The west coast rewards staying put. Five nights split between Tofino and Ucluelet gives you the beaches, the rainforest trails and at least one boat day, without the back-and-forth over the pass.
5 nights across 2 stops, about 120 km of driving.
The route
Port Alberni
Break the drive at the head of the inlet.
Places to stay in Port Alberni
Finding stays in Port Alberni…
Drive from Port Alberni: About 115 km, roughly 1 hr 30 min
Tofino & Ucluelet
Beaches, trails and a boat day.
- Things to do in Tofino: 14 ideas for any season
- Things to do in Ucluelet: the quieter side of the west coast
- Tofino and Ucluelet in the off-season
Places to stay in Tofino & Ucluelet
Finding stays in Tofino…
Day by day
Day 1 — Into the interior
Cathedral Grove, then Port Alberni at the head of the inlet — lakes, the harbour quay and a short day that leaves the mountain driving for the morning.
Days 2–3 — Beaches and rainforest
Long Beach, Chesterman and Cox Bay, plus the short boardwalk loops in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. A surf lesson is the standard first-timer's afternoon here.
Day 4 — On the water
Whales, bears or the boat-and-boardwalk trip to Hot Springs Cove. Grey whales pass in spring; humpbacks and resident wildlife are around through the summer.
Day 5 — Ucluelet
The Wild Pacific Trail loops around the headland with views straight out to the open ocean, and the harbour town is quieter than Tofino.
Good to know
- Winter here is storm-watching season, not a washout — the towns stay open and the surf is at its biggest.
- Short-term stays on the west coast must display a BC registration number.
Make it yours
Open this itinerary in the planner to change the nights, swap towns or add stops.
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