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Travel Planning

 

Clayoquot Sound Sea Kayaking Trips

The travel planning information presented on this page is specific to the Clayoquot Sound trips. In addition to this information please visit our Travel Planning to Vancouver Island page for additional information on travel planning to British Columbia.

Travel Planning to Tofino

Tofino can be reached by vehicle, airline service, or by motorcoach.

Driving

Vancouver Island's ‘west coast’ is accessed by Highway #4 (Pacific Rim Highway). There are many areas to stop at along the way, such as the Englishman River Falls Provincial Park and Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park which have hiking trails along their riverbanks. Visit the Old Country Market in the village of Coombs, and browse through the local artisan shops and the farmers market.

Further along is Cameron Lake which provides a rest area, and is perfect for a swim or picnic lunch. Continuing past Cameron Lake and below Mount Arrowsmith, the landscape becomes more rugged and dense. Cathedral Grove (macMillan Provincial Park) , located in the Cameron Valley, offers walking trails in a towering forest filled with 300 to 800 year old Douglas fir trees.

Highway #4 becomes very winding as you travel westerly into the increasingly rugged landscape of the Mackenzie Mountain Range and along the rain forests of the Kennedy Lake area. The highway can be very busy during the summer, if you are unfamiliar with the highway avoid driving it at night.

Southern Vancouver Island, british Columbia

Vehicle Rentals

If you are flying into Vancouver, BC and planning to rent a vehicle for your visit to Vancouver Island, you may want to consider the Island Link Express Bus service.

Island Link Express Bus offers service between the Vancouver International airport and Nanaimo. Pick-up at the Vancouver airport is 4-times daily at 9:00am, 11:15 am, 1:30pm and 3:45pm. The one-way adult fare is $27.50. Once you are in Nanaimo National Car Rental and Budget BC are your best choices in car rentals.

This option of travel to Vancouver Island is a considerable cost savings over renting a car in Vancouver.
Island Link Express Bus
/www.islandlinkbus.com
Toll Free: 1-877-954-3556

If you prefer to rent a vehicle in Vancouver most major car rental companies offer onsite rentals at the Vancouver Airport.

Vehicle Parking

Parking is at a premium in Tofino so we have made arrangements with one of the local B&B’s for vehicle parking. Parking cost is $10.00 per night, and advance reservations are not required.

Highway Distances & Travel Times

Victoria to Nanaimo - 111 km (69 miles). Allow 1.5 hours driving time.
Nanaimo to Tofino - 206 km ( 124 miles). Allow 2.5 hours driving time.
Comox to Tofino - 228 km ( 137 miles). Allow 3.0 hours driving time.

Maps

Southern Vancouver Island road map from Google Maps

Road Conditions

For current road conditions, travel advisories, and Canada-USA border wait times visit the British Columbia Ministry of Transport Drive BC website.

Air Service

Comox Valley Airport (YQQ)
The Comox Valley Airport is conveniently located mid-Vancouver Island and is within a scenic 3 hour drive to Tofino. The full -service airport offers numerous daily flights from Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton with WestJet and Air Canada Jazz.

Pacific Coastal, and Central Mountain Air offer daily service from Vancouver.

Orca Airways
Orca Airways is Tofino's only year round scheduled service from Vancouver, BC.
Toll Free: 1- (888) 359-6722
Email: office@flyorcaair.com

Sound Flight
Sound Flight offers scheduled float and wheel plane service to Tofino from Renton, WA, USA.
Toll Free: 1- (866) 921-3474
Email: info@soundflight.net

Motorcoach Service

Tofino Bus
Daily express bus between Tofino, Nanaimo, Vancouver and Victoria. Many of their buses are fuelled by B25 25% biodiesel.
Toll Free: 1- (866) 986-3466
Telephone: (250) 725-2871
Email: info@tofinobus.com

Weather Reports

Current weather conditions for Tofino from Environment Canada.

 

Pacific Northwest Expeditions
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