Tsunami Backpackers Guesthouse

Home from home
I stayed here a few months ago and always meant to leave a review (sorry Wolf!). In eighteen months of traveling this is one of the best hostels I've stayed in. It's cosy and much better value (cheaper) than other hostels in Vancouver Island. Wolf is a great host, giving you as much information as you want, and leaving you to do your own thing as much as you want as well. The homemade bread and fruit from the garden is great. I stayed there on my way to Uclulet, and hired a bike to go off round the old logging routes. Disappointed at the prices of doing a bear watching trip in other parts of Vancouver Island, I headed back to Tsunami in the hope that I might see some bears by the river across from the hostel -- which I did and it cost me nothing! Wolf also took me out in the canoe in the morning to see some bears along the river -- I'm sure he wouldn't be able to do that for everyone, but it gives you an idea of the kind of service you get there. Definitely make a stay here part of your plans for Vancouver Island!

Good value, too cold
Everything was great at this hostel except it was too cold (Jan. 2008). The owner felt that 19 celsius is an unhealthy temp and kept it at 12 to 16 celsius. I bought a space heater and then it was ok -- otherwise I wouldn't have been able to stay there. Except for the temperature, everything else was great and perfect for what we needed.

Excellent, very personal
I just wanted to spend one night at the Tsunami Backpackers -- and I spent four. For breakfast you get fresh warm bread or whatever you order, including strawberries from the garden. Speaking of garden, this is also something special there. All kind of flowers, berries, high grass, not a golf course. In fall, a black bear is said to show up every once in a while to get its share. I also did some canoeing at the river -- awesome! Whenever I'll make it to Vancouver Island again, I'll be there again!

This is a very nice Hostel halfway between Victoria and Tofino. Cool interior from the seventies! The guy who ran it was extremely friendly and had heaps of tips for us like other nice locations on the Island. And he bakes his own bread, which you can buy! We enjoyed staying there!

What a marvellous place, what a great host, wonderful homemade bread, fresh fruits and veggies from the garden, useful trip-tips, a warm and cosy hostel with unique charm. wolf -- the host -- is unique as well. he cares a lot about the well-being of his guests. if you are interested in wildlife, he knows where to go. if you like movies, his selection is gorgeous. wanna hike or bike, just ask. this is the best backpacker/hostel I ever stayed, concerning the relation of price and result. and by the way it's a great place for hitch-hiking. try, enjoy, hang out a few days, and relax or do whatever else you like.

This backpacker is simple and straightforward as far as accommodations are concerned. It is clean and provides everything you need, including freshly baked bread. The thing that makes this backpacker special though is the proprietor, Wolf, who was friendly, warm, and enthusiastically attended to all of our needs. This place is a good value overall.

The pictures of this hostel in no way resemble it's present condition. It is so overgrown you would not recognize it. Wolf is a very personable guy but does not seem to take any interest in the appearance of the building or grounds. His gardens are hard to tell from the weeds and hay. The so called beach across the road is a small patch of muddy area (approx.ten by ten) down an overgrown trail. I will say the inside of the house is fairly clean. It is probably ok, if you are looking for a cheap place to crash for a night or two (seventeen dollars/night was our cost).

What a pleasant surprise to find a hostel that actually considers the comfort of the guests, and where the point is not to stuff as many people into as little space as possible for the maximum return. It's way cheaper than the other hostel in town. The homemade bread and jams are to die for, not to mention all the goodies growing in the garden. We've seen bear, beaver, marten, and raccoon either in the river or strolling on the other side. (Best at sunrise when it coincides with low tide, especially for bear) During this current heat wave, the fact that the hostel lies right on a crystal clear river, with a beautiful little clothing-optional beach, makes it hard to leave. We booked for four days and have now been here for a week. We really hate to go, but alas, duty calls.

I stayed 3 nights here in July 2004. This place makes you feel like home after you take away all the "I must do this, I must do that." Of course I encountered this place at a certain time of my life where it was exactly what I needed, but I'm sure that many will find the same magic I have found there. The bread is excellent and so is the plum juice. :) Try it. It's worth the experience (and it's so affordable).

I had this very cozy hostel all to myself in March and it felt so homey that for a while I thought I'd finally found heaven right there, in the middle of Vancouver Island. Wolf, the friendly owner, breeds rabbits, grows and sells his own veggies and can also cook affordable meals, too, if you wish. Needless to say, he knows more than a few great travel stories!

This hostel was impossible to find even after I called and got instructions on how to get there. Whatever sign he had was not out or the same name when I went to find it. Not only that, no one in town has ever heard of him, he's not in the phone book or listed with the town as a business. I only found his name on a flyer elsewhere, but could not get hold of him again after speaking to him once. Reply from Owner: Tsunami Backpackers is on River Road, the main road to Tofino (as its name suggests, right on the river), also known as Highway 4. It's at 5779 River Road, 5 houses past Naesgaards Market, a 10-minute walk from the bus station. The sign is inside the property, on a big fir tree, about 5 metres from the sidewalk. The sign is not that easy to see if your driving, as there's also a large hedge surrounding the place. I am listed with the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce (avcoc.com). Maybe it's because there are two pubs between the bus station and this place that Lonestranger had difficulty in locating the place?