Which Is Better Tofino Or Ucluelet: Visiting & Staying Guide
Are you wondering which is better Tofino or Ucluelet? I can help you out.
Tofino has always been one of the top places people want to visit when travelling to British Columbia. Meanwhile, uniquely and equally beautiful, Ucluelet tends to be “second best” to her sister town.
However, while I’ve been to both Ucluelet and Tofino, most people have Tofino top of mind, and honestly, Tofino is more known worldwide, I personally prefer Ucluelet.
But I know you’re here to know which location is better. While, as I mentioned, Tofino tends to be preferred, and I’ve got to say “better” than Ucluelet, both towns are better in their own way, depending on what you’re looking for in a vacation.
Which Is Better Tofino Or Ucluelet
Before discussing the details of Tofino and Ucluelet, here’s a brief overview of the history of both towns.
Tofino
Tofino is on the territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations. In the 1850s, the first non-Indigenous settlers built a trading post in Tofino, and slowly, the population began to grow.
Fast-forward in history: The (logging) road to Port Alberni from Tofino and Ucluelet was completed in 1959, exponentially increasing Tofino’s population and visitation.
Ucluelet
Ucluelet is on the territory of the Yuu-tluth-aht First Nations. In 1787, Captain James Barkley arrived near Ucluelet Harbour in search of sea otter pelts.
In 1870, fur sealers settled in Ucluelet, which grew into a bustling small town. Fishing was the most profitable in Ucluelet in Florencia Bay, and the industry grew.
Pros And Cons Between Tofino And Ucluelet
While my overall experience in Tofino and Ucluelet was positive, there are a couple of pros and cons. This will be a brief list and description.
Tofino Pro: More Options With Outdoor Recreational Activities
Tofino has the edge regarding things to do because there are more beaches nearby to do water activities.
Tofino Pro: More Places To Eat & Stay
Tofino also has the upper hand when it comes to eating and accommodation because it’s a larger town.
Ucluelet Pro: Is More Walkable To Get To Places
While the Tofino town area is walkable, getting to popular beaches requires driving. In Ucluelet, because the town is smaller, it’s easier to walk to locations unless you’re going to one of the bigger beaches.
Ucluelet Pro Or Con: Not As Busy As Tofino
While my boyfriend and I went during the off-season, we found that Tofino still had more people around than Ucluelet. But this could also be a con if you want somewhere more lively, like Tofino.
Tofino & Ucluelet Con: Expensive
Tofino and Ucluelet are both expensive to stay in, especially during the high tourist season in the summer. However, Ucluelet can be slightly cheaper.
Differences Between Tofino And Ucluelet
These are some of the differences between Tofino and Ucluelet. While they’re a 38-minute drive apart, accommodations, places to eat, and activities and attractions differ between the two.
Beauty Of Nature
Both towns are beautiful because they’re surrounded by forests and the ocean, but they differ in terrain.
Tofino has more beach space and easier access to the ocean, with little rocky shorelines. On the other hand, Ucluelet has rugged terrain, rocky shorelines, and fewer beaches.
I found that Tofino was lovely, but I preferred the beauty of Ucluelet.
Accommodations
One major difference between Tofino and Ucluelet is the accommodations.
My boyfriend and I stayed in both towns during the off-season. While we were there, we found that Tofino had more foot traffic than Ucluelet. So, if you visit during the high tourist season, there will likely be more people staying in Tofino than in Ucluelet.
Tofino
Tofino has more accommodation options. Prices tend to be more expensive in Tofino than in Ucluelet, but prices fluctuate. Also, there are more options for places to stay if you’re looking for beachfront accommodations.
💎 Long Beach Lodge
Long Beach Lodge is located on the edge of Cox Bay Beach. The high-end boutique hotel has 41 rooms with either oceanfront or rainforest views or cottages in the forest.
⚖️ Middle Beach Lodge
The Middle Beach Lodge is a beautiful rustic lodge on a peninsula between Middle Beach and Mackenzie Beach. The 40-acre land on which the adult-only lodge sits has oceanfront views or views of the forest.
Ucluelet
While Ucluelet does have a handful of accommodation options, as I said, Tofino has more. Again, we also found the prices in Ucluelet slightly cheaper but not by much.
💎 Black Rock Oceanfront Resort
The Black Rock Oceanfront Resort is on top of a small cliffside and offers stunning oceanfront views. The hotel is ideal for couples and families, as it’s one of the only places with a small outdoor pool. There’s also an on-site restaurant called Currents.
⚖️ Bayshore Waterfront Inn
If you’re looking for mid-range (depending on the time of year) budget-friendly accommodation, the Bayshore Waterfront Inn has friendly staff, is within walking distance of the town and has free parking.
Where To Eat
While Ucluelet has some places to eat, Tofino will have the edge over Ucluelet because it offers more options for choosing where to eat.
We were trying to save some money, so we ate out occasionally. But we got recommendations from locals who live in Ucluelet and Tofino.
Tofino
Tofino has a handful of restaurants you can try; these are the most popular locations.
Tacofino Food Truck
One of the most popular — if not the most popular location in Tofino is the Tacofino Food Truck (you may notice that there are also restaurants in Vancouver and Victoria). It serves Mexican-inspired food with a West Coast surfer twist.
Their most popular items are fish tacos and fish burritos. Do keep in mind that when you buy tacos or gringas, they’re priced as a single item. If you don’t know how many to get, two is a snack, and three to four is a meal.
My boyfriend and I liked the pork gringas. (I used to work for Tacofino, so I’ve already tried many of their staples.)
Rhino Coffee House
When my boyfriend and I arrived in Tofino in the evening, Rhino Coffee House was one of the first places we went to. However, we went there 10 minutes before closing, and they were cleaning, so we only ordered hot drinks.
Overall, many people like to go to Rhino Coffee House, and most seem to buy breakfast sandwiches, wraps, or donuts.
Wolf In The Fog
One of the most well-known restaurants in Tofino is Wolf In A Fog. They’re a seafood restaurant that uses local ingredients, including freshly caught fish and chanterelle mushrooms foraged in the nearby forest. Most people like ordering cocktails, oysters, and fresh fish.
Ucluelet
Ucluelet, while smaller, has a handful of options for places to eat.
Shipwreck Pizza
One place we ate out for dinner was Shipwreck Pizza, which was recommended to us. We enjoyed it. We thought the pizza was delicious and a good size for the two of us to share with another side dish.
We sat in, and it’s a small location, so there’s not much seating inside. If it’s a sunny day, I recommend takeout.
Jiggers
The food truck Jiggers is an excellent place to enjoy fresh, crispy fish and chips. Many reviews enjoyed the large portion, the side of coleslaw, and the friendly service. We wanted to try it, but it was closed the day we wanted to go.
Heartwood Kitchen
Heartwood Kitchen is an excellent choice for a brunch spot. On a nice day, you can sit out on the patio and enjoy their popular menu item, eggs benedict.
Activities And Attraction
Both Tofino and Ucluelet have attractions and outdoor activities unique to the towns.
Tofino
Tofino is worth visiting because of the many activities you can do on the many beaches or outside the town.
Surfing
Surfing is, without a doubt, the number one reason many people visit Tofino. It’s known as the surf capital of Canada, where you can find large and consistent swells for most of the year.
There are also many beaches in Tofino to surf at, including Long Beach, Cox Bay Beach, Wickannish Beach, and Chesterman Beach, which brings me to my next location to check out.
Chesterman Beach
Chesterman Beach is a backward-shaped checkmark and was the first beach my boyfriend and I checked out of when we were in Tofino. It was during low tide, so the water was way out, and much of the beach was exposed to walk along.
There were people kayaking, surfing, and walking their dogs on the shore. It was honestly one of my favourite beaches in Tofino.
Hot Springs Cove
I also recommend you check out Hot Springs Cove, especially if you have more than 3 days in Tofino. I wish I had known about it when I went there, but hopefully, I’ll check it out when I go back there one day.
Only accessible by boat or seaplane, the Hot Springs Cove tour is led by a guide through Maquinna Marine Provincial Park, with old-growth forest surrounding you until you reach the hot springs, which have varying temperatures (closer to the ocean, not as hot).
Ucluelet
Ucluelet is a quieter town, so there’s not much going on compared to Tofino, but Ucluelet is worth visiting for these locations.
Ucluelet Light House Loop (Amphitrite Point)
My favourite thing that we did in Ucluelet was the Ucluelet Lighthouse Loop. It’s an easy loop trail with gravel along the main trail. It’s also wheelchair friendly. There are many viewpoints along the trail and other spots to check out.
You can park in the lot directly near the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse (the wheelchair-friendly lot) or in the first lot when you drive in on Coast Guard Drive.
Ucluelet Aquarium
An excellent place to take children or learn about the local marine wildlife, the Ucluelet Aquarium has a unique way of educating visitors.
They’re a collect-and-release aquarium. They apply for a proper permit from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and the permit dictates which animals they’re allowed to collect, where they are from, and how many.
The aquarium collects the marine animals from Barkley and Clayoquot Sound during February. Once collected, they acclimate the marine animals at the aquarium. Most stay for around nine months, but some are released back into the wild earlier, depending on their needs.
According to the aquarium, before any animal is released, it must be declared healthy by a veterinarian. Then, it’s returned to where it was first collected.
Other neat and interesting facts about the Ucluelet Aquarium are also available, so I recommend checking them out when they’re open for the season.
They’re open from March 1st to November 30th from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM (4:00 PM being the last entry) and during holidays in those months.
Big Beach
We stumbled upon Big Beach on a drive around. We happened to be there near sunset, and it was so beautiful.
Big Beach is a picnic beach, so there were people with campfires (be sure to check for fire bans) making hot dogs. There are also picnic tables further up on the grass area. It’s also a point on the Wild Pacific Trail.
Things They Share In Common
These are the things that Tofino and Ucluelet share in common.
Long Beach
One of the most famous beaches on the West Coast of Vancouver Island is Long Beach. It’s the longest and largest beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. It connects with Combers Beach; from there, you can walk to the end of Wickannish Beach.
Whale Watching
Whale watching is something that’s almost always a guaranteed sighting on the coast of British Columbia. While whale watching is year-round, depending on the months you visit will determine what type of whales you’ll see.
For example, humpback whales can be seen from July to October, orcas (killer whales) from April to November, and grey whales from April to June.
How To Get To Tofino And Ucluelet
There are a few ways to get to Tofino and Ucluelet from the mainland. The easiest way is to fly to Tofino-Long Beach Airport (YAZ), but while it’s the fastest, it can be expensive.
The most common way people travel to Tofino and Ucluelet is by taking the ferry from the mainland and driving the 2 hours and 55 minutes from Nanaimo to Tofino or Ucluelet.
💡 Note: If you’re driving to get to Tofino, once you reach the end at the fork, you’ll turn right for Tofino and left for Ucluelet.
You can also take a shuttle; however, while it’s the least expensive way to get to Tofino and Ucluelet, it will take the longest.
Conclusion
As you can see, Tofino does have the slight advantage of being “better” and is the first place people want to visit. However, Ucluelet also deserves to be on the list of must-see places on Vancouver Island.
Have a good day 🙂
