The Perfect 3-days in Tofino for a First-timer!
With it's gorgeous beaches, accessible hikes and delicious food, Tofino is an outdoor adventure lover's dream destination!
Quick Facts
When to visit if you're hoping for...
Warm, sunny weather
July and August are the best months to visit Tofino if you're hoping for clear skies and higher temperatures. The weather in Tofino is still very unpredictable but you're most likely to experience nice weather in the summer. Note: August weather is a bit of a gamble as it can be very foggy and smoky, depending on the year.
Fewer people
June and September are great months to visit if you're searching for slightly smaller crowds. These months are still considered "high season" but tend to have less visitors than July and August (especially on weekdays) while still having a chance of nice sunny weather (although not guaranteed).
Affordable accommodations
Off-season October-April is a great time to visit Tofino if you're hoping for cheaper accommodations and last minute bookings. If you're okay with rain and fog, these are great months for a cozy winter getaway.
Big waves
September through November are the best waves for experienced surfers. If you're planning a specific surf-trip, these are the best months to ensure good swell, although Tofino is known for having year-round surf.
The Weather
The weather in Tofino is VERY unpredictable because it lies on the ocean. Even in the summer, be prepared for evenings to be cold and unexpected rain and fog, in fact August is typically so foggy that Tofitians often refer to it as "Fogust." Be sure to pack rain gear (any time of the year) and lots of layers to accommodate any weather. Locals also recommend wool clothing as it absorbs moisture from the high humidity, allowing your body to stay cool in the winter and warm in the winter.
How Long to Visit
We recommend a minimum of 2-3 full days in Tofino to fully experience the variety of activities it has to offer, hence why we created this 3-day itinerary. But you can definitely spend a full week in Tofino and have plenty of activities to keep you entertained, or spend a few days just relaxing.
How to Get Around
It is very difficult to reach Tofino without a car as there is only one highway (Hwy 4) to the town. But once you arrive in Tofino, there is an amazing 25km multi-use trail from Tofino to Ucluelet. If you bring bikes with you, most of the best spots can be reached from town by bike. There is also a FREE hop on - hop off shuttle in the summer between Tofino downtown to Long Beach.
Parking
Pay parking is effect throughout Tofino downtown and beaches for all visitors. Beach parking passes are valid for all beach zones and Downtown passes are valid for all of downtown. More detailed info can be found on the following site.
National Parks Pass
Although Tofino itself is not within a national park, many of the best activities are found within the Pacific Rim National Park meaning you will need a National Parks Pass. There are Day Passes and Annual Passes available. Day Passes can be purchased at kiosks at each parking lot but Annual Passes must be purchased at one of the visitor centres. Parking is free within the National Park. If you are staying more than 5 days (or plan on visiting other National Parks in Canada within the year), consider buying the annual pass to save money. More info on fees can be found linked below.
Enough with the facts... let's get into it!
DAY 1
1. COFFEE
Tofino is full of great coffee shops but we recommend starting off your first day at Savary Island Pie Company because it is right on the water! So grab a coffee and fresh pie (or even a great breakfast) and take in the ocean views.
2. DOWNTOWN
From there, the next natural place to explore is First Street Pier because it will be right in front of you.
Next, walk through downtown Tofino (Main Street and Campbell Street) to do a little shopping and get a feel for this small town. There are lots of cute shops and restaurants to enjoy so count on a couple hours walking around town.
3. HIKE + RELAX
4. DINNER
5. SUNSET
You must take full advantage of any sunny days in Tofino to prioritize witnessing a beautiful sunset!
DAY 2
1. COFFEE
Arguably the most popular coffee shop in Tofino, there is usually a long line at this spot in the morning so PRO TIP: call ahead to place your order so it's available when you arrive and can skip the line! You can still sit and enjoy even if you order on the phone.
2. HIKE #1
This iconic viewpoint is a must-do in Tofino to experience the remarkable mountains and ocean around Tofino. To access the trailhead, park at Cox Bay Beach (pay parking) and walk all the way to the South end of the beach. It can be a little difficult to find the trailhead (and there are multiple trails that eventually converge) so follow AllTrails or wait a few minutes at the end of the beach until you see someone come down. This is another spot that is beautiful at sunset so you could save it for an evening but we really enjoyed the morning hike as the sun was in a better position for photos.
3. HIKE #2
This is one of our absolute favourite activities in Tofino because it is so unique! This Royal Canadian Air Force plane crashed Feb. 12, 1945 during WWII and has remained on the hill (fairly intact) since the crash. Park at Radar Hill (National Parks Pass required) and walk down the multi-use path to the trailhead.
4. LUNCH/DINNER
You cannot visit Tofino without visiting the legendary Tacofino. Be prepared for long lines around lunch and dinner (order ahead on the phone if possible) and avoid on weekends if possible. It closes at 7pm but often last call is 6-6:15pm if the line is long so go early!
5. BEACH + SUNSET
After spending your morning hiking, take the rest of the day to enjoy the beach life. Long Beach is Tofino's most iconic beach because it is soooooo long and beautiful. There are multiple parking lots (free parking with parks pass) but our favourite is the Incinerator Rock because you can pull right up to the beach and sit with lawn chairs taking in the views. It is a very popular (and small) lot though so you have to get lucky or wait a bit if you want a good spot. We recommend spending at least a few hours at Long Beach and staying for sunset. (It can be quite windy so make sure to bring layers to the beach in case the weather changes quickly.)
IMPORTANT: Canso Plane Crash and Long Beach are both within Pacific Rim National Park so they both require a National Parks Pass. If you plan on only purchasing day passes, make sure to pair these on the same day as recommended so you only have to buy one day pass!
6. DRINKS
If you like trying local drinks, then be sure to stop at Tofino Distillery to try their handcrafted spirits!
DAY 3
1. COFFEE
According to a long-time local (Sarah's cousin), this is actually the best tasting coffee in Tofino! But it's on the outskirts of town so it's best when paired with a day out of town.
2. SURFING
You can't visit Tofino and NOT go surfing. It is THE activity that Tofino is known for! If you visit in the winter, you will need to be very brave to surf (because it is COLD and the waves are big), but the summer is perfect for all surfer levels! We highly recommend taking a lesson or renting a board for a couple hours to try it out and get the full Tofino experience.
Long Beach is arguably the most popular surf spot because there is so much space to surf (making it much easier to avoid other surfers). But it does require a parks pass to surf so it depends what pass you purchase.
3. DINNER
After a few hours of surfing, you're guaranteed to be exhausted so it's time to fuel up! This is our personal FAVOURITE spot for food in Tofino. We even think it beats out Tacofino (but don't tell them that). The food here is delicious, large portions and very reasonably priced for Tofino. Apparently the owner used to be a chef at a fancy restaurant in downtown but wanted to open a place that offered QUALITY seafood and a reasonable take-out price. We'd say he definitely succeeded!
PROTIP: Call ahead to order to skip the line!
4. DRINKS
Finish of your day with a stop at the local brewery!
5. SUNSET
If you're lucky enough to get three evenings of sun in a row, then make sure to check out one of these other spots again for sunset!
And there you have it... the perfect 3-days spent in Tofino!
Got a bit more time?
If you have more than 3 days in Tofino and are looking for some more activities to do, here are some other recommendations:
CLOSING NOTES
We truly hope this guide helps you have the PERFECT trip to Tofino. We absolutely love the laidback, nature vibes in Tofino and hope you do too!
Please tag us on IG @ericandsarah_ if you enjoy this guide or visit places we recommended! :)
If you come across any errors in this guide or places (restaurants, hostels, towns, etc.) that you HIGHLY recommend, please email us at hello@ericandsarah.ca so we can potentially add them to the guide.
(Based on travel July 2023)
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