Caribou Ferry

Caribou Ferry Port

On the northern coast of Nova Scotia, a peninsula region of Canada shaped by the inlets and bays that cut into the coastline, is the small village of Caribou. This rural community is found at the mouth of a sheltered channel that feeds into a narrow slice of the Atlantic Ocean known as the Northumberland Strait. It is also home to the Caribou Provincial Park, a curved stretch of forested wilderness enclosed by long stretches of sandy beaches. Here, found hidden among the pine trees, are the unique species of woodland Caribou after which the town was named.

Though Caribou itself is little more than a few houses near the port, the larger town of Pictou is just a few minutes’ drive to the south. Every year Pictou hosts its historic Lobster Carnival, an event featuring live music, parades and even an amusement park to celebrate the end of the fishing season. It is also an area with a vibrant history that centres around the many Scottish settlers that arrived to Canada in the late 18th Century.

The port in Caribou is found directly at the end of Nova Scotia Highway 106 that feeds into routes covering the width and breadth of the region. The passenger terminal here is a small cabin alongside a marina that sits within view of the flats of Munroes Island on the opposite coast. Facilities at the terminal are limited to just a check-in point for passengers and a compact car-park.

Ferries from Caribou are operated by a single service that leaves the port multiple times throughout the day. A Northumberland Ferries line sails the short distance north to the community of Woods Island across the chilly waters of the Northumberland Strait, a route that takes passengers past the picturesque shores of Pictou Island.