3 Days In Tofino Itinerary
One of the most popular places on Vancouver Island is Tofino. Because of its surfing beaches and beauty, Tofino is known worldwide as one of the best places to surf in Canada.
Having been to Tofino before, while it’s a small town, I can help you with a jam-packed 3 days in Tofino itinerary that willl make the most of your time and get you to all the popular spots.
Quick Overview
Below is a quick overview of what you can expect this 3-day itinerary to look like before going into more detail.
Day 1 — Travel Day
- Grab Coffee and Lunch From Rhino Coffee House
- Chesterman Beach
- Cox Bay Beach/Cox Bay Beach Lookout
- Dinner at Shed
Day 2 — Adventure
- Coffee from Tofino Coffee Roasting Company | Cafe
- Take a Tour to Hot Springs Cove
- Dinner at Wolf In The Fog
Day 3 — Outdoor Day
- Coffee from Tofino Coffeehouse & Take Surfing Lessons
- Lunch at Tacofino
- Walk Along Long Beach Until Wickannish Beach
- Dinner at Jeju
3 Days In Tofino Itinerary
Here are more details on what to do on your three days in Tofino. Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay for parking when you visit any beaches.
Day 1 — Travel Day
Day one is usually the most disorienting because it’s a travel day, and it all depends on when you arrive at a location, which will determine what you do for the day. So day one is the day to get your barrings and explore a little bit of Tofino.
Once you reach Tofino, you’ll probably be in the mood for a coffee or tea break. I recommend heading to Rhino Coffee House.
Rhino Coffee House was the first place we visited when we got into Tofino. But we went 10 minutes before closing and could only order drinks because the kitchen was closed.
Anyway, we enjoyed the drinks. But if you’re looking for something to eat, people like their breakfast sandwiches, wraps, and donuts.
Next on the list for the day is Chesterman Beach. Personally, I think Chesterman Beach was my favourite beach we visited in Tofino. It’s a backward checkmark-shaped beach, and there was a lot of beach to walk along.
You can also walk to Frank Island. However, it’s technically private property, so you shouldn’t walk around on it.
The next beach you can explore is Cox Bay Beach. It’s one of the best beaches to storm-watch in Tofino. Cox Bay Beach is also popular with surfers of all levels and hosts surfing competitions.
There’s also the Cox Bay Beach Lookout. It’s considered a moderate trail and will take about an hour to reach the top. Make sure to wear the proper hiking shoes and watch out for tree roots and rocks.
For dinner, head to Shed. Known for their burgers, bowls, and brews, the family-friendly restaurant is an excellent choice. They use locally sourced products and poultry from Vancouver Island and British Columbia.
Day 2 — Adventure
Wake up early before your excursion, and grab a cup of coffee and a freshly baked pastry from Tofino Coffee Roasting Company | Cafe. Don’t forget to buy a bag of coffee beans available to buy if you enjoyed their coffee.
I wish I had known about the Hot Springs Cove Tour before going to Tofino, but hopefully, I’ll do it when I go back to Tofino one day.
The 6-hour tour includes a 1.5-hour boat ride to Maquinna Marine Provincial Park and back, a 2-kilometre hike to the geothermal hot springs, and two hours at the hot springs.
Some items to bring:
- Gravol (Canadian brand for motion sickness tablets) or Dramamine
- Dress warm and for the (rainy) weather
- Proper and comfortable footwear
- Water
- Towel and swimwear
- Sandals (Teva or equivalent are recommended)
- Snacks/lunch
Since the tour will take most of your day, take a break or a nap before heading to dinner at Wolf in the Fog.
One of the most well-known restaurants in Tofino, Wolf in the Fog offers fresh and local food, from freshly caught fish to forged chanterelle mushrooms in the nearby forest, paired with local or imported wine or cocktails, mocktails, and beer.
Day 3 — Outdoor Day
Since it’ll be your last full day in Tofino, start the day with a cup of coffee from Harbourview Coffeehouse before taking surf lessons at one of Tofino’s surf schools.
Of course, what makes Tofino worth visiting is watching the people surf or taking surf lessons in the “surf capital of Canada.”
There are many surf schools in Tofino. These are the most reviewed and highly rated surf schools:
- Pacific Surf School
- Tofino Surf School
- Surf Sister Surf School
- Swell Tofino
- Tofino Paddle Surf
- Tofino Surf Adventure
If you’ve never been surfing before or if you’re going to try it out for the first time, don’t worry; instructors won’t take you to the big waves.
While I haven’t surfed in Tofino yet, I did surf in Oahu for the first time, and it was one of the highlights of my trip. So, if you’re on the fence or nervous about trying out surfing, I highly recommend doing it.
Once you had fun surfing, head to one of Tofino’s top hotspots, the Tacofino Food Truck. It’s Mexican-inspired with a twist of West Coast and California beach-style food.
Having worked at one of the Tacofino restaurants (the truck is the original location where it all started), I tried almost all of the menu’s classic and most popular items. I do want to note that the tacos and gringas are individually priced.
I recommend the fish tacos and burritos as they’re the most popular items on the menu. However, my boyfriend and I ordered the pork and chicken gringas at the food truck, and we enjoyed them. If you’re wondering how many tacos to order, two is a snack, and three to four is a meal.
Next on the list is to walk along Long Beach until the end, from the top of Long Beach to the Kwisitis Visitor Centre—which you should visit. I believe it’s free when you show your parking pass, and it’s located at the end of Wickiannish Beach.
You could also continue from Wickannish Beach to the South Beach trail, where you can find two of the 10 best beaches in Tofino. They’re smaller beaches that are tucked away from crowds.
Last but not least, enjoy your last meal in Tofino at Jeju, a Korean restaurant that serves excellent food.
If you haven’t had Korean food before, one of my favourite dishes is Japchae.
This stir-fried sweet potato noodle dish can be served hot, cold, or at room temperature with a mix of vegetables and meat; Jeju uses pork loin.
Another dish to try is Bibimbap, a rice dish with vegetables, an egg, bulgogi (beef), and gochujang sauce. Or Galbi, a Korean BBQ CAB short rib aged for 35 days.
Have Extra Time?
If you have extra time in your itinerary, I highly recommend the 38-minute drive to Ucluelet. While it’s the “less popular” sister town of Tofino, Ucluelet is worth visiting as it has an opposite atmosphere and vibe.
Some places you should check out if you have time to visit Ucluelet:
- Ucluelet Lighthouse Loop (Amphitrite Point Lighthouse)
- Big Beach
- Walk the Wild Pacific Trail
- Ucluelet Aquarium
I also recommend going on a whale-watching tour. The coast of British Columbia is one of the best locations to see whales during the migration season.
You’re almost always guaranteed to see whales and other marine life. The most popular whale you’ll likely see is the orca, also known as a killer whale, and possibly humpback and grey whales.
Dogs In Tofino
If you’re bringing a dog, Tofino is dog-friendly. However, Combers Beach has a dog ban from April 1st to October 1st every year (doesn’t apply to service dogs) to limit the disturbance of migratory shorebirds.
The ban also applies to Sandhill Creek, Green Point Rocks, Combers Beach Trial, and the boardwalk access to Combers Beach from the Green Point Campground.
💡 Note: All dogs must be on leash in parks and beaches.
How To Get To Tofino From Vancouver
While there are a few options to get to Tofino, the best way to get to Tofino from Vancouver is by ferry and then driving.
You’ll want to take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal in West Vancouver to Nanaimo (Departure Bay). Then you’ll want to drive 2 hours and 54 minutes to Tofino.
The fastest way to get Tofino is by flying. You can take a Harbour Air seaplane from Coal Harbour in Downtown Vancouver to Tofino, and it will be a 50-minute flight duration.
The cheapest but longest way to get to Tofino is by shuttle bus. The shuttle bus only runs from March to October and departs from Tofino on certain days. The buses run from Victoria to Tofino with stops in between, so if you want to shave off some of the six-hour and 35-minute bus ride from Victoria, I’d hop on at Nanaimo.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Tofino
Tofino is a destination where you can visit year-round. However, the best time to visit is in the summer, from June to August. But with that being said, those are the high tourist season months, and prices tend to be more expensive.
I recommend going in the off-season from January to April. We visited in April, and we lucked out with the weather. However, we enjoyed how quiet it was in Tofino and Ucluelet, with fewer tourists and more reasonable prices.
Where To Stay In Tofino
These are some options for where to stay in Tofino. Prices can be expensive during the high tourist season (summer).
Middle Beach Lodge
The Middle Beach Lodge is on a beautiful peninsula between Middle Beach and Mackenzie Beach. With 20 self-contained rustic cabins, two lodges, and treehouses, the 40-acre property is an excellent location for those looking for a secluded and quiet stay.
Long Beach Lodge Resort
One of Tofino’s top boutique hotels has 42 rooms and 20 cottages, all located steps away from Cox Bay Beach. Long Beach Lodge Resort rooms include luxurious bathroom amenities, bathrobes, and waterproof rain jackets. There’s also a Surf Club Adventure Centre on-site.
Conclusion
As you can see, you can pack a lot into three days in Tofino. Enjoy exploring the forest, taking surfing lessons for the first time, eating locally sourced food, and possibly even storm-watching in Tofino.
Have a good day 🙂
