7 Boat Tours & Charters on Cape Breton Island

Story by: Team Destination Cape Breton

Chart your own course for adventure. From a relaxing sail on the Bras d’Or Lake or cruising on a whale watching tour, our Island offers a wide selection of boat tours and charter options. Set against a backdrop of rugged coastlines, you’ll encounter abundant sea life including whales, seabirds and more.

9 Summer Boat Tours & Charters to Look Forward To on Cape Breton Island 2

1. Cape Breton Sailing Charters

Day sailing adventures with Captain Greg on the Bras d’Or Lake and Cape Breton’s ocean coast. Join them for a half-day, full-day, or sunset private sailing charter with your party of up to 6 people. Guests can take the helm, handle the sail – with instruction from the captain – or just kick back and enjoy the ride.

2. Sailing CBI

Sailing CBI is a true sailing adventure that cannot be replicated anywhere else. They have recommended routes that are meant to provide a starting point to your own unique experience. Whether it’s a golf and sailing vacation, a week of pure sailing, or an experience that truly captures Cape Breton’s spirit, scenery, and people – Sailing CBI wants to customize the yachting experience of your life.

two people dive into the ocean off a catamaran

3. Cruise and Learn Adventure Sailing School (CLASS)

CLASS offers Canadian Recreational Yachting Association accredited sailing lessons. Students will live aboard the 37-foot Tayana Cutter-rigged sloop for 3 or 5-day sessions, learning and applying all aspects of handling and sailing the vessel. Experience the excitement and thrill of the sea while learning the skills needed to explore the maritime world by sail.

4. Richmond Adventure Planning

Set sail from St. Peter’s on part of the UNESCO Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere. Your captain, Gordon Kerr, will teach you the ropes of sailing and give you a chance to try it for yourself if you wish. This adventure departs from the lakeside of the St. Peter’s Canal National Historic Site, a historic locks system that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Bras d’Or Lake.

small village with waterway on cape breton island

5. Sail Cape Breton

Our Dufour 41 Classic “Grand Cruiser” Plus is built by Dufour Yachts in France. She sleeps six in three double cabins and has a spacious saloon with seating surrounding a central mahogany table. Upholstered in blue Alcantara. Large linear galley. Her large cockpit, with solid teak, trimmed seats and sole, and two large storage lockers under bench seating leads to a bathing platform with a swim ladder and deck shower.

Come explore the Bras d’Or Lakes, Cape Breton, and the Atlantic Coast with us!

a couple stands on a sailboat looking at the setting sun

6. Bird Watching Tours

Experience our majestic Island coastline as you join knowledgable and passionate tour guides for an adventure of a lifetime! Take a puffin tour with Bird Island Boat Tours in Big Bras d’Or or Donelda’s Puffin Boat Tours in Englishtown. Capt. Cox’s Whale and BirdWatch in Bay St. Lawrence provides boat tours along the rugged northern coast of the Island.

7. Whale Watching

Our salty shores and biodiverse waters teem with local marine life and seasonal visitors. Come say hello to the gentle giants of the North Atlantic: pods of pilot, minke, humpback and finback whales.

Your ocean encounters will leave you wanting more! Spend a day with one of our experienced captains while whale watching, sharing stories, and admiring the seacoast. Tours are offered by:

Captain Cox’s Whale Watch – Bay St. Lawrence
Captain Mark’s Whale and Seal Cruise – Pleasant Bay
Captain Zodiac Whale Cruise – Chéticamp
Dixon’s Zodiac Seafari – Neil’s Harbour
Guaranteed Whales – Pleasant Bay
Ingonish Whale Watching Tours – Ingonish
Keltic Express Zodiac Adventures – Ingonish
Oshan Whale Watch – Bay St. Lawrence

Looking to Port Hop? You’ve come to the right place.

Marinas and yacht clubs offer everything you need to launch, dock, haul-out and store for the season. Moor in one of our many ports and discover some of the community clubs, centers, and harbours that make Cape Breton Island a mariner’s paradise.

Team Destination Cape Breton

Our team at Destination Cape Breton is always exploring our beautiful Island. We love discovering our hidden gems, working with partners, and putting our Island on the pedestal it deserves!

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June on Cape Breton Island is when music fills the air, feet find rhythm on wooden floors, and communities come together in celebration of culture, heritage, and shared joy.

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