The best accommodation in Salt Spring Island BC
Salt Spring Island is one of the Gulf Islands in British Columbia. Salt Spring Island is the perfect weekend getaway from Vancouver and is known for being a foodie’s haven.
As a popular Gulf Island retreat, there are so many fun things to do on Salt Spring Island. Whether you’re looking to explore the Salt Spring Island hiking trails, taste the locally made food and produce, or explore the art galleries, you’re spoilt for choice.
After all that activity, you’ll need somewhere nice to relax and unwind and rest up before another day of adventure on Salt Spring.
There are a lot of choices when it comes to finding accommodation in Salt Spring Island. Narrowing down your options can be hard.
I’ve visited Salt Spring Island a few times, staying at different places each time. If you’re planning a trip, check out my recommendations for the best accommodation on Salt Spring Island BC for your next stay.
These Salt Spring Island accommodations are located on the traditional & unceded territory of Coast Salish people, including the Quw’utsun (Cowichan), Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples.
Best accommodation in Salt Spring Island Canada
Below you’ll find a mix of the best Salt Spring Island hotels, B&Bs on Salt Spring Island, and unique Salt Spring Island cabins.
When it comes to where to stay Salt Spring Island offers you plenty of different accommodations to choose from.
The Salty Pear Salt Spring Island
The Salty Pear is one of the best places to stay on Salt Spring Island.
It brings together everything that makes Salt Spring Island special (the beautiful scenery, the arty vibes, the relaxed feel) and packages it up as a Salt Spring Island accommodation option.
The Salty Pear is set on 5 acres of land and is surrounded by trees and organic farming fields. You’ll actually get given eggs from the free-range hens here as well as granola, coffee and milk for your breakfast in the morning.
There are two accommodation options at the Salty Pear. There’s the camping casita which is a bit like glamping. You’ll have Coleman’s stove (what we used while living in our van for 5 months!) to whip up some delicious meals, a picnic table and a heated outdoor shower. The casita is only available from April to October.
The other option is Salty Pear’s Studio Suite which is beautifully designed. It has heated concrete floors and a gorgeous deck.
With both accommodation options, you have access to the Salty Pear sauna. It’s a wood-fired barrel sauna with a window in it so you can gaze out at the view as you relax. You’re also close to loads of walking trails so it’s the perfect place to stay on Salt Spring Island if you’re looking to unwind in nature.
- Reserve the Salty Pear
- Get notified of their availability by following them on instagram
Salt Spring Inn
The Salt Spring Island Inn is the best place for budget accommodation on Salt Spring Island.
The inn has an outdoor decking area for the summer and a cosy fireplace in its shared lounge in the fall and winter.
There’s also an on-site restaurant which does a great weekend brunch and their burgers are an awesome choice for dinner in Salt Spring.
Many of the rooms have a sea view and they have everything you need for a weekend in Salt Spring.
It’s also well-located as it’s right in Ganges which is where most of the restaurants on Salt Spring Island are other amenities are.
Plus, you’re just a 2-minute walk from Salt Spring Island’s famous Saturday Market which is full of local artisans selling unique goods and food products.
The location alone makes this one of the best hotels in Salt Spring Island BC.
The Sanctuary Retreat & Spa
This absolutely beautiful Salt Spring Island accommodation is a must if you’re looking for the ultimate relaxation.
The Sanctuary on Salt Spring Island has beautiful ocean views, a terrace, and an outdoor patio with mountain views.
The hotel is beautifully designed and is a wooden house that feels a bit like staying in a treehouse, albeit one that’s far beyond your 5-year-old self’s wildest dreams.
There is a beautiful bath in the rooms with incredible views, a fireplace, and even a telescope on the deck to fully see the night sky with.
You’re just 3 minutes away from the main town on Salt Spring Island: Ganges, so you’re well located for getting anything you need during your stay. It’s easily one of the best hotels in Ganges, Salt Spring Island.
Five Elements Lodge bed and breakfast, Salt Spring Island
Five Elements Lodge and B&B on Salt Spring Island is the perfect place to stay if you’re looking for all the home comforts and facilities while staying on the island.
Based on the five elements (wind, fire, earth, water, and spirit), this lodge on Salt Spring Island is located on 10 acres of woodland trails. The owners have drawn on the five elements to create a peaceful and calming atmosphere at their B&B.
This Salt Spring Island hotel has a fitness center, garden, and shared lounge as well as a shared kitchen and a yoga and meditation area. You’re super close to some of the best hikes on Salt Spring Island as well as the gold course.
With this Salt Spring Island lodging, you’ll get breakfast every morning too. It’s one of the top options for hotels on Salt Spring Island.
Cusheon Lake Resorts on Salt Spring Island
This Salt Spring Island hotel has its own private beach! There is also an outdoor hot tub and a beautiful terrace area which is perfect for relaing on after a busy day exploring Salt Spring.
Cusehon Lake Resort has 1-bedroom 2-bedroom and chalet cabin style accommodations with each cottage having its own outdoor or deck area and a wood-burning fireplace.
These Salt Spring Island cottages are right next to Cusheon Lake and all the cabins and chalets have lakeside views. It’s such a special place to stay on Salt Spring Island!
The resort is unique in that it occupies four acres at the very tip of a peninsula that juts out into the lake.
Private Oceanfront Retreat, breathtaking water views on Vesuvius Beach
This gorgeous ocean retreat on Salt Spring Island has a private waterfront that is just steps from Vesuius beach on Salt Spring Island.
You’ll enjoy views of the ocean from the deck, the bedroom, and the living area.
With everything you need for a great stay on Salt Spring, you’ll be able to cook tasty meals at home with produce from the Salt Spring market, fall asleep to the sound of the waves, and enjoy a morning coffee while watching them from the deck.
Designer Waterfront Home
This is one of those Salt Spring Island places to stay you won’t want to leave!
You can’t really beat the views from this Salt Spring accommodation. I could easily sit in this bright living room by the fire and watch the ocean as it changes throughout the day.
If you do leave the house, you only need to walk a short distance down some stepping stones to a secluded private beach area.
Come nighttime, you can watch the lights come on in Ganges across the water and look up to enjoy the night sky full of twinkling stars.
Westover Bed And Breakfast
This cabins on Salt Spring Island features on my guide of the best cosy cabins in BC. It’s super cute and is nestled in amongst the trees which makes it feel super peaceful.
This 3-acre property is a 20 minute walk from Ganges and is made from many natural materials. It’s accessed by cedar boardwalks and has an outdoor claw foot tub which I imagine would be perfect for relaxing in in the early evening!
A HappiNest up in the trees, a unique Salt Spring Cottage
Stay in this bright and beautiful Salt Spring Island cottage surrounded by woodland.
It’s the perfect place for relaxation on Salt Spring Island and not far from the trailhead to Mt Maxwell or beach areas either.
If you enjoy yoga, you’re just a short walk from Salt Spring Island Yoga Centre and you can even get acupuncture treatments from the owner who is a certified acupuncturist.
The Cottages on Salt Spring Island
The Cottages on Salt Spring Island are right at the edge of Bullock Lake where you have access to hiking, biking, shopping, and everything that’s great about Salt Spring Island all within just a few minutes of travel time.
Each cottage in this cottage resort on Salt Spting Island has a private deck where you can watch the birds or take a dip in the refreshingly cool water yourself.
The cottages have 1- or 2-bedrooms and there are 3-bedroom villas too.
All accommodation has its own kitchen and you have access to a BBQ area and paddleboards to use during your stay making it one of the best places to stay Salt Spring Island has to offer.
Camping on Salt Spring Island
If you’re wondering where to stay in Salt Spring Island when it comes to camping, here’s your Salt Spring Island camping guide.
Ruckle Park Campground
We walked past this campground on Salt Spring Island while going for a hike on the island.
The walk-in camping spots are up on a meadow in Ruckle Park overlooking the ocean. Every spot is absolutely beautiful! These spots are predominantly walk-in spots and there’s also a group site available too.
Ruckle Park offers beautiful views out across the ocean. I’d recommend following the Shoreline trail (about 7km) which takes you past all the best viewpoints and the campsite mentioned below.
As well as the walk-in sites which are closest to the waterfront, there are 8 drive-in sites for RV or van camping on Salt Spring Island and 3 group camping sites. There is no electric hook-up or dump facility here.
You should reserve your campsite on Salt Spring Island in advance as they book up quickly especially during the summer and over weekends.
Mowhinna Creek Campground
Mowhinna Creek Campground on Salt Spring Island has 50 campsites in amongst the woodland and each site offers some privacy so you won’t feel like you’re camping on top of each other.
This is the best Salt Spring Island campsite for RV campers since there is plenty of space for larger vehicles as well as some sites with an electric hook-up and septic dump.
For those camping in tents, there are 18 walk-in campsites and 10 drive-in sites.
At Mowhinna Creek, campers have access to hot showers, flushing toilets, and a dishwashing station. You’ll also be able to get wifi and there’s a playground for children.
You must reserve this campground on Salt Spring in advance, especially over the summer or you risk not being able to get a spot.
This is a campsite in a great location as you can walk into Ganges and you’re not far from the trailheads for Mount Maxwell which is the highest peak on the island.
Garden Faire Campground
Garden Faire Campground has been operating for over 20 years and is one of the best campgrounds on Salt Spring Island.
There are over 40 campsites here for tent campers and those camping in Salt Spring Island with an RV.
And, there are also a few spots for fairies and leprechauns too 😉 – Just look for the colored doors on the trees and decorated stones to find where they are.
Every campsite at this Salt Spring Island campground has a unique decoration to it. Some have a cedar stump made to look like a toad stall, some have fences decorated with colorful fabrics or hessian coffee sacks. Each has a picnic table and fire pit.
You can follow a walking trail into the center of Ganges and this campsite is dog-friendly; you’re even close to Rainbow Road Dog Park where your pooch can run free.
How to get to Salt Spring Island
The most common way to get to Salt Spring Island is to take the ferry from Vancouver. BC Ferries leave from Tsawwassen to Long Harbour regularly throughout the day.
There are two ferry terminals on Salt Spring Island. There’s one at Vesuvius Bay and another at Fulford Harbour.
Some ferries stop off at the other Gulf Islands such as Galiano Island and Pender Island which adds quite a bit of time to the journey, whereas others go direct.
It’s a good idea to reserve the ferry if you’re heading to Salt Spring Island for the weekend as it can get very busy. This is especially true during summer and over long weekends.
You can also get the ferry from Crofton to Vesuvius Bay on the Island, or from Victoria to the Fulford harbour.
Seaplane to Salt Spring Island
If you’re celebrating something special then you could also get a seaplane to Salt Spring Island.
Harbour Air flies from downtown Victoria directly to Salt Spring and SeaAir SaltSpring Air flies daily from the island to Vancouver International Airport and downtown.
FAQs about accommodation on Salt Spring Island
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Final thoughts on where to stay on Salt Spring Island BC
This guide to the best places to stay in Salt Spring Island has included some unique places to stay on Salt Spring Island as well as the best lodges, cabins, and campsites in Salt Spring BC.
If you’re extending your trip on the Gulf Islands, be sure to check out this guide to where to stay on Galiano Island, or this ultimate round-up of the best cabins near Vancouver BC.
I’ve also got a bunch of Gulf Island BC travel guides which include all the best things to do in places like Hornby Island, the best things to do on Gabriola Island, and more.
Last Updated on August 9, 2024 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
