Surf, whale watch, explore the beach or hike one of the many rainforest trails through Pacific Rim National Park. Bookended by Ucluelet on one side and Tofino on the other, the area offers a wealth of natural wonders.
Hang 10 in Tofino
Want to Learn to Surf? You’ve come to the right place. Here are three rental places and surfing schools In Tofino:
Surf Sisters,
surfsister.com
Pacific Surf Co,
pacificsurfschool.com
Tofino Surf School,
tofinosurfschool.ca
See the Sawmill
McLean Mill National Historic Site will be operating under enhanced COVID-19 measures. Open for self-guided tours with maps available outside the administration office. The Mill will also be offering guided tours in limited group sizes. Dates and times to be confirmed. Gift shop and Steam Pot Cafe are open daily, hours to be confirmed. Campground is open, with online booking available.
Explore the Trails
The stretch of Pacific Rim National Park between Ucluelet and Tofino boasts magnificent beaches and dramatic seascapes (and a few tourists!). Check in with the Tourist Information Centre at the Ucluelet-Tofino-Port Alberni Junction to find out about trails, beaches, eateries and activities.
Get Wild on the WPT
The Wild Pacific Trail in Pacific Rim Park. Follow cliff-edges along the extreme outer coast, including the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse site. You’ll view the ocean’s fury from the protection of the trail and from viewing platforms situated at the best headlands along the route. You’ll also be awed by gigantic nurse-logs, raised root systems, mosses, fungi, lichens and ferns. The trail can be walked in two main sections: Lighthouse Loop and Big Beach. Then leave the coastline to visit the largest trees in the area at Ancient Cedars grove.
Littles to the Lighthouse
Lighthouse Loop, part of the Wild Pacific Trail and 2.6 kms long, can be walked in a 30-45 minute loop using the adjoining He-Tin-Kis Park boardwalk. The trail includes frequent viewpoints and benches for watching whales, birds or catching the sunset. The Bog Interpretive Trail is open, a 300m interpretive loop (within the Loop!).
wildpacifictrail.com/lighthouse.html
Learn About Local Marine Life
Visit Ucluelet Aquarium, Canada’s first catch-and-release aquarium, where you’ll find a diversity of local marine life. The touch tanks will be covered for animal care purposes as soap and disinfectants are harmful to the health of fish and invertebrates. Learn about the local marine ecosystems at the mini aquarium and help raise awareness about local marine biodiversity and promote respect for the ocean environment. Open every day, including holidays, from 10am-5pm.
Get Out in the Garden
The idea of the garden is that it can be both a basic introduction to the natural and cultural history of Clayoquot Sound and a place where the relationship between culture and nature can be explored. A COVID-friendly way to spend a day in Tofino “just to set the heart free.” Now open seven days a week, from dawn to dusk.
Try Out Tuff City Skatepark
Tuff City Skatepark is a surf-inspired park built and powered by the determination of local residents. The result is a well designed, safe skateboarding area for the young and old, those who are learning or experienced skateboarders.
tourismtofino.com/plan-your-trip/business-directory/tuff-city-skatepark
Indulge in Gelato
Chocolate Tofino offers handmade gelato flavours including Dutch Chocolate, Salted Caramel,
White Chocolate Raspberry, Hammerhead—a secret recipe—“Kookville” and Rhino Coffee Toffee, to name a few. With a menu that’s “sometimes seasonal, sometimes as we please,” you never know what you’ll find.
