Tofino in January: Why Off-Season Is the Only Season Worth Visiting

In August, Tofino is a parking lot with an ocean view. In January, it is one of the most spectacular places on earth.

The logic of avoiding BC's most famous beach town in the summer is simple: go when the storms come in. The Pacific swells that make Tofino's surf legendary reach their peak between November and March, sending fifteen-metre walls of water crashing against Chesterman and Long Beach in displays that are, frankly, terrifying and beautiful in equal measure.

The Wickaninnish Inn, which pioneered storm-watching tourism in the 1990s, now runs a dedicated Storm Watching Package between October and March. Rates are roughly 40 percent lower than peak season, and the hotel's Pointe Restaurant — one of the best in BC — is far easier to get into.

"The town exhales in winter," says local surf instructor Marcus Chen, who has lived in Tofino year-round for twelve years. "You can actually talk to people. The coffee shops aren't a war zone. The beaches are yours."

Getting there: Pacific Coastal Airlines operates daily flights from Vancouver International to Tofino-Long Beach Airport year-round. The scenic drive from Nanaimo via Port Alberni takes approximately three and a half hours in good weather — add an hour for winter driving conditions.