Long Beach, Tofino | Top 100 Bikini Destinations
Tofino, British Columbia / Canada
Sixteen kilometres of open sand,
Long Beach.
The longest beach on Vancouver Island, between old-growth rainforest and the open Pacific, with surf all year and storms all winter.
Plan your beach day ↘TOP 100 BIKINI DESTINATIONS / PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK RESERVE
Rainforest on one side,
the open Pacific on the other.
Long Beach runs for about 16 km along Wickaninnish Bay, between Tofino and Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island, inside Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
The sand is wide and flat, the water is cold, and the waves roll in from the open ocean, which is why Tofino is the surf capital of Canada. Rent a wetsuit and take a lesson, walk the tide line for sea stars and driftwood, and stay for a long sunset over the islands.
ON THE WORLD MAP
On the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Long Beach, Tofino, British Columbia
01 / GETTING THERE
Start in Vancouver.
Room to spread out
At low tide the beach is hundreds of metres wide.
Photo: Buiobuione · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Display cropGet around Tofino
Long Beach lies between the airport junction and Wickaninnish Bay, about 20 minutes' drive south of Tofino village on the Pacific Rim Highway. Parking lots along the highway lead to the sand at Incinerator Rock, Combers and Green Point. A paved multi-use path runs alongside the highway between Tofino and Ucluelet for walking and cycling.
On the beach
There are no lifeguards on Long Beach. The water is cold all year, around 10–14 °C, rip currents are common, and big waves can arrive without warning, especially in winter. Wear a wetsuit, swim only where surfers are close by, and stay off logs at the waterline: waves can roll them. Beach status ↗
02 / BEACH ESSENTIALS
Know before you go.
A national park beach with parking lots, washrooms and surf schools nearby, but no food on the sand; daily admission applies.
01 / HOW TO GET THERE
Park pass and parking
Buy a Parks Canada daily pass for each day you park in the Long Beach area: CA$12.25 per adult or CA$24.50 per vehicle group (up to seven people); youth 17 and under are free. Machines in the parking lots take cards.
Park fees ↗02 / BEACH ACCESS
Paths to the sand
Short trails and boardwalks lead from the parking lots onto the beach. The sand is firm and flat at low tide; driftwood piles up at the back of the beach at high tide.
03 / THE SAND
Wide and flat
Fine grey-gold sand, very wide at low tide, with rocky points and tide pools at either end. Expect fog in the morning in summer and drifting foam after storms.
04 / FOOD & WATER
Bring it with you
Nothing is sold on the beach. Pick up coffee and food in Tofino or Ucluelet, or eat at Long Beach Lodge at Cox Bay or the food trucks on the Pacific Rim Highway.
05 / CHAIRS & UMBRELLAS
Wetsuits and boards
There are no chair or umbrella rentals. Surf shops in Tofino rent wetsuits and boards and run lessons; you will want a wetsuit for any time in the water.
06 / RESTROOMS & SHOWERS
Washrooms at the lots
Washrooms are at the main parking lots, but there are no showers or changing rooms on the sand. Change at your hotel or at the surf shop.
03 / THE BEACH
A day at Long Beach.
The whole bay
Long Beach curves for kilometres along Wickaninnish Bay.
Photo: Adam Jones, Ph.D. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Display crop01 / SURF
Take a surf lesson
The long, open beach break is good for beginners in summer; schools in Tofino supply wetsuits and boards.
02 / LOOK
Explore the tide pools
At low tide, look for sea stars and anemones in the rocks at either end of the beach.
03 / WALK
Walk the tide line
Fog, driftwood and wide flat sand make for a long walk at any time of year.
04 / WATCH
Storm watching
From November to February, big Pacific storms roll in and the surf grows huge.
Start with a walk on the beach while the morning fog lifts, then take a surf lesson before the afternoon wind picks up. Explore the tide pools at low tide, and in the afternoon walk the Rainforest Trail among the old-growth cedars, about 10 minutes' drive south. Have dinner in Tofino and come back to Long Beach, Cox Bay or Chesterman Beach for sunset. On a stormy day, watch the waves from the Kwisitis Visitor Centre.
NEARBY BEACHES
Four more beaches within 16 km.
Wickaninnish Beach is at the south end of Long Beach; Cox Bay, Chesterman and MacKenzie are on the way to Tofino.
Cox Bay
A surf beach between rocky headlands, with consistent waves and the Long Beach Lodge at one end.
- Best for
- Surfing and sunsets
- Facilities
- Lodge restaurant; surf schools nearby
- Good to know
- Waves are bigger and stronger than at Long Beach.
Chesterman Beach
A long, quiet beach in front of the Wickaninnish Inn, with a tidal island you can walk to at low tide.
- Best for
- Long walks at low tide
- Facilities
- Street parking; no services on the sand
- Good to know
- Watch the tide if you walk out to Frank Island.
MacKenzie Beach
A sheltered beach near Tofino village, calmer than the open surf beaches.
- Best for
- Families and calmer water
- Facilities
- Resorts and cafés along the beach
- Good to know
- Still cold water; a wetsuit helps.
Wickaninnish Beach
The south end of Long Beach, beside the Kwisitis Visitor Centre, with big surf and rocky points.
- Best for
- Storm watching
- Facilities
- Washrooms and the visitor centre nearby
- Good to know
- Strong currents; stay out of the water when the surf is big.
Distances are straight-line from Long Beach. Facilities change by season, so check on the day.
04 / MUST-SEE PLACES
Three ways to see the Pacific Rim.
01 / NATIONAL PARK
Rainforest Trail
Two short loops on boardwalks and stairs through old-growth western red cedar and hemlock, just off the Pacific Rim Highway.
Parks Canada trails ↗02 / WICKANINNISH BEACH
Kwisitis Visitor Centre
Exhibits on the coast and on Nuu-chah-nulth culture, with an observation deck over the south end of Long Beach.
Kwisitis Visitor Centre ↗03 / UCLUELET
Wild Pacific Trail
A free coastal walk along the rocks and forest edge in Ucluelet, starting at the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse.
Wild Pacific Trail ↗EXPLORE THE AREA
Long Beach and Tofino.
Find Long Beach curving along Wickaninnish Bay, the airport just inland, Cox Bay and Chesterman Beach to the north-west, and Tofino village at the tip of the peninsula.
Open the interactive map ↗BEYOND THE BEACH
Into the rainforest.
Old-growth trees, a lighthouse and a coastal trail.
Rainforest Trail
Old-growth trees in the national park.
Photo: Buiobuione · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Display crop
Amphitrite Point
The lighthouse at the start of the Wild Pacific Trail.
Photo: Letartean · CC BY 4.0 · Display crop
Wild Pacific Trail
Rocks and islands off Ucluelet.
Photo: Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Display crop
Tofino harbour
Many homes around Clayoquot Sound are reached only by boat.
Photo: ImagePerson · CC BY 4.0 · Display crop05 / SIX HOTELS
Find your base.
TOFINO VILLAGE
Whalers on the Point Guesthouse
$ Budget · From about US$97 a night (checked 2026-11)
A waterfront hostel in Tofino village with dorms and private rooms, a shared kitchen and harbour views.
Whalers on the Point Guesthouse official site ↗PACIFIC RIM HIGHWAY
Hotel Zed Tofino
$ Budget · From about US$109 a night (checked 2026-11)
A colourful retro-styled hotel on the edge of the village, about 15 minutes' drive from Long Beach.
Hotel Zed Tofino official site ↗TOFINO HARBOUR
Tofino Resort + Marina
$$ Mid-Range · From about US$121 a night (checked 2026-11)
A harbourfront hotel with a marina, a restaurant and the Hatch pub, a short walk from the village centre.
Tofino Resort + Marina official site ↗MACKENZIE BEACH
Ocean Village Resort
$$ Mid-Range · From about US$136 a night (checked 2026-11)
Cedar cottages right on MacKenzie Beach, with kitchens and an indoor pool.
Ocean Village Resort official site ↗COX BAY
Long Beach Lodge Resort
$$$ Upscale · From about US$210 a night (checked 2026-11)
A lodge on the sand at Cox Bay, with a great room for storm watching and a surf club.
Long Beach Lodge Resort official site ↗CHESTERMAN BEACH
Wickaninnish Inn
$$$$ Luxury · Average about US$387 a night; minimum stays on some dates (checked 2026-11)
A Relais & Châteaux inn on the rocks at the end of Chesterman Beach, known for storm watching and The Pointe restaurant.
Wickaninnish Inn official site ↗
WHEN TO GO
Choose the day you want.
Tofino has a mild, wet climate. Summer highs are around 18–20 °C (mid-60s °F), winter highs around 8 °C (mid-40s °F), and most of the year's rain falls between October and March. The ocean stays cold, about 10–14 °C (50s °F), so surfers wear wetsuits all year. July to September is the driest beach season; November to February is storm season. Climate normals ↗
06 / FOOD, LANGUAGE & LOCAL LIFE
From sand to table.
Fish and chips
Halibut and chips is a west coast classic.
Photo: Daniel X. O'Neil · CC BY 2.0 · Display cropWhat to order
Order halibut or lingcod fish and chips, local oysters, Dungeness crab and wild salmon, and fish tacos from the food trucks. Coffee shops and bakeries open early for surfers.
Local habits
Restaurants in Tofino fill up in summer and on long weekends, so book dinner ahead. Tip 18–20 percent at sit-down restaurants. Many places reduce hours or close for a few weeks in winter.
A LITTLE TOFINO SURF TALK
Useful on the beach and in town.
- Tuff City
- Local nickname for Tofino
- Glassy
- Smooth water with no wind
- Storm watching
- Watching winter storms from the shore
- Clayoquot
- The sound and islands around Tofino
SIX RESTAURANTS
Where to eat.
PACIFIC RIM HIGHWAY
Tacofino
$ Budget · Prices not published online; see the menu on arrival (checked 2026-11)
The surf-shop parking-lot taco truck that started a West Coast chain; fish tacos and burritos.
Tacofino official site ↗PACIFIC RIM HIGHWAY
Wildside Grill
$ Budget · Prices not published online; see the menu on arrival (checked 2026-11)
A takeout counter for fish and chips, fish tacos and burgers, run by a local fisherman.
Wildside Grill official site ↗TOFINO HARBOUR
1909 Kitchen
$$ Mid-Range · Prices not published online; see the menu on arrival (checked 2026-11)
Wood-fired West Coast cooking with harbour views at Tofino Resort + Marina.
1909 Kitchen official site ↗CAMPBELL STREET
Shelter
$$ Mid-Range · Prices not published online; see the menu on arrival (checked 2026-11)
A relaxed restaurant and bar in the village for local seafood, burgers and drinks after a surf.
Shelter official site ↗FOURTH STREET
Wolf in the Fog
$$$ Upscale · Prices not published online; see the menu on arrival (checked 2026-11)
Foraged and fished Tofino cooking in a dining room above the village. Dinner daily from 17:00.
Wolf in the Fog official site ↗CHESTERMAN BEACH
The Pointe Restaurant
$$$$ Luxury · Prices not published online; see the menu on arrival (checked 2026-11)
Fine dining at the Wickaninnish Inn, in a glass-walled room surrounded by surf on three sides. Book ahead.
The Pointe Restaurant official site ↗TOFINO AFTER DARK
Three bars.
Tofino Brewing Co.
The local brewery's tasting room on Industrial Way, open from noon into the evening; no reservations. Tofino Brewing Co. ↗
Tofino Craft Distillery
A small distillery next to the brewery, with a tasting room for gin and other spirits. Tofino Craft Distillery ↗
Hatch Waterfront Pub
A pub at Tofino Resort + Marina with a deck over the harbour. Tofino Resort + Marina ↗
Tofino is a small, early-to-bed town. Plan dinner, a drink at the brewery or on the harbour, and a walk back through the village; taxis are limited, so book a ride ahead if you are staying out at the beaches.
TOFINO EVENT CALENDAR & MONEY
Plan around the celebrations.
Tofino Oyster Festival
Three days of oysters, chefs and parties in late November; the 2026 festival runs November 27–29.
Tofino Oyster Festival official site ↗Pacific Rim Whale Festival
A week of events in Tofino and Ucluelet each March, when grey whales pass the coast; the 2026 festival ran March 13–20, so expect mid-March 2027.
Pacific Rim Whale Festival ↗Currency / Canadian dollar
Canada uses the Canadian dollar (CAD, CA$). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including the park pass machines; carry a little cash for small food trucks. Sales taxes are added at the register.
Bank of Canada ↗07 / WHAT TO WEAR
A swimsuit for the wild Pacific.
TOFINO LONG BEACH
Swim.
Walk.
Stay out.
On the sand
Wear the Tofino Long Beach bikini with a hooded sweater and a rain shell over the top, because the weather changes fast on this coast.
In the surf
Wear the bikini under a wetsuit for a surf lesson, and bring sandals for the cold sand and the boardwalk paths.
In town
Layers, a warm jacket and waterproof shoes; evenings are cool even in August.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Good to know.
Which airport should I use?
Tofino-Long Beach Airport (YAZ), about 5 km from the beach, with flights from Vancouver (YVR). Or fly to Vancouver or Nanaimo and drive, about 3 hours from the Nanaimo ferry.
Is it good for swimming?
The water is cold all year (about 10–14 °C) and there are no lifeguards. Most people go in with a wetsuit, usually with a surf lesson, and stay close to shore.
Do I need a park pass?
Yes. A Parks Canada daily pass is required when you park in the Long Beach area: CA$12.25 per adult or CA$24.50 per vehicle group; youth are free.
When is the best time to visit?
July to September for the driest, warmest beach days; November to February for storm watching; March for the whale festival.
Can I learn to surf here?
Yes. Long Beach and Cox Bay are Canada's best-known surf beaches, and schools in Tofino offer lessons with wetsuits and boards.
FOG & FOUNDRY / SWIM
Spruce and swell,
on a fog-green ground.
A high-waisted bikini in our own spruce, swell and driftwood print, made to wear under a wetsuit or on a warm day in the shallows.
Explore the Tofino Long Beach bikini ↗
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