Tofino has gone from a quiet coastal fishing village to a must-see destination on the Canadian travel map. And with that attention comes the familiar question: What do you do in Tofino?
The truth is, Tofino is less about doing, and more about being.
Don’t overthink it. Just go and be. Take in the slow pace, the rainforest wilderness, the nature on steroids, the shifting cloud formations and sunsets along the beaches, and the saltwater air. That’s what you “in Tofino”.
I say “in Tofino” because you’re unlikely to be spending much time in the town of Tofino itself. The actual towns of Tofino and Ucluelet aren’t the main reason people go, although they’re pleasant for an hour or two to explore the shops, galleries, cafés, and restaurants.
It’s the beaches, the ocean, the rich ecosystems, the Pacific Rim National Park, and the rainforest wilderness between the towns that draw people in. You’re either surfing, walking through the forest, or strolling along the sand. There isn’t a lot to “do”, and that’s kind of the point.
Sure, you can pay for extra activities: sea kayaking tours, hot springs tours, bear watching, whale watching, surf lessons, Indigenous cultural tours, seaplane rides, water taxis to Meares Island, fishing charters, ziplining outside of town, and so on. But it’s all optional.
I was in Tofino last month for three nights with my sister. We left Vancouver in the morning, taking the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo. We arrived in Tofino on Friday evening, with a pit stop at Port Alberni’s Twin City Brewing and Tseshaht Market.
Over the next few days, we strolled Long Beach, Cox Bay, Mackenzie Beach, and Chesterman Beach. Each beach has a different look and feel.
We walked the Rainforest Trail in Pacific Rim National Park.
The Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet was another highlight for showcasing the west coast of Vancouver Island’s wild energy.
We sampled beer flights at Tofino Brewing and Ucluelet Brewing. Tofino’s kelp stout is pretty famous.
But Ucluelet’s brewery has the better view.
We stopped into several cafés for coffee: Rhino Coffee, The Tofician, and The Foggy Bean Coffee.
One evening we enjoyed a fantastic three-course dinner at Wolf in the Fog.
The following evening we grabbed salmon burgers at the super casual Wildside Grill followed with ice cream from the chocolate shop next door.
On Saturday, we visited the Tofino farmers market, and on Sunday, the smaller one in Ucluelet. Then we made our way home Monday afternoon, arriving back home late evening.
If you need inspiration for things to do in Tofino, or if you’re not sure why you’re going, just browse the Tourism Tofino and Tourism Ucluelet websites. Once you have a shortlist, build a loose itinerary around what you enjoy. But don’t feel pressured like there are things you have to do. Just being there is enough.
