Even if they've never been on one, most Torontonians have noticed the buses belonging to Toronto Hippo Tours driving around downtown. Very large, very yellow, and occasionally still dripping water, these amphibious buses offer tourists and locals alike a unique way to see the city. Led by a trivia-filled guide, the trip starts and ends on land but in between rolls right into Lake Ontario for a quick but memorable mini-cruise by Ontario Place.
When the Hippo Bus Tours Happen:
Toronto Hippo Bus Tours run from May to October with trips every hour on the hour between 11am and 5pm. In the peak summer months of July and August, an extra tour is added daily at 6pm. Always try to book in advance, as many trips do sell out.
Length of the Tour:
The tour lasts around 90 minutes, with traffic being a small variable. Seating is first come, first served so you'll want to get there at least 20 minutes early, if not more. That said, no seat on the Hippo Bus is actually a bad seat, but it's still nice to have your pick. This is especially true if you've got more than two people and want to have several of the bench seats close together.
Where to Board the Hippo Bus:
The Toronto Hippo Bus route begins and ends outside of the Hippo Tours offices at 151 Front Street West. That's on the south side of Front, right near Simcoe Street. It's just a few minutes walk west of Union Station, before you reach the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and well before the CN Tower. Of course, the fact that there's usually a giant yellow bus parked at the curb makes the place pretty easy to spot.
Where the Hippo Bus Goes:
The land portion of the Hippo Bus tour includes Yonge Street, the edge of Chinatown, the U of T area, Queen West near Spadina, part of the harbourfront and the CN Tower/Rogers Centre area.
The water portion is in the interior bay created by Ontario Place and out near the wind turbine by Exhibition Place. The Hippo Bus does not go to the Toronto Islands or in the water near Queens Quay.
Prices and Payment:
An adult trip costs $38 with seniors 65+ and students aged 13-17 saving $5. Tours for children 3-12 are $25 and it's $3 for kids under 3.
There are savings available for families of 4 or more and groups of 10 or more, plus the buses are available for charter. For any of these situations, visit the Toronto Hippo Tours official website for more details.
Tickets can be purchased online at TorontoHippoTours.com, by phone at 416-703-4476, or in person at 151 Front Street West.
Hippo Gifts:
Although they don't advertise them anywhere on the website, you can buy gift certificates to send someone else on a Hippo Bus adventure. As well, if you know someone who loves hippos in general and are looking for stuffed hippos or other hippo-related paraphernalia, the Hippo Tours office at 151 Front Street West has a wide selection for you to chose from.
Safety and Accessibility:
There are life jackets provided under the seats of the Hippo Bus, and just like on an airplane your guide will give you a quick demo on how to use them before you hit the water. Things stay dry inside except for perhaps a little spray on the most windy of days, and the water portion of the tour is taken at a slow cruising speed.
Climbing stairs is required to board the Hippo Bus and there is no bathroom on board. The seats are similar to what you would find on a school bus - benches suitable for two without any armrests or other structure.
The Tourist Experience:
Designed for tourists, the Hippo Bus Tour gives an overview of the city by land, pointing out several major landmarks and key neighborhoods that visitors will likely want to return to and explore. The water portion is mostly for the novelty, although it does provide a few nice views of Ontario Place. It's certainly a fun way to get an overview of the city, especially early in a visit.
What's in it for Local Residents:
If you're from Toronto a Hippo Bus ride often sounds like fun, but it may also sound like a lot of money to spend just for the novelty of being driven into the water. In actuality, the tour itself can also be enjoyable for locals because of the trivia provided by the guides. They give a little bit of basic info to help ground visitors, but move effortlessly into sharing fun and little-known facts.
Also, there's the added novelty of being the ones in the Hippo Bus. Just as you may watch the Hippo Bus go by with interest, when you're in it people are often watching you go by, many waving and smiling - or just looking really confused, if it's their first Hippo Bus sighting.
The water portion itself is actually less of a tour and more of a boat ride. Your guide may talk a bit, but mostly they let you enjoy a different view of Lakeshore, Ontario Place and - when I took the tour - mildly annoyed looking cormorants, seagulls, ducks and swans.
Overall, a Hippo Bus Tour may be a bit pricey for many Toronto residents to justify, but if it does interest you it can easily fall into the category of something you should do once, just for fun. Using it at as part of a full day celebrating a special occasion also works very well, since the route begins and ends near so many restaurants.
