Departure Bay Travel Guide

Nanaimo

A calm lake with boats, a forested shoreline, and distant mountains.
Two eagles perched on a snow-covered tree branch overlooking a wintery landscape with buildings and a river.
A waterfront with a sandy beach, large logs, and houses in the background.
A calm lake with a dock, surrounded by dense forest and mountains in the background.
A calm sea with a large cruise ship in the distance, surrounded by forested islands.

Stay near popular Departure Bay attractions

Departure Bay Beach

8.6/10 (329 reviews)
Why not spend a care-free afternoon at Departure Bay Beach during your travels in Nanaimo?
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Things to do

Our open boats comfortably seat 12 passengers and have a washroom onboard!

Whale Watching Nanaimo Open Boat Tour

฿5,555
per adult
88% of travellers recommend
Whale Watching Nanaimo Open Boat Tour
Our new semi-covered vessel has warm seating indoors and a viewing platform at the stern.

Nanaimo Whale Watching in a Semi-Covered Boat

฿5,555
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Nanaimo Whale Watching in a Semi-Covered Boat
From Nanaimo: Strait of Georgia Seaplane Experience

Nanaimo: Strait of Georgia Seaplane Tour with a stop at Sechelt

฿6,850
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Nanaimo: Strait of Georgia Seaplane Tour with a stop at Sechelt
See all activities in Nanaimo

Top hotels in Departure Bay

Coast Bastion Hotel

Coast Bastion Hotel

3.5 out of 5
11 Bastion Street Nanaimo BC
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ฿3,697 per night from 2 Nov to 3 Nov
฿3,697
฿4,289 total
2 Nov - 3 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Nanaimo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful ...
Coast Bastion Hotel
THE Beach Club Resort

THE Beach Club Resort

3.5 out of 5
181 Beachside Drive Parksville BC
The price is ฿4,006 per night from 1 Nov to 2 Nov
฿4,006
฿5,148 total
1 Nov - 2 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach hotel in Parksville. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in their ...
THE Beach Club Resort
Courtyard By Marriott Nanaimo

Courtyard By Marriott Nanaimo

3 out of 5
100 Gordon Street Nanaimo BC
The price is ฿3,582 per night from 1 Nov to 2 Nov
฿3,582
฿4,155 total
1 Nov - 2 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Nanaimo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,376 reviews)
"Great location. Room was large and comfortable. Not so much the bathroom. Room was obviously a handicap room as the shower was open and impossible to keep the water from covering the floor. Not sure why we had that room. The floor in the bathroom was marked, the toilet very low."

Reviewed on 4 Oct 2026

Courtyard By Marriott Nanaimo
Hotel Feng, BW Signature Collection

Hotel Feng, BW Signature Collection

2 out of 5
424 West Island Highway Parksville BC
The price is ฿3,202 per night from 11 Oct to 12 Oct
฿3,202
฿3,683 total
11 Oct - 12 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Parksville. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
Hotel Feng, BW Signature Collection
Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo

Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo

2 out of 5
96 Terminal Avenue North Nanaimo BC
The price is ฿2,473 per night from 12 Oct to 13 Oct
฿2,473
฿2,868 total
12 Oct - 13 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Nanaimo. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
8.2/10 Very good! (1,514 reviews)
"We got off the ferry around 8:30pm, so it was close. The room was clean, the rest not so much. Breakfast was pitiful. Cold eggs, no bread or begals cold cereal or oatmeal, but no bowls."

Reviewed on 4 Oct 2026

Travelodge by Wyndham Nanaimo
Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort

Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort

3.5 out of 5
1155 Resort Drive Parksville BC
The price is ฿6,094 per night from 12 Oct to 13 Oct
฿6,094
฿7,008 total
12 Oct - 13 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa resort in Parksville. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Parksville Beach and Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
"Excellent stay. Restaurant was very good as well."

Reviewed on 3 Oct 2026

Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort
See all 500 properties in Departure Bay
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Where to stay in Departure Bay

Find the best Departure Bay areas for the activities you enjoy most.
A marina with various boats, including sailboats and yachts, docked along the waterfront.

Central Nanaimo

If you're spending some time in Central Nanaimo, Maffeo Sutton Park and Stones Marina are top sights worth seeing.

A marina with boats at sunset, mountains in the background, and a forested shoreline.

Downtown Nanaimo

If you're spending some time in Downtown Nanaimo, Bastion and Nanaimo Museum are top sights worth seeing.

Stephenson Point

While Stephenson Point may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Departure Bay Beach and Departure Bay Ferry Terminal.

Departure Bay Travel Guide