Tofino and Vancouver Island: Rainforests and Pacific Waves

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The west coast of Vancouver Island is one of those places where nature rules and stress simply does not exist. Tofino, at the end of a road that winds between mountains and lakes, is a fishing village turned slow-travel haven. This 8-day itinerary is based in wooden cabins facing the Pacific. Days are spent strolling black- and white-sand beaches where the temperate rainforest reaches the shore, surfing gentle, beginner-friendly waves at Chesterman Beach, soaking in the hot springs of Hot Springs Cove, accessible only by boat or seaplane, and watching gray whales, orcas, and sea otters in the Pacific. An excursion to Pacific Rim National Park reveals the Rainforest Trail, a boardwalk path winding through moss-covered 800-year-old red cedars. Winter storms draw travelers who come to watch 6-meter (20-foot) waves from the safety of the beach. The local food scene revolves around wild salmon and bay oysters.