Tofino, Pacific Rim, Vancouver Island
British Columbia, Canada

Tofino B.C., Vancouver Island Canada: Tofino BC is a popular recreation and tourism destination located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The small village is situated on the northern tip of the Esowista Peninsula surrounded by a collection of beautiful sandy beaches and remote islands.

Tofino is the tourism destination for many who come and visit Vancouver Island. The sandy beaches, the outdoor attractions and the Pacific Rim National Park are the three big draws for the area. And Tofino was built for tourism - there are plenty of accommodations, resorts, gift shops, tours, guides and activities to choose from. Other services important to travelers in the community include gas stations, coffee shops, bank, internet, laundromat and a grocery store. However, be aware, that there are only a few restaurants and campgrounds in Tofino.

The village of Tofino, BC looks out over the Pacific Ocean and Meares and Vargas Islands. The waterfront is busy with boats, sea kayaks and float planes. Many of the local marine attractions operate from the harbour in Tofino like whale, black bear and wildlife watching tours, floatplane flightseeing tours, fishing charters and canoe tours departing on day and overnight paddle routes.

Other attractions which are popular during the sunshine months in Tofino include hiking in the Pacific Rim National Park, spas, golfing and surfing. Surfing is a year round activity also enjoyed in the winter months, when waves are larger. Another activity popular in the winter months is storm watching.

The village of Tofino is located north of the Pacific Rim National Park. A beautiful park with beaches, rainforest and hiking trails. It is said somewhere that Tofino is the "Municipality with the Most Ocean Beaches in Canada"! And the best part is you have to drive through the park to reach the community. So enjoy the sights!

Leap to: neighbor communities of: - Bamfield - Cowichan Lake - Port Alberni - Ucluelet

Some of the more popular sandy beaches in the region during the summer include Long Beach, Wickaninnish Beach, MacKenzie Beach and Chesterman Beach. However, do not be naive - in the summer months the same popular beaches are also the busiest beaches. For those who like smaller crowds there are some other quality beaches which get less press like Grice Bay, South Beach, Florencia Bay Beach and Tonquin Beach. Tofino not only attracts tourism but also attracts scientists and environmentalists. Every year college students arrive in Tofino to study the area's eco system known as the Clayoquot Sound World Biosphere Reserve. It is a marine and land reserve covering 350,000 hectares. A third of the reserve is federally and provincially protected parks, conservation and ecological wetlands. Clayoquot Sound World Biosphere Reserve is heralded by scientists from around the world as the greatest remaining tract of temperate coastal rainforest left on the planet!

How to Get to Tofino B.C., Canada:

From Victoria travel north on Highway #1 for 337 km (209 mi) to Tofino. From Victoria follow Highway #1 to the communities of Parksville or Qualicum Beach where you must turn west on Hwy #4. From the turn off it is 171 km (107 mi) to Tofino visiting the community of Port Alberni along the way. After Port Alberni Hwy # 4 eventually comes to a "T" intersection. Tofino is 33 km to the right and Ucluelet is 8km to the left.

Roads are narrow with some blind corners. It is important to be aware of all traffic as large logging trucks use the roads also.

A small airport is located approximately 15 km on the outskirts of Tofino near Long Beach along Hwy 4.