Woman in a blue rain jacket walking along a wet wooden boardwalk through a rainforest near Hot Springs Cove in BC

Vancouver Island, BC

Old-growth rainforest, wild surf beaches, and whale-watching from the shore. Vancouver Island rewards everyone who makes the crossing.

Vancouver Island Guides From BC Locals

Selfie of blog authors Alia & Shawn

Hi! We're Alia & Shawn.

Based in Squamish, BC

Vancouver Island is one of our favourite places to explore. We live just a 30-minute drive from the ferry so it feels a bit like it's right in our backyard, but after every visit, somehow our list of places we want to visit seems to only grow bigger.

Vancouver Island Destinations

Best places to visit

A man and woman walk hand in hand across a massive wooden trestle that spans across a lush canyon

10 Best Things to Do in the Cowichan Valley: A 2026 Guide

Planning a trip to the Cowichan Valley? Discover the best things to do in 2026, including Cowichan Lake, Malahat SkyWalk, waterfalls, hiking trails, whale watching, breweries, cideries, and charming Vancouver Island towns.

A wide waterfall trickles over a wide stretch of bare mossy rock into a small pool below

Cowichan Waterfalls: A Guide to the Best Falls in the Region (2026)

Discover the best waterfalls in the Cowichan Valley and South Vancouver Island, including Niagara Falls, Christie Falls, Skutz Falls, and Stocking Creek Falls, with hiking tips, trail details, and what to actually expect in 2026.

A man walking along a spiral boardwalk on the Malahat Skywalk in Cowichan Valley

Malahat SkyWalk: What to Expect and Is It Worth It (2026 Guide)

Is the Malahat SkyWalk worth it? The honest 2026 guide — tower views, the glass Overhang, spiral slide, and everything you need to plan your visit.

A man cooking on a small red camp stove set up on a picnic table in a grassy park on the edge of Cowichan Lake

Cowichan Lake: A Guide to the Best Beaches and How to Spend Your Day

Planning a lake day at Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island? Discover the best beaches, swimming spots, picnic areas, paddleboard launches, and local tips for the perfect summer day at Cowichan Lake.

A misty waterfall pours over a cliff into the sea on a sandy beach below at Mystic Beach

27 Things To Do In and Around Sooke, BC (2026 Guide)

Discover the best things to do in and around Sooke, BC — from rugged coastal hikes in East Sooke Regional Park and tidal pools at Botanical Beach to river swimming at Sooke Potholes and the scenic Highway 14 drive to Port Renfrew. Your complete 2026 guide to Vancouver Island's most underrated destination.

The sky glowing a gold color as the sun sets behind a distance tree covered mountain in Tofino, BC

The 7 Best Sunset Spots in Tofino, BC (2026 Guide)

The best places to watch the sunset in Tofino — from tin wis Beach and Chesterman Spit to Cox Bay Lookout and Long Beach, ordered along the coast.

A man stands at the edge of a cliff above a sparkling, calm sea of blue water in East Sooke Regional Park

East Sooke Regional Park: Complete Day Trip Guide From Victoria (2026)

The complete guide to East Sooke Regional Park — Creyke Point, the coastal trail, petroglyphs, Iron Mine Bay, and how to plan your day from Victoria.

Water pours over a rocky riverbed lined by lush trees in Sooke Potholes Provincial Park

Sooke Potholes Provincial Park: Complete Day Trip Guide From Victoria (2026)

Everything you need to know about Sooke Potholes Regional Park — Crescent Beach, the potholes viewpoint, Mary Vine Falls, and how to plan your day.

The wet sand of tin wis beach at low tide glows golden as it reflects the warm light of the setting sun the is dipping below the tree-lined horizon

The Best Beaches in Tofino: Your Complete Guide to Vancouver Island's Wild Coast (2026)

A guide to all the best beaches in Tofino, how to get to them, which beach to visit in every kind of weather, and all the best spots to surf, swim, or relax.

A red and white lighthouse glows in sunset light along a rocky tree lined coast

8 Best Things To Do in Ucluelet, Vancouver Island (2026 Guide)

Skipping Ucluelet for Tofino? Don’t. Here are 8 incredible things to do in Ucluelet, including wild coastal hikes, secret beaches, and epic whale watching spots.

Sunset light reflected on wet sand at Tin Wis beach at sunset near Tofino, BC

15 Best Things to Do in Tofino, BC (2026 Guide)

Best Things to Do in Tofino, BC: surf, beaches, rainforest hikes, whale watching, hot springs, and cozy stays on scenic Vancouver Island.

Vancouver Island Itineraries

Curated travel itineraries

A man leans his head out of grey Subaru Forester parked on the side of the road next to a road sign that reads “Pacific Marine Circle Route”

The Pacific Marine Circle Route Itinerary: The Best South Vancouver Island Road Trip

The Pacific Marine Circle Route is a 4-day road trip from Victoria along Vancouver Island's wild southwest coast to Port Renfrew and back through the Cowichan Valley. This guide covers every stop — old growth forests, tidal pools, waterfalls, river swimming, and the best places to eat and stay along the way.

A man and woman walk hand in hand across a massive wooden trestle that spans across a lush canyon

The Best 3-Day Cowichan Valley Itinerary (2026)

Plan the perfect 3-day Cowichan Valley road trip from Victoria — Malahat SkyWalk, Kinsol Trestle, Cowichan Lake, Chemainus murals, and more. The complete 2026 itinerary.

A narrow sand spit cuts out into a calm bay across from a tree covered regional park across the water

3 Day Sooke Itinerary: The Perfect Long Weekend on South Vancouver Island (2026)

Plan the perfect 3-day long weekend in Sooke, BC — with a full day in East Sooke Regional Park, a scenic drive along Highway 14 to Botanical Beach and Port Renfrew, and a final morning at Sooke Potholes. The complete 2026 itinerary for the south island's most underrated corner.

Rows of gentle waves roll into a halfmoon shaped bay lined with white sand and rainforest near Tofino, BC

3 Day Tofino Weekend Itinerary I Wish I Had Before My First Trip (2026 Guide)

Tofino travel guide for couples: best time to visit, car rental tips, Hot Springs Cove tour booking advice, costs, and what to do when it rains. Plan a dreamy Vancouver Island getaway—whether it’s sunny beach days or moody rainforest adventures, Tofino delivers in every season.

Large waves crash onto the rocky tree-lined shore near Ucluelet with a row of hotels visible beyond the trees

The Perfect Ucluelet Weekend Itinerary for Couples (2026 Itinerary)

The perfect weekend itinerary for couples looking for a cozy staycation on Vancouver Island that is equal parts rest and exploration. Ucluelet 3 Day itinerary.

Vancouver Island Accommodations

Best places to stay in Vancouver Island

A large wooden pub on the shore at low tide in Port Renfrew

Port Renfrew Accommodation Guide (2026)

Camping, oceanfront cottages, or a lodge for a big group? This guide breaks down the best places to stay in Port Renfrew and how to pick the right one for your trip.

A large hotel on a beach reflects its many windows in the water of the still ocean in front of it

Best Hotels and Cottages in Tofino (2026 Accommodation Guide)

Plan your 2026 Tofino trip with this guide to where to stay — town centre, Chesterman Beach, Cox Bay, and Pacific Rim camping options.

Frontier town style facade along an empty street in Chemainus

Cowichan Accommodation Guide

Discover where to stay in the Cowichan region, Vancouver Island. Compare Cowichan Lake, Cowichan Bay, Chemainus & Ladysmith accommodations for your perfect trip.

A large white wooden hotel with a large patio on the waterfront

Sooke Accommodation Guide

Sooke accommodation guide: compare luxury resorts, cozy cottages, and family-friendly townhomes near East Sooke Park, the Potholes, and Juan de Fuca.

Vancouver Island Transit Guides

Car-Free travel guides

A cluster of tree covered islands framed through the window of a Harbour Air sea plane

How To Get To Tofino

Getting to Tofino from Vancouver takes 6-7 hours by car and ferry, or under 1 hour by seaplane. Here's everything you need to know about driving via BC Ferries or flying with Harbour Air.

Vancouver Island Roadside Stops

Best things to see in Vancouver Island just off the side of the road

A steady flow of water pours over a sandstone cliff into the rocky beach below while a man walk in the distance with the setting sun behind him

Best Juan de Fuca Stops: The Complete Guide From Sooke to Port Renfrew (2026)

The complete guide to Highway 14 from Sooke to Port Renfrew — Mystic Beach, Botanical Beach, Sombrio Falls, and every stop worth making on the drive.

A straight paved highway cuts through a dense forest on Vancouver Island, BC

9 Stops You Need to Make Along Highway 4 on the Way to Tofino

These are the 9 best stops I never skip when driving to Tofino — from Cathedral Grove's old-growth giants to Long Beach and the best swimming hole on Vancouver Island.

Vancouver Island Hiking Guides

Explore the best trails across Vancouver Island

A man with a backpack framed by yellow flowers, standing on a cliff above a blue lake with a massive, lush green forest in the background

Hiking in the Cowichan Valley: The Best Trails and What to Actually Expect (2026 Guide)

Looking for the best hikes in the Cowichan Valley? Discover scenic summit trails, waterfalls, coastal walks, and underrated Vancouver Island hikes with local tips, trail difficulty, and what to actually expect in 2026.

A woman walking down a large boardwalk staircase passing by lush shrubery leading down to a wide sandy beach in Tofino, BC

The 21 Best Hikes and Trails in Tofino (From Someone Who's Done Them All - 2026 Guide)

The complete guide to hiking in Tofino — every trail ranked and reviewed from first-hand experience, from easy beach walks to the summit of Lone Cone.

Vancouver Island Activity Guides

All the details on the best acivities Vancouver Island

Four people sit laughing and chatting in a shallow rocky pool of water at Hot Springs Cover near Tofino, BC

Tofino Hot Springs Cove Tour: Everything You Need to Know

Thinking about the Tofino Hot Springs Cove tour? Here's everything you need to know — cost, what to pack, who to book with, and whether it's actually worth it.

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