Churchill

The small town of Churchill on Hudson Bay is known as the polar bear capital of the world, but also a prime place to watch beluga whales in summer, and see the Northern Lights year-round.

Polar bears – the world’s largest land carnivores – gather on the shores of Hudson Bay near Churchill in autumn to wait for the ice pack to form to enable them to hunt seals. The population of polar bears is roughly equal to Churchill’s population of about 900 so locals say there is a bear for every person. The bears can be seen in summer swimming and cooling off on the rocks. Tours using specialist tundra vehicles or boats allow visitors to view these fierce creatures up close in safety.

Hudson Bay is also home to more than 50,000 beluga whales, also known as white whales, and in summer many make their way to the Churchill River to feed and give birth. These graceful, playful creatures can be easily spotted on boat trips and their chirps, clicks and whistles listened to using specialist equipment. A wonderful alternative is a kayaking trip to paddle beside a pod.

Churchill is one of the best places in Canada to view the Northern Lights, visible on about 300 nights of the year, so unlike other destinations, you don’t have to visit in winter. The optimum time is February-March but viewing is often still good in summer and autumn.