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Activities
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Ucluelet to the south may claim to be "whale-watching capital of the world", but
whales
- the main reason a lot of people are here - are just as easily seen from Tofino. As in Victoria, you have plenty of operators, most costing about the same and offering similar
excursions
: all you have to do is decide what sort of boat you want to go out on - zodiacs (inflatables), which are bouncier, more thrilling and potentially wetter, or rigid-hull cruisers (covered or uncovered), which are more sedate. Remember that if you take tours to Meares Islands, Hot Springs Cove and elsewhere, especially in spring or autumn (best times to see whales), you stand a good chance of seeing whales en route anyway - some operators try to combine whale-watching and excursions. Operators to try include: Cypre Prince Tours midway down the main street at 430 Campbell St (tel 725-2202 or 1-800/787-2202); Chinook Charters, 450 Campbell St (tel 725-3431 or 1-800/665-3646), who offer trips (2hr 30min) on rigid or zodiac boats; and Jamie's Whaling Station, 606 Campbell St (tel 725-3919 or 1-800/667-9913), who also offer a choice of zodiac boats or the twenty-metre
Lady Selkirk
, which comes with heated cabin, no small consideration on cold days, of which Tofino has a few.
Many of these companies double up as
fishing
charters, though for more specialist operators contact Bruce's Smiley Seas Charters, based at the Methods Marina (May-Sept; tel 725-2557), who're quite happy to have novices aboard; or the Weigh West Marine Resort (tel 725-3238 or 1-800/665-8922), who have an inexpensive restaurant as well as lodgings just above the marina at 634 Campbell St. Still on the water, Tofino is quickly becoming the
surfing
capital of Canada, thanks to some enormous Pacific waves, though floating driftwood and big lumps of lumber caught up in the waves can be a hazard. For information, board rental and all other equipment, contact Live to Surf east of the town centre at 1180 Tofino Hwy (tel 725-4464). If you want to go out in a
kayak
(no experience required) contact Tofino Sea Kayaking, 320 Main St (tel 725-4222 or 1-800/863-4664), who offer day-trips or longer
tours
with lodge accommodation or wilderness camping. Nine holes of
golf
are available at the local course near the airport (tel 725-3332), while
guided hikes
and easy nature rambles in the forest and along the seashore are offered by several companies (contact infocentre for details). Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Canada,
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