Hostels in British Columbia

British Colombia is one of the most popular of the Canadian provinces to visit and it isn't hard to see why. It has a little bit of everything for your tastes from beaches and surf, to mountains and skiing, to wineries and incredible food. You cold travel around British Colombia for months and still not get to experience everything that there is going on here to explore.

The capital city is Vancouver and it is one of the most amazing cities in all of North America. In the summer months the city is abuzz with festivals, music, and outdoor activities. Everybody is outside and making the most of the sunshine here either hanging out at Granville Island or heading to Stanley Park for a walk or a beach. In the winter, the city is so close to the mountains that the locals will often hop on a local bus and go skiing on the weekend. Whatever time of year you land here, there is always something to do and there are so many hostels to choose from it can kind of make your head spin. Make sure you are close to transport and it is easy to get around and for you to explore from.

The most popular of the ski resorts is Whistler, a couple of hours north of Vancouver. You will find quite a few hostels around this area too but they can be very popular during the winter months so make sure you book in early to avoid missing out.

Of course, no trip to British Colombia would be complete without a visit to the island. Vancouver Island is a great place and is full of amazing scenery and friendly locals. The largest city here is Victoria and it has quite a few hostels that you can stay in while you explore the parks and museums for a couple of days. From here you can organize a bus that will take you up through the town of Nanaimo, with which there isn't much to do but it is one of the port towns where the ferries come in from mainland Canada. And then it is on to the popular surf town of Tofino. Definitely make sure you book hostels here in advance especially in the summer months as the number of tourists that become attracted to this town literally increases the towns population four-fold during the peak season. You can use this as a base with which to explore the Pacific Rim National Park or there are also hostels at Ucluelet a little bit further south of Tofino. Lots and lots of things to do here so ask at your hostel to give you some ideas on where to go and how to get around.

If you are heading east from Vancouver, make sure you stop in Kelowna and visit the Okanagan region. It is famous for its wine and incredible fruits that it produces. Check out what is in season or pick up some fresh produce from some of the many stalls that they have on the side of the road.

Of course as you continue even further east from here you will hit the Rocky Mountains and find some top skiing and hiking in the areas around Revelstoke and Golden, towns that also have hostels where you can crash in your amazing road trip through British Colombia and beyond!

Handwritten by local expert for British Columbia hostels Globetrotter