The small village of Tofino (pop. 2500) is perched on the very western edge of Vancouver Island.

The very walkable downtown area is surrounded by long sandy beaches, old-growth temperate rainforest, misty mountains, rocky headlands and pounding surf.

There’s no shortage of things to do in Tofino, from surfing and kayaking to hiking and whale watching.

If you’d rather kick back and relax, there are boat-accessible hot springs and plenty of tranquil beaches to enjoy. Our favorite local spot is Cox Bay (there’s a great hike up to the headland), but Mackenzie Beach is pretty awesome too!