Gulf Islands
Located in the Georgia Strait, between Vancouver Island and the mainland, the Gulf Islands are made up of over 200 islands and are generally divided into the Southern and Northern Gulf Islands. Many of the islands were "discovered" by Spanish explorers and therefore bear the names of the likes of Hernan Cortes, Cayetano Valdes and Dionisio Galiano.
The larger, populated islands easily accessed by ferry service from BC Ferries are Gabriola, Galiano, Salt Spring, Mayne, Pender, Saturna, Denman, Hornby, Quadra, Texada and Cortes Island. They are known of course for their natural beauty and recreational opportunities but also for the unique lifestyle and character of each island. On many of the Southern Gulf Islands, visitors will find wineries and markets with locally grown produce and artisan food products. They are also a popular destination with boaters as most of the islands offer beautiful coves with marinas and various other services.