Our latest destination spotlight location is for the nature-loving traveler. For those looking for great outdoor fun, but who don’t want to sacrifice luxury and good food & wine, Tofino might just be the perfect vacation spot.
Named one of Time Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2022, this small coastal village on Canada’s Vancouver Island is also one of Margot’s favorite places to visit – she’s been there four times (!) and she hardly ever goes anywhere more than once unless she really, really loves it.
Tofino is also known as ‘the Surfing Capital of Canada’ and is one of the country’s top beach destinations. Originally developed around the fishing, logging and mining industries, the town and surrounding area are now models of sustainability and responsible tourism, allowing nature lovers, adventure seekers, campers, surfers and hikers alike to enjoy the region’s natural beauty and outdoor recreation while remaining committed to protecting the environment and local wildlife.
The weather in Tofino is cool in the summer and mild in the winter. But with an average precipitation of 128.77 inches, most of which falls in the winter, Tofino is also one of the wettest locations in Canada.
Average high temperatures in the summer are in the 60s, making it a nice alternative in the summer.
WHAT TO SEE & DO
Tofino is a place to do, rather than see things. Sure, there’s tons of great scenery and wildlife to observe, but the point is to go outside and be an active participant in nature. Its location within the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and surrounded by the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region lends itself to exploration and discovery. So for travelers who enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking or fishing, there are myriad opportunities to actively explore the rich biodiversity of the area, making it a perfect destination for couples or families alike who truly want to experience the outdoors.
Right next door is the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, where there are ample trails and waterways, offering travelers stunning views and walks suitable for every level of hiker.
Probably the most scenic of these trails is the Trail to South Beach. This 1.6 km trail – which starts at Kwisitis Visitor Center and snakes through the rainforest – ends at a sandy beach peppered with magnificent rock formations and sea stacks, which help create some dazzling scenes of wild ocean spray from oncoming waves.
Tofino is also a bike-friendly destination, with miles of bike paths winding through the area. There are paths connecting the town to the beaches, as well as to Pacific Rim National Park. There are plenty of rental spots along the beach, where visitors can rent traditional or e-bikes, both of which can be ridden in the National Park.
There are a number of beaches in the area, with one of the most popular being Chesterman Beach, where travelers can explore tidepools, learn to surf, fly a kite or do a bit a beach biking. For the hard-core surfer (or someone who enjoys watching hard-core surfers), Cox Bay Beach is the place to be, offering more consistent surf suitable for highly skilled wave riders.
For those who like to fish, there are various charters offering sustainable fishing options in Clayoquot Sound, where anglers can cast their lines for salmon and albacore tuna, as well as trap fish for prawns and Dungeness crab.
In the center of town is Tofino Village Green, where tennis and basketball courts, as well as the Tuff City Skate Park are located. Every Saturday from May to October, the Village Green offers a break from the adventure/outdoor activities and plays host to Tofino Market – where local artisans, bakers and craftspeople sell their wares.
TOFINO, TWO WAYS (WHERE TO STAY)
We recommend experiencing Tofino in one of two ways:
- At an all-inclusive, luxury glamping resort where guests are immersed in nature in a remote location away from the rest of civilization.
- Or at a more traditional luxury hotel in a beautiful location surrounded by untamed wilderness, but still close to town.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge – an ultra-luxury glamping experience
Situated among the pristine wilderness along the banks of Clayoquot Sound, this all-inclusive glamping resort offers travelers a truly stellar outdoor experience where they can ‘get away from it all’ without really having to do so.
Opened in 2000 as a place for guests to reconnect with nature, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge has remained committed to sustainability and responsible tourism. After all, it’s the untouched nature that draws guests to this remote outpost, accessible only by boat or by seaplane. Clayoquot offers guests an escape to the tranquility of the Canadian wilderness where they can enjoy nature hikes, horseback riding, whale watching and biking – all undisturbed from the disruptions of everyday life.
Instead of rooms or cabins, the Lodge features 25 guest tents, which are more like high-end apartments with canvas walls, sprinkled along the banks of the Clayoquot Sound and throughout the rainforest. Each tent comes with a king bed (which can be split into king singles), a double sofa bed, an open plan lounge with cast iron stove, an open-air deck with Adirondack chairs, and luxurious furnishings featuring textiles crafted by First Nations artisans.
Guests can book tents with water views or rainforest views, and can have an attached bathroom, or one steps away from the tent. All bathrooms – whether attached or not – come standard with heated floors and cedar paneling.
The largest tent is the Hillside Family Tent, which is comprised of two adjoining tents set on a hillside away from the other tents – making it ideal for friends or families traveling together. Here, there is the option for king or twin bedding, with a maximum capacity of eight people if utilizing the sofa beds.
In addition to the guest tents at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, there are also structures such the Cookhouse, the Ivanhoe Bar, and the Healing Grounds Spa.
In keeping with the Clayoquot’s commitment to sustainability, meals at the Lodge are sustainably and locally-sourced from Vancouver Island and British Columbia and feature the area’s best seafood and produce. The culinary team is headed by husband-and-wife Executive chefs, Olivia Bolano and Mark Ota, who describe their Pacific Northwest cuisine as ‘Earthy, witty and wise.’
All meals and activities – with the exception of spa treatments or of anything involving a helicopter like heli fly fishing or heli hiking – are included in the price, though some activities may need to be requested in advance. The Lodge will create custom itineraries based on guests’ interests – whether it be hiking or horseback riding, whale or bear watching, canyon or waterfall jumping, canoeing or kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing or fishing – to ensure a lasting impression and connection with their surroundings.
With a favorable ratio of staff to guests, the service at the Lodge is impeccable. As Margot noted during one of her stays, her daughter could walk up to the bar every morning and have a made-to-order breakfast made personally by the chef. Other visitors have noted that their foraged finds would make it into their dinners if they so wished.
Though it’s a great family spot, children under age six are not permitted. Margot recommends families wait to do Clayoquot when kids are old enough to do many of the activities, when they’re about 7-8 years old at a minimum, but 10 and up is ideal.
The Lodge is only open May through September.
The Wickaninnish Inn – the best of both worlds
A 10-min drive from the center of Tofino, Wickaninnish Inn – or ‘the Wick’ – sits perched on a rocky outcropping of forest land along the northern Pacific, offering stunning views and access to nature and civilization alike.
Opened in 1996, this 75-room Relais & Chateaux property is comprised of two buildings – the Pointe building and the Beach building. The Pointe, which was the original structure, houses 42 Deluxe rooms and three Premier Rooms, as well as the fine dining restaurant, the Pointe, On the Rocks Bar, Howard’s Wine Cellar and the Ancient Cedars Spa.
The Beach Building, added in 2003, houses the hotel’s 12 suites and some of their larger rooms. Also located inside are the Lookout Library, the Driftwood Café and the hotel’s fitness center.
All rooms at the Wick are designed to blend art and nature, featuring expansive windows with spectacular views of the ocean or the surrounding forest, custom-designed furniture made from driftwood, red cedar panels and design touches like slate tiles and pebbled candle holders. Each room also features a giant soaking tub, a fireplace and balcony, and heated tile bathroom floors, an iPad and binoculars.
The largest of their suite offerings is the Chesterman Beach Loft, a 2-story, open-plan loft suite that has beach and ocean views from every window. The lower floor contains a kitchen, dining area, half bathroom, and a living room with a queen sofa bed. The master suite with king bed makes up the entirety of the second floor. It is ideal for larger families as it can connect to another room.
As a Relais & Chateux property, the Wick offers a memorable fine dining experience at the Pointe, with meals featuring sustainably and locally-sourced ingredients. The hotel recently appointed a new head chef, Clayton Fontaine, who served previously as the restaurant’s sous chef for three years.
Working together with local foragers, fishers and farmers, Fontaine is inspired to incorporate what he calls the best ingredients he’s worked with into the hotel’s innovative menu. His passion for sustainability and showcasing the best of the area’s bounty has redefined the fine dining experience at the Pointe. His approachable yet creative Canadian cuisine is served with 240-degree views of the Pacific Ocean, making for a truly memorable experience.
At the Wick, visitors can enjoy the beach – building sandcastles, exploring tidepools, or learning how to surf – or they can enjoy fishing charters, bear or whale watching outings, a guided park tour with a naturalist, or a cultural tour guided by the Nuu-chah-nulth nation. Many of these activities can be arranged through the hotel.
Also on the property is the Carving Shed, which was once the home of Henry Nolla, the principal carver of much of the Inn’s woodwork, from the fireplace mantels in each room to the post and beam work in the public spaces. Now guests can visit the Shed and watch local carvers work their magic.
The Wickaninnish Inn is great for any age and it’s located right on the beach. There is a great surf lesson outfitter nearby as well as a FANTASTIC taco truck, which Margot highly recommends.
Some people do either Clayoquot or the Wick and some people pair the two experiences. For travelers who have more time to spend in the area, another option is to pair either one with a stop in Vancouver or Seattle.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
While Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is only open from May through September, The Wickaninnish Inn is open year-round. Summer is definitely the time to visit, but for those wanting to experience storm watching, winter’s the best season to go.
HOW TO GET THERE
Visitors can fly non-stop to Tofino-Long Beach Airport (YAZ) from Vancouver on scheduled flights with Pacific Coastal Airlines, or they can fly into Tofino Harbour on Harbour Air.
Travelers can also fly to one of two airports on the east coast of Vancouver Island, and then drive 3-3.5 hours to Tofino:
- Nanaimo (YCD), which served by Air Canada and WestJet
- Comox (YQQ), which is served by Air Canada, Pacific Coastal Airlines and WestJet
To get to Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge requires a boat or seaplane (Margot believes this is a must for one or both directions as the views are stunning).
BOOKING WITH US
Journeys Unparalleled is a preferred partner at both properties, so when booking with us, our clients receive VIP treatment and complimentary amenities.
For more information about Tofino and our preferred partner benefits at each property, contact us at info@journeysunparalleled.com.