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 are you supposed to do in Tofino?
The answer? Not much.
The truth is, Tofino is less about doing, and more about being. It’s where you go to unplug from the hustle of modern culture and feel at awe by the natural setting and the primeval nature.
Don’t overthink it. Embrace the slow pace. Venture into the rainforest wilderness and take in the biodiversity and the enormous old growth trees.
Enjoy a leisurely brunch. Go for long walks on the sandy beaches. Look at the sea anemones and gooseneck barnacles in the rocky tidal pools. Notice the shifting cloud formations. Watch the surfers in the waves. Witness the sunset. Breath in the saltwater air.
Ucluelet and Pacific Rim National Park are a part of it too
When people say “go to Tofino”, they’re not literally talking about only visiting the town of Tofino. They also mean go to Pacific Rim National Park and Ucluelet, too.
I’d even argue that the towns of Tofino and Ucluelet aren’t even the focus. Of course, they’re lovely fishing villages and you’ll definitely go there to eat and shop. They’re pleasant for an hour or two to explore the boutiques, galleries, cafés, breweries, and restaurants.
But it’s the beaches, the ocean, the rich ecosystems, the Pacific Rim National Park, and the rainforest wilderness between the towns that draw people to this west coast of Vancouver Island. And while there are some hotels in the towns, most of the accommodation is tucked away in the rainforest overlooking the ocean a short drive outside of town. Most of the big fancy resorts are on the beaches south of Tofino like Cox Bay and Mackenzie Beach.
Now, you can do in Tofino more than what I suggested above. 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.
My latest visit to Tofino
I was in Tofino last month for a three night camping trip with my sister, Erin. 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 House, Tofitian Cafe, and The Foggy Bean.
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 gelato from the chocolate shop next door.
On Saturday, we visited the Tofino Market, and on Sunday, the smaller one in Ucluelet. Then we made our way home Monday afternoon, but not without a leisurely brunch at the Long Beach Lodge Resort first.
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.
