How To Spend A Weekend In Tofino 2024

Looking For Ideas On How To Spend A Weekend In Tofino In 2024?

Spending a weekend in Tofino is one of the main things people in Vancouver and Victoria do when they want to get away from the busy city life.

A weekend is the perfect amount of time to explore the small town and nature around it.

In this blog post, I am going to share with you, things to check out in Tofino, places to eat, and things to do.

There is a map of Tofino and the area at the end which shows the location of all the things I have mentioned.

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Everything You Need To Know About Spending A Weekend In Tofino

Let’s start with some of the most frequently asked questions about spending a weekend in Tofino.

Where is Tofino located?

Tofino is a small town on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

What is Tofino, BC famous for?

Tofino is famous mainly for being a great place for surfing, whale watching, hiking, and camping.

In addition, Tofino is considered one of Canada’s most westerly located towns – facing directly the Pacific Ocean.

Welcome to Tofino sign, British Columbia, Canada, Tofino, British Columbia, Canada — Welcome to Tofino sign – Tofino, British Columbia, Canada

What is the best time to visit Tofino?

Temperature-wise, the best time to visit Tofino is in June – August.

Surfers flock to Tofino year-round to surf in the cold salty waters.

However, according to them the best time for surfing is in the fall due to a change in the direction of the wind.

That change helps create the perfect waves for surfing.

I would recommend going in the summer months as we visited at the end of June and it was freezing cold (below 10 degrees).

Cannot imagine what the winter temperatures would be.

How far is Tofino from Vancouver, BC?

It will take you approximately 5-6 hours to drive from Vancouver to Tofino or about an hour if you fly.

Keep in mind that if you choose to drive you will have to board a ferry as well because Tofino is on Vancouver Island.

👉 Rent a car for your awesome weekend in Tofino after exploring the world’s biggest car rental website: Rentalcars

We boarded the ferry at Horseshoe Bay and we are on our way to Nanaimo, weekend in Tofino — We boarded the ferry at Horseshoe Bay and we are on our way to Nanaimo

How do I get to Tofino from Vancouver?

You have to drive from Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay (scroll down the page in the link) or Tsawwassen ferry terminal.

From Horseshoe Bay, it will take you 1 hour and 40 mins to reach Nanaimo (the arrival terminal is called Departure Bay).

From Tsawwassen, it will take you about 2 hours to reach Nanaimo (the arrival terminal is called Duke Point).

Horseshoe Bay is about 30 mins northwest of Downtown Vancouver. Most people prefer this ferry terminal as it is closer to Vancouver and the ferry ride is shorter.

Tsawwassen is about 40 mins south of Downtown Vancouver and is close to the border with the States.

Therefore, if you are driving from the U.S. that one will be more convenient.

Vancouver ferry, beautiful scenery — Sit on the ferry and enjoy the stunning views around you

From the ferry terminal you choose, you need to board the ferry with your car.

Nanaimo is the closest city on Vancouver Island which has a ferry terminal that connects with the mainland.

From Nanaimo you will have to drive to Tofino, the first one is on the east coast of Vancouver Island, and the second is on the west.

There is no ferry that connects Vancouver and Tofino.

Another option is to fly to Tofino from Vancouver by seaplane. It is way faster but also way more expensive.

Below are your options when it comes to flying to Tofino.

👉 Vancouver: Floatplane Transfer between Vancouver and Tofino (one-way flight)
From Vancouver: Tofino Round-Trip Seaplane Experience (round trip)

Vancouver ferry to Nanaimo, weekend in Tofino — Beautiful views from the ferry

How far is Tofino from Victoria, BC?

Tofino, BC is about 320 km from Victoria, BC which will take you about 4 and a half hours to drive.

The reason why it takes that long is that there are a lot of twists and turns on the road as well as because of the natural layout of the land.

What to wear in Tofino, British Columbia?

When visiting Tofino you must bring rain gear as it tends to rain there quite a lot.

That includes high rain boots, a raincoat, and even an umbrella or a rain poncho.

We visited at the end of June and it was raining and pretty chilly.

Bring a nice warm fleecy sweater and thank me later!

Therefore, layering is key when it comes to clothing.

Bring items that are cozy and comfortable, that you can move around freely in.

Before traveling to Tofino check the weather forecast to make sure you are packed for the correct temperatures and are aware of the driving conditions.

Unicorn hugging a huge tree, forest, Tofino, British Columbia, what to wear in Tofino — This is what I wore most of the time – a rain jacket, leggings, and running shoes or rain boots. *And yes, I am hugging the tree.*

Weekend In Tofino – What To See On Your Way To Tofino

There are a few attractions along the way to Tofino that are worth mentioning.

Goats on the Roof

You heard that right! On the way to Tofino, make sure to stop by the Coombs Old Country Market.

It is a cute shop, where you can buy fresh produce, and delicious baked goods, as well as find some unique gifts.

Try the candied salmon!!

The roof of the building is covered with grass and there are a bunch of goats chilling on it.

In addition, there are a few other shops in the area, such as an ice cream parlor and a donut shop.

It is a popular pit stop on the way to Tofino and I highly recommend it.

I mean goats and donuts?? It doesn’t get better than that.

goats on the roof, Tofino — Here are two of the goats that live on the roof

Cathedral Grove

Cathedral Grove is located in MacMillan Provincial Park.

There are paths on each side of the highway that lead to an area with giant Douglas Fir trees.

Some of the trees in Cathedral Grove are over 800 years old.

They are remnants of the ecosystem that used to cover all of Vancouver Island once upon a time.

The trees here are huge!! It makes for a nice and peaceful walk among them.

It will take you about half an hour to do each side of the highway.

Cathedral Grove, trees, Vancouver Island nature — Cathedral Grove

On the way to Tofino, we also saw a mama bear with her baby by the road.

bears, wildlife, Vancouver Island, Canada, Tofino, BC — Mama bear and baby bear

Wally Creek

We stopped by Wally Creek to eat the lunch we bought at Old Country Market (the one with the goats).

It is a pretty spot with stones and a small waterfall between them.

Also, we took some pictures and hopped around the stones for a bit.

Weekend In Tofino – Day 1

On the first day of your visit to Tofino, I would explore the town and get a feel of the place.

Main Street/ Shopping

The main street of Tofino is full of small, cute shops where you can find some unique gifts.

However, a lot of them are handmade products which can be a bit pricier.

A lot of people come to Tofino to surf, so a lot of the stores offer surf-related products.

Considering the fact that I can’t even swim, surfing was out of the question for me lol. Unicorns are not good swimmers you guys!!

There are a bunch of restaurants, ice cream parlors, and coffee shops along the main city center area.

One of the unique products that visitors buy is the famous Tofino Towels.

They have beach towels, blankets, throws, and so on, using fair-trade material and focusing on a sustainable approach to fashion.

city center, Tofino, main street, shopping, things to do in Tofino — The city center of Tofino – things to do in Tofino

Whale Watching

I have been whale watching before, but I wanted to see orcas. So we booked a whale-watching tour from Tofino with Jamie’s Whaling Station.

After researching whale-watching tours in the area, we decided to go with Jamie’s Whaling Station as it seemed the most reputable.

We booked the Large Cruiser Vessel which was a good idea as it rained that day and that boat had cover.

It was nice and warm inside and I didn’t get seasick. They also had complimentary tea and coffee onboard which was perfect as I was freezing.

whale watching in Tofino, whales, British Columbia — Spying on the whales aka whale watching in Tofino

Also, our tour guide was knowledgeable and told us a lot about the animals we were seeing.

If you choose the Zodiac boat, then keep in mind that it is faster and you can get closer to the whales but it’s shakier and there is no cover.

Overall the company, the crew, and the boat were nice. However, the day that we went whale watching was cold and rainy.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see any orcas (they did see some the week before).

We only saw a few gray whales (you can only see their backs, they don’t come out), sea otters, and some sea lions.

whale watching, gray whales — Tofino whale watching – we saw some Gray Whales

🎥 Here are a few videos of the animal encounters:
Whale Watching in Tofino – Gray Whales
Whale Watching in Tofino – Sea Otter Mama and Baby
and
Whale Watching in Tofino – Sea Lions

When can you see whales in Tofino, British Columbia?

Tofino has a long whale watching season, it is usually from the beginning of March to the end of October.

What kind of whales can you see in Tofino, BC?

The most common whales that you will find in Tofino, BC are the Gray Whales, Humpbacks, and Killer Whales (Orcas).

A bunch of sea lions chilling on a rock, Tofino whale watching, Tofino, BC — A bunch of sea lions chilling on a rock

Tofino Brewing Company

After seeing some whales, there is nothing better than grabbing a nice cold beer.

The Tofino Brewing Company was right around the corner from where we were staying.

We made a few trips to it and even sat down for a flight.

In addition, it is a great thing to do in Tofino when it rains.

The beer is nice and fresh and if you are a beer drinker, I highly recommend stopping for a pint.

Tofino Brewing Company, beer, flight, things to do in Tofino when it rains — A flight of beer at the Tofino Brewing Company is one of the things to do in Tofino when it rains

Weekend In Tofino – Day 2

On the second day, why not chill on the beach and do some hiking as the locals do?

Long Beach

Long Beach spans a staggering 16 km and it is famous for surfers.

It was pretty cold when we went to Long Beach but it was still beautiful.

If the weather is good, definitely check it out even if you don’t surf. It is the perfect place for a beach walk.

Do you have to pay to go to Long Beach, Tofino?

You don’t have to pay for the beach but you do have to pay for parking your car at the parking lot.

The parking lot is located beside the public access points/entrance to the beach.

When we visited parking was free, but since August 2021 all the beaches located in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve have paid parking.

Long Beach, surfing, beach — Long Beach with two surfers in the background

Can you swim in Long Beach, Tofino?

Yes, you can swim in Long Beach, Tofino.

However, remember that the water would not be warm (it is the Pacific Ocean after all).

In addition, there are a lot of waves (hence the surfers) and the waters are deep and dark.

People do all sorts of water sports in Long Beach – surfing, kayaking, skimboarding, etc.

View towards Long Beach, weekend in Tofino, Tofino, BC — View towards Long Beach – Tofino, BC

Wild Pacific Trail

The Wild Pacific Trail is located near Ucluelet, BC which is another town on the west coast of Vancouver Island, south of Tofino.

It is a bit of a drive from Tofino – about 45 mins.

The Wild Pacific Trail is 8 km long and offers stunning panoramic views of the coastline.

Map of the Wild Pacific Trail, hiking, things to do near Tofino — Map of the Wild Pacific Trail – things to do near Tofino

You can see old forests and abundant wildlife – we actually saw a dear.

We only had time to do the Lighthouse Loop which is about 2.6 km and takes about an hour to walk.

Is Wild Pacific Trail dog-friendly?

Yes, you can bring your dog with you!

However, the dog has to be on a leash at all times and not chase the wildlife.

Also, don’t forget to pick up your dog’s poop and throw it in the garbage.

🦄 If you want more info about how to do a road trip with your pup, check out this post: 8 Tips On Having The Perfect Road Trip With Your Dog

Beautiful nature along the Lighthouse Loop in the Wild Pacific Trail, Tofino travel — Beautiful nature along the Lighthouse Loop on the Wild Pacific Trail – Tofino travel

I like this trail because it is easy to hike and there is a cute lighthouse along the trail.

Close by they have the Big Beach Mystery Shipwreck, which is the remnant of an old ship that was washed ashore.

lighthouse, trail, Wild Pacific Trail nature, unique things to do in Tofino — The cute, little lighthouse – unique things to do in Tofino

Where To Eat During A Weekend In Tofino?

The food to try in Tofino is mainly seafood – oysters, mussels, fish, etc. One of the nights we cooked salmon and potatoes.

The next evening, we went to dinner at a restaurant called Shelter and the food was exceptional!! We shared a plate of calamari and I had the steamed mussels with fries.

Shelter is popular so I would recommend making reservations, especially for bigger groups or on the weekends.

For breakfast, we went to a place called Wildside Grill which is located in an area where they have a few food shacks with outside seating.

A plate of calamari at Shelter Restaurant, weekend in Tofino — A plate of calamari at Shelter Restaurant

It is mostly known for its fish and chips and local seafood (you can definitely go there for lunch too) but it also has some breakfast options.

I had the Breakfast Kaiser and it was delicious.

We grabbed coffee at Tofitian Cafe and Bakery, which is right beside Wildside Grill.

If you don’t want a big breakfast, at the Tofitian Cafe and Bakery you can also find baked goods.

Also, it has more seating available and there are seats inside (in case the weather is bad). It was packed when we went there.

The coffee shop was voted Best Coffee in Tofino multiple times.

mussels, fries, restaurant, Shelter Restaurant — Mussels and fries at Shelter Restaurant

Where To Stay For A Weekend In Tofino?

Tofino, British Columbia is a small town so there aren’t huge hotels and resorts.

Most of the options are inns and small resorts.

Below are some of my recommendations for accommodation in Tofino for a weekend.

Duffin Cove Resort

Duffin Cove Resort has a private waterfront and beach
Tofino Center is 2 minute’s walk away
Fully equipped kitchen and barbeque setup
Rooms include a balcony with chairs

👉 Check availability for your dates: Duffin Cove Resort

Tofino Resort + Marina

Tofino Resort + Marina is close to the city center and right on the marina
Free parking and WiFi
Fitness and laundry facilities are available
Also, an onsite Adventure Centre – can organize a bunch of different tours and adventures, bike rental, fishing, etc.

👉 Check availability for your dates: Tofino Resort + Marina

Map Of The Activities To Do During A Weekend In Tofino

Map courtesy of Wanderlog, an itinerary planner on iOS and Android

As you can see, things are far apart and you will need a car to drive to them.

Not having a car will make your trip extremely inconvenient.