Maggie Outside

Long weekend adventures: How I surfed in Tofino as a student working in Vancouver

Trip Summary

One extra weekend day makes working students dream big. With Canada’s National Day of Mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, we pulled off a last-minute trip to Tofino on a student budget and had a fantastic adventure. This post highlights how we managed it, where we stayed, and what we did (plus pictures!).

The view from the ferry
Boardwalk in the Rainforest Trail
Star light, star bright
A surfer’s sunset
Low tide at Long Beach
Signage from loop A
See more photos in my photos gallery.

Trip Breakdown

Saturday:
8am ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay
10am arrive in Victoria, get an Evo car
2pm stop at Cathedral Grove
Stop in Port Alberni for groceries
6pm arrival at Surf Junction Campground, set-up tents
Sunset at Long Beach!


Sunday:
8am breakfast
Get surf gear rental from the campground
Surfing at Long Beach
2pm ramen noodles lunch in the parking lot
6pm pack-up and leave the beach for dinner
Stargazing at the Wickaninnish Beach


Monday:
9am camp tear-down and hit the road
10am Rainforest Trails (2 x 1km loops)
4pm ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay
Bus to home Vancouver

Trip Details

This trip started with waking up at 6am and taking a combination of public transit and Uber to get to the ferry terminal for 7:15am. We booked passenger tickets in advance, 18$ one way. The ferry ride was really nice: we found good window seats, grabbed coffees from the on-board food service, and stood outside on the deck for a bit. The ride is about 1 hour and 35 minutes, and the commute from Swartz Bay to Victoria is 30 minutes. From Victoria, we headed up the Trans-Canada Highway to start the 4-hour drive to Tofino. It definitely took us longer than this since we stopped a few times. In MacMillan Provincial Park, we walked through the giant Douglas firs and Western red cedars of Cathedral Grove. This stroll through the forest was amazing – my first time seeing big big B.C. trees. Our next stop was Port Alberni for groceries (save money make food). Our home for 2 nights was Surf Junction Campground, located just east of Tofino in Ucluelet. We had 2 sites booked for 3 tents; we set these up before heading out to catch the sunset.

Only a few minutes down the road, we arrived at Long Beach and dipped out feet in the ocean. This was one of the best beach sunsets I have ever seen, and for the better part of an hour, we stayed and soaked in the view. This meant we were cooking burgers on a camp stove in the dark, but that’s what headlamps are for, right?

The next morning, we made breakfast and went down to the campground rental shop to pick up our surf gear for the day. For $50, this included a soft-top surfboard (there were other board options, but these are better for beginners), a wetsuit (including wetsuit boots, gloves and hooded vest), and straps for your car. We headed back to Long Beach and spent the day surfing. I had never surfed before, but thankfully some people I was travelling with had, so I got a quick lesson and some pointers. It took me until after lunch to properly stand up on my board, and I enjoyed the entire day of being in the water and riding waves. We went out for a well-deserved dinner that evening.

Stargazing!! No moon, no big city lights, not a cloud in sight. Wickaninnish beach was a great place to watch the stars (don’t forget it can get chilly near the ocean once the sun is gone). SpaceX’s Starlink satellite chain was passing through, which looked like a caterpillar chain of stars travelling through the night sky. It was eerie and beautiful at the same time.

The next morning, the Rainforest Trail was our first stop after breakfast and packing up. Located in Pacific Rim National Park, the parking lot is only 10 km from Surf Junction and 24 km from Tofino. I loved these 2km loops on either side of the highway. They go deep enough into the woods that you don’t hear cars anymore, and the wooden boardwalk protects the forest floor. The tall and majestic trees, the plentiful moss, the singing birds, and the green ferns made for a rich and magical walk. I would highly recommend stopping at these trails if you are passing by.

Finally, the group split up and took the 4pm ferry from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay, or the 7pm ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. Taking the 250 bus from the ferry terminal, I made my way back home to Vancouver after an amazing adventure-filled long weekend.

Key Points

  • Book your ferry tickets in advance to be safe.
  • It’s a 4+ hour drive from Victoria to Tofino; we did it this way because we needed to pick up a car in Victoria but going from Nanaimo is quicker.
  • Be sure to visit the Rainforest Trails while you’re in the area!