adult. Cribs, high chairs and children’s rain gear are available while stocks last. Some activities carry minimum ages (grizzly tours and kayaking from 8, archery from 12), and the spa facilities are open only to those aged 16 and over.
Restaurants & bars
Cooking under executive chef Justine Smith draws on seasonal West Coast produce from local suppliers.
- Tyee Dining Room — the main restaurant above the Yuculta Rapids, with a large aquarium, a grand piano and an art collection; dinner is the Chef’s Tasting Menu or à la carte
- Tyee Patio — ocean-view terrace in the warmer months, with a tapas deck and wood-stone oven at the height of summer
- Tyee Lounge & Bar — wines, hand-crafted cocktails and beer from lunch until late
- The Chinook Room & Patio — intimate room with a private entrance for private dinners and groups
- The Wine Cellar — more than 1,500 bottles and 400 labels, with cellar tours and sommelier pairings
- Snack Shack — snacks and drinks at the dock
Swimming
There is no beach. A heated outdoor pool sits beside the ocean, next to the spa’s mineral pools (16 and over), and the lodges have rooftop hot tubs. Florence Lake, 5 km from the resort, has a swimming dock and a picnic area.
Pets
Pets are not permitted, as the remote setting and the island’s wildlife are unsuitable for them. Certified service animals can be accommodated when arranged in advance with documentation.
Rooms
Gold and Diamond rooms are set in ocean-facing lodges with shared lounges, stone fireplaces and rooftop hot tubs; suites range from two to six bedrooms, and two private villas stand apart. Interiors are cedar and stone, with picture windows over the Yuculta Rapids and Innes Passage.
Ensuite with heated floors, soaker tub and glass-and-slate shower, gas fireplace, goose-down duvets and pillows, robes and slippers, stocked mini fridge, Nespresso machine, free Wi-Fi, a phone with free worldwide calls and turndown service.
Diamond Ocean
Top-floor room in one of the lodges with a king bed, tall windows and sweeping ocean views; guests share the lodge lounge and rooftop hot tub.
Diamond Ocean Vaulted
Top-floor room with a soaring vaulted ceiling, a king bed and ocean views through tall picture windows.
Diamond Ocean + Balcony
Spacious lower-floor room with a balcony over the ocean, a king bed, a see-through fireplace and a large soaker tub.
Gold Ocean
Ocean-view room looking out to the Yuculta Rapids and snow-capped peaks, with a king bed or two queens; each has its own layout.
Gold Garden
Room in Haida lodge on the hill above the resort, with a king bed or two queens, mountain views over the covered tennis court and a partial ocean view; adjoining rooms are possible.
Arran Suite
Two-bedroom suite for four with high ceilings, a winding staircase and its own indoor hot tub and steam room; the second bedroom takes a king or two twins. It sits close to the main lodge, pool and dining room.
Yuculta Suite
Two-level suite above the Yuculta Rapids: Upper and Lower each have three bedrooms for six guests, a living room and a private outdoor hot tub, under cedar vaulted ceilings with tall windows and a wraparound glass deck.
Bute Diamond
Suite in Bute Lodge with two king bedrooms for four, a living room and fireplaces, looking across the ocean to Stuart Island.
Bute Gold
Suite for four with two bedrooms (one king, the other with two kings), fireplaces in each bedroom and a living area with a hearth and poker table; Stuart Island lies across the water.
Marine Lodge
Nautical-toned lodge on the rocks over the water, with four ocean-view bedrooms and ensuites (two king, two with two queens) for eight, a living room and a private hot tub.
Sea Lion Pointe House
Glass-and-timber villa on its own peninsula with four king suites for up to ten, a great room with a towering fireplace and a terrace over Innes Passage. It adds a billiards room, home theatre, wet bar, office, nanny suite, baby grand piano, rooftop hot tub, a major collection of British Columbian art and four Subaru Foresters for guests’ use.
Eagle Rock Lodge
Private lodge among firs by the sea with four king bedrooms for eight, a great room with a stone fireplace, a wraparound deck, two hot tubs, an office and a baby grand piano, a short walk from the main lodge.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.