10 dream stopovers on Vancouver Island

Perfect for road trips and wellness-focused getaways alike, Vancouver Island captivates with its miles of pristine beaches, rugged coastline, temperate climate, and endless opportunities for sporting and culinary adventures. Here are a few stops to consider, depending on your interests... and budget.

Tofino's spectacular beaches

The surfing capital of the country, Tofino also charms with its bohemian atmosphere, fine dining, and endless beaches. Although it's home to many luxury hotels, its hippie past is never far away.

So, on Chesterman Beach, where Surf Sister instructors have been teaching the basics of surfing for over 25 years, a stone's throw from the famous Wickanninish Inn , we discover a small sculptor's workshop with approximate opening hours.

We enjoy the Mexican and Californian-inspired creations of Tacofinos , a truck parked a stone's throw from the beaches since 2009, as well as high-end restaurants like Wolf in the Fog , right in the city center.

For exceptional sunsets, head to Cox Bay, where surfers keep busy until the last rays of the sun fade. The Great Room at Long Beach Lodge is one of the best restaurants to enjoy while scanning the horizon. Note, however, that the water temperature rarely exceeds 19 degrees, even in the height of summer.

Uclulet Coastal Trails

Located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Ucluelet is less than 40 minutes from Tofino. Its eight-kilometer Wild Pacific Trail winds through coastal forests, peat bogs, and mudflats.

If you're short on time, the Lighthouse Loop trail offers a 2.5-km, step-free view of the coast and hills. Benches allow visitors to spend more time observing the wildlife.

For exceptional views, consider the Black Rock Oceanfront Resort , perched on a promontory overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Here, you can witness the endless spectacle of waves crashing against the rugged coastline.

The Comox Valley

A three-hour drive from Victoria and Tofino, the Comox Valley is a vast playground appreciated as much for its forests as for its water activities, its waterfalls and its giant potholes , including those of Oyster River.

To drop anchor and forget about anything, one name to remember: the Kingfisher Pacific Resort & Spa . In Courtenay, this newly renovated 65-room boutique hotel offers views of the Salish Sea. No need to leave: all the dishes at the seasonal AQUA Bistro & Wine are delicious, and the Pacific Mist Spa offers a hydrotherapy circuit, in addition to a new immersive experience called Healing Caves , which recreates different ecosystems using technology.

Several campgrounds are also available in the area, notably at Seal Bay .

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Along the west coast of Vancouver Island, the various sections of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve offer fabulous forays into the diverse ecosystems of the traditional territories of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. The Long Beach area is a favorite with visitors, both for its vast expanse of golden sand and its hiking trails.

Butchart Gardens

About twenty kilometers north of Victoria, Butchart Gardens is a testament to the passion of Jennie Butchart, who transformed the former Portland Cement limestone quarry, owned by her husband, into beautiful, fragrant gardens.

Between 1906 and 1929, the family estate was transformed into an extraordinary, lush green space. A Japanese garden borders the sea, and a rose garden attracts all eyes. An Italian garden was even built on the former tennis court!

In 1939, Jennie Butchart's son turned it into a tourist attraction that has continued to grow in popularity ever since. Now a National Historic Site, Butchart Gardens attracts more than a million visitors each year.

Cathedral Grove, forest of giant trees

In MacMillan Provincial Park , Cathedral Grove is home to gigantic Douglas fir trees. It's the perfect place to take a break on the way to Tofino. Some trees are over 800 years old. One reaches a circumference of 9 meters! It's one of the few old-growth forests so easily accessible. Ideal for hiking between destinations and for photography on well-maintained trails that are easy for everyone to access.

The Cowichan Valley

About an hour from Victoria, on the southern part of the island, some fifteen Indigenous nations coexist in the Cowichan Valley . While it is possible to enjoy a host of outdoor activities and discover museums and art galleries, one of its greatest assets is undoubtedly its vineyards.

Although the region is far from the fame of the Okanagan Valley, in the southeast of the province, Cowichan has some nice surprises in store, including the must-visit Unsworth Vineyards , which produces one of the best local sparkling wines, Charme de l'île (you'll see it on several lists). Its restaurant alone is a reason to stop there (definitely try their chowder!).

Blue Grouse Estate is also worth adding to your itinerary.

Victoria's Fisherman's Wharf

British Columbia's capital city is a pleasant place to explore on foot and boasts many upscale restaurants and hotels. Fisherman's Wharf, accessible on foot or by water taxi from downtown, is a must-see.

Among the various food kiosks and whale-watching tour vendors, you will discover some pretty inhabited floating houses.

On a beautiful summer day, we stop for fish and chips accompanied by a glass of local wine.

English tea room and saunas in Victoria

After enjoying classic afternoon tea at the Fairmont Express , which topped the list of Canada's best hotels in Travel + Leisure 's 2025 World's Best Awards , head across the street to experience HVAN saunas , opening in 2023.

On a barge moored across from the iconic hotel, these Scandinavian saunas embrace their urban character. Seaplanes take off and land here, and the social aspect takes precedence over the silence that typically reigns in wellness establishments.

Clayoquot Resort Lodge

This isn't a place you discover by chance. The only hotel in the country to have received three Michelin stars, along with the Fogo Inn, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Crayoquot Resort Lodge offers the epitome of luxury in a camping setting. Twenty-five furnished, en-suite safari tents are scattered throughout this protected natural setting, in the middle of nowhere.

Everything about the place is exceptional, from the service to the meals in the rustic chalet-style restaurant. Open between May and September, the site welcomes a wealthy clientele seeking privacy and unique experiences. You might encounter a honeymooner returning by helicopter from a snowshoeing adventure on a glacier, stars traveling incognito, or businesspeople looking to completely disconnect.

Obviously, you have to be prepared to pay the price: from $4,400 per night for two adults in August (minimum three nights).

This report was produced following several trips to Vancouver Island. A portion of the costs were paid by Destination British Columbia , which had no say in the text.