Discovering the Clayoquot Sound archipelago from Tofino
- cam.campo
- Jul 20
- 4 min read
Tofino, a small fishing port well known to surfers, is also the gateway to the Clayoquot Sound archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its extraordinary landscapes, hundreds of small islets and rich diversity, Clayoquot Sound is a must-see when visiting Vancouver Island.
Since 1986, Remote Passages has been offering a range of excursions to discover these magnificent landscapes. From this pretty red house, typical of Tofino, Katie and her team will welcome you with passion to help you discover the region.
Discover the islands of the archipelago and the rainforest of Meares Island by kayak
For our part, we chose to discover these landscapes by sea kayak, a sport we'd never tried before. So we can confirm that, as beginners, this excursion is perfectly feasible.
Remote Passages offers two different kayak tours:
"The islands" excursion
A 2h30 kayak tour with a guide - $83 CAD per person
"Clayoquot Explorer" excursion
A 4-hour guided tour that includes a kayak excursion to Meares Island and a walk through the rainforest, with plenty of explanations about this unique ecosystem - $135 CAD per person + $3 CAD for park entrance.
You can find the approximate itinerary for each route on the map below:
Please note that these excursions are open to children as long as they share the kayak with an adult. For more information, please contact Remote Passages directly.
We took the Clayoquot Explorer tour. Although the 4-hour kayak trip may seem daunting, and you do need to be in good physical condition to do it, it's really an activity where you never see the time go by.
There were only 4 of us, so two double canoes and our guide. Sailing in a very small group, as Remote Passages offers, is a real luxury and means we can talk easily with our guide, who has come all the way from New Zealand, seems to be passionate about the region and happy to help us discover this environment. We slalomed between the small islands to try and spot animals. There were dozens and dozens of large starfish, some a pretty orange colour and others much darker.
We also spotted a raccoon on the shore and a cormorant on a rock, waiting patiently for its next dive in search of fish.
Opposite Tofino, the guide also showed us a village still inhabited by First Nations people, and introduced us to their way of life. It was really interesting.
We then docked on Meares Island for about 1 hour in the rainforest. We really weren't expecting to see these landscapes in Canada. Tropical, humid vegetation that we discovered via a pathway built plank by plank with wood from the forest.
Then it's time to head back to Tofino, where a hot tea courtesy of Remote Passages awaits us.
If you are interested in sea kayaking excursions, you can book directly online on the Remote Passages website.
In search of grey whales and sea otters
Another excursion offered by Remote Passages is a zodiac or boat trip in search of grey whales and sea otters. You may even be lucky enough to see orcas if they're not too shy on the day of your excursion, as they are permanent residents of the archipelago.
If you've already taken a whale watching tour from Victoria, you may have seen humpback whales. The grey whales that you can see in Tofino, in addition to the humpback whales, are different and can only be seen from Vancouver Island in Clayoquot Sound. You can therefore take advantage of a new excursion to discover these magnificent mammals.
As with kayaking, Remote Passages offers two types of whale-watching excursion.
Zodiac excursion
A 2h30 to 3h tour with a guide - $159 per person ($135 per child)
Come aboard one of the magnificent custom-designed zodiacs for a 2h30 to 3-hour trip back in time. Thanks to the floating red suits, you'll be able to face the cold in complete serenity and create some wonderful memories.
Please note: this excursion is not suitable for children or the elderly.
Cabine boat trip
A 2h30 to 3h tour with a guide - $159 per person ($135 per child)
This small boat, which seats around ten people, allows you to set off in search of whales in comfort. More stable than a zodiac, this excursion is suitable for everyone, including children and the elderly.
The two excursions are identical in terms of the circuit, but the boats are different and are not aimed at the same public.
Once your tour is over, you can consult the whale and orca family trees that Remote Passages keeps up to date with the sightings you make. They will also show you on a map where you have encountered each species.
Watch the black bears of Clayoquot Sound from a zodiac
Vancouver Island is home to between 7,000 and 10,000 black bears. The largest concentration of black bears in the country. When the tide goes out, black bears come out of the forests in search of food. Crabs on the rocks are their main feast.
Come aboard Remote Passages' zodiacs for a 2h30 hour cruise with a guide and wetsuit. A guide will explain everything you need to know about black bears, their habitat and their way of life - $159 per person ($135 per child).
Please note: as this excursion takes place on a zodiac, it is not suitable for young children or the elderly.
Enjoy the hot springs of Clayoquot Sound
Do you dream of swimming in Canada, but the water in the lakes or ocean is too cold for you? Remote Passages offers you the opportunity to do just that with an excursion to the hot springs of Clayoquot Sound.
To reach the hot springs, once you've landed on the coast, you'll pass through a magnificent rainforest that will transport you to another atmosphere. You will then reach the hot springs, pools of water carved out of the rock where the temperature of the water emerging from the earth is 50°C! Fortunately, you can count on the waves of the ocean at a maximum of 15°C to cool the pools a little.
This excursion lasts around 6 hours and is not suitable for children or the elderly.
So there you have it! If you're staying in Tofino, don't miss out on the various excursions to discover Clayoquot Sound! Their professionalism and warm welcome are sure to please! A real favourite!
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