Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features.

Please select your date of birth for special perks on your birthday. Your username will be your unique profile link and will be publicly used in comments.
Narcity Pro

This is a Pro feature.

Time to level up your local game with Narcity Pro.

Pro

$5/month

$40/year

  • Everything in the Free plan
  • Ad-free reading and browsing
  • Unlimited access to all content including AI summaries
  • Directly support our local and national reporting and become a Patron
  • Cancel anytime.
For Pro members only Pro
Summary

This BC town with velvety beaches and warm-water coves is one of Canada's best summer vacays

An unforgettable trip awaits.🌊

Person in front of a Surfing Shop sign. Right: A beach.

Tofino surf rentals. Right: Beach in Tofino BC on Vancouver Island.

Editor

Summers are meant for exploring. Seeing corners of the country that you've never been to. New towns, views, and adventures await.

This little town set on the West Cost of Vancouver Island has unmatched natural beauty, with rolling mountains alongside thick rainforests and soft sandy beaches. It's like all of the most picturesque parts of B.C. got wrapped up into one special place.

Recently in a poll of the Narcity readers it was named one of the best summer vacation spots in the country, but this town isn't new to attention.

Tofino is the kind of place that people talk about once they've been — sharing stories of the surf, the small community, the ancient forests, and hidden hot springs.

While it's a popular summer destination, there's still a sense of peacefulness you can find here. Out experiencing the sprawling nature of this place — whether it be a hike into Pacific Rim National Park or a day spend out on the water with a surfboard – it's hard not to connect with a sense of calm.

Beauty is around every turn here. Just enjoying a meal on a patio means scenic views here, or a stroll through town.

If you're up for more adventure though you have lots of places to turn to. Boat tours to Hot Springs Cove is a bucket-list thing to do here. Set in Maquinna Marine Provincial Park, you can take a 1.5 hour boat ride to the hot springs. Arriving at the park you'll walk through the forest to reach the beautiful springs. There you can soak in the warm water right alongside the ocean.

It's not difficult to see why people recommend Tofino time and time again. A trip here is one full of spectacular beauty and unforgettable adventures.

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

Explore this list   👀

    • Editor

      Morgan Leet (she/her) is an Editor for Narcity Media Group. After graduating from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication, she jumped into fulfilling her dream as a journalist, merging her passion for travelling with writing. After working in the print media world on Canada’s East Coast, she joined Narcity with a move to B.C., drawn to the beauty of Western Canada. Since then, she's documented her experience moving to Vancouver, covering everything from local events to bucket-list travel destinations across Canada's West Coast.

    This enchanting small town set on a BC island was named among North America's 'most peaceful'

    Sandy beaches, ancient forests and a cozy town — anyone?. 🌲

    New data reveals the 'most peaceful' places to live and Canadian towns demolished US ones

    Five Canadian towns were named the most serene on the continent. 🍁

    This Ontario gem with waterfront towns and beaches is one of Canada's 'best' spots to live

    It has "large" homes "priced much lower" than major Canadian cities.