This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you are better prepared for what to expect, what not to expect and can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Tofino. To help you make friends with Tofino before you visit, we've included a few helpful and fun things you should know about the area. Enjoy!
The stunning Tofino is a small town on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It has some great hostels, and some amazing views over the many mountains and islands that surround the town. There are an abundance of things to do here -- the most popular of which is surfing. People come from across Canada to hit the surf in Tofino. You will also find whale-watching tours, kayaking, and an abundance of hiking and fishing. The sky is the limit with outdoor activities here. If you want to venture further out of Tofino, they run a beach bus from Tofino to Cox Bay and stops in between in the summer all day for a very reasonable price. There is no public transport that stops in the Pacific Rim National Park and to explore this area thoroughly, you really need a car. Otherwise, you get here on the Tofino Bus from Nanaimo or Victoria and it can be quite expensive.
The town of Tofino has all of the amenities that you might need including supermarket, bakery, tourist information center, and a stack of art galleries and souvenir shops. Again you will find a lot of the things here quite expensive so if you are on a budget, it might be worth bringing some basic food items with you on the bus from Vancouver or one of the major cities.
Hostels in Tofino are all located quite centrally to the downtown area and you will find everything that you need within walking distance of your hostel. Tofino in the summer is incredibly busy and attracts a really large number of tourists. You really need to book your Tofino hostel in advance before you get here to avoid getting stuck without accommodation as so many travelers do.
Written by local enthusiast for Tofino hostels
Globetrotter
