Getting to Sechelt is just a 40-minute ferry trip between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale, and a 25-minute drive from Langdale along Highway 101, also known as the Sunshine Coast Highway. The name Sechelt is derived from the Sechelt language word, shishalh named after the original First Nations people of the region – the shíshálh who initially settled the area thousands of years ago. The District of Sechelt is a grouping of several communities along the lower Sunshine Coast in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, sitting on a sandbar; the narrow Sechelt isthmus which separates Sechelt Inlet from the Salish Sea.
This charming seaside town serves as a central hub for exploring the southern Sunshine Coast, 35 kilometers of Pacific Ocean shoreline that extends primarily along the coastline, where it’s easy to go sightseeing and take day trips to the neighboring communities of Halfmoon Bay, Roberts Creek, Pender Harbour, or Egmont. It’s also the perfect launching point for boating & paddling excursions to the surrounding fjords, including Narrows, Salmon, and Sechelt Inlet.
Things to do
Dine
Gelato, Pastry, Tacos, Sushi whatever you’re in the mood for you can find it in Sechelt. The coast is packed with pubs, saloons, restaurants and food trucks with more options you could even imagine.
Some local favourites include;
- Sushi Bar 5517
- Shift Kitchen and Tapas Bar
- Basted Baker
- The Old Boot Eatery
- The Wobbly Canoe
Shop
The downtown hub of Sechelt is the perfect place to shop. With an abundance of boutiques, galleries and locally owned shops it is the perfect place to pick up handcrafted goods, books, beads, clothes, local art or one of a kind items at the local vintage shops.
Some local favourites include;
- Oracle
- Fresh From The Coast
- Reflections Bed & Bath Collections
- Alpha Adventures
- Sunshine Coast Slipper Factory
Explore the outdoors
Whether you’re a water adventurist or a land lover, the Sunshine Coast has got it covered. Fish, sail, kayak, canoe, dive or simply dip your toes in the ocean, we have the choice of freshwater or ocean for you to explore.
Keep your feet on land and explore our many hiking and biking trails and end the day with dinner on the beach watching the sunset. In the winter, escape the rain into the snowy mountains with a snowshoe or ski tour.
Fun Facts
*The language of the Sechelt is called sháshíshálh. “Shashishalhem” is considered the most practical English spelling of this word. Sháshíshálh is part of the Coast Salish language group.
* The first self-governing nation (1986) in Canada, the Shishalh First Nations were the original residents of the Sunshine Coast. Their tenure is measured in thousands of years. Their history and current day culture is displayed in the their museum shíshálh Nation tems swiya Museum in Sechelt and is visible in (protected) petroglyphs and middens along the shorelines.
