Ucluelet travel guide and discussion

It's 6:00 AM, and the sky is just beginning to brighten. A few young people are already walking toward the ocean, surfboards in hand. In the distance, the Pacific Ocean rolls in, creating walls of white waves, while sea mist drifts along the beach. Behind them, however, there are no tropical coconut groves, but rather a towering, damp, and perpetually lush temperate rainforest. This isn't Hawaii. It's Tofino, Canada. Located on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, it faces the vast Pacific Ocean. The town has a population of just over 2,000, but on the map of Canadian travel, its name carries far more weight than its size would suggest. One reason for this is the waves. Pacific swells travel long distances to reach the west coast of Vancouver Island, making the Tofino area one of Canada's most famous surfing destinations. At Long Beach, Cox Bay, and Chesterman Beach, you can always see people walking toward the water with surfboards. And you don't even have to wait for summer to surf here. In the fall and winter, North Pacific storms become more intense. As giant waves crash against the shore, many people actually make the trip to Tofino specifically to watch a "storm" from the beach, rather than to get in the water. But if you only see the ocean, you've only seen half of Tofino. Head inland from the beach, and you'll quickly enter another world. Massive western red cedars, hemlocks, and spruces block out the sky, their trunks covered in moss and the ground carpeted with ferns. The humid ocean air and abundant rainfall here nurture one of Canada's most iconic coastal temperate rainforests. Between the ocean and the rainforest lies another very important name: Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The famous Long Beach Unit is located in the area between Tofino and Ucluelet. Beaches, rocky shores, islands, and ancient rainforests connect here, together forming one of the most recognizable landscapes on Canada's Pacific coast. So, when you come to Tofino, you'll find that what truly draws people here isn't any single attraction. In the morning, you can listen to the rain in the rainforest; at noon, walk along the long beach; in the afternoon, watch surfers chase the Pacific waves; and in the evening, sit on the sand and wait for the sun to sink below the horizon. On one side, the Pacific Ocean, constantly surging in from afar. On the other, a temperate rainforest that has been growing for ages. And a small Canadian west coast town of just a few thousand people lives quietly between them. This is Tofino.

Five years addicted to offshore fishing! I haven’t gone back to inshore fishing since. The fish are smaller, the quotas are limited, and summer is so short—offshore fishing is the way to go! 🌟 Tofino, Ucluelet, and Port Renfrew are all great options. This time, I went to Port Renfrew, which is just a two-hour drive from Victoria after disembarking. The other two ports are farther away but offer bigger fish. 📅 Day 1: Arrived at Port Renfrew in the evening and did some shore casting at the dock. Using small shiny lures and soft tail jigs, I caught black rockfish and kelp greenling. Wasting no time, I raced against the sunset—once it’s dark, you can’t see anything. Didn’t want to waste the first day’s quota 😉. That night, I went back to the lodge, filleted the fish, and enjoyed a fish soup hotpot. From sea to table in less than two hours! Day 2: Set out at 9 AM, returned to the dock at 3 PM for a meal and some rest, then headed out again for an evening session. Filled the rockfish quota and returned to the port around 7 PM. After cleaning up the boat, we fired up the grill for some skewers 🍢. Day 3: Morning and afternoon sessions again, filling all quotas. Aside from three groupers over 65 cm, I managed to catch one over a meter long—my personal highlight! 🔥🔥🔥 Here are some tips to make your offshore fishing trip easier✨: 1. If you’re planning a two- or three-day offshore trip, fillet the fish you catch on the first day into boneless portions, vacuum seal them, and freeze them. This keeps them fresh for the trip back to Vancouver, saves cooler space, and makes them super convenient to cook later. 2. Bring motion sickness medication just in case! It’s crucial—seasickness can ruin your fishing experience. 3. Use a cooler with a drainage valve, preferably one with wheels. Check the valve to ensure it’s intact; a leak can leave your car smelling like a seafood market. 4. Ice tip: Ice at the marina is expensive—$5 for a small bag of crushed ice. Instead, drive three minutes to a nearby market or gas station for a large bag of block ice, which is cheaper and melts slower. 5. Don’t overcrowd the boat. Too many people can lead to tangled lines. A boat with a max capacity of seven is most comfortable with 4-5 people. The captain fishes at the bow, while the back has two fishing spots on each side—perfect setup 😍. 6. Don’t forget sunscreen, and reapply it regularly. Sunglasses are also a must to protect your eyes, especially during peak UV hours from 2-4 PM. 7. When returning to Vancouver, consider taking the Departure Bay ferry from Nanaimo. The latest ferry often offers cheaper Saver fares—usually $65 for a car and two passengers compared to the regular $115. 8. If you’re bringing whole fish back to Vancouver and don’t have time to process them, wrap them in paper, then plastic wrap, and freeze them. Just thaw them before cooking. That’s all for now—I’m off to sea again! Hope these tips help my fellow cyber anglers. I’ve got more fish than I can eat, so feel free to pick some up in West Vancouver ❤️. Love you all!

Perfect for a long weekend road trip! 🚗 Places to stop along the way: 📍Cathedral Grove 🌲Old Growth Forest, the shorter trail can be completed in about 20 minutes 📍Port Alberni Replenish midway 🍩 The Donut Shop Known as the best donuts on Vancouver Island 🍜 Tiffin Thai Restaurant The fried rice noodles are more ordinary. The fried rice is very tasty 📍Taylor River You must stop! The water surface is reflected green, super beautiful 📍Ucluelet Ucluelet Lighthouse Loop On the trail at the end of Ucluelet, a small lighthouse can be seen along the coastline 🍴 Floathouse Restaurant The restaurant is built on the water with seasonal seafood to choose from 🟰🟰🟰 📍Tofino There are many beaches along the coast Chesterman Beach/Long Beach/Cox Bay Beach. 🌲Rainforest Trail Belonging to Pacific Rim National Park, the wooden canyon is very walkable, two roads to choose from, we chose the trail on this side of the parking lot, which can be completed in 30-40 minutes 🏡Tofino town The town is not big to walk around, there are many small shops/exhibition halls along the way There is the Pacific Terminus Sign near the marina, but the officially certified Trans-Canada finish line is at Mile 0 in Victoria, which appears to be a tourist monumental landmark ☕️ Rhino Coffee House In the morning it felt like half the town was there… 🌮Tacofino The ispy chicken and Tuna are good 🍺 托菲诺酿酒公司。 Those who drink craft beer 🍽️ Ombré If you are in time happy hour recommendations: Madeleine and Foie Parfait and sourdough The three pastas we chose for the main course tasted good 🏨Accommodation Be sure to book early during peak season We booked late with particularly few options but blindly booked Tofino Motel Harborview is very clean and the views outside the window are beautiful belongs to break my stereotype of the motel

I love to travel. I love to go places, meet people and see new sights. I enjoy new food and new experiences. This is the joy of travel.