Vancouver Island Travel Forum

I'm going to be roaming around VI, and I'd like to know.. should I spend more time in Tofino or Ucluelet, or spend equal time in each city? Or is there another city I must see, as well?

Whale watching will be on the list too.

They're not really cities, they're more like small fishing towns that are used as a home base for exploring the peninsula that they sit on. Tofino has a really small population, only a few thousand or so. Ucluelet is larger, though not by much. Tofino's probably considered more charming, but most accommodation isn't in the town itself, but outside of the town. I wouldn't really look at it from the perspective of spending time in each town. Simply base yourself in one or the other. You can visit both in the same day and see it all within a few hours. Tofino is at the north end of the peninsula and Ucluelet at the south end of the peninsula.

All the attractions that make this region beautiful are located between Tofino and Ucluelet, so this is really where you're going to want to spend all your time. It's here where you'll find Pacific Rim National Park, the beaches, the trails through the rainforest, etc.

There's also a bit of accommodation between Tofino and Ucluelet. For example, my family stayed at the Ocean Village Resort on Mackenzie Beach - cedar cabins on the ocean. It was a short drive to Tofino and a bit longer drive to Ucluelet, but we never really spent much time in either Tofino or Ucluelet, so it didn't really matter where we lived.

BTW - I know for sure that there are whale watching companies based in Tofino, so that's probably where you'll depart from. Ucluelet must have some companies as well, but I'm not 100%.

By the way, I should have also added that it only takes about 40 minutes to drive between Tofino and Ucluelet, so as long as you're anywhere along the road between the two towns, you'll be in an ideal location. I'd want to spend at least 3 days in the area.

There's a map on this page that explains the layout:

http://www.longbeachmaps.com/parks.html

The whole island and all its islands are just fantastic.
We will be there on april 4th for 2 weeks then back to the UK till the end of july then back again for 6 wks yipee ,through to 1st week of September,cant wait.Its a magical place.
Jamies whale watching is very professional based in Tofino ,they also do a day trips to the hot springs,west coast va.
If you do get to Sidney and you try Fish On Fith and don't feel it was the best meal you have had, I will personally send you the full cost.
Enjoy