clayoquot sound

"From the information I gathered before the trip I had a pretty good idea of what to expect, but all of my expectations were utterly surpassed. From booking online to saying goodbye to our guide, it was an absolute pleasure."

Neil and Maggy Haines - Toronto, ONT

About Clayoquot Sound and Tofino

The town of Tofino, whose economy was primarily based around logging and fishing, has now become a well-known and desirable tourist destination for travelers from around the world. The town which lies quite literally at the end of the road on the west coast of Vancouver Island, is an eclectic mix of tour operators, artisans, resorts and restaurants.

Clayoquot Sound is known the world over for its summer population of resident Grey Whales. These leviathans of the deep take part in an annual 11,000-mile migration that brings them into the sound in early spring and sees them depart in the fall, making for superior viewing opportunities

throughout the summer. Visitors from around the world also congregate in Tofino and Clayoquot Sound so that they may visit Maquinna Provincial Marine Park to soak in the natural hot mineral spring pools. These 50-degree geothermal hot springs cascade down a waterfall into half a dozen rocky pools. The delightful hot pools flow from one level to the next, gradually becoming cooler as the fresh spring water is cooled by ocean swells.

Clayoquot Sound, which was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in January of 2000, abounds with wildlife including wolves, black bears, eagles and a rich variety of amazing sea creatures.

Clayoquot Sound and it’s surrounding islands and mountains are a fine example of Vancouver Island’s coastal temperate rainforest. The rainforest of Clayoquot Sound is the most unique kind of forest in the world. A type of forest that in fact covers less than 0.2% of the Earth’s land surface.

The Nuu-chah-nulth people, Clayoquot Sound’s original inhabitants, have a guiding principle of Hishuk-ish ts’awalk, which means everything is one. This philosophy recognizes that communities, cultures, economies and environments are interwoven and impact one another.

We offer two adventures into this mystical land; our five-day expedition trip that delivers us to the mineral rich pools of Hot Springs Cove to sooth tired muscles and relax. And our four-day Vargas Island Voyager expedition that combines the best of what Clayoquot Sound has to offer in two nights of camping on expansive sandy beaches followed by a final night of soothing relaxation nestled snugly in the jewel of Clayoquot Sound, the Inn at Vargas Island.