Who knew a tiny peninsula town in Vancouver Island, Canada would have THE best vibes for the ultimate romantic weekend getaway and the best solo vacation? If you’ve never heard of Tofino, British Colombia, let me paint you a picture: it’s set in this super lush rainforest flanked by an island-studded bay and wild, blue ocean (with whales!). This Healthy Tofino Travel Guide is everything you need to have the best summer adventure.
Tofino is a popular honeymoon spot, and I totally see why. It’s wildly romantic with serenely rustic vibes. But I’m not kidding when I say I met just as many solo travelers in Tofino who were drawn to this British Colombian town’s rugged beauty.
If you’ve never been to Tofino, I’d highly recommend putting it on your travel bucket list. Whether you’re looking for romantic weekend getaway ideas or a solo trip to Vancouver, you will be overcome by Tofino’s serene nature. I hope this healthy Tofino travel guide inspires you to experience one of my new favorite towns in British Colombia!
If you have more recommendations on the best restaurants, bars, and things to do in Tofino, share them in the comments! I already can’t wait to go back.
Where to Stay in Tofino
Zack and I stayed at Hotel Zed, which is a retro 70’s themed hotel. The whole “70’s theme” could be kitschy in the wrong hands, but the way Hotel Zed does it is actually a ton of fun. It’s perfectly Instagrammable – if that’s your M.O. on vacation. There’s secret arcades and disco hideaways (featured above), a barrel sauna, chic rooms with rotary phones, and wonderfully sustainable touches like filtered water bottle fill stations and in-room french press coffee they compost daily.
Here are more of our favorite features about this funky, coastal hotel:
- It’s a lovely, 7-minute stroll to the famous Chesterman Beach
- Living Room with teardrop fireplaces
- Psychic’s Den with a drop-in tarot card reader
- A bike path that goes THROUGH the lobby
- Paddle boarding and surf lessons
- There’s an interactive, 1970’s VW bus that’s a cute photo spot
Another awesome thing about this hotel: it had THE best food on the island! Their restaurant, Roar (which I talk more about below), served up the freshest local dishes cooked over a live fire. They also had an incredible cocktail and dessert menu.
It also had a really nice vibe– not at all like the 70’s theme of the rest of the hotel. It was upscale and chic for a nice little date night in at our hotel. They also have an outdoor patio with fire pits and plentiful seating that gives you the beautiful, salty breeze off the Pacific Coast. Which leads me to….
Where to Eat in Tofino
Roar Tofino: right inside the lobby at Hotel Zed, this was the best food we had on the island, but no one is talking about it?? Creative, veggie-forward fair with a huge emphasis on local ingredients. Breakfast and dinner are as equally delish and the freshly baked goods get all of this healthy chef’s kisses.
Tacofino: Swing by the OG Tacofino food truck for the most delicious tacos on the island. It’s fun to relax in their beachy atmosphere, or bring your food down to the water where you can watch the surfers.
The Pointe: the sweeping views of Canada’s west coast at this fancy establishment are well worth it for a romantic night out.
Tofitian: Voted the best coffee in Tofino, and while I don’t drink caffeine, Zack and I loved their wide assortment of beverages, like matcha and all the loose leaf teas, fresh squeezed lemon elixirs and gourmet chocolate frothy delights. They also have an amazing gluten free and vegan bakery that churns our daily treats and nourishing breakfasts.
SoBo: short for “sophisticated bohemian”, this local restaurant features wild, foraged, organic, local ingredients, world-famous salmon chowder, and amazing vegetarian options. They also have the best local biodynamic wines and craft beers. It’s a great spot for a healthy lunch and is open Thursday – Monday!
Things to Do in Tofino
Tofino Marina Floating Sauna: a once in a lifetime, bucket list worthy experience to get your self care on, floating on the ocean off an uninhabited island (watch the video above!) It’s the perfect honeymoon or romantic getaway activity or even solo trip in Vancouver experience. Book this well ahead of time – you’ll be so glad you did!
Hike Big Tree: a super fun and beautifully luscious trail that you get to by boat (book with any of the adventure companies). This trail is deemed moderately challenging on AllTrails. You can choose to just do the boardwalk part or prepare to get muddy and embark on a Canadian wilderness adventure. If you do the full hike, we needed WELL longer than we thought we needed (picture of Big Tree below).
Explore the Rainforest Trail: this trail is short, very walkable, and well worth it. There’s different loops to choose from. So, if you’re tight on time, do just the North Loop. Zack and I did both loops and would highly recommend exploring both if your schedule allows!
Stroll Tonquin Trail: this easy trail is great for a morning walk that ends in a beautiful beach with sweeping views of the Pacific Coast. Pick up a healthy breakfast or baked goods at Common Loaf Bake Shop or a green smoothie at Tuff City Squeeze to bring for a beach breakfast picnic!
Play the Healthier Together Conversation Deck: I’d be remiss to not mention that every great vacation has at least a few rounds of playing together. It always helps us spark the most amazing conversations with each other and new friends we meet on our trips!
Go bear watching: a number of companies offer trips daily where they guarantee bear sightings. Personally, I think seeing bears from the safety of a boat is both thrilling and adorable! Flash back to how I feel about encountering wildlife on this hiking episode of the Healthier Together Podcast.
Ocean-side Hot Springs: you can take a boat to serene, ocean-side hot springs. I’ve heard they are STUNNING, but sadly they were closed when we were there! Call to ask about their status before you add to your itinerary.
Leave a Reply