How Victoria, B.C. Became a Sustainable Travel Hotspot
Victoria is in Lekwungen Territory, the land of the Songhees people. Honor First Nation heritage by immersing in an enriching Indigenous cultural exchange created and led by members of the community.
Victoria’s gone green. The capital of British Columbia, Canada may have received an impressive number of sustainability accolades over the years—including carbon-neutral designation from Ostrom Climate in 2021, and a Biosphere Certification from the Responsible Tourism Institute in 2023—but these recognitions are just as impressive for how they can be seen in practice throughout the city.
Cigarette-shaped recyclable bins inform people that their butts can be disposed of more responsibly, despite being the most littered item in the world. There are a seemingly endless number of electric car charging stations, as well as a tracker on the bike lane downtown that counts how many cyclists have ridden through the city daily. Unlike bays in most coastal capital cities, the Inner Harbour is so clean you can watch otters eat seaweed in the shallow waters.
Victoria hasn’t become a sustainable travel destination solely due to government efforts, however—it’s the green ethos of independent entrepreneurs that has charted the course. Passionate about preserving the vast ocean surrounding the lush island’s forests and rich Indigenous history, owners of tourist-facing businesses have slowly but surely introduced environmentally-friendly measures to their operations, whether eco-accommodation, carbon-neutral whale-watching tours, and fully carbon-neutral seaplanes. (And that’s without mentioning the array of zero-waste shops and eco-friendly clothing boutiques dotted all around the city.)
With more travelers than ever seeking eco-friendly destinations to visit, Victoria offers sustainable experiences that reassure visitors their stay is contributing to city-wide efforts to maintain its natural surroundings. What could make for a more relaxing vacation than that?
Below, a sustainable travel guide to Victoria.
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What to Do
Victoria is in Lekwungen Territory, the land of the Songhees people. Honor First Nation heritage by immersing in an enriching Indigenous cultural exchange created and led by members of the community. Book the 7 Signs of the Lekwungen canoe tour in the Inner Harbor with Explore Songhees and request Cecelia Dick as your guide—she’s a Songhees healer and is extremely knowledgeable about the local flora, fauna, and her people’s rich history in the region. During the canoe ride you’ll learn about the tribe’s relationship with the land, their historical practices, the tale of how their Chief reincarnated as a wolf, and significant historical sites where Songheees ancestors harvested herbs, fished, and dwelled.