Explore & Adventure
Things To Do in Tofino
Surf, hike, kayak, feast, and explore — Tofino is one of Canada's greatest adventure destinations and your front door opens right onto it.
🏄World-Class Surfing
Chesterman Beach · Cox Bay · Long Beach
Tofino is Canada's surfing capital, and Chesterman Beach — just 2 minutes from our front door — is at the heart of it. From gentle rollers perfect for beginners to powerful reef breaks for experienced surfers, the Pacific delivers year-round. Surf schools like Surf Sister and Pacific Surf Co. offer lessons for all levels. Cox Bay, just minutes away, produces some of the best barrels on the island. Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park stretches over 16 km of open Pacific swells.
Quick Tips
- →Best surf: Cox Bay for intermediate/advanced
- →Beginners: Chesterman Beach with a lesson
- →Year-round — wetsuits required
- →Surf rentals available in town
🥾Hiking & Trails
Pacific Rim National Park · Tonquin Trail · Radar Hill
Tofino sits on the edge of Pacific Rim National Park, offering some of BC's most spectacular coastal hiking. The Tonquin Trail winds through old-growth forest to secluded Tonquin Beach — a locals' favourite. Radar Hill offers panoramic views over the Pacific and Clayoquot Sound with minimal effort. The Rainforest Trail boardwalks through ancient Sitka spruce and western red cedar. For a full day out, the Wild Pacific Trail near Ucluelet offers stunning ocean vistas along rugged headlands.
Quick Tips
- →Tonquin Trail: 1.5 km, easy, stunning beach
- →Radar Hill: drive up, short walk, best views
- →Rainforest Trail: 1 km boardwalk loop
- →Wild Pacific Trail: 8 km, near Ucluelet
🐋Whale Watching
Clayoquot Sound · Tofino Harbour
Tofino sits within one of the richest marine ecosystems on the planet. Gray whales migrate through the waters of Clayoquot Sound every spring and summer, while resident pods of humpbacks and orcas can be spotted year-round. Multiple operators depart from Tofino Harbour on daily tours — most guarantee sightings. March to May brings the Pacific Rim Whale Festival, one of Canada's great wildlife spectacles with 20,000+ gray whales passing offshore.
Quick Tips
- →Peak season: March–October
- →Gray whales: March–May migration
- →Humpbacks & orcas year-round
- →Book tours at the harbour
🚣Kayaking & Paddleboarding
Clayoquot Sound · Meares Island
Clayoquot Sound's calm inlets and sheltered bays make it ideal for sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Paddle through First Nations territories, alongside seal colonies, and under bald eagle nests. A kayak trip to Meares Island is a must — it's home to one of the most accessible ancient temperate rainforests in Canada, with Douglas firs and red cedars over 1,000 years old. Guided kayak tours and SUP rentals are plentiful in town.
Quick Tips
- →Meares Island: full-day kayak trip
- →Beginner-friendly guided tours available
- →SUP rentals near the main dock
- →Calm water in Tofino Inlet
♨️Hot Springs Cove
Maquinna Marine Provincial Park
Hot Springs Cove is Tofino's most iconic day trip — a 45-minute boat or floatplane journey into Maquinna Marine Provincial Park. Natural geothermal hot springs cascade down tiered rock pools directly into the Pacific Ocean, creating an otherworldly experience of hot and cold water meeting. The trail through old-growth forest to reach the springs is itself a highlight. Boats depart daily from Tofino Harbour; floatplane tours offer a spectacular aerial perspective.
Quick Tips
- →Book boat or floatplane from Tofino Harbour
- →Trail from boat dock: 2 km each way
- →Best visited mid-week for fewer crowds
- →Bring a towel and swimsuit
🦅Wildlife & Nature
Bears · Eagles · Sea Lions · Wolves
Tofino is one of BC's premier wildlife destinations. Black bears forage on the beaches at low tide in spring and fall. Bald eagles are a daily sight overhead and in the old-growth trees. Steller sea lions haul out on offshore rocks, and river otters play in the inlet. Wolves are occasionally spotted on the more remote beaches. The surrounding Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve protects one of the largest intact temperate rainforests on earth.
Quick Tips
- →Bear watching tours available in spring/fall
- →Eagles visible year-round near the inlet
- →Sea lions at offshore rocks (boat trip)
- →Respect all wildlife — keep distances
🍽️Tofino Restaurants
Farm-to-Table · Fresh Seafood · Ocean Views
Tofino punches well above its size when it comes to dining. Wolf in the Fog (1 Michelin star) is one of Canada's most celebrated restaurants, serving creative Pacific Coast cuisine. 1909 Kitchen serves stunning seasonal menus in a heritage building. Shelter Restaurant is a Tofino institution with live music and fresh local seafood. The Spotted Bear Bistro is beloved for brunch. Rhino Coffee, local craft breweries, and the Tofino Brewing Co. round out a surprisingly vibrant food and drink scene.
Quick Tips
- →Wolf in the Fog: book well in advance
- →1909 Kitchen: dinner reservations essential
- →Shelter: great for groups and live music
- →Common Loaf Bake Shop: local favourite breakfast
🎨Arts, Culture & Shops
Galleries · Markets · First Nations Art
Tofino's small-town charm belies a thriving arts community. Eagle Aerie Gallery showcases extraordinary Coast Salish and Clayoquot Sound Indigenous art. The Tofino Botanical Gardens are a peaceful escape with native plant collections. The Tofino Public Market (summer Saturdays) offers local produce, handmade crafts, and fresh seafood. Numerous independent galleries, surf shops, and boutiques line the main street. The First Nations communities of Clayoquot Sound have deep cultural ties to the land and waters here.
Quick Tips
- →Eagle Aerie Gallery: must-visit
- →Tofino Market: Saturday mornings in summer
- →Tofino Botanical Gardens: quiet and beautiful
- →Surf shops: rentals and local gear
Ready to Experience Tofino?
Nootka Tofino puts you 2 minutes from Chesterman Beach and at the center of everything Tofino has to offer.