vancouver to tofino road trip

Arriving at Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, you'll head straight to Vancouver International Airport.Driving time (Victoria to Swartz Bay): 45 minutes (20 miles / 32 km)Ferry time (Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen): 1 hour, 15 minutesDriving time (Tsawwassen to Vancouver International Airport): 30 minutes (20 miles / 30 km), Starting and ending in Vancouver, this road trip takes you to the rugged coastline of Pacific Rim National Park. This personal information is collected for the purpose of marketing under the authority of section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Five-star hotels, quaint B&Bs, rustic campgrounds, and everything in between. Answer 1 of 12: Greetings, I will be traveling as a foot passenger from Vancouver to Nanaimo, renting a car in Nanaimo, then driving to Tofino and back. Vancouver Island Road Trip: North Island & Pacific Rim - ... West Coast Wilderness at Nimmo Bay Resort - 8 Days, Sea-to-Sky Highway: Vancouver to Whistler - 7 Days, Pacific Rim Adventure: Vancouver to Tofino - 5 Days, Sea-to-Sky Highway: Vancouver to Whistler - 5 Days, Sea-to-Sky Highway: Vancouver to Whistler - 3 Days, Whistler & Pacific Rim Road Trip - 11 Days, Whistler & Pacific Rim Road Trip - 12 Days. As you drive the 40 minutes from Ucluelet to Tofino, watch on your left for a wave-swept expanse of beach to emerge from the lush temperate rainforest. Answer 1 of 12: Greetings, I will be traveling as a foot passenger from Vancouver to Nanaimo, renting a car in Nanaimo, then driving to Tofino and back. View RV campgrounds between Vancouver and Tofino. Traveling with a dog or cat? Best Time to Visit British Columbia: Seasons, Travel Tips... Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, &... Fly-In Wilderness Adventures around Smithers, Wild Outposts of the Pacific Northwest - 10 Days, Outdoor Adventure along BC's Coastline - 14 Days, Arrive in Vancouver, Head to Parksville (3 h 30 min), Explore Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve, Victoria to Vancouver, Depart (2 h 30 min), Pacific Rim Adventure: Vancouver to Tofino Road Trip - 6 Days, Hit the trails through coastal rainforest and driftwood-strewn beaches, Delight in some of the province's best restaurants in Ucluelet and Tofino, Sea kayak through the beautiful Broken Group Islands, Watch the storms break against the rugged pacific coastline. Telephone (778) 572-5251. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Vancouver to Tofino. For an inside peek at the sea creatures who call this area home, head to the Ucluelet Aquarium. Watch for whales, harbour seals, eagles, and other wildlife—the Salish Sea is a rich marine environment. Stormy weather only adds to the drama, enjoyed only if you dress for the weather, so check conditions before you go. Too much to do in a single day? The wild west coast of Vancouver Island excites the imagination and consumes the senses. Victoria To Ladysmith. Over one million people visit the West Coast of Vancouver Island each year. One summer Mike and I set out on 15 day road trip from Edmonton to Vancouver Island and back. Sandy beaches and rocky bluffs, pounded by the open Pacific Ocean, are fringed by old-growth rainforests that recall a time when Indigenous peoples were the only humans here. First, you have to drive from Vancouver to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, and then take the 1.5-hour ferry trip with your car. It makes me wonder how many of those tourists take the time to stop and see the sights during their travels. (Remember to reserve your spot on the ferry the day before as there can be long wait times in the summer. Take an hour or two to peruse the market and adjoining stores and pick up some sustenance for the rest of your drive. Driving From Port Renfrew To Tofino. Farther south, there's Cowichan Bay, a popular stop featuring a colorful string of wooden buildings that overlook a mountain-framed ocean inlet.The elegant provincial capital of Victoria rests at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island Tours. As you enter the T-Junction to the town of Ucluelet and Tofino, you will see the Tourism & National Park Tourist Information Center. Base yourself in a wilderness lodge or cozy B&B along the coast and spend three days exploring the beaches and rainforest around Tofino and Ucluelet as well as the remote islands of Clayoquot Sound. Wherever you lay your head, you will leave Tofino refreshed and recharged, having learned something about yourself along your journey. En route, stop at the Old Country Market in Coombs to stock up on picnic supplies, from baked goods and sizeable pizzas to fresh produce and deli fixings. We had reservations on the 5:45 pm ferry from Tsawwassen to Duke Point on the last day of school. From there, you can book another ferry to BC’s rugged northwest coast (also referred to as “the Sunshine Coast”) and keep exploring. Coombs Old Country Market | @glamouraspirit_. Spend a night at the spectacular Black Rock Oceanfront Resort and wake up to the sounds of the sea. A road trip is a great way to explore Vancouver Island off Canada’s Pacific Coast. Enjoy a memorable meal as you sit on the water-view patio at Shelter Restaurant; book a table at Wolf in the Fog, named Canada’s Best New Restaurant when it opened in 2014; sample innovative cuisine with a 240-degree view overlooking the wild Pacific Ocean at The Point Restaurant; or take your day’s catch to 1909 Kitchen and have it prepared for you by chef Paul Moran, winner of 2019’s Top Chef Canada. The road to Tofino is beautiful and you will probably want to stop along the way at least a couple of times. If you’re heading straight to the west coast of the Island, there are some recommended stops long the way. Ucluelet Aquarium | Tourism Vancouver Island/Ben Giesbrecht. Tofino Road Trip Itinerary: Driving from Victoria to Tofino. Tofino is to the right, but a left turn to Ucluelet is a must-do detour. At the end of Highway 4 there is a T- junction. Your Tofino road trip begins on the eastern shores of Vancouver Island near Qualicum just north of Nanaimo. After that, it's a solid three hours driving from the seaside city of Nanaimo all the way up to Tofino, on Vancouver Island's northern tip. From Port Alberni it’s approximately a 90-minute drive to the junction of Highway 4 and the Tofino/Ucluelet Highway. Don’t be surprised to see whales if you’re out on the water—orcas, grey whales, humpbacks, and minkes all frequent these waters, and from April through October, black bears can be seen foraging along the shoreline. Some cute little shops and ideal to grab a bite and admire this magnificent view over Vancouver Island’s longest inland waterway! Trip to Victoria, Nanaimo and Tofino – 5 Days in Vancouver Island Craigdarroch Castle A national historic site and a unique place to visit in the city of Victoria, the Castle is a piece of history from the Victorian Era, built by a coal baron. Vancouver to Tofino road trip planner. Harbour Air seaplane with Vancouver in the background | Harbour Air. Pacific Rim Adventure: Vancouver to Tofino Road Trip - 6 ... Vancouver Island Road Trip: Salt Spring & Pacific Rim - 1... Canadian Rockies Road Trip: Banff, Lake Louise, & Jasper ... Calgary to Vancouver Road Trip: Banff, Revelstoke, Nelson... How Many Days Should You Spend in British Columbia? As you approach Kennedy Lake, watch for West Coast Wild at Ha’uukmin Tribal Park. Being … 2020-09-17. First, you have to drive from Vancouver to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, and then take the 1.5-hour ferry trip with your car. Base yourself in a wilderness lodge or cozy B&B along the coast and spend three days exploring the beaches and rainforest around Tofino and Ucluelet as well as the remote islands of Clayoquot Sound. It’s not too far distance-wise (317km) but there are a lot of amazing places to stop along the way. Tofino is a west coast town on Vancouver Island, known for its surf culture and relaxing ocean vibe. At this unique and enviro-friendly facility, all the sealife on display is gathered from local waters and released at the end of each season. Find your way on foot to the Inner Harbor, a busy waterway surrounded by the city's top sights and best restaurants, and the perfect spot to begin exploring the city. After that, it's a solid three hours driving from the seaside city of Nanaimo all the way up to Tofino, on Vancouver Island's northern tip. )From Nanaimo, it's just over a thirty-minute drive to Parksville, a quaint oceanside town with fantastic beaches and a popular spot to overnight before exploring more of the island. Too see how the land and Indigenous stories translate into art, visit the renowned Roy Henry Vickers Gallery. Check the BC ferry schedule here. Ukee, as it’s know locally, is also a great place to book fishing charters, and it’s a popular departure point for kayakers heading to the remote Broken Group Islands. See our Privacy Policy for details on the storage of personal information outside of Canada. Camping along the way? Once in Parksville, simply enjoy the fresh sea air or take a short drive along Highway 4 to two popular highlights of the Pacific Rim Highway—Cathedral Grove where you can find ancient and enormous Douglas fir and Western red cedar and Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park for those that love waterfalls.Driving time (Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay): 30 minutes (12 miles / 20 km)Ferry time (Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay): 1 hour, 45 minutesDriving time (Departure Bay to Parksville): 45 minutes (23 miles / 36.4 km), Follow the Pacific Rim Highway to Vancouver Island's west coast. Covered in lush temperate rainforest, surrounded by pods of killer whales, inhabited by very few humans and resident to many genera of flora and fauna, Vancouver Island is a beautiful introduction, or farewell, to your road trip around Canada. Find out where we hid letter #1 here: https://youtu.be/BxdwosCVDz4Hey Adventurers! Pacific Coastal Airlines can get you there from the Vancouver International Airport‘s South Terminal. 7 Days in British Columbia: 5 Unique Itineraries, 10 Days in British Columbia: 6 Unique Itineraries, 14 Days in British Columbia: 5 Unique Itineraries, Make the Most of Your Time in British Columbia. Traveling with a dog or cat? The Island’s east coast boasts a prolific food and wine region to the south, as well as BC’s capital city of Victoria. Arrive early and stroll the scenic village of Horseshoe Bay ahead of your 90-minute ferry crossing to Nanaimo. Drive south on Highway 4 to Ucluelet, a small town on the northern edge of Barkley Sound that offers all of the same pursuits as in Tofino, but on a quieter scale. Book a whale-watching or a bear-watching tour to greatly increase your chances of an encounter. A playground is right down by the water front and also an amazing ice cream/candy shop. The road to Tofino is beautiful and you will probably want to stop along the way at least a couple of times. A direct trip will take around 5.5 hours but is likely to take slightly longer as you factor in some rest stops along the way. Tofino on the exposed west coast of Vancouver Island (not covered in this road trip) gets some pretty wicked storms. Vancouver Island Road Trip Itinerary – Ucluelet & Tofino. Book an Indigenous canoe tour  or take a water taxi to nearby Meares Island to see some of BC’s oldest, biggest trees and learn about the significance of this natural landscape to the local Nuu-chah-nulth people. Plan to arrive at the ferry terminal at … One of the most popular road trips runs from Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city, to Tofino, a small coastal village along the western edge of the island. Freshly foraged mushrooms, for example, are a much-loved seasonal delicacy here. 89 km | 1.5 hours. 2020-09-17 Over one million people visit the West Coast of Vancouver Island each year. Whether you’re beachcombing along seemingly endless stretches of sand or finding serenity in the rainforest, taking a surf lesson on Chesterman Beach or taking a boat or seaplane to soak in the healing waters of Hot Springs Cove, the power of nature is evident. British Columbia Circuit: Whistler, Shuswap, & Okanagan V... Okanagan Valley Road Trip: Wine & Outdoors - 5 Days, British Columbia Self-Drive Tours & Itineraries, Great Bear Rainforest & Chilcotin Coast Road Trip - 20 Days. Our road trip from Victoria to Port Hardy covered 365 miles one way. Want to arrive quickly? Spanning 165km the Pacific Rim Highway, nicknamed Canada’s Surf Highway passes through stunning landscapes. This year, the Island called to us again! The next don’t-miss opportunity to stretch your legs is MacMillan Provincial Park, also known as Cathedral Grove for its majestic stands of Douglas fir and Western red cedars, some as many as 800 years old. Tofino is one of the island’s most popular spots, but the surf town can be a bit tricky to get to by plane due to the airport’s short runway and landings that are commonly interrupted by fog cover. Opt first for the 1.6-mile (2.6-km) Lighthouse Loop that starts from He-tin-kis Park south of Ucluelet. Book into a cozy lodge, snuggle up in a blanket by … And if you are driving, you have to travel the approximate 207 km from Nanaimo to Tofino. Vancouver Island road trip itinerary: Central Vancouver Island Map showing the driving route for Central Vancouver Island . Book into a cozy lodge, snuggle up in a blanket by … So wicked that they’re wild to watch. From here you leave the Island Highway turning off onto highway 4 beginning your westward journey. Traveling back up the coast toward Tofino, try a couple of other routes: the 3-mile (5 km) Nuu-chah-nulth Trail, a historical loop that opens up to the beach; one of the two half-mile (1 km) Rainforest trails that offer views of towering western red cedar and hemlock, birds, streams, and massive ferns; or the Combers Trail, where a short walk leads to a shell- and driftwood-strewn expanse of beach—great to explore at low tide. Some of the short, looped trails are easily walkable and some are wheelchair accessible. En route, stop at Little Qualicum Falls as well as  Cathedral Grove to walk through one of British Columbia's oldest forests, with centuries-old Douglas Firs. The park’s meandering trails allow visitors to get up close, and even touch, these massive trees, which can get up to 9 metres (30 feet) in circumference. Watch for scenic pull-outs and rest areas while enjoying the scenery. Join over 2 Million Adventurers Already Connected. Wondering where to stretch your legs between Vancouver and Tofino? On this Vancouver Island Road Trip, you’ll taste the Nanaimo Bar Trail, marvel at giant trees, beach comb at a National Park, hike in a rainforest, go surfing in Tofino, see the capital city and spot whales in the wild. The first section of the drive meanders along the shores of Sproat Lake. Where most Vancouver Island road trip itineraries concentrate on the south west region around Tofino, this route took us along the island’s east cost, featuring a selection of the great things to do on Vancouver Island. Here is the overview of this road trip (don’t worry, PLENTY of details below): Day 1: Arrive in Victoria and head to Salt Spring Island Day 2: Road trip to Tofino Day 3: Exploring the Tofino highlights Day 4: Day trip to beautiful Ucluelet Day 5: More Tofino, featuring wildlife, water taxis, and hikes Day 6: Tofino to Victoria road trip It's also a good place to check which trails are open or closed. First, you have to drive from Vancouver to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, and then take the 1.5-hour ferry trip with your car. Enter your email address below to receive seasonal travel information from Destination British Columbia including trip ideas, great places to go and fun things to do on vacation in BC. Tofino on the exposed west coast of Vancouver Island (not covered in this road trip) gets some pretty wicked storms. Ucluelet – Tofino. A small city of 380,000, Victoria has retained elements of its British heritage, from double-decker buses and high tea to formal gardens (its top attraction is the world-renowned Butchart Gardens). Nanaimo is a great jumping off point for Vancouver Island travel. You can’t help but relax here, and just be in the moment. Or for a more intimate sleep, book one of the four boutique rooms at Pluvio restaurant + rooms. With its laid-back vibe, Tofino is one of the top places to visit on Vancouver Island and a popular haven for surfers, families, and city-escaping Vancouverites, The town sits at the end of the long and narrow Esowista Peninsula on sheltered Clayoquot Sound and has a wide range of great restaurants and outdoor activities, such as whale and bear watching, sea kayaking, and coastal hikes. Visitors to British Columbia can arrive by air, road, rail, or ferry. © 2021 – Destination BC Corp. All rights reserved. So wicked that they’re wild to watch. Instead, many travellers choose to take a ferry or fly from Vancouver to the city of Nanaimo, then make the three-hour drive to Tofino from there. No trip to the west coast of Vancouver Island is complete without a walk along Ucluelet’s iconic Wild Pacific Trail. Sound like fun? Watch giant swells crash against the rugged coastline at Amphitrite Point lighthouse. Vancouver Island Road Trip 5 day itinerary. “Super, Natural British Columbia”, “Super, Natural”, “Hello BC” and “Visitor Centre” and all associated logos/trade-marks are trade-marks or Official Marks of Destination BC Corp. Search Hello BC for activities, events, places and more, Tofino is one of those places that has the ability to. Getting to this remote stretch of coastline is an important part of the journey. Answer 11 of 12: Greetings, I will be traveling as a foot passenger from Vancouver to Nanaimo, renting a car in Nanaimo, then driving to Tofino and back. Day 3 – Take the ferry to Victoria The road trip begins on Day 3, when you catch a morning ferry from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal (Vancouver) to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal (Victoria). Know what to expect in communities across the province. Amongst the Douglas-fir at Cathedral Grove. But if time permits, there’s nothing like a Vancouver to Tofino road trip. Indeed, storm watching in Tofino is popular. The unfortunate thing about venturing across the central region is that you will have to backtrack a lot of miles from Tofino. Big Tree Trail on Meares Island | Jeremy Koreski. And if you are driving, you have to travel the approximate 207 km from Nanaimo to Tofino. From here, you can either turn left to visit Ucluelet or right to head straight to Tofino (Ucluelet is about 10 minutes down the road and is a quieter, smaller version of Tofino). View pet-friendly stops between Calgary and Tofino. Tofino is one of the island’s most popular spots, but the surf town can be a bit tricky to get to by plane due to the airport’s short runway and landings that are commonly interrupted by fog cover. Keep an eye out for gray whales that feed here through the summer as well as other sea creatures that frequent the area. First up, the eclectic Coombs Old Country Market, known for its resident roof-top goats. Devote the morning to a sea kayaking tour in the regional waters around Tofino; you can stick close to the coast with an easy two and a half-hour paddle, or, for something more extreme, set out into Clayoquot Sound for Vargas Island on a six-hour ocean paddle adventure. There are also a number of day trips from Tofino by hired zodiac or seaplane (tours depart late morning and early afternoon) to places such as Maquinna Marine Provincial Park.

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