Clayoquot Sound is an area of 262,000 hectares (650,000 acres) between Tofino and the Hesquiat Peninsula halfway up the west coast of Vancouver Island. Its river valleys feature the largest lowland temperate rainforest in the world Here you'll find some giant trees such as thousand-year-old Sitka Spruce and Western Red Cedar.

Flores Island and Vargas Island, around which we travel, sit at the entrance to Clayoquot Sound and protect Tofino and the inside waters from the force of the open Pacific Ocean.

The inter-tidal zone in the sound is incredibly rich in a variety of sealife, birds and other animals and plants. Summer resident grey and humpback whales and transient orcas frequent the area. Sea otters, seals and sea lions are plentiful. It is almost guaranteed to see whales and a great variety of wildlife on one of our tours.

The area also has healthy populations of river otters, mink, marten, bear, wolf, cougar, deer, elk, all five species of salmon, steelhead, bald eagles, and over 200 species of birds.

Clayoquot Sound is also the home and traditional territory of three Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations: Hesquiaht, Ahousaht, and Tla-o-qui-aht. The First Nations population in the Sound is around 1000 people. Most live in the villages of Ahousat, Hot Springs Cove and Opitsat. There are about 1200 non-native residents in Clayoquot Sound. They live mostly in Tofino which also accomodates many visitors in the summer months.

Download BC Parks Brochure