This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Cape Breton Island.
Cape Breton Island is not only spectacular, but also as an island, it is quite large. If you are going to do this island well and see all things worth seeing, you really do need a car. There is so much to see and do on Cape Breton Island, it is really worth taking the time out to drive around and explore the entire region. You won't be disappointed! The visitor information center can give you maps with the routes of all of the most popular drives on the island and get you well equipped for your journey.
The Cape Breton Highlands National Park, a must-see if you are coming to the island, is on the northwestern tip of the island and takes up quite a vast area of the coastline. The scenery is stunning and it has some of the most amazing coastal walks in Canada. Make sure that when you travel through the national park, you start with a full tank of fuel; there are not many places to refuel on the road through the national park.
The main town of Cape Breton Island (and also the largest) is Sydney -- this is where you can take the ferry from North Sydney to Newfoundland. It is a good place to stock up on anything you need -- there are shopping malls, supermarkets, and other stores, as well as a Walmart for keeping costs down.
Cape Breton Island hostels are far and few between; as the island covers such a large area, Cape Breton hostels may be more than a hundred kilometers away from each other. Many of the hostels on Cape Breton Island are also fairly isolated, so ensure that you not only have everything that you need with you, but also sufficient fuel in your car for getting to and from the hostels.
Written by local enthusiast for Cape Breton Island hostels
Globetrotter
