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District municipality in British Columbia, Canada
Photo: Olivier Lévy, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Tofino, population 2,500 in 2021, is a former logging and fishing village that has become a center for ecotourism and activities such as whale watching, surfing, and camping. It is located on Clayoquot Sound, on the Pacific coast of Vancouver Island, 208 km (129 miles) west of Nanaimo. Clayoquot Sound is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
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Rocky headlands, long beaches, and wild surf, set against Vancouver Island's temperate rain forest. Entry is $7.80 for adults. Camping $24-70/night. Parking fee $10/day. Many walking trails including long sandy beaches, rugged rocky coastline and boardwalks through old growth forests. Maps and information available visitor centers at Cox bay and the junction for Ucluelet and Tofino.
12 acres of forest, shoreline, and garden, with lots of educational exhibits. Also a cafe and gift shop.
Offers a range of flights over the beautiful coasts and mountain glaciers of the area, with a good chance of seeing whales and other wildlife. Prices are per complete charter of a 4-seat aircraft.
This hall hosts so many community events that it's easy to forget it's a membership hall of the veteran's association. Multiple concerts per week of a variety of music, over the summer. Most performers are for one night only.
A variety of art exhibits, films, museum installations, and tours in Tofino and Ucluelet, celebrating the spring migration of the grey whales.
Art exhibitions in Tofino and Ucluelet. By the Pacific Rim Arts Society. Live performances in Tofino, Ucluelet and area. Dance workshops. Free outdoor concert. Performances in Tofino and Ucluelet on Canada Day, Celebration of Indigenous culture, Ballet Victoria, Pop Up Art Market, Kids Art Zone (throughout the summer), local and guest performances.
A festival of gourmet meals, barbeques, and cooking classes, and farmers markets at restaurants and resorts around the region.
An exhibition of beautiful lanterns, and workshops to make your own lanterns.
Approximately 43 km (27 mi) northwest of Tofino sits Hot Springs Cove, a natural hot spring that flows through interconnecting pools of various temperatures until finally reaching the ocean waters. The hot springs are accessible by boat or float plane, followed by a 2 km hike through the forest. A trip to the hot springs offers both hiking and the potential for whale watching en route. The hotsprings are in a provincial part with a $3 per person entry fee.
There are amazing opportunities to sea kayak and camp just north of Tofino. Many islands are at least partly make up of provincial parks with most having wilderness camping opportunities.
West Coast Aquatic Safaris is an optimal way to experience BC’s whales, nature, hotsprings and wildlife; a must-do while visiting Tofino.
Go on a whale watching tour. Whale watching is from late-February to late-October.
A 2½-3 hour boat ride in a Boston Whaler through Clayoquot Sound, with commentary from guides. Gray whales are the most commonly seen variety. There is also a museum.
Tucked around the end of the airport's runway 11, this 9-hole par 36 course also features an 18-hole minigolf course and a driving range. Easy walking distance from the airport and from Long Beach.
Slightly sheltered by offshore islands, Chesterman Beach offers the best surfing for beginners. Parking lots at the north and south end.
Often offers bigger waves than Chesterman's. Access from North parking lot with toilets and showers or South parking lot further from Tofino
Aptly named! This beach requires a parking pass.
Rents and sells surfboards, body boards, and wetsuits.
Offers a cheap and large selection of surfing rental gear. Lessons around $75, board rental $20 for 24 hours, $40 with wetsuit.
Offers surfing lessors and coaching.
Offers surfing rentals and sales, and lessons.
While this store is named after its business of selling candy and ice cream, this store also rents bicycles, electric bicycles, and electric scooters.
Rents and repairs bicycles. Also rents bicycle accessories including surf racks to carry surf boards, and child seats and chariots to carry children. Does not offer electric bikes.
Rents electric bikes. Rents electric bike accessories including child chariots, pet trailers, and cargo trailers. Does not rent non-electric bicycles.
Ingredient-driven menu, sourced and foraged from Tofino’s oceans, shoreline and forests. Has waterfront patio. Bring your day’s catch if you wish; chef will prepare and cook it for you in a 1,000-degree wood-fired Mugnaini oven.
Amazing hand made chocolates, truffles and homemade gelato. Very friendly place that the locals visit often. Best ice cream in Tofino and very family friendly. Best known for Honey Lavender Gelato, fresh organic chocolates and their "Hot Chocolate Elixir.".
Fully licensed restaurant, open to golfers and flyers. Easy walking distance from the airport and from Long Beach.
Tofino's original whole foods bake shop for over 25 years. Homebaked breads, scones, goodies, pastas, pizzas and specialties, at approx. $15/person. Also known for its message-laden bulletin board.
Beautiful Pacific Northwest cuisine with ocean views (during daylight hours). Breakfast, lunch & dinner, at approx. $25/$35/$80/person.
Gourmet take-out pizza, soups and seafood dishes.
Outstanding! Have the chowder, the killer fish taco and the tofu pockets. Lunch about $15/person, Dinner for about $30/person.
West Coast-influenced Mexican food from a food truck. Tacos, burritos and gringas with a variety of fillings.
Excellent sushi restaurant. Dinner about $25/person.
Take-out food, burgers, seafood, salads.
Tofino's first and so far only brewery. You can see the operation, sample or buy their brews.
Nice comfy hotel, reasonable accommodations for the area. First Nation owned and operated. $199-325 (less in the off-season).
Lodge with private hot tub and ocean view of Clayoquot Sound. Also with a full-serviced Sea Shanty Restaurant serving locally caught seafood.
Picturesque hotel on rocky headland, with private beach, adults-only lodge, and a wide selection of rooms, suites, and cabins.
An upscale hotel built on the rocks on Chesterman beach, Pointe Restaurant - a restaurant rated one of the best in Canada, and Ancient Cedars spa at Chesterman Beach. Member Relais & Chateaux.
At the beach front on spectacular Cox Bay offering spacious suite and villa accommodations ranging from 520 to 1,400 square feet. Eco and pet friendly. Rates range from $180 to $440 in the low season and $325 to $690 in the high season.
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These beehive cabins are on MacKenzie Beach, a few minutes from Tofino. There's a swimming pool, outdoor barbecue area and coin-operated laundry machine. Good value for money.
Waterfront hotel and affordable accommodations that are pet-friendly with an Adventure Centre, gym, dining and pub overlooking the bay. Rooms from $89 to $179 for great value.
Close to the centre of Tofino. Affiliated with Hostelling International. A very pleasant place to stay. Individual and dorm-style rooms are available.
Long Beach Unit, Pacific Rim National Park. 105 sites available.
Nice spot on Mackenzie Bay, try to get one of the sites along the water. Surprisingly quiet most of the time, considering the number of people there.
Tucked away in a quiet cove on Mackenzie Beach it offers 72 full service campsites and 34 modern log cabins.
76 camp sites, each with fire pit and picnic table. Shared washrooms, hot showers, running drinking water. Five full-hookup RV sites. Easy walking distance from the airport and from Long Beach.
Has high-end short term properties throughout Tofino.
Handmade kilnformed glass trays, bowls, beach sand jewelry and custom art pieces.
House of Himwitsa
First Nations owned and operated art gallery selling masks, carvings and jewelry made by indigenous artists. It also has a wild-caught smoked Pacific salmon fish store that opens seasonally.
By plane
If you do not rent a car, you can arrange for a taxi or ride hailing, see below.
By boat
If you are starting from Vancouver, catch the ferry from Horseshoe Bay or Tsawwassen to Nanaimo on BC Ferries, and drive the rest of the way.
By bus
By public transit
By taxi
By ride hailing
By water taxi
By bicycle and foot
A multi use bike and foot path runs along the north side of Highway 4 with a space between the path and the highway.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Tofino · Regional · YAZ
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Nature & adventureWhale watching is the practice of observing whales, dolphins and porpoises in their natural habitat, enjoyed by millions of people around the world every year.
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Nature & adventureSurfing is a sport in which people stand on boards and ride waves.
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Nature & adventureFor destinations named "Hot Springs", see the Hot Springs disambiguation page. Hot springs are natural features resulting when ground water is heated (sometimes far beyond the level of human endurance) by geothermal…
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