Thinking about what it’s really like to stay at Orca Island Cabins in Humpy Cove? These private yurts are located across the bay from Seward, Alaska and rental prices start at $950+ per night!
I stayed here during the summer for 3 nights and was surprised by all of the luxury amenities that the yurt was equipped with.
In this post, I’m going to review the Orca Island Cabins.
Orca Island Cabins Review
Orca Island Cabins are private yurts located in Humpy Cove, across from Seward. They’re available to reserve from May 5 to September 20, but can only be accessed by water taxi.
How to get to Humpy Cove from Anchorage
Humpy Cove is located across the bay from Seward. From Anchorage, you will have to drive two and a half hours south to Seward.
From Seward, you will have to hop on a water taxi for about 1 hour to reach Humpy Cove.
Orca Island Cabin Amenities
- 1 Queen bed
- 1 Full-size futon
- Bedding (linens, blankets, pillows)
- Propane heater
- Private bathroom (compost toilet, shower, sink)
- Towels, shampoo, conditioner, and soap
- Dining table and chairs
- Oven with a four burner stove-top
- Kitchen sink
- 48 qt cooler
- Pots and pans
- Coffee maker and filters
- Tea kettle
- Dishes, silverware, and other cooking utensils
- Paper towels
- Foil
- Oil, Salt and pepper
- Matches
- 1 pair of binoculars
- Board games
- Barbecue grill and chairs on cabin deck
Basically, the yurt is fully equipped, which is amazing! The only things you need to bring are a bag or two of ice to last the duration of your stay, food, clothes, and any additional toiletries.
The yurts are spacious and get really cozy when you turn on the heater. You can sleep up to four people, which is great for couples or a small family.
The cabin deck has two chairs to lounge in while drinking your morning coffee or an evening beer. There is also a BBQ grill if you want to cook on it.
There is running potable water and solar power electricity to charge small devices. We brought one bag of ice for our 3-night stay, but it was recommended to have two for that duration.
It was amazing to have the oven and stovetop! We brought cookie dough and baked cookies in the oven every day! We also cooked fresh salmon filets from the fish we caught on the Kenai River the day before.
So, what’s missing?
The only amenities we felt was missing was extra lighting. Besides the solar light switch in the bathroom, and a couple of candles, the lighting is limited to the natural light coming in from the windows and skylight.
Unless you’re traveling in the middle of summer, you’re going to experience some darkness, so definitely bring some lighting.
Orca Island Cabins Location
This yurt is located across the bay from Seward. It’s about an hour water taxi ride away.
Overnight parking is available in the lot directly across the street in front of the Harbor 360 Hotel. Parking costs $10 per day. If you can’t find a parking spot here, check the south parking lot.
Guests are asked to arrive at J-Dock ramp at 12:30 for a 1 p.m. departure. Guests should call or text the day before to reconfirm their water taxi.
Along the way, the boat captain will stop for any wildlife that is spotted. We saw a humpback whale and lots of sea otters!
The yurts are located in a small cove named Humpy Cove. It gets its name from the humpy, or pink salmon, that are found swimming in the small stream within the cove.
Things to do in Humpy Cove
There are a ton of activities to keep yourself busy during your stay in Humpy Cove. Orca Island Cabins has a variety of items available to use on-site:
- Kayaks with spray skirts
- Stand up paddleboards
- Row boat
- Wet suits
- Life jackets
- Fishing poles and basic tackle
- Fire pits and firewood (and s’mores makings!)
- Lounging/observation decks with propane fire pit
One of my favorite things about this property is that it’s meant to be independent. You don’t need to ask to take out any of the water toys or fishing gear. You don’t need to ask someone to change the propane for the fire pit, you can do it all by yourself. You’ll learn all about this in your introductory tour when you arrive on-site.
Kayak to Humpy Cove Waterfall
One of the best ways to explore Humpy Cove is kayaking. You can kayak all the way to the other side of the cove and then hike to a beautiful waterfall.
I recommend kayaking earlier in the day because the water is much calmer. It’s also nice to kayak to the waterfall during low tide because then you don’t have to walk as far from your beached kayak to reach the falls!
Sometimes you’ll see lots of pink salmon swimming upstream here, which means you may see some sea lions trying to eat all of the fish!
Hike to WWII Bunker and Resurrection Bay Overlook
The only hike in the area is up to an overlook of Resurrection Bay. The trail is only one mile long one-way and it starts from across the cove. In order to reach the trailhead, you will have to ask your host to take you for a quick boat ride.
The trail gradually climbs the mountain through the forest and leads to an old WWII bunker. It was a nice hike and a great way to stretch our legs during our stay. We saw a lot of mushrooms along the trail and the view from the top is amazing!
Other Nearby Activities
- Go for a swim. Might want to wear the wetsuit!
- SUP around Humpy Cove.
- Tidepooling.
- Fish for rock fish, salmon or halibut!
- Enjoy a campfire. Make a s’more!
- Watch for marine life. I saw a sea lion, seal, starfish, and birds.
- Search for mushrooms in the fall.
- Have a BBQ.
- Check out the art gallery.
How to Reserve Orca Island Cabins
To reserve the Orca Island Cabins, you will need to visit the Orca Islands website here. The yurt costs $954.30 per night.
Check-in/Check-out Times
- Check-in time: 12:30 p.m. in Seward
- Check-out time: 10:00 a.m.
What to Bring
If you want to make sure you have a good time, here are some extra things you’ll want to bring out here.
- Food!! (I highly recommend cookie dough)
- Tasty beverages
- Ice
- Rain gear (it rained a lot)
- Camping lights (late summer)
- Hiking boots
- Waterproof boots
- Clothes
- Reading book
- Camera
Conclusion: Here’s What I Really Think…
If you’re looking for a luxury getaway and things to do near Seward, Alaska, then I recommend staying at Orca Island Cabins.
This yurt is in a great location if you want to explore Humpy Cove, especially since kayaks and stand up paddleboards are available to use at your leisure.
The amenities are incredible! I really enjoyed all of the different areas and decks around the property to hang out.
It’s not the cheapest accommodations since it costs around $950 per night for two guests, so you might want to choose to shorten your stay to 1 or 2 nights!
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Do you have any questions about the Orca Island Cabins? Leave them in the comments.
