BELUGA BONDING AND SUMMER ON THE TUNDRA
CCHURCHILL, Manitoba is known the world over as the Polar Bear Capital of the World, and for good reason. Every fall, a robust population of the great white bears gathers near the community. But it’s worth looking to the other seasons for an equally aweinspiring visit. In the height of summer, when it feels like the sun will never set, this northern town promises birds, blooms and perhaps the friendliest creatures on the planet: beluga whales. Start your summer adventure to the shores of Hudson Bay with a drive to the city of Thompson, then board the overnight VIA train to Churchill. Rested and relaxed, you’ll arrive in Churchill ready to meet the belugas. Did you know that beluga whales outnumber Churchill’s human residents 3,000 to one in the summer? There are plenty of ways to get up close and personal with these friendly mammals as they spend time in the Churchill River feeding and taking care of their young. Sea North Tours offers rides in inflatable boats that bring you close to belugas as they surface and splash. They’ll also drop a hydrophone into the water so you can hear the belugas’ chirping and songs. You’ll quickly understand why they are called the canaries of the sea. Lazy Bear Expeditions offers Beluga Aquagliding™, where they send you out—fully equipped in a wetsuit—on a floating mat tethered to a boat and let the whales come to you! A gentle bump on your paddleboard from a curious beluga whale will make your heart skip a beat; SUP North offers two hours of fun on the board with your new friends. You’ll often see paddlers just floating on their boards, having meaningful conversations with the whales. For a deep dive into the world of the beluga, Frontiers North Adventures offers Conservation Journey: Beluga Whales, a tour that combines field education with adventure, led by a renowned beluga whale researcher and marine mammal scientist. Churchill Wild offers its Birds, Bears and Belugas tour at remote Seal River Heritage Lodge in the height of summer when beluga whales congregate by the thousands near the mouth of the Seal River estuary. Churchill has plenty to offer beyond belugas as well. Run your fingers over the ancient signature of Samuel Hearne, a northern explorer who left his mark on the rocks of Sloop Cove in the late 1700s. A trip to this national historic site, just over three kilometres from Prince of Wales Fort by boat on the Churchill River, lets you walk in the footsteps of history while exploring the archeological site, spotting rare shorebirds and seabirds and photographing the unique tundra wildflowers of the north. And, while summer is not high season for polar bears, there is a chance of seeing these Arctic giants lumbering across a wide-open shoreline —perhaps a mother with a pair of cubs in tow. Chances are even better at one of the remote lodges where the bears lounge in the blooming fireweed, soaking up the summer vibes.