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Tofino, Vancouver Island British Columbia Canada

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Tofino is a village of about 1,650 residents on the west coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada, located at the western terminus of Highway 4, on the tip of the Esowista Peninsula, at the southern edge of Clayoquot Sound. Islands in the vicinity include Meares, Vargas and Flores. Tofino is surrounded by 6 other communities: Ucluelet, Ittatsoo (Ucluelet First Nation), Ahousat (Ahousaht First Nation), Hot Springs Cove (Hesquiaht First Nation), Esowista, and Opitsaht (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation).

The settlement of Tofino first acquired the name in 1909 with the opening of the Tofino Post Office, named in association with Tofino Inlet nearby. Tofino Inlet was named in 1792 by the Spanish commanders Galiano and Valdés, in honor of Admiral Vicente Tofino under whom Galiano had learned cartography.

A popular tourist destination in the summer, Tofino's population swells to many times its winter size. It attracts surfers, nature lovers, campers, whale watchers, fishermen, or anyone just looking to be close to nature. In the winter it is not as bustling, however, many people visit Tofino and the west coast to watch storms on the water. Close to Tofino is Long Beach, a scenic and popular year-round destination, at the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Nearby Maquinna Marine Provincial Park, with its natural hot springs, is located about 45 kilometres (28 mi) north of Tofino and is also a popular day-trip destination for tourists although it is only reachable by boat or float plane.

Accommodation in Tofino includes bed and breakfast lodging, independent locally-run inns, and upscale luxury resorts which are locally owned and operated.

Tofino has a small airport about ten minutes drive from town. Tofino Airport is accessible to very small passenger planes, with floatplanes landing on the inlet in town. Coastal fog is a common morning phenomenon in the summer, complicating access by air until the weather clears.

Accessing Tofino by car from the North American mainland involves taking a ferry to Vancouver Island from Vancouver or Seattle or Port Angeles, then driving a little over 3 hours northwest across the island, along Highway 4. Ferry access from Vancouver to the island is provided by BC Ferries.

Tofino Bus also services Tofino from Victoria, Vancouver, Nanaimo and Port Alberni.

Every March, the migration of thousands of grey whales is celebrated with the Pacific Rim Whale Festival. The last weekend of April is the Tofino Shorebird Festival. The May 23, 24 weekend is the third annual Rip Curl Stew surfing contest held at Cox Bay . The first week-end of June brings the ever-growing Tofino Food and Wine Festival, featuring British Columbia wines and showcasing the creations of Tofino chefs. The end of August brings the Tofino Lantern Festival (voted Tofino's most popular event by Tofino Time Magazine), and mid-September brings "Art in the Gardens," a two-day local arts and music festival. The highlight of November is the Clayoquot Oyster Festival, which hosts the annual and popular Oyster Gala, an evening of local chefs competing for the favorite oyster creation, slurping contests, British Columbia wines and beers, and live music.

RE/MAX MID-ISLAND REALTY
PO BOX 840, #311 NEILL ST.,
TOFINO,
Canada V0R 2Z0
Tel: 250-725-2038