Tofino sits at the far western edge of Vancouver Island, where the road runs out and the Pacific begins. It is one of Canada's most dramatic coastal settings: ancient temperate rainforest, massive swells rolling in from the open ocean, and wide sandy beaches that attract surfers from around the world. Long Beach, within Pacific Rim National Park, is one of the longest beaches in Canada and the centre of the surf scene.
The town itself is small — only a few thousand permanent residents — but has punched well above its weight in terms of restaurants and wilderness lodges. Whale watching is a major draw from March to October, when grey whales and orcas pass through Clayoquot Sound. Sea kayaking around the islands of the Sound, Hot Springs Cove accessible only by boat or seaplane, and old-growth forest trails through Meares Island round out the options.
Tofino's weather is famously wet — it receives around 3,300mm of rain a year. The storm-watching season from November to February brings a different kind of visitor: people who come specifically to watch the waves crash against the shore from the warmth of a lodge.