10 Best Hotels in Tofino, Vancouver Island

This charming beachside inn, opened as Tofino's first B&B in 1984, is the kind of intimate seaside getaway that brought people to Vancouver Island's west coast in the first place. The top-floor Lookout suite, with its sundeck, sweeping sea views, and private staircase to the beach, is a romantic favorite. The two-bedroom Ocean Breeze suite, sheltered by stands of spruce and cedar, and just steps from the wide sandy beach, has a private entrance, and a full slate-and-marble kitchen; a sweet, sea-view sunroom, furnished with sofas, is perfect for wave-watching in comfort. Both suites feature gas fireplaces, deep soaker tubs, big picture windows, and oriental rugs on hardwood floors; rubber boots and rainslickers are on hand for long beach walks. A lavish breakfast (think fresh-squeezed juice, poached eggs with salmon, and honeyed yogurt cream) can be delivered to your door. A private one-bedroom cottage, with its original rustic floors and a full kitchen, is tucked in the garden behind the B&B.

People from around the globe arrive via floatplane or a 30-minute boat ride from Tofino to experience this Relais & Châteaux property, one of the region's top wilderness resorts. Typical days include ocean fishing, bear watching, horseback riding through the rain forest, or perhaps mountain biking or sea kayaking, followed by a lavish dinner. Torch-lit boardwalks lead to glamping tents, elegantly furnished with antiques and plush bedding. The property features 25 luxury tents, of which 20 have private en suite bathrooms; five deluxe outpost tents have private facilities nearby. Sip local wines in the outdoor lounge area before a huge river-stone fireplace, or sidle up to the counter in the open kitchen with a frothy cappuccino and a good book. Per-person prices are all-inclusive for the 3-, 4-, 7-, or 10-night stays.

The newest outpost of the funky Victoria hotel chain features swanky '70s style including rotary-dial phones and a retro arcade, as well as the world's first bike path running through a hotel lobby. The property is nestled in the rainforest just off the main road, a 10 minute walk from Chesterman Beach.

On a bluff overlooking a mile of private beach, this rustically elegant lodge is a great choice for a grown-ups' getaway. The Lodge at the Beach is an excellent value, offering adults-only, phone- and TV-free rooms, while the newer Lodge at the Headlands has a variety of suites and cabins with kitchens and kitchenettes and six new Treehouse accommodations. Teens can stay at the Headlands, but children under 12 are only permitted in the cabins. Each lodge has an expansive common room with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and far-reaching ocean views. The decor underscores the west-coast location with recycled timbers, woodsy colors, and a smattering of antiques. A restaurant on-site serves dinner on weekends year-round.

On a rocky promontory with open ocean on three sides and old-growth forest as a backdrop, this cedar-sided inn is exceptional in every sense. First Nations art is elegantly showcased, and details like handcrafted candleholders or hand-adzed mantelpieces exude a west-coast style. Every room in this Relais & Châteaux property, whether in the original Pointe building or in the newer Beach building, has an ocean or beach view, fireplace, soaker tub, and private balcony. The Ancient Cedars Spa gives hot-stone massages and couples massages in mind-blowing oceanfront treatment rooms; yoga classes are held daily. The Pointe Restaurant offers some of Tofino's finest dining, and a beachside café offers fresh baking with surf views. Service and quality throughout are outstanding.

Offering a different side of Tofino, this marina complex is right on the inlet looking across to Meares Island, just a short stroll from town. The former 1970s motel property was refurbished into a hip home-base with two waterfront dining venues, activities center, and lively marina. The property also has a remote floating wood-fired sauna located within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Clayoquot Sound.