| | | |

Tofino Long Weekend Itinerary

If you are looking for a great long weekend trip from mainland British Columbia, there is no better option than a weekend in Tofino, a beach town on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Year round, this destination offers unparalleled natural beauty and great food, with lots of adventure in store. Here, you’ll find windswept beaches and temperate rainforests, tidepools, surfing, and incredible sunsets.

A rocky Tofino coastline with dense evergreen forest, ocean waves, and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
West coast Vancouver Island views.

How to get to Tofino

The main way to get to Tofino is to take a car ferry operated by BC Ferries from Tsawwassen (1 hour south of downtown Vancouver) or from Horseshoe Bay (~1 hour north of downtown Vancouver). You’ll want to take the ferry to Nanaimo (you could also go from Victoria, but it would add a few hours to the trip). There is also a passenger only (no cars) fast ferry from downtown Vancouver to Nanaimo (111 km north of Victoria) operated by Hullo, at which point you could rent a car (You can check out rental car options here). The ferry plus the drive takes anywhere from 5-6 hours.

Alternatively, you can fly. Harbour Air, a Vancouver based seaplane company, operates flights between downtown Vancouver as well as Vancouver International Airport (YVR) directly to different parts of Vancouver Island, including direct flights to Tofino. This is the fastest but most expensive way to get to the island, arriving in less than an hour.

Due to the remoteness of the area and the lack of public transit across the island, having a personal vehicle is highly recommended.

A marina with boats, docks, and a ferry terminal set against mountains and blue sky on a clear day.
Ferry Terminal in Horseshoe Bay.

Where to stay

While there is plenty of accommodation, whether that be airBnBs or hotels, you may find cheaper options in nearby Ucluelet, which is gorgeous in it’s own right, just slightly less developed than Tofino.

Day 1 – Slow travel to Tofino

Either fly or ferry and drive to Tofino. If driving, after arriving on the ferry it take 3 hours from Nanaimo, 4.5 hours from Victoria, or 5 hours from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. Take your time and make this a travel day. Stop at pulloffs and viewpoints along the way, enjoying the ride. Some places to consider stopping at along the way include Little Qualicum Falls Park, Port Alberni for a meal, and the Taylor River rest area, which has crystal blue waters. For the adventurous and if you have a bit more time, the famous 5040 Peak, which is a very steep 7km hike to a mountain with incredible views is an option. If doing this, I would recommend adding an extra day/night and staying near Port Alberni.

When you finally make it to the coast, grab dinner in Tofino at Big Daddy’s Fish Fry and watch the sunset. Check in to your hotel and rest up for your adventure.

Two baskets of fried fish and fries with tartar sauce, garnished with lemon wedges, on a wooden table with a side of coleslaw.
Fish and chips at Big Daddy’s
Sunset over a beach with gentle waves, rocky outcrops, and a tree-lined shoreline; two people walk near the waters edge.
A classic Tofino sunset

Day 2 – Watersports in Tofino & Pacific Rim National Park

Grab donuts and coffee at the popular Rhino Coffee house.

In the morning, get in the water – Tofino is known for it’s great surf! Consider taking a lesson or renting a board for the day at Swell Tofino. If surfing isn’t your thing, you can check out a night stand up paddleboard activity or rent kayaks. If visiting in the winter months, stormwatching is incredibly popular as an alternative activity.

Stop for a quick to-go lunch at Wildside Bistro before heading out in the afternoon to take an easy walk in the rainforest in Pacific Rim National Park. The Rainforest Trail offers a quiet and beautiful respite.

Grab dinner at Shelter Bistro. Make sure to make a reservation to snag some gorgeous seaside views!

A hand holding a chocolate-frosted donut with white drizzle, with two iced coffees on a glass table outside.
Donuts at Rhino
Wooden Welcome to Tofino sign with bird art, flanked by two carved posts, surrounded by rocks, grass, and flowering trees.
Tofino Sign
Person in a wetsuit stands on a sandy beach holding a surfboard above their head with the ocean and blue sky in the background.
Surfing
Wooden boardwalk path winds through a dense, sunlit forest with stairs leading upward among trees and greenery.
Rainforest trail

Day 3 – Whale watching and lighthouse hike

In the morning, sign up for a whale watching tour (March through October only) in order to see these magical creatures up close. If it isn’t the season, consider a unique adventure by booking a tour to Hot Spring Cove – only accessible by boat and with an organized tour group, as this land is managed by the indigenous community. This will be a nearly full day adventure, so make sure you have a big breakfast and lunch packed before heading out.

In the afternoon, do as the locals and tourists do and grab tacos at the famed original Tacofino taco truck.

If you are not doing a day outing as listed above and have some daylight still, head over to Ucluelet and hike the Wild Pacific Trail Lighthouse Loop to the Ucluelet Lighthouse for spectacular sea views. If out of time on Day 3, consider this activity for the morning of Day 4 before driving back to the ferry.

Visit Ucluelet Brewing Company for dinner.

A red-roofed lighthouse stands on a rocky coastline with trees, overlooking the blue ocean under a clear sky.
Ucluelet Lighthouse as viewed from the Pacific Trail Lighthouse Loop.

Day 4 – Head back to the ferry

Start the long but scenic drive back to Nanaimo or Victoria, depending on which ferry you booked. Stop for fantastic sushi at Nori Japanese Restaurant in Nanaimo (reservations recommended!).

A platter of assorted sushi rolls garnished with fish roe, sliced lemon, and served with wasabi, pickled ginger, and a cup of tea.
Sushi at Nori in Nanaimo.

If you are looking to extend your long weekend, consider spending some time in Victoria, or taking the ferry over to the Sunshine Coast before looping back to Vancouver.

If you are looking for more adventures beyond that, check out:

A surfer carrying a surfboard walks along a wide sandy beach with waves and a forested shoreline in the background under a blue sky.
A surfer enjoying the vast beach in Tofino.

Rebecca runs The Adventure Beckons, a travel and outdoor adventure blog based in Vancouver, British Columbia. As an experienced traveler to over 40 countries and counting, she provides her readers with practical travel itineraries from day trips to multi-week adventures. She strives to balance nature and hiking with the must-see tourist highlights that are genuinely worth your time and money.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *