For the first time in six years, Vancouver Island has been voted the number one Canadian island by the readers of Travel + Leisure, dethroning Cape Breton Island.
This accolade comes from the 2024 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, where over 186,000 readers cast more than 700,000 votes across various categories, including hotels, cities, cruise lines, and islands.
Canada boasts over 52,000 islands, offering diverse experiences ranging from rugged seaside adventures to serene pine forest getaways.
The top three islands in this year’s list are long-time favourites among Travel + Leisure readers. Readers rated the islands based on several criterias:
- Natural attractions/beaches
- Activities/sights
- Restaurants/food
- People/friendliness
- Value
For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating from excellent to poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
What Readers Loved
Travel + Leisure readers seem to consistently appreciate the natural beauty and nature-centric activities of the top-rated islands.
This year’s third-place finisher, Prince Edward Island (PEI), was praised for its “sheer beauty and lovely people” and “some of the best [beaches] in North America.”
Known as the setting of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s “Anne of Green Gables” series, PEI continues to charm visitors with its scenic coastal routes, quaint fishing villages, and delicious seafood.
Cape Breton Island, which took second place, is celebrated for its cultural richness and stunning landscapes.
Readers highlighted the island’s mix of Scottish, Acadian, and Mi’kmaw influences, the scenic Cabot Trail, and the trails of Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
One reader noted, “If you get invited to a kitchen party by the locals, you’re in for a musical treat,” showcasing the island’s vibrant cultural scene.
Vancouver Island: Canada’s New Favourite
This year, Vancouver Island captured the hearts of Travel + Leisure readers, earning the top spot with a reader score of 86.46.
“Situated on Canada’s Pacific Coast just off mainland British Columbia, Vancouver Island is a microcosm of all that Canada has to offer,” said Travel + Leisure.
Readers particularly loved the island’s wild places. One reader described Vancouver Island as “Canada’s hidden gem,” a testament to its unspoiled beauty and the sense of discovery it offers visitors.
“Its northern and westernmost reaches are untrammeled wilderness, with Douglas firs towering above the mossy forest floor, bears and Roosevelt elk roaming the grounds, and pods of orcas hunting in the waters off the coast,” the Travel + Leisure write up continues.
Score summary:
- Vancouver Island, British Columbia
– WBA Hall of Fame honoree
– Reader Score: 86.46 - Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
– Reader Score: 85.12 - Prince Edward Island
– Reader Score: 80.38
As Vancouver Island takes its place as the top Canadian island, which community would you recommend to your family and friends to visit first?
