Sonora Resort
Accessible only by air or water, Sonora Resort is a remote sanctuary set deep in the heart of the Discovery Islands, which lie like shards of broken pottery between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia. Service, meals and spa treatments are as good as you’d expect from a longstanding member of Relais & Châteaux, though the emphasis, understandably, is on the great outdoors and the wildlife that lives there.
Orca and humpback whales, sea lions, porpoises, dolphins and seals all swim and feed in the surrounding waters and can often be spotted on kayak or boat tours. River otters play on the rocky shoreline. Bald eagles, cormorants, kingfishers and herons patrol the skies above. And indigenous-led tours into the surrounding rainforest offer rare opportunities to spot black and grizzly bears in their natural environment.
Anglers can catch rainbow trout off the pristine riverbanks or fish for salmon in the calm ocean passages. Foodies can sample the sea’s seasonal harvest on a Tide-to-Table tour. While adventurous types can fly by helicopter to snow-covered glaciers to go hiking or even paddleboarding.
Rooms and suites are spread among various lodges throughout the grounds and boast large picture windows with breathtaking views. Food is fit for royalty, with the evening tasting and à la carte menus at the ocean-facing dining room a guaranteed highlight of any Sonora stay. Facilities include the Island Currents Spa, an outdoor heated pool, rooftop hot tubs, relaxing mineral pools, a covered indoor tennis court plus a movie theatre, games room, putting green and fire pit.
