EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

This perfectly paced tour allows you to step onto a horse-drawn trolley and then step back in time to experience Victoria as people did when Queen Victoria reigned over the British Empire. The trolleys, which have become synonymous with Victoria, are drawn by two magnificent draught horses who know the route almost as well as your guide. Your tour begins at the Ogden Point Pier and then winds through the historic neighborhood of James Bay and then into Victoria’s famed Inner Harbour, home to the Royal BC Museum, The Steamship Terminal, and the iconic Fairmont Hotel Empress. If your tour happens to be at night, you’re sure to be dazzled by the thousands of lights that line British Columbia’s stately Legislative Buildings, designed by famed British-born architect, Francis Rattenbury. Your horse-drawn trolley offers blankets to keep you warm in the event of a cool evening breeze and the passenger area is covered to provide protection in the unlikely event of a shower.

Victoria is one of the most picturesque cities in North America – it exudes old world charm and has a distinctively British flair. You’ll discover the heart and soul of the “City of Gardens” on this tour and appreciate why so many visitors from around the world come each year to visit. Starting at Ogden Point you’ll head into the residential neighborhoods, complete with manicured lawns, abundant flowers of all shapes and sizes, and million-dollar views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountain range. Your tour will continue through the city's impressive Beacon Hill Park, complete with free flying peacocks and the world's tallest freestanding totem pole. After enjoying the sites of old town and Chinatown, you’ll enter Victoria's Inner Harbor. This lively area is home to the Royal British Columbia Museum, numerous street performers, craft vendors, food stalls, legislative buildings, and the world-famous Fairmont Empress Hotel.

Settle in for a panoramic drive through Victoria at night, when the city is brightly illuminated and most atmospheric, and cap off the evening with free time in the Inner Harbour area. Victoria looks captivating any time of the day, but especially at night when the city lights are twinkling. You will begin your exploration near Mile 0 – the western terminus of the nearly 5,000-mile Trans-Canada Highway – continue past leafy Beacon Hill Park and travel on into Old Town, where remnants of Fort Victoria overlook the waterfront. Chinatown is also extraordinarily historic as it is the oldest such neighborhood in Canada. It really comes alive in the evening as shoppers and diners crowd the pedestrian-friendly streets, which are strung with brightly colored lanterns. Not to be outdone, the Parliament Buildings and many of their domes are outlined in thousands of lights. You can further explore this engaging area on foot during free time.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Drive through Victoria’s downtown at night, when the city is most radiant.
• See the best of Old Town and enjoy outstanding views of the oldest Chinatown in Canada.
• Pass the neo-baroque Parliament Buildings, which look spectacular outlined in lights.
• Explore the wonderfully atmospheric and vibrant Inner Harbour area on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy a literal bird’s-eye view of the wilderness on the outskirts of Victoria from atop the Malahat SkyWalk and see the highlights downtown on a panoramic drive. The SkyWalk is an open-air spiral ramp that rises more than 800 feet above sea level. The views will become more sweeping and spectacular the higher you ascend above the forest of Douglas firs and Arbutus trees. From the top of the tower, you will gaze out over the Salish Sea, the Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker and a collection of Canadian and American islands. Few sights are quite so dramatic. For added excitement, you can walk out onto the Adventure Net that soars 10 stories above the ground and look straight down. You may also zip to the bottom on the enclosed spiral slide. The scenic drive through Victoria will be exhilarating in a different way as you will see the city’s absolute icons, including the Parliament Buildings.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Gaze out over the wilderness from atop the open-air 10-story Malahat SkyWalk.
• Admire the 360° views of the surrounding forest and sea with Mount Baker in the distance.
• Look straight down while standing on the Adventure Net, the only thing between you and the ground.
• Settle in for a panoramic drive through Victoria that presents a variety of key landmarks.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This tour provides you an in-depth look into some of the best sights that Victoria has to offer, plus visit the world-famous Butchart Gardens. Your tour sets out through James Bay through the city's beautiful Beacon Hill Park, home of the world's tallest freestanding totem pole, then a fully narrated tour to the world famous Butchart Gardens. A National Historic Site and spread over 55 acres, there are walking trails that connect lavish floral gardens, cascading fountains, ponds and rock gardens. Here, amidst an enchanting floral aroma, you can enjoy a 2- hour self-guided tour through many themed gardens, including The Rose Garden, The Japanese Garden, The Italian Garden and Butchart’s famous Sunken Garden. After taking in this impressive attraction, continue to Victoria’s Inner Harbor to view the iconic Empress Hotel and BC Legislative Buildings, passing through the “Gates of Harmonious Interest” to see historic Chinatown, the second oldest in North America. You’ll travel past Old Town making your way back to the cruise terminal or use the optional drop downtown to make your own way back to the ship, if time in port permits.

Enjoy a panoramic drive through Victoria’s inner harbor in the evening, when the city lights are twinkling brightly, and the urban landscape is spectacularly radiant. You will first pause at the Canadian institution Tim Hortons for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and a few tasty Timbits, the franchise’s bite-size donuts. Then just settle in and admire the sights, perhaps the most famous being the grand Fairmont Empress, a château-style hotel built in 1908 that overlooks the waterfront. The domed Legislative Assembly of British Columbia dominates the skyline because it is outlined in brilliant white lights. Other landmarks that look more dramatic at night include the Maritime Museum and Royal BC Museum. Throughout the trip, the tranquil waters of the inner harbor will reflect the city lights, making the setting all the more memorable. As a parting gift, you will receive a classic Canadian goodie bag.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Drive through Victoria’s inner harbor at night, when it is beautifully illuminated.
• Pass landmarks such as the Parliament complex and the Fairmont Empress hotel.
• Enjoy coffee and donut morsels from Tim Hortons, a Canadian institution.
• Play Canadian trivia for prizes during the drive and receive a goodie bag.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a private round-trip transfer through Victoria’s charming streets on your way to the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel. Arrive for a 90-minute Afternoon Tea experience, complete with elegantly presented sandwiches, pastries, and sparkling wine in the hotel’s legendary Tea Room. After savoring this quintessentially Victoria tradition, relax on the scenic return drive to the cruise terminal, taking in city highlights along the way. A refined, indulgent experience that blends local culture, history, and elegance.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover why Victoria is so revered for its cuisine through inspired tastings and admire the gorgeous scenery while traveling between venues. The exact restaurants will be chosen the day of the excursion, but you can expect to visit Victoria’s trendiest, most characteristic ones. James Bay, the city’s oldest neighborhood, is nearly surrounded by water so chances are you will be treated to seafood after strolling the boardwalk at Fisherman’s Wharf. A ferry will bring you to the upper harbor, where you will find Chinatown, which is the oldest such neighborhood in Canada. You will also be treated to a craft beer or cocktail sampling in the Bastion Square area of Old Town. The square looks out over the picturesque inner harbor. Continue along Government Street to your final tasting at the original location of Rogers Chocolates, open for business since 1885. From here, your tour concludes in front of the iconic Fairmont Empress where you can opt to remain downtown at your leisure or return on the shuttle bus.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Walk from restaurant to restaurant and discover why Victoria is such foodie paradise.
• Sample characteristic dishes and beverages made with local ingredients.
• Take in the sights between samplings in Chinatown, Old Town and the James Bay neighborhood.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

There are fewer cities more spectacularly suited for a walking tour than Victoria. This delightful two-hour excursion will commence at the cruise terminal and start out along the seawall that is lined with the well-manicured lawns and gardens of those lucky enough to live with a view of the Strait of Juan De Fuca and the Olympic Mountain Range. Stepping away from the bustle of the cruise terminal, walk down into the heart of town which is full of shopping, restaurants, nightclubs and much more. The Inner Harbor of Victoria is a bustling and vibrant area with regular seaplane departures to the surrounding islands, street performers, local crafts and food vendors. This is also the location of the Royal BC Museum, the British Columbia Parliament Buildings and the world-famous Fairmont Empress Hotel with its façade of century-old ivy covered walls. As you make your way through the city, your experienced local guide will share with you the inside stories and history of the area and a true insider's knowledge of all things unique to the City of Victoria. Your guided tour concludes on the lawns of the Empress Hotel and you are encouraged to further explore Downtown on your own before heading back to the ship at your leisure. For those who don't wish to walk back, a shuttle will be available.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk around Victoria at a leisurely pace that allows you to really take in the sights.
• Make note of neighborhoods and shops that you might like to explore further on your own.
• Listen to the guide elaborate on the city’s founding and significant role in the gold rush.
• Remain in town if you choose and browse iconic landmarks such as the Fairmont Empress hotel.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Victoria is the gateway to Puget Sound, the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands and is home to three resident orca pods, transient orcas, humpback whales, Minke and gray whales, as well as a variety of other marine life. You'll have an opportunity to view porpoises, Pacific dolphins, sea otters, Steller and California sea lions and more. This tour is designed to showcase to you as much wildlife as possible, as they explore their natural feeding grounds along the shores of British Columbia's rugged coastline.

Your journey begins at the Ogden Point Cruise Terminal, where you'll be escorted to the whale watching vessel departure point. Our large covered vessels offer onboard washrooms, complimentary hot drinks, marine naturalists, snacks for purchase, and hydrophones to hear the call of the whales if they are vocalizing during the tour. As you travel to the viewing location, be sure to enjoy the majesty of the coastlines and mountains surrounding you!

Experience Victoria's highlights and the two most popular attractions, a 19th century Victorian castle and the world famous Butchart Gardens. Your tour will start by motor coach through the city's Beacon Hill park before arriving to Craigdarroch Castle. Now a National Historic Site, the castle gives visitors a rare glimpse of what privileged life was like during the reign of Queen Victoria. Your informative self-guided tour will take you through many of the castle’s 39 lavish rooms and up the stairway to Craigdarroch’ s signature tower. Continue the Highlights of Victoria to your next must see stop, the Butchart Gardens, spread over 55 beautiful acres. Here, amidst an enchanting floral aroma, you can take a self-guided tour through many themed gardens, including The Rose Garden, The Japanese Garden, and the picturesque Sunken Garden. We then travel through Chinatown to the downtown Inner Harbour, Victoria’s centerpiece and home to The Royal BC Museum, the BC Legislative Buildings, and the iconic Empress Hotel. Take advantage of the optional drop off downtown to further explore on your own (if time in port permits) or enjoy the highlights back to the ship.

Take an insider’s tour of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, a national historic site that is more commonly known as the Centre of the Universe. The observatory perches on Little Saanich Mountain high above Victoria and has been instrumental in studying the night sky since opening more than a century ago. Its two telescopes have contributed significantly to our understanding of the Milky Way, magnetic stars and distant quasars and galaxies. But you don’t have to be an astronomer to appreciate the observatory’s research and findings. An enlightening planetarium show will make even the most complex astronomical concepts easier to understand. You will see the original model of the telescope that journeyed to the world’s fair in 1915. You will also see the original 2.2-ton mirror for the telescope, world events at the start of the 20th century made the journey of this mirror quite special.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, also known as the Centre of the Universe.
• Watch an enlightening presentation in the planetarium.
• Gain an understanding of the discoveries made at the observatory over the past century.
• Travel through Victoria’s beautiful downtown on the way to and from the observatory.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.