Lizard Adventure Travel

I recently visited Tofino but ended up spending the majority of my time in Ucluelet.  This neighbouring district to Tofino lacks recognition, and I felt it was time to provide insider info...

First, a few details about Ucluelet:
- district municipality on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, approximately 40km from Tofino or 288km northwest of Victoria
- Ucluelet means "people of the safe habour" in the indigenous Nootka language
- population of approximately 1500

Why you should visit Ucluelet:

1) Less developed

Ucluelet is still transitioning from a resource-based economy (fishing and logging) to a tourism-based economy.  You get to observe 'un-touched' nature before the big resorts move in! 

2) Affordable
Because the town is less well-known the service and accomodation providers need to keep their prices low to attract visitors. 

3) Unique culture

Very important in the local society is the Yu-cluth-aht people whose government is the Ucluelet First Nation.  Great place to learn about Aboriginal culture on Vancouver Island.  

4) Kayaking
Depending on the time of year you can observe salmon spawning while bears roam the water's edge to collect leftovers.  Locals recommend Majestic Ocean Kayaking.  Some of the salmon jump out of the water over your kayak and you'll need to duck to avoid 30lbs of fish flying through the air!   

5) Accomodation
Bostrom's B&B: rated #1 on Trip Advisor so I had to stop by to see for myself.  Owner's Judy and Gary were warm, welcoming and knowledgeable.  They (plus resident dog, Baxter) provided a tour of their stunning accomodation.  This B&B sits on the water and offers oceanviews from the private rooms and outdoor decks.  The attention to detail is what caught my eye: outdoor hot-tub overlooking the ocean, fireplace, snooker table, internet, local artwork, sound-proofed media room, heated floor tiles and spa showers!

BlackRock Resort: luxury accomodation that recently opened (2 years ago).  An absolutely stunning venue that has gone above and beyond in their room details - did I mention you can see the ocean from your private shower?!  They also have a high-end, very reasonably priced restaurant (Fetch) and spa (Drift) on site.  The prices are extremely affordable for a luxury resort of this level; I recommend checking them out before too many people catch on!  I understand there was some controversy around the development of this resort, as it is located on the Wild Pacific Trail, but the hotel is working diligently with locals to implement a solution that works for everyone involved.  After chatting with some locals I discovered that general opinion is that this hotel is a positive addition to the location.

6) World-renowned Hiking
The Wild Pacific Trail runs from Ucluelet out to Tofino, but if you want to experience a small portion of it I recommend the 2.6km loop (southern section) in Ucluelet.  It will take approximately 30 minutes, but since you'll likely stop for photos at the many viewpoints, allow for more time.   

The New York Times also reviewed this hiking trail, and rated it as one of the top ones in North America! Below is a view from the trail...

7) Food
As mentioned above, Fetch at BlackRock is amazing - Executive Chef Andrew Springett holds a strong reputation in the community and maintains reasonable prices for high-quality, local treats!

Norwoods Restaurant
Specializes in indigenous ingredients from the pacific north west, and food is paired with local wines.  All products are sourced as close to home as possible, in fact the Chef connects directly with the local fisherman for ling cod, salmon, rock fish, halibut and octopus - no middle men, just fresh caught fish!

Ukee Dogs - I couldn't find an official website for this place, but locals rave about it.  Offering comfort food for every mood: gourmet hotdogs, meat pies, cookies, salads and more...

SOBO Restaurant
Ok - this isn't actually located in Ucluelet but I had to mention it because it's pretty fantastic.  Take a quick visit to Tofino and sample the Killer Fish Tacos - they have won lots of accolades including a mention in the New York Times

8)Storm-Watching!
Storms are particularly impressive in Ucluelet because a lot of the beach areas have large, exposed rocky areas that the waves smash up against.  Enjoy this storm video from Ucluelet, courtesy of Anchors Inn. 

Lizard Adventure Travel offers group trips to Tofino & Ucluelet - to book your own group adventure (10-24 people) please contact Liz Bonham: info@LizardAdventureTravel.com | 250-891-6881