Where the rainforest meets the Pacific

Ucluelet sits on the west coast of Vancouver Island, an outdoor lover's paradise with a rich history and some of the most beautiful spots in Canada.

Many people visit once and find themselves coming back for the laid-back west-coast lifestyle and the rugged beauty of rainforest meeting ocean.

There is lots to do here: some of the world's best ocean salmon fishing, incredible hiking, whale watching, kayaking, surfing, and more.

Ucluelet has great restaurants and services to make your stay comfortable, plus many little walks and beaches that visitors often pass up.

Ucluelet is a popular spot for surfing year round, and it is also great for storm watching, rugged nature, and its many uncrowded beaches.

Pacific Rim National Park is one of the favourite vacation spots along the west coast of British Columbia, with three regions:

• Long Beach

• The Broken Group

• The West Coast Trail.

The park is known for its lush forests and rugged coastline.

Ucluelet and more

Ucluelet sits at the south end of a peninsula, about 35 minutes south of Tofino. Historically a commercial fishing and logging town, sport fishing took root in the 1980s and by the 2000s Ucluelet was known as a place where you could fill your tub. It remains one of the few hot spots along the west coast where fishing has stayed strong, helped by calmer weather and easy access.

But there is much more than fishing. Ucluelet sits on the northern boundary of Barkley Sound and the Broken Group, a set of islets becoming a well-known kayakers' paradise. Just south of town is the Wild Pacific Trail, one of the most scenic places on Vancouver Island. A quieter neighbour to Tofino, Ucluelet has built a reputation for eco-tourism.

Adventure and fun

Ucluelet has some of the largest feeding grounds for salmon and halibut anywhere on the coast, ideally situated among many large banks. Salt-water sea kayaking is a huge draw too, with the Broken and Deer group islets popular with paddlers. Go for a half or full-day trip with lunch on a private sandy beach, or a day cruise in Barkley Sound to view wildlife.

Pacific Rim National Park

About 15 minutes north of Ucluelet is the Pacific Rim National Park, a favourite vacation spot along the west coast of British Columbia. It is loved for its three distinct regions: the Broken Group, Long Beach, and the West Coast Trail, which hug the rugged coastline and hold lush coastal rainforest.