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View of the Wild Pacific Trail - Ucluelet, Vancouver Island
Ocean View from Ucluelet, Vancouver Island
Ocean View from Ucluelet, Vancouver Island
View of the Wild Pacific Trail - Ucluelet, Vancouver Island
Ocean View from Ucluelet, Vancouver Island
Ucluelet Beach & Trail Caution Board for Users, Vancouver Island
View of A Beautiful Tree with Green Trunk - Ucluelet, Vancouver Island
Ucluelet Trail View, Vancouver Island
User Guide Map Board in Ucluelet, Vancouver Island

Ucluelet

Ucluelet, also known as Ukee by the locals, is a district municipality in the Ucluelet Peninsula, Pacific Rim, Vancouver Island. The name Ucluelet means "people of the safe harbour" in the indigenous language of Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka). Based on archaeological evidence, First Nations have been living along the outer west coast of Vancouver Island for at least 4,300 years. The recorded history of British Columbia's started when European people explorers were searching for the Northwest Passage. First of all, was Juan Pérez, who anchored and traded in 1774 on the west coast of Vancouver Island, at Nootka Sound northwest of Ucluelet. The following year, Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, who was sailing along the coast of Vancouver Island, roughly charted the coast in the vicinity of Kyuquot Sound.
The economy of Ucluelet has made the transition from resource-based to all-year-round tourism-based. After Victoria, the Pacific Rim area is now the second most visited tourism centre on Vancouver Island. Almost 90,000 visitors worldwide visit Ucluelet, TofinoPacific Rim National Park Reserve, and its Long Beach Unit
Tourist activities in Ucluelet are various and fun. What Ucluelet is known for is excellent salt-water fishing. So don't forget your fishing rod. Surfing, standup paddleboarding, fishing, whale watching, bear watching, kayaking, canoeing, camping, hiking, biking, swimming, and beachcombing are among other activities you can do around Ucluelet. Storm watching is also available from November to March.

Average Weather in Ucluelet

Ucluelet, with an oceanic climate, has mild, rainy winters and cool summers. The average monthly temperature is between 2°C (35.6°F) in February to 20°C (68°F) in August.

The Best Time to Visit Ucluelet

The best time to visit Ucluelet is from June to September. It is when the coastal climate has a mild summer temperature, suitable for outdoor activities.

How to Get to Ucluelet?

Ucluelet Airport Transfers

Tofino-Long Beach Airport (YAZ) has round trips to Vancouver. The airport is near Pacific Rim National Park Reserve - Long Beach Unit.


Seaplane to Ucluelet

West Coast Wild has flights to Tofino and Bamfield, the nearest communities to Ucluelet, and from there, you can take a taxi or bus to Ucluelet.


Ferry to Ucluelet

You may start your departure from Vancouver to Victoria at Swartz Bay. From there, continue your trip by driving toward Ucluelet. You can also take a ferry from Tsawwassen to Duke Point or from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay. After reaching Nanaimo, continue your way by driving toward Ucluelet.

Top 10 Attractions in Ucluelet

  • Going to Ucluelet Aquarium
  • Bird watching
  • Surfing
  • Going to beaches
  • Kayaking
  • Hiking the scenic trails
  • Whale watching/wildlife tours
  • Fishing charters
  • Pacific Rim Visitor Centre 
  • Visiting the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse
Visiting Ucluelet

Discovering Beauty and Entertainment in Ucluelet

Ucluelet is a beautiful and scenic district and has a lot to offer as attractions and activities. A great view of the ocean while having fun and doing exciting activities make your visit memorable. Hiking and biking on the picturesque trails would bring you back to Ucluelet. Lying in the sun and relaxing at beautiful beaches would be delightful. For entertainment, Ucluelet is full of surprises. Experience scenic flights of West Coast Wild Adventures. Go and see Amphitrite Point Lighthouse, one of the world's most famous lighthouses. Have the time of your life with a zipline eco-tour in West Coast Wild. Visit the Ucluelet Aquarium, browse the galleries in a region that inspires hundreds of artists, and of course, enjoy pubs and bars in Ucluelet.


Gardens, Parks, and Natural Green Attractions in Ucluelet

  • Ucluelet Campground
  • Best Ocean Viewpoint in Ucluelet
  • Big Beach Park
  • He-Tin-Kis Park
  • Wild Pacific Trail
  • Pacific Rim National Park Reserve - Long Beach Unit
Ucluelet gardens

Beaches, Lakes, Rivers, and Water-based Activities in Ucluelet

Museums and Art Galleries in Ucluelet

  • Image West Gifts
  • Cedar House Gallery
  • Reflecting Spirit Gallery Inc.
  • Pacific Rim Arts Society

Entertainment in Ucluelet

Festivals and Events in Ucluelet

  • Oyster Festival
  • Pacific Rim Whale Festival
  • George Fraser Day and Heritage Fair
  • Edge to Edge Marathon
  • Van Isle 360 Yacht Race
  • Canada Day
  • Pacific Rim Summer Festival
  • Ukee Days
  • West Coast Maritime Festival / Tall Ships

Nightlife and Entertainment in Ucluelet

  • Officials Sports Lounge
  • Big Beach Bar and Lounge
  • Eagle's Nest Pub

Free Attractions in Ucluelet

  • Swimming and sunbathing at the beaches
  • Hiking all around the Wild Pacific Trail and watching birds
  • Visiting the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse
  • Hiking Ucluelet Lighthouse Loop
  • Browsing the gift shops
  • Going to art galleries like Mark Penney Gallery and Reflecting Spirit Gallery

Services in Ucluelet

Public Transportation in Ucluelet

Public transportation in Ucluelet includes buses and taxis.


Vanislander

Where to Stay in Ucluelet

The best place to stay is near the beaches to enjoy a great view and be close to where the water sports are available and make the best of your trip.

Hotels:
Hyphocus Inn
Canadian Princess Lodge & Marina
Bayshore Waterfront Inn
Water's Edge Shoreside Suites

Hostels:
 Island West Resort
West Coast Motel On The Harbour
Ukee Peninsula Motel

Guesthouses:
Terrace Beach Resort Ucluelet
Ucluelet Ocean Mist Guesthouse
The Cabins at Terrace Beach
Hertel's Beach House
Storm Cove Suites
Ucluelet Guest House
Shopping in Ucluelet


Shopping in Ucluelet

Ucluelet has remarkable art galleries for shopping, such as Mark Penney Gallery, Cedar House Gallery and The Den a Paint & Pottery Studio. You can also find gift shops in the city. Here are some of the best:
Ukee Sunday Night Market, Rubio, Image West Gifts, The Wreckage and Turning Tides Tarot

Food and Beverage Services in Ucluelet

Restaurant and Café in Ucluelet

Most of the food and beverage services in Ucluelet are around Peninsula Road. Here is a list of them:
Seom Restaurant, Currents Restaurant, Ukee Dogs Taqueria, Cedar Grill, Heartwood Kitchen, Abbondanza, Howler's Family Restaurant, Wild Bean Café, Thay Tea - Organic Loose Leaf Tea, Yayu Café, Huckleberry's Coffee Shop

Ucluelet Restaurants and Cafes

Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries, Pubs, and Bars in Ucluelet

Ucluelet Brewing Company and Pacific Rim Distilling are downtown.

Health and Wellness in Ucluelet

Sport and Wellness Centers and Spas Ucluelet

Sport and Wellness Centers, Spas, and Recreational Therapy in Ucluelet

  • The Studio Ucluelet - Fitness + Yoga Studio
  • RE/MAX Mid-Island Realty (Ucluelet)
  • West Coast Fitness Centre
  • Drift Spa at Blackrock Resort
  • Nurture Day Spa
  • Wild Roots Esthetics & Massage
  • Recreational Therapy
  • Naomi Joy Furst RMT
  • Mackenzie Alsager, RMT
  • Harbour Health Integrated Therapies
  • Rain In Motion Mobile Massage

What you Can Expect to Do Near Ucluelet

Ucluelet Whale Watching

Ucluelet Whale Watching

Make your Whale watching experience memorable enough to remember it even with closed eyes. in Ucluelet, you will have ample opportunities to encounter these gigantic marine creatures, and you may be lucky to observe other wildlife too. Those whale watching enthusiasts have the chance to attend the annual Pacific Rim Whale Festival happening at the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Ucluelet and Tofino on Vancouver Island's west coast.

Tofino Whale Watching

Tofino Whale Watching

Make your adventure worthwhile on Vancouver Island by visiting Tofino and not missing its whale-watching opportunities for the world. You may have the chance to gaze upon Orcas, the most widespread marine mammal on the earth. Clayoquot Sound, located near the Tofino, is a sandy shoreline with rich rainforest.

Barkley Sound Whale Watching

Barkley Sound Whale Watching

If you try exploring what you haven't seen yet on Vancouver Island, Barkley Sound might be a good start. After decades of close observation and research, humans realize the importance of killer whales as a means of tourism attraction. therefore, to start your adventure in Barkley Sound, keep its fantastic whale watching opportunities in mind.

Bamfield Whale Watching

Bamfield Whale Watching

Adjacent to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Bamfield is a favourable destination for whale watching in the Port Alberni area. To make the most out of your journey in Bamfield, you can do salmon fishing around the coast and enjoy the outstanding birdlife living there.

Broken Group Islands Kayaking and Canoeing

Broken Group Islands Kayaking and Canoeing

Broken Group Islands is one of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve's three main recreational components, which offers paddlers undeniable opportunities to spend time on the water. While you are camping in the wilderness, you may be given the pleasure of watching lagoons, sandbars, blowholes, arches and secluded anchorages.

Barkley Sound Kayaking

Barkley Sound Kayaking

Those who are planning to engage in the adventure of paddling in Barkley Sound would better schedule their visit for July-August and reserve their seats beforehand. During cold months do not forget to bring rain gear. Besides kayaking, other activities are available in Barkley's good area to be fed on by your souls.

Camping in Pachena Bay Campground

Camping in Pachena Bay Campground

Make the best of your journey on Vancouver Island by camping in one of the possibly best campgrounds on the southwest of Vancouver Island. Pachena Bay Campground offers a quiet private campsite for those who want to get away from the bustle in towns. Not to mention the beautiful, clean, and sandy beach in which you are provided with every possible fun opportunity.

Wya Point Camping

Wya Point Camping

Find the inside campers of yours while you are camping in Wya Point Campground. In the heart of an oceanside forest, Wya Point Campground offers opportunities for camping, and you are given a chance to choose which campsite you want to spend time at. Crystal water, sandy cove, and tide rocks that offer marine life sights and several beachfront cabins and yurts with ocean-view are available in Wya Point, making it an ideal place.

Cox Bay Kiteboarding

Cox Bay Kiteboarding

Great opportunities for kiteboarding are awaiting you in the realm of Cox Bay, no matter if you are an expert or a beginner. But beforehand, check the reports and wave directions. Besides, the magnificent beach of Cox bay offers an abundance of activities you may enjoy.

Wickaninnish Beach Storm Watching

Wickaninnish Beach Storm Watching

Big swells and harsh waves have made this quiet, beautiful beach a hot spot for storm watchers and surfers. So., let your journey lead you to Wickaninnish Beach, where you can meet your expectations of adventure and fun. It's a big beach for wandering on with a nice and long curving view. Wickaninnish Beach is a kid-friendly beach with high chances of observing diverse sea life. Then, do not miss it for the world.

Wild Pacific Trail Storm Watching

Wild Pacific Trail Storm Watching

While hiking Wild Pacific, you are given a chance to enjoy a fantastic storm watching. With hurricane-force winds, both trails of Wild Pacific offer an excellent opportunity to watch storms. Not to mention that overlooking views are provided throughout the hike, which doubles the joy of walking on this long stunning trail.

Kwisitis Visitor Centre Storm Watching

Kwisitis Visitor Centre Storm Watching

Have you ever experienced storm watching on a perched deck overlooking an eye-catching view of the Pacific Ocean? If not, Kwisitis Visitor Centre is awaiting you. As a beautiful exhibition for the natural and cultural patrimony of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, this excellent Centre offers unforgettable storm watching right on the Pacific shores, which guarantees your fun and adventure.

Long Beach Storm Watching

Long Beach Storm Watching

As one of the main recreational spots in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Long Beach features strong waves pounding the beach. This quality has made this beautiful scenic beach a hot spot for surfing and storm-watching enthusiasts. It is a beautiful and pristine beach on which having a lounge time or walking feels rejoiced. You can lose yourselves in the sand of Long Beach and find them once again.

Cox Bay Beach Storm Watching

Cox Bay Beach Storm Watching

After a long relaxing time on Cox Bay Beach, away from all the stress from urban life, if your souls are looking for excitement, the storm-watching opportunity provided for you may be able to satisfy that need. This clean and peaceful beach offers you a pristine view of the sunset and the chance to watch the surfers skimming the water. It is a good idea to walk and feel the sand upon your feet.

Chesterman Beach Storm Watching

Chesterman Beach Storm Watching

Fulfil your desires for storm watching in Chesterman Beach, near which you can find another tremendous hot storm watching spot, right on the north, Wickaninnish Inn. Chesterman Beach, known for its biggest swells, is a hot spot to enjoy storm watching. Visit the beach in winter and feel the drops of the rain upon your chicks. Also, while you are lying on the beach, you can enjoy observing paddlers and surfers doing their thing on the water.

What you Can Expect to See Near Ucluelet

Bamfield

Bamfield

Bamfield is a small fishing and harbour village best known for its magnificent salmon fishing adventures. It offers a wide green area and jungles to hike and enjoy the wildlife. For the tens of kilometres, you have shorelines, amazing islands, and beautiful beaches. It is principally a tourist destination for the West Coast Trail, ocean kayaking, or sport fishing.

Cape Beale Lighthouse

Cape Beale Lighthouse

The first lighthouse established in BC by the Canadian government is the original Cape Beale Lighthouse. It was constructed on the rugged cliffs of the Pacific Rim. The whole complex consists of the keeper's house and the lantern tower. Visitors can access this station by the hiking trail. The lantern tower is not open to the public, but you can enjoy the surroundings and the panoramic views.

Ucluelet

Ucluelet

Ucluelet is a district municipality in Pacific Rim. After Victoria, the Pacific Rim area is the second most visited tourism centre on Vancouver Island. Ucluelet has a distinctive portion in this field with salt-water fishing, surfing, standup paddleboarding, whale and bear watching, kayaking, canoeing, camping, hiking, biking, swimming, storm watching, and beachcombing.

Wickaninnish Beach

Wickaninnish Beach

Wickaninnish Beach is a large stunning beach with sand dunes and access to the rainforest. Kilometres of sands make it possible to walk on the beach for a long time. Sit on the driftwoods or cliffs to rest and enjoy the view. It would be great staying there making a fire and watching the sun touch the ocean. This beach could be your excellent choice for swimming, storm watching, and surfing.

Sarita Falls

Sarita Falls

Sarita Falls is one of the pieces of music repeatedly playing by the earth. This beautiful set of falls is placed along the Sarita River in a rainforest space with fresh air, making a stunning atmosphere. There is a sign for the place, a white tree trunk that has fallen on the river, which can complete the picture. The area is also rich in wildlife, so get the most out of your visit.

Low Tide Sea Cave

Low Tide Sea Cave

When the water retreat, Chesterman Beach magic will show up. Be there to watch the underwater tunnels that turn to damp passageways. This hidden jewel is the Low Tide Sea Cave. While you are walking there, it almost feels like a sandy carpet on the floor. The passage to the cave is encompassed by rock walls moss-covered with trees on top. The scenery is worthy enough to be captured.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve - Long Beach Unit

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve - Long Beach Unit

Long Beach is part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Its pristine coastal forest features trails suitable for hiking and biking. The park is one of the earliest and most popular surfing locations in British Columbia. Also, storm watching, bird watching and whale watching take lots of attention. Camping at the park makes it possible to get the most out of your visit.

Pelham Range

Pelham Range

The Pelham Range is a paradise for mountaineers seeking an isolated area and seclusion. They can spend some days camping in peace on lakes or through the wilderness or paddling and fishing a whole day in the calm waters with a pleasant ambiance. Climbing the mountains would be fascinating, passing through hills covered with beautiful trees.

Kennedy Lake Provincial Park

Kennedy Lake Provincial Park

Find your peaceful and scenic area somewhere between Kennedy Lake, the largest lake on Vancouver Island, and the Pacific Ocean. From freshwater to salty water, from beach to beach, is all the natural beauty of Kennedy Lake Provincial Park, making your beach-based recreation. It is a day-use destination, with an impressive lake and a beautiful intertwined forest.

Tofino Botanical Gardens

Tofino Botanical Gardens

If you are interested in nature and culture, Tofino Botanical Gardens is a chance to learn. Strolling along waterside trails and watching beautiful plants is a great opportunity. Besides walking through stone paths and boardwalks, the herb and flower gardens give you a unique sense of freshness. Attending educational programs about the area's ecosystem is another choice you have.

Virgin Falls

Virgin Falls

In the wilderness area of Alberni-Clayoquot C, where you may have a plan for camping, there is Virgin Falls, a gift from nature to adventure lovers. An abundant fantastic forest surrounds this magnificent 53 m (173.8 ft) waterfall. The pool under the waterfall has crystal clear water with mesmerizing blue shades, perfect for swimming and photography.

Ahousat Hot Springs

Ahousat Hot Springs

Ahousat Hot Springs is a tourist destination with therapeutic uses for adventure seekers and nature lovers. Clear and tasteless water, room temperature, and excellent atmosphere put the hot springs into one of the most splendid sites for a relaxing experience. Soaking in hot springs despite several therapeutic benefits they have should be done by considering health conditions.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a national park famous for its old-growth rainforest, spectacular coastal scenery and long sandy beaches. Hiking through the lush temperate forests, walking along the expansive soft-sand beaches, kayaking among small islands and hidden bays, discovering wildlife and whales, and surfing the Pacific Ocean waves are the best things to do in the park.

Cox Bay Beach

Cox Bay Beach

The beach is an excellent spot for challenging your talents out in the ocean and find happiness in salty waters. Cox Bay Beach is a great place for surfers also where you can do other water-based activities you desire. If you prefer walking beach to beach, start from Cox Bay Beach toward Chesterman Beach, one of the most visited beaches on Vancouver Island.

Long Beach

Long Beach

Find yourself in Long Beach and live by the currents. It is the longest one on Vancouver Island, which gives you hours of walking on the sands of the Pacific Rim region. It feels like a never-ending beach, where green and blue meet. As its park and the ocean are generous for activities, you will not regret spending more time on Long Beach.

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