The Perfect Guide to Tofino, BC
Located on the western coast of Vancouver Island and the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Tofino, BC, is a charming beach town filled with character and surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the Canadian west coast. Recently, my boyfriend Will and I spent a fantastic four days exploring the quaint little town. This was my second time visiting, and it was even more magical than I remember it being the first time I was there in 2021. This is my perfect guide to Tofino, BC—I hope you enjoy it!
Table of Contents
- How to Get to Tofino from Vancouver
- What Time of Year Should I Visit Tofino?
- Where to Stay in Tofino
- Getting Around Tofino
- What to Do in Tofino
- Where to Eat in Tofino
- Travel Tips for Tofino
- More Canadian Adventure Guides
How to Get to Tofino from Vancouver
To get to Tofino from Vancouver, you have two main options: take the ferry, followed by a drive across the island, or fly.
Option One: Taking the Ferry
The most accessible way to get to Tofino from Vancouver is to hop on one of BC Ferries‘ sailings from Horseshoe Bay or Tsawassen Terminal to Nanaimo and then drive across the island to Tofino. Which terminal you choose to sail from will depend on where you are in the greater Vancouver area. For example, if you’re coming from Burnaby, Tsawassen is the closer terminal, but if you’re coming from downtown Vancouver, Horseshoe Bay is much closer.
The ferry offers both foot and vehicle passenger rates, but for this trip you will definitely want a car. I drove my car from Vancouver and ferried over to the island to meet up with my partner, Will, who was already over there for work. Up-to-date rates for all of BC Ferries’ routes can be found here.
A one-way trip from Vancouver to Tofino takes about six hours between the ferry trip and driving. The ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo is about an hour and 40 minutes, and you are required to check in for your sailing between 90 and 30 minutes before sailing. Once you arrive in Nanaimo, the drive across the island to Tofino is a little under three hours.
Make sure to book your ferry sailings well in advance to ensure you have a guaranteed spot on the sailing you want. The first time I ever traveled to the island, I did not know to do this. The result was a 4am wake-up call to improve our odds of getting on the ferry going to the island and a four-hour wait to make a sailing on the way back. Moral of the story: book your sailings in advance!
Option Two: Fly
I would like to preface that I have never utilized this option to get to Tofino—I have only ever taken the ferry and then driven—but Will has friends who have flown from Vancouver, and I will say the much shorter travel time is alluring. Flight options include:
To Tofino-Long Beach Airport (YAZ)
- From Richmond (YVR) with Pacific Coastal Airlines and, as of October 2025, Harbour Air!
- From Nanaimo (YCD) with Tofino Air (seasonal)
- From Victoria (YYJ) with Tofino Air (seasonal)
To Tofino Harbour (via floatplane)
- From downtown Vancouver with Harbour Air (seasonal)
- From Vancouver South Terminal at YVR in Richmond with Harbour Air (seasonal)
The downside of flying to Tofino is that you won’t have a car, which would make many parts of the area harder to access.
What Time of Year Should I Visit Tofino?
When you decide to visit Tofino will depend on what you want to see and do. Most people know Tofino as a summer surf town, but there are great things to do out there in the off seasons too.
Winter in Tofino (November to March)
Winter is the best time to visit Tofino for storm watching. Being located right on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, Tofino and the surrounding area see dramatic ocean storms during this time of year. Although you won’t be able to go surfing and lay around on the beach, you’ll get to see a completely different side of Tofino curled up in a cozy ocean-side lodge watching the storms roll in and out. A bonus to visiting during the winter is that accommodation prices are down and there are far fewer tourists than the peak summer months.
Spring in Tofino (March to June)
In spring, Vancouver Island comes back to life; the bears stumble out of hibernation, the grey whales pass through on their migration, and the streets and trails are lined with flowering flora. In early spring when the weather is still cool, you may not want to be in the water, but there is still lots to do outdoors.
May and June are prime times to be in the water and avoid the big crowds of summer. Will and I were there in mid-June, and it was perfect. The water was still a bit cold for swimming, but it was fantastic for surfing, and while still busy, the crowds were manageable.
Summer in Tofino (July to August)
This is Tofino’s busiest season. Prices are at their highest, and the crowds are at their largest. While I am sure the weather is fabulous, the trade-off is that trails, beaches, and restaurants will be packed.
Fall in Tofino (September to October)
The first time I ever visited Tofino was in October 2021. I turned 22 on the island over the Thanksgiving weekend. The early fall is a lovely time to be in Tofino because the weather is still great, the accommodation prices drop significantly after the summer, and it is much quieter than the peak summer season. The water is still warm enough to surf, and you can enjoy the beaches without flocks of tourists. I would highly recommend visiting at this time of year.
Where to Stay in Tofino
When Will and I were in Tofino recently, we stayed at Ocean Village Resort right on MacKenzie Beach. It was the perfect spot for us. Ocean Village is a community of beachfront cottages, with studio, one-, and two-bedroom cottages available. Each unit is equipped with a full bathroom, a sitting area, and a small but well-equipped kitchen. Will and I stayed in a ground-floor studio, and it was wonderful. We had views of the beach and ocean and the perfect amount of space for the two of us.
Ocean Village was in the perfect location for us. Within five minutes of driving you could be in Tofino, and we were walking distance to beaches, bike rentals, and some great restaurants.
Before booking our stay at Ocean Village, we did research on some other options that also looked great:
Getting Around Tofino
The town of Tofino itself is quite small. You could easily walk around the whole town in one day, but there is lots to see beyond Tofino, so you’ll want to make sure you have more than just your two feet to get around!
Driving is the easiest way to reach farther-away attractions like Long Beach or the Wild Pacific Trail. Another great option for transportation is to rent bikes. There are lots of bike rental shops in Tofino and along the highway near where we stayed at Ocean Village. Renting bikes is a great way to bop around between the many different beaches and spend more time outdoors. We rented bikes one afternoon from Tofino Bike and did exactly that.
What to Do in Tofino
Take a Surf Lesson
As you might expect, there are tons of places in Tofino that offer surfing lessons. I have done two surf lessons in Tofino, both with Pacific Surf Co., and each lesson was fantastic! I know Surf Sister is another popular surf school.
The morning of your lesson, you call Pacific Surf Co. to check in, and they give you the location of the beach you will be surfing at. From there, all you have to do is show up. Pacific Surf Co. provides wetsuits and boards. I recommend choosing a morning lesson—starting your day with two hours in the ocean just really can’t be beat. Will and I did the first lesson of the day, at 9am, which had us finishing up right around lunchtime.
Rent Bikes
As mentioned above, we rented bikes from Tofino Bike to get out and explore the different beaches along the coast. There are tons of different rental places both in town and on the outskirts. You can rent a beach cruiser, which is a slower bike but suitable for riding on the beach, or a geared bike, which moves faster but cannot go on the beaches. We got geared bikes and just locked them up at the bike rack once we got to the beach so we could go explore.
Visit the Many Stunning Beaches
Vancouver Island has no shortage of gorgeous beaches. Whether you are looking for a destination for a beach walk or a place to park yourself for an afternoon in the sun, Tofino will have something for you. Some beaches worth visiting near Tofino include the following:
- MacKenzie Beach
- Cox Bay Beach
- Chesterman Beach
- Long Beach
Hike the Wild Pacific Trail
Vancouver Island has a vast collection of hiking trails with excellent views. The Wild Pacific Trail is a famous 8 km coastal trail near Ucluelet, the neighboring town to Tofino. It takes about 30 minutes to drive from Tofino to Ucluelet.
The Wild Pacific Trail has two main sections, including the lighthouse loop, which is roughly 3 km long through coastal forests along the shore of the Pacific, and the Big Beach to Rocky Bluffs out-and-back trail. I’ve done the lighthouse loop both times I’ve visited Tofino. It takes about an hour, and the scenery is truly stunning.
Explore the Shops
Tofino may be a small town, but it is bursting with culture, delicious food, and excellent shops. Here are a few of my favourites:
- Merge Curated Goods
- Mermaid Tales Bookshop
- Caravan Beach Shop
- Long Beach Surf Shop
- Habit Clothing
- Neighbours Cafe + Provisions
Tofino also has a great artisan market on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.
Walk the Rainforest Loop in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
The Rainforest Loop in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is another trail I have done both times I’ve visited Tofino. The loop has two parts, A and B, one on each side of the highway. Each loop is roughly a kilometer of walking on well-maintained boardwalks through temperate rainforest. Parking in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve costs $24.50 for the day, so it is worthwhile to look into other activities in the park.
Where to Eat in Tofino
For a small town, Tofino has an incredible selection of cafes and restaurants. We had some seriously good food during our time there.
Cafes & Sweets
- Rhino Coffee House
- Chocolate Tofino not only has delicious chocolate, but also their gelato is divine
- Tofitian Cafe
- Tofino Licks is not your usual ice cream parlor; they specialize in artisanal ice cream sundaes
Restaurants
- Shelter is great for a more casual dinner vibe on the water
- Shed is an awesome spot to grab a casual lunch, dinner, or drink on the patio
- The Tacofino Truck is a must when in Tofino. They have a restaurant in town, but the truck is classic and just way more fun
- Adrianna’s has good sandwiches and really tasty pizza. It’s good for a quick and relatively cheap lunch
- The Pointe Restaurant is in the iconic Wickaninnish Inn and has maybe one of the most stunning dining rooms I’ve ever seen. This is definitely a more upscale spot, and to be honest, Will and I were not blown away by the food. If you want to see the dining room, I’d recommend trying to go for brunch or even just a drink at the bar
- Wolf in the Fog was the best meal we had in Tofino. The food was excellent and the vibe was exceptional; we loved this place
Travel Tips for Tofino
- Book your ferry in advance. The ferries can fill up, so book your sailing well in advance to avoid long lines and unwanted delays at the ferry terminal. Booking your sailing online through BC Ferries is super easy and will give you peace of mind.
- Pack for different types of weather. Tofino is right on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and coastal weather can be unpredictable. Make sure to bring some rain gear and warm layers, even if you’re visiting in the summer.
- Bring bear spray. If you’re doing any kind of hiking in BC, you should have bear spray. Chances are you won’t need it, but man will you be happy to have it if you do! Bear spray can be purchased at most outdoor supplies stores. I purchased mine at MEC.
More Canadian Adventure Guides
If you found my Perfect Guide to Tofino, BC helpful, be sure to check out more of my Canadian travel guides:
How to Spend a Day on Bowen Island
A Friendsgiving Road Trip in Newfoundland
A (Self-Proclaimed) Local’s Guide to Vancouver
Leave any questions or comments below; I love to hear from you!
Happy adventuring!
