Since 2013, Flytographer has captured millions of vacation photos all around the globe and know our customers have the best travel tips to share! Explore their favourite things to do in Tofino, best restaurants in Tofino, and general travel tips to get fresh inspiration and start planning your trip to Tofino.
Shelter - amazing food
Surfing
So many great beaches for kids to run around!
Wolf and the Fog because the food is amazing, great cocktails! And tacofino which is the best food truck!
Beach, hiking, surfing, biking
Wickaninish Inn. The setting, food and service were all 10/10
Surfing, playing in the sand and whale watching.
Rent wet suits for beach days! They stay toasty all day in and out of the water.
Tacofino food truck & little Ronnie’s BBQ
We loved hiking to radar hill and having out at Mackenzie beach.
We got a beachside cabin and it was perfect, the kids played on the beach all day
Had great tacos at the Tacofino truck and loved our meal at Shelter! It’s busy so be sure to book in advance if you can!
We planned an afternoon at Kennedy Lake for paddle boarding and it was great! The beach was very quiet, only about four other families total, and the water was calm and warm. Great view, too! Be sure to route to the parking lot in advance though, hard to get cell service!
Bring lots of sunscreen, sun shirts, and an umbrella! The forecast for us was only highs of 19-20 but it was HOT and the UV was high!
Schooners Restaurant has the most amazing seafood boil we ended up going twice for the same dish! She’d had the best burger!! And Adrianna’s sandwich shop was legit the best sandwich I’ve ever had in my life.
Sightseeing and hanging around the downtown area.
Download coastal ride app. The one cab they had is a total crab. The app works great.
If you're feeling fancy, Shelter Restaurant has incredible food and spectacular harbour views (you may even spot an orca!). For something a bit more laid back but still with a fun vibe, I love SurfSide (located within Pacific Sands Resort on Cox Bay) and think they have the town's best salmon burger. For coffee and treats, my go-to is Savary Island Pie - it may be hidden, but it's a true gem! Lastly, for ice cream you cannot miss a trip to Chocolate Tofino!!
Grab a coffee (from Savary Island Pie) and walk down on First Street Dock for some views of the inlet. Explore the trails from Tonquin Beach over to Middle Beach. Watch the sunset from the appropriately-named Sunset Point (Pettinger Point) on Cox Bay. Rent an e-bike from Tofino Electric Bike Co and bike the stunning new MUP (multi-use path) from town out to Long Beach - don't forget to pack yourself some snacks or a picnic though as there aren't any spots out that way for grub!
Book the InnChanter floating B&B in Ucluelet Harbour for your bachelorette, it was an incredible experience and was absolutely perfect for our group! Include the chef because having it catered saved so much time and energy from the group too - and the food was absolutely amazing!!
Angelina's sandwich shop and toki doling Amazing and delicious food at these small local restaurants/food truck businesses!
Visiting virgin falls
Basic Goodness Pizzeria - make any pie a hot & honey! 🌶️ 🍯 Brunch at The Pointe 🌊
Visited Tofino in May
Photo Shoot Location: North Chesterman Beach
Wolf in the Fog is a must stop for a truly special dinner while out in Tofino. The food and space might seem out of place for this casual, laidback haven, but it's got every bit of the soul of Tofino in its bones and on its plates. Another spot I absolutely have to recommend is Tofino Brewing Co and it's adjacent food truck, Toki Doki. I can't think of a better place to pass the time in good company than this awesome brewery with fantastic brews.
We treated ourselves to a boat charter and found it to be absolutely worth it out here! In such a short time, we were able to traverse so much of the landscape and see the beautiful scenery, view some incredible wildlife, and even catch some dinner! Our captain and vessel operated under Northwest Ocean Adventures, and I can't recommend their service enough.
Definitely account for the time it takes to travel out to Tofino. It can be a journey depending on where you begin, but it's well worth the time and effort to find this secluded haven. Once you're there, embrace the setting to really have a breather and isolate yourself from the rest of the world.
Ocean
Wolf in the fog. Absolutely fantastic.
Surf side grill was amazing!
Surfing, cheasterman beach
Wolf in the Fog was a perfect date night, and we loved the sandwiches at Adriana’s!
Riding bikes on the beach and into town
We ordered room service at the hotel more than we typically would if it was just us exploring—no fun to adventure with hangry kiddos!
Long beach on cox bay & Tocofino!
Wolf in the Fog. Great atmosphere, great drinks and great food
The floating sauna that is brand new.
Make sure you make reservations early. The day of is too late.
We are obsessed with Tacofino and would eat it everyday while we’re visiting. The food is fresh and delicious and the staff are always so kind. We also love visiting Rhino on the morning of our departure, their donuts are a perfectly sweet way to end the trip.
Every beach is lovely in Tofino but we have surfed with Pacific Surf Co. and they were so awesome and accommodating to our skill level (which was none). We also tried out Tuff City Saunas for the first time and they are amazing! Dunking into the freezing ocean in between sessions was not something I envisioned myself doing but was so glad I did.
Tofino has something for anyone and everyone to do, whether you like to surf and bike or read, rest, or shop it’s the perfect place to vacation however you want. My best tip would be to go with the flow. It’s not a big place so spots can get crowded and busy so be patient with the locals and staff and try not to sweat the small stuff.
Shelter restaurant in Tofino was our favourite. It was warm and cozy and the salmon and mushroom risotto was NEXT level!! So good, already can’t wait to go back.
Visit Tofino in the off season for a cozy feel with fewer lines and wait times. Pack a raincoat and some rain boots and you’ll be set! We loved the misty, rainy vibes and the waves during the winter are spectacular!
Shelter restaurant had amazing food and staff!
Loved walking on the beaches and surfing!
“Shed”. Amazing food, cocktails, service, and kid friendly!
We love to walk all of the amazing beaches! Long beach is a favourite for a long walk and beach picnic. Chestermans Beach is a favourite for those west coast sunsets!
This was our first trip to Tofino with a baby and we highly recommend a kid carrier backpack. It made our beach walks so much more enjoyable and could stay out longer because our little guy loved being carried and just taking in the scenery from the comfort of his little seat.
Raven Lady food truck in Ukee was our go-to. Delicious.
Swimming for me (love a cold water swim!) and surfing for my husband. The kids are happy on the beach counting starfish and anenomes.
Restaurant - Shelter is a must. Try the peach bellini there, it's literally to die for! Bakery - Savary Pies is life-changing. Their strawberry rhubarb pie is unparalleled. Tacos - Tacofino is hyped for a reason. It's worth the long line, and everything is good.
Tonquin Beach was a stunning location for sunset and photos. We loved kayaking with Eco-Adventures through the Tofino Harbour. Meares Island tour is worth it. I recommend checking out Ucluelet just 30 minutes South of Tofino for some great hikes - the Lighthouse Loop was a favourite!
Lunch at the Shed! Ice cream at Tofino licks.
Surfing
Chesterman beach for sand castles and swimming or boogie boarding.
Visited Tofino in June
Photo Shoot Location: Middle Chesterman Beach
Jen M. in Tofino for Flytographer
Shelter, the food was delicious.
Chesterman beach, kayaking tours, botanical garden, wild pacific trail hikes
For dinner, get takeaway or make a picnic and watch the sunset on the beach
Visited Tofino in June
Photo Shoot Location: North Chesterman Beach
We actually opted to bring our own food so that we could enjoy warm evenings indoors, laughing and cooking together! That being said, some of our group had been to Tofino before, and highly recommend Wolf in the Fog and Shelter Restaurant. Tacofino is always a good choice too!
Tonquin Beach: a must-see, small beach close to town!
Make sure you book a place with a hot tub. It rains a lot of the time in Tofino, and there's nothing like a nice soak with a glass of wine at the end of the day to warm up!
Visited Tofino in March
Photo Shoot Location: Middle Chesterman Beach
Megan in Tofino for Flytographer
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