From Tourist Hotspots to Secret Spots: Our Vancouver Island Adventure

We traveled through Canada for a year and received the same recommendation everywhere: make sure to visit Vancouver Island. So, we spent the last four weeks of our Canadian adventure on Vancouver Island. In this article, we provide all the essential information about this famous island.

Vancouver Island at a Glance

• The largest Pacific island in North America, with over 31,000 km²
• Part of the province of British Columbia (BC)
• Although the southern part of the island is south of the 49th parallel, which marks the border between the USA and Canada, Vancouver Island is entirely part of Canada
• Victoria, located in the south of the island, is the capital

Ferry

There are several ferry routes from the mainland (near Vancouver) to the island, as well as a connection to the USA. Travel times vary depending on the route, with the longest ferry ride taking about 3 hours. All information about ferries, departures, ports, and costs can be found on the BC Ferries website: bcferries.com .

We chose not to book the ferry in advance but only to check departure times and ports. Our ferry went from Vancouver Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo. Victoria, located in the south of the island, is served almost hourly. The cheapest tickets are usually for the first ferry in the morning and the last one late at night.

Is it worth booking the ferry in advance?
If you’re traveling without a car, no. As a regular passenger, you will always find a spot on the ferry. However, if you’re traveling with a car or van, it might be wise to book in advance to ensure a spot. We took both a midday and an early morning ferry, and the prices were identical for both crossings. For bargain hunters, it might be worthwhile to book in advance and compare different weekdays, but it’s not absolutely necessary.

Insider Tip: Tofino – What’s the Deal?

Tofino is often mentioned as the top recommendation for Vancouver Island. We took a closer look at Tofino and the area between Ucluelet and Tofino, which is considered especially beautiful. Here are our insights:

1. Expensive: Tofino is particularly pricey. We tried to find a cheap campsite, as wild camping is not allowed here. The only recommended site is the official Parks Canada campground (Point Green Campground), which is often booked up from May. The sites are shady and cost 47 CAD per night. Other campgrounds in the area are twice as expensive. Hotels and bus tours are also expensive here.

2. Dogs: Dogs are not allowed on the famous Long Beach from April to October. This affected our plans somewhat.

3. Too Crowded: If you avoid crowds and seek tranquility, you might want to skip Tofino. We had two days of hustle and bustle, which was enough for us. For peace and solitude, we recommend our top 5 campsites on Vancouver Island.

Our Top 5 Campsites on Vancouver Island

1. Elk Bay Recreation Site
2. Cape Scott Provincial Park / San Josef Recreation Site + San Josef Beach
3. Woss Lake Recreation Site: A lake instead of the sea, beautifully situated in greenery.
4. Naka Creek Recreation Site: Good chances of seeing whales.
5. Pinch Creek Recreation Site

Tips

Whales and Orcas: If you’re coming to Vancouver Island to see orcas, note the season. Orcas are only visible from June to August. We unfortunately had no luck in May.

Hiking: Vancouver Island offers some great hikes. The trail to the Plane Crash Site is fascinating for lost places enthusiasts. In Cape Scott Provincial Park, you can hike through the forest and also camp on the beach. For a multi-day tour, the North Coast Trail in Cape Scott is ideal, though dogs are not allowed there.

Food: There are some great restaurants on the island. We particularly recommend the Cruffin from the Barkley Cafe in Ucluelet. For good bread, visit the Common Loaf Bakery in Tofino. And for a unique experience, check out Goats on the Roof, where goats graze on the roof.

Conclusion on Vancouver Island

After some initial difficulties, we had a great time on Vancouver Island. Did we enjoy it? Yes! Would we do it again? No. The hype around the island is not entirely justified for us. The island has great spots, but whether the high costs are worth it is questionable. The mainland coast is at least as beautiful, and there are also rainforests there (e.g., Red Mountain in Mission, BC). We don’t want to dissuade you from a trip to Vancouver Island, but we want to be honest and only recommend what we genuinely find worthwhile.

Bonus

Malcolm Island: Locals recommended a short detour to Malcolm Island. There’s a beach where orcas visit and come ashore!