Whales, Bears & Puffins: Tofino Wildlife Adventure on Vancouver Island

After three days in Campbell River, we headed west to Tofino. The three-hour drive was pure Vancouver Island magic, with detours through Cathedral Grove and, of course, Goats on the Roof for donuts. We stayed at Wildpod, a collection of six glamping domes right on the waterfront. From our dome, we watched seaplanes come and go, otters playing below, and eagles calling each morning. Our first adventure was a whale watching tour with West Coast Safaris, and it didn’t disappoint. In just 2.5 hours, we saw all three whale species: a breaching orca (T109A5), cruising humpbacks, and a grey whale—our first ever! Next came a foggy sunrise black bear tour with The Whale Centre, where we spotted five bears, including a mother and cub. And just when we thought it couldn’t get better, we joined a special trip to search for tufted puffins near Cleland Island. Against the odds, we found one, and even captured a few photos. Between sea otters cracking shells, grey whale flukes, and a bald eagle posing perfectly at sunset, Tofino wrapped up our Vancouver Island journey in the best possible way. 📍 Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia 🚤 Tour Operators: West Coast Safaris & The Whale Centre