Top 24+ Things To Do In Tofino | Vancouver Island

If you are planning a trip to Tofino, this guide has our favorite things to do, where to stay, and a helpful map of the area. Tofino is a quaint seaside town that sits on a small peninsula on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It’s famous for surfing beaches, rainforests, and wildlife tours.

The perfect blend of mountains, forests, and the ocean come together to create a fairy tale setting. The only thing preventing us from crowning this place paradise on earth is that even in the summer, that true beach weather can still be somewhat elusive

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How To Get To Tofino

Tofino is not exactly the easiest place to get to. It’s located on Vancouver Island, and the only way to get to the island is by ferry or air. And then you also need to get to Tofino itself, usually by driving.

Flying to Tofino

You can get to Vancouver Island by flying to Victoria International Airport (YYJ).

Or if you are just visiting Tofino exclusively, booking a scenic tour from Vancouver is the easiest. It’s a win-win, you transportation to Tofino and a scenic tour all in one.

Getting Around Tofino

Then you can rent a car to get around to all the best stops in the area. Or Tofino has a great bike path, so consider renting a bike instead.

Or you can check out the Free Tofino Shuttle in the summer, with service between Tofino’s village center and Long Beach, with most popular stops in between.

Ferry To Vancouver Island

Ferries are the least expensive way to get to Vancouver Island. You can go on foot or bring a vehicle over with you.

But there is no direct ferry to Tofino. So after the ferry, you still need to drive a windy mountain road to get to Tofino. Use the helpful map below to find the best route that will work for you.

You can get to Vancouver Island from both Mainland Canada and the United States. Do note, that if you are traveling to or from the United States, there will be an immigration checkpoint.

The mainland ports are located at Horseshoe Bay, Tsawwassen, and Powell River in Canada, or Anacortes and Port Angeles in the US. Although (Anacortez is currently suspended until 2023).

The ferry ports on Vancouver Island are Victoria, Sidney, Nanaimo, and Little River(Comox).

Use BC Ferries to book your transportation from Canada and Black Ball Ferry Line to book your transportation from the United States.

You should consider booking in advance during peak travel times, but if you didn’t plan ahead, standby is also an option.

Now that we made it over to the Island, let’s get into the Best Things To Do In Tofino.

Visit A Beach

Tofino is probably most famous for its variety of beaches. From sunbathing and surfing to tide-pooling and kayaking, there are lots of fun ways to enjoy Tofino’s beaches.

But just be aware, that Tofino can still be a little chilly for sunbathing. And even if you do get lucky with some sunny warm weather, only the bravest go swimming in the frigid Pacific Ocean without a wetsuit.

All of the beaches in Tofino require paid daily parking, or payment for passes at beaches in Pacific Rim National Park.

Another somewhat unique thing about Tofino’s beaches is that allow dogs. (Except for Comber’s Beach between April 1 and October 1). But they must be kept on leash.

Here’s a little information about all the most popular beaches from north to south.

Tonquin Beach

Tonquin Beach is a small secluded cove beach at the northwest tip of Tofino. This is one of the best beaches for getting immersed in nature. There’s a network of trails to explore the lush coastal forest, as well as some tide pools on the beach.

Normally this beach has pretty calm water, protected by the outer islands. But high tide and storms can make this beach unsafe at times.

You can also hike to two smaller cove beaches called Second Beach and Third Beach.

Parking at Tonquin Beach is very limited and it requires a short hike out to the beach. And there are no facilities or services, other than the outhouse at the parking lot. So plan accordingly.

Mackenzie Beach

Mackenzie Beach is a good place for paddle boarding, kayaking, or beginner surfing. It’s somewhat protected from the big ocean waves. Thus, the ocean is also usually pretty mellow here.

There are some surfing/kayak/sup rentals and lessons along the beach. Again, parking is pretty limited here.

Chesterman Beach

Chesterman Beach is the next beach along the coast, that’s great for a beach day, because of more parking and bathrooms.

The beach is divided into north and south by a sandspit, out to Frank Island. Walking out to the Island at low tide can reveal views of the mountains. And there are also rocky tide pools to explore.

This is where the waves start to get a little bit bigger, drawing more intermediate and advanced surfers.

Cox Bay Beach

Cox Bay comes next and is another excellent crescent-shaped beach. A delightful cove, with some of the best surfing waves in Tofino (most of the surf competitions take place here).

There is plenty of parking and bathroom facilities here.

There is also a fun hike up to the Cox Bay Lookout, which we mention later in this post.

Long Beach

Then about 20 minutes south of town in Pacific Rim National Park, you’ll find Long Beach. This 16km beach is another great beach to check out.

It’s divided into a few different sections: Wickanninish, Combers, and Schooners.

One thing that’s nice about Long Beach is that you can park for free if you have a National Parks Pass.

Go Surfing

It doesn’t take long to notice that surfing totally dominates the culture here. If you’re an experienced surfer or an aspiring beginner, you can find some waves to surf here. There are plenty of surf shops offering rentals, lessons, and gear.

The three most popular surf beaches are Cox Bay, Chesterman, and Long Beach.

While swell size is always changing, Cox Bay is typically regarded as having the best waves for experienced surfers, though beginners can still practice closer to shore. Long Beach usually has smaller rollers and plenty of space to spread out, so it’s great for beginners learning on longboards.

Tacofino

This taco truck is a must-visit. They serve up some crazy delicious tacos. And they even have expanded to many locations on mainland Canada so you know they’re doing something right!

The fish taco and crispy chicken are the two best sellers, and they’re seriously tasty. And we also tried their gringas, which are kind of like an extra cheesy taco-sized quesadilla.

I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on their menu. It was all just overflowing with flavor.

Book A Scenic Tour

If you are looking to spend a little money on an exceptional experience, Tofino offers some amazing tours.

Here are some of the most popular tours:

Bear-Watching

Vancouver Island has many black bears. Join a tour through the Clayoquot Sound to watch black bears in their natural habitat. During low tide, bears come to the shoreline in search of some tasty crabs to eat.

Whale-Watching

One of the best places to go whale watching is Tofino, with three different types of whales to see, Orcas, Grey Whales, and Humpback Whales.

Bird-Watching

Tofino is also an incredible place to go bird-watching as well. Because of the coastal rainforest, the nutrition in the soil provides an adequate food source for many different species.

One afternoon we were walking by the Tofino Boat Launch and saw a group of Bald Eagles flying around (15+). It was amazing to see so many concentrated in one area. So I can only imagine what you would see on a tour!

Here are a few local tour companies offering a variety of tours in the area: West Coast Aquatic Safaris, Tofino Whale Centre, Jamie’s, Adventure Tofino, Tofino Resort and Marina

Aerial Sea Plane

There is no doubt that viewing Tofino from the air provides one of the best views of the area. Aerial tours fly over the Clayoquot Sound offering breathtaking views. You might even spot some wildlife from the air. Or consider extending the trip to explore some of the nearby glaciers.

Choose From These Local Aerial Sea Plane Tours: Tofino Air, Atleo Air, Harbour Air

Cox Bay Lookout

But if an aerial seaplane tour isn’t in the budget, you can still get an excellent birds eye view of Cox Bay Beach from the lookout located a the south end of the beach. It’s a short but steep hike, and be prepared for lots of mud.

From this vantage point, you get a magical view of the bay and the mountains surrounding Tofino.

To begin the hike, you need to start on Cox Bay Beach. Which again requires paid parking. You probably only need an hour if you’re just doing the hike, but consider adding more time if you want to relax on the beach as well.

Follow the well-maintained dirt path down to the beach, then turn left following the beach to the south end.

From there the trail begins to climb into the forest. It’s a little tricky to find the trail in the trees. There were several paths, but they all seemed to meet up eventually.

And as you near the top, you’re struck with one of the best views anywhere in Tofino.

The Canso Plane Crash Site

This unique hike in Tofino takes you through coastal forests and wetlands to reach an old WW2 plane crash site. This military Canso bomber was loaded with 12 crew members, and miraculously, all 12 survived the crash. The mangled wreckage of the plane has been drawing intrigued visitors ever since.

The hike is 7.6km and 232m of elevation change (4.7mi, 761ft).

The trail also passes an old bunker, that’s quite creepy to step inside. You will notice it’s a popular spot for graffiti artists.

The trail is often very muddy, but luckily there are wooden boardwalks over the wetland section.

Once you make it to the crash site, you can walk inside or on top if you dare. But of course, use extreme caution when walking in and around the site.

Tofino Brewing Company

Pop into this brewery to enjoy some of their craft beer. They have a variety of tasty locally inspired beers to try, and a Japanese food truck if you’re feeling hungry.

We of course tried some of their Hazy IPAs (our favorite). But another unique seasonal beer we loved is the Spruce Tree Ale. This golden ale incorporates Sitka spruce tips to create a piney and juicy beer, that just feels right to drink in Tofino.

But if you can’t decide, they also have flights to sample a few different beers.

Tofino Distillery

Located right next to Tofino Brewing Company, you will find the Tofino Distillery. Visit their tasting room to try their premium hand-crafted spirits. You can choose to try the spirits straight up or get a whole mini-cocktail flight!

Explore The Town Of Tofino

This charming little seaside town has a little something for everyone. The town has a very active waterfront with fishing boats, seaplanes, and wildlife. The Clayoquot Sound is a scenic protected bay surrounded by mountains.

You can visit the Clayoquot Heritage Museum to learn about the history and culture of the region.

And of course, you can visit some shops or restaurants too.

Harborview Coffeehouse

I’m (Emily here) a pretty picky coffee drinker, so I’m always on the hunt for the best coffee around. And if I can enjoy it with a view, even better.

Harborview Coffeehouse is an unassuming little cafe tucked inside the Tofino Sea Kayaking building. The latte they whipped up was delicious, and Jake doesn’t drink coffee, but he loved his Turmeric Latte. And they have a small selection of local baked goods.

Go Kayaking Or Paddleboarding

Kayaking and Paddleboarding are a great way to explore the waters of Tofino. The bay side is protected from the big ocean waves, which means there are great opportunities to get out on some calmer water.

There are tons of places to rent or book guided tours right in Tofino.

We launched our own paddle board at Mackenzie Beach, but they have rentals here too. Find our curated list of the best lightweight and portable Kayaks.

Rainforest Trail

This easy trail in Pacific Rim National Park is a great family-friendly activity. A wooden boardwalk takes you through an enchanting coastal rainforest. There are two separate loops on either side of the road, with each loop about 1.2 kilometers (3/4mi).

And there are information boards along the trail to teach you about this unique biome.

Radar Hill

If you want some views of the area, without the muddy trails. Check out the viewpoints at the top of Radar Hill. You can drive nearly to the top, and then walk a paved path to two spectacular lookouts.

Catch Live Music At Lil Ronnies

We found Lil Ronnies, well, actually because we heard the music from our campsite at Bella Pacifica Campground (don’t worry, not all the campsites are close enough to hear the music). This venue is attached to Mackenzie Beach Resort.

It’s a BBQ joint that has live music almost every night. Check their events page to find an artist you like.

It has a fun casual atmosphere to enjoy some music, with some tasty BBQ food and local drinks.

Rhino Coffee House

This coffee house right on the main street (Campbell St) is very popular. We stopped in for some coffee and donuts. Coming from a baker’s daughter, I can’t say I was impressed with the donuts. Weirdly chewy for what I expect from a donut.

But they seemed to have other good breakfast items on the menu.

And for what it’s worth, they did have some crazy fast wifi. Though you would feel weird working remotely here while there’s a line out the door.

Tuff City Beachfront Saunas

If you get unlucky with stormy PNW weather, consider warming up in one of the two Beachfront Saunas in Tofino. Tuff City has private barrel sauna rentals at Pacific Sands Resort and Mackenzie Beach Resort.

You book the private sauna which can fit up to 6 people. Advanced reservations are accepted up to one month in advance.

Book a private Sauna with Tuff City

Rent A Bike

Tofino has some amazing paved bike paths that cover the entire peninsula. And the bike paths are separate from the roads, so you can get around easily without the fear of traffic.

The bike paths go all the way from the town center down to Long Beach. So renting a bike or bringing your own is a great way to get around, plus get some exercise. And maybe most importantly, you can avoid the fees in town, and at many of the beaches and trailheads.

They even rent bikes with surfboard holders (what could be more Tofino?).

Places To Stay in Tofino

The town of Tofino is quaint in size but still offers a wide selection of different accommodation types for all budgets. But because it is a very touristy town, the prices tend to reflect that.

Here are a few suggestions for where to stay in Tofino.

Hotels & Resorts In Tofino:

• Tofino Hostel (aka Whalers on the Point Guesthouse) – Budget option, great location downtown, oceanfront, communal kitchen, both shared and private rooms available.
• WildPod – unique luxury glamping, oceanfront, great location downtown
• Duffin Cove Resort – Oceanfront, great location downtown, modern
• Ocean Village Resort – Beachfront on Mackenzie Beach, pool, hot tub
• Hotel Zed – Unique Modern/Retro Vibe, great location near Pacific Rim National Park

Vacation Rentals In Tofino:

• Floating Home – Sleeps 6, unique accommodation ON the water, close to downtown Tofino
• Waterfront Condo – Sleeps 4, downtown Tofino, inlet ocean views, great patio
• Pacific Retreat – Sleeps 6, stunning ocean view, excellent private patio, hot tub
• Downtown Penthouse – Sleeps 6, inlet views, great patio, downtown Tofino
• Michel’s Cabin – Sleeps 4, charming rustic cabin, great patio, on Chestermans Beach

Camping Accommodations in Tofino:

Jake and I travel in our campervan full-time, so we love to find free camping accommodations whenever we can. Unfortunately, there is NO free camping in Tofino, so you will need to find a campground.

• Bella Pacifica Campground (Mackenzie Beach Access)
• Tsawaak Campground (Mackenzie Beach Access, they also have little cabins for rent)
• Mackenzie Beach Resort (Walk-in only)
• Crystal Cove Beach Resort (Mackenzie Beach Access, they also have RV Glamping)
• Surf Grove (Cox Bay Beach Access, they also have RV rentals)

Additional Restaurants To Try in Tofino

Tofino has an abundance of great restaurants and bars in town. You will already notice some restaurants and bars already on the list. But due to the short duration of our trip, we couldn’t get to all the restaurants we wanted to try. So here are a few other great options to try if you have the time.

• Shedburger – a casual fare, great patio
• Shelter – the oldest restaurant in town, fine dining, known for fresh seafood (especially mussels)
• Wolf in The Fog – upscale cuisine, highly rated, local seafood, hand-crafted cocktails
• Al’oha Poke & Tostada & Waffles – Fresh fish, known for great service, also good vegan options
• Bravacados – great vegan options
• The Pointe – Fine dining, South of town, awesome ocean views
• Off-Grid Camper Cafe – Artisan hand-pressed espresso, vegan baked goods

Or consider booking a local food tour.

Helpful Map Of The Best Things To Do In Tofino

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