Vancouver: Seaplane Flight & Capilano Suspension Bridge Day Tour

4.70

(157 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I almost missed the check-in at Coal Harbour—turns out, “40 minutes early” actually means it. My coffee sloshed as I hurried past a group of locals chatting in that relaxed Vancouver way, and suddenly I was standing on the dock, breathing in that mix of ocean salt and jet fuel. The seaplane felt smaller than I’d pictured. Our pilot, Mark (who had a beard like he could chop wood with his jaw), grinned and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to the noise.” He was right—the engine roared, my stomach dropped a bit, and then we were up. The city looked so tidy from above. Glass towers, green patches, the North Shore Mountains shadowing everything. I tried to spot our shuttle for later but mostly just pressed my forehead to the window like a kid.

The landing was smoother than I expected—just a soft slap on the water and we were back at Coal Harbour. Someone behind me said they’d never seen Stanley Park look so small. After that rush, waiting for the Capilano Suspension Bridge shuttle felt almost too calm. The driver chatted about hockey scores and pointed out where the best sushi spots are (I wrote one down but lost the napkin). The drive up felt quick; by the time we reached Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, it was drizzling lightly—classic Vancouver mood.

I hesitated before stepping onto the bridge—there’s this gentle sway you don’t really expect until you’re halfway across. A kid ahead of me started bouncing it on purpose; his mom pretended not to notice but she definitely noticed. The river below is louder than you think, all froth and grey-green rush. On the other side, I wandered through Treetops Adventure—wooden planks under my boots, cedar smell everywhere—and just listened for a while. There’s something about being up there in those trees that makes you want to whisper or maybe just stand still for a bit longer than usual.