This coastal community is a vibrant hub for talented local artists, craftsmen, and sustainable businesses dedicated to creating and sharing their work with you. Here, you’ll find environmentally ethical products that inspire and delight. Whether you’re a visitor searching for the perfect keepsake or a local looking for holiday treasures, shopping in Ucluelet offers a unique experience. And if you’re feeling extra festive, The Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce and District of Ucluelet has something magical lined up just in time for the holidays.
Shopping Local in Ucluelet
Ucluelet’s Holiday Shopping Extravaganza
Midnight Madness is a staple holiday tradition in the community. This lively event will occur on Friday, November 29th, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with businesses staying open even later for the night owls among us. You can anticipate finding exclusive deals and festive vibes, and may even get the chance to win a prize or two!
Many businesses are extending discounts all weekend, making it the perfect opportunity to stay, shop and explore more of Ucluelet’s beauty. Why not make a weekend out of it? Book a cozy getaway, enjoy the rugged coast and savour Ucluelet’s warm hospitality.
Treasures Around Every Corner
If you’re looking for unique gifts, Ucluelet is full of fabulous finds! Here are some must-visit spots where you’re bound to discover something memorable:
- Image West Gallery & Gifts: Step into this gallery, surrounded by stunning local artwork and charming gift items. It’s the perfect place to find a piece of Ucluelet to bring home.
- Cedar House Gallery: This gallery features beautiful Indigenous art crafted by skilled local artists. Each piece tells a story, making Cedar House an exceptional stop for anyone looking for meaningful, handcrafted items.
- Foraged Vintage & Secondhand Shop: Recently opened in a brand-new location, Foraged is filled with a curated selection of pre-loved treasures. It’s an eco-friendly shopper’s dream, with unique finds waiting around every corner.
- Relic Surf Shop: Known for its laid-back vibe, Relic Surf Shop is your go-to for all things surf and adventure. Whether you’re picking up gear for yourself or looking for an excellent gift, Relic has you covered.
- The Den: The Den is a sustainable goods shop and refill store located downtown. It serves as a hub for those interested in giving the gift of sustainability. With a selection of refillable products and an attractive array of home and wellness items, The Den is the perfect place to find just what you need.
Shopping in Ucluelet is a chance to connect with the community, support local businesses, and find items you’ll treasure. So come for the unique finds, stay for the Midnight Madness festivities, and enjoy everything this beautiful community offers.
Tucked away on Vancouver Island’s stunning west coast, Ucluelet is ideal for those looking to unwind, relax, and focus on personal wellness. With its peaceful oceanfront, serene forest trails, and welcoming atmosphere, Ucluelet offers an environment where you can truly disconnect from the stresses of everyday life and reconnect with yourself. Whether meditating by the sea or indulging in a spa treatment, this tranquil town is the perfect place to recharge and focus on your health and wellness.
Reconnect with Nature on Coastal Hikes
Ucluelet is home to some of the most breathtaking trails on Vancouver Island, including the renowned Wild Pacific Trail. Walking along the cliffs with views of the Pacific Ocean, you’ll experience the therapeutic benefits of being in nature with the ocean’s fresh coastal air and soothing sounds. It’s a place where you can slow down and let the rhythm of nature help restore balance to your life.
Mindful Mornings by the Shore
Start your day with mindful moments by the ocean. Practicing yoga or meditation on the beach while listening to the waves lap against the shore is a powerful way to center yourself. Ucluelet’s uncrowded beaches offer the perfect space for quiet reflection and peace.
Wellness at Local Spas and Retreats
Treat yourself to rejuvenating treatments such as deep-tissue massages, facials, and reflexology at local wellness centers. Many of Ucluelet’s spas use natural, eco-friendly products sourced from the island, helping you feel connected to the environment while letting go of stress.
Spa Retreats:
Wellness Options:
Indulge in Healthy, Local Cuisine
Ucluelet’s culinary scene is brimming with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. From vibrant salads to wild-caught seafood, the town’s cafes and restaurants make nourishing your body with wholesome, delicious meals easy. Stop by Heartwood Kitchen, Thay Tea or Yayu Cafe for flavorful, health-conscious options. If you would rather cook at home drop by Blackberry Cove MarketPlace or check out one of the local fish markets: Neptune, Fishful Thinking, or Ukee Seafood.
Wellness Challenge
For those looking to combine wellness with a physical challenge, there are a number of activities to add to your retreat that go beyond the spa treatments and meditation, Ucluelet hosts events like the Edge to Edge Marathon. This annual event allows participants to run along one of the most scenic routes on Vancouver Island, connecting Tofino and Ucluelet. The course features breathtaking ocean views, lush forests, and stretches of the multi-use path, ideal for runners of all abilities. Whether you’re running the full marathon, half marathon, or relay, the multi-use path offers a flat, well-maintained surface perfect for focusing on your pace and staying present in the moment.
For those who aren’t keen to hit the ground running, the multi-use path is great for e-biking and walking as well!
Ucluelet is the perfect destination for anyone looking to rejuvenate their mind and body. From peaceful mornings by the shore to exhilarating challenges, this coastal town offers countless opportunities for wellness and relaxation. Whether you’re here for a tranquil retreat or an active adventure, Ucluelet is a place where you can find balance, recharge, and reconnect with nature.
If you only have one day to spend with us, don’t worry. While there is lots to do, here are 5 things you can easily squeeze into a day!
- Wild Pacific Trail’s Lighthouse Loop: It takes about 45mins to 1hr, and you’ll enjoy some fantastic ocean views, a rainforest walk, and arrive at the historic 100+-year-old Amphitrite Point Lighthouse along the way.
- Visit the Ucluelet Collect & Release Eco Aquarium (seasonal: open from March to end of November). The entire family always loves to see what lives below the sea in our intertidal zone, plus they have amazing interactive touch tanks!
- Don’t even dream of exploring on an empty stomach! Stop at a coffee shop, food truck or restaurant for homemade lunch and delightful treats, catering to all food preferences.
- Heading just past the junction, you will reach the Rainforest Trail in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (Each trail is 1km). Don’t forget to make your way to the top of Radar Hill to take in a fantastic view of the coastline in both directions.
- Grab a day pass (or Annual Pass) for the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Iconic Long Beach is a must, check out the Shoreline Bog Trail (800m trail dubbed the “Broccoli Forest” because of the stunted, twisted 300-year-old trees; if you can go when it’s foggy, even better!)
Once at Long Beach you have the choice of continuing down the road to visit Tofino, or head back to Ucluelet for dinner!
If you decide to stay on for a few more days, head over to our Weekender or Just Can’t Get Enough sections for more great activities and recommendations.
A three- or four-day stay gives you a perfect chance to sleep and dream. After a day of hikes, walks and exploring, wake to the sounds of the coastal rainforest at dawn. A few days of this will bring you back to life, and you won’t soon forget them.
Day 1 Itinerary:
- Walk the Wild Pacific Trail’s Lighthouse Loop (1 hour round trip.) Enjoy some fantastic ocean views, a rainforest walk and arrive at the historic 100+ year-old Amphitrite Point Lighthouse along the way.
- Stop for lunch at one of our amazing food trucks.
- Kayak the inner harbor and take in the sights and sounds of nature all around from the water. Ucluelet is one of the top ten kayaking destinations in the world!
Day 2 Itinerary:
- Walk the full Wild Pacific Trail from Brown’s Beach parking lot all the way to the Ancient Cedars Loop (see some trees over 800 years old!) and a truly breathtaking walk along the ocean. Be sure to sit on Oyster Jim’s (the founder and builder of the Wild Pacific Trail) deck and the main deck perch about halfway—just sit and watch the ocean for a while!
- Fuel up with lunch from one of our amazing local restaurants.
- Time to hit the waves! Stop by Relic Surf Shop/Long Beach Surf Shop or Wick’d Surf Shop to get set up with gear and a lesson. Just a short drive down the road from Ucluelet are some of Canada’s longest beaches that you can surf year-round. People come from all over the world to catch a wave in what is considered one of Canada’s top surf destinations! The most accessible surf beaches from Ucluelet are Wickaninnish Beach and Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Before you go, stop by the Visitor’s Centre (at the Junction) to purchase your park pass (Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.)
Day 3 Itinerary:
- Stop in at a great local breakfast spot for a nourishing meal before you hit the road.
- Heading out of town, stop to take in the incredible Rainforest Trail loops in the Pacific Rim National Park. There are 2 loops, one on each side of the road, Shoreline Bog Trail and Rainforest Trail (1km each). See which one you like the best (spoiler; both are amazing!)
- Next stop- Long Beach in the Pacific Rim National Park! This is a popular destination to take in a scenic walk or to catch some waves.
- Seeing as your already halfway there, go to Tofino for the rest of the day! You need to stand on iconic Chesterman Beach (rated one of the top 50 beaches in the world) and pop into some of their world-class, top-rated restaurants for a bite to eat. Soak in the vibe and culture of Canada’s #1 Surf Town.
- In Tofino and feeling extra adventurous? Why not book a boat to Hot Springs Cove! Reach out to Long Beach Nature Tours, Jamie’s Whaling Station, The Whale Centre or Westcoast Aquatic Safaris to plan your trip.
- Wrapping up your day in Tofino and heading back to Ucluelet, stop by Long beach to catch the sunset. You will never see colors like this!
Day 4 Itinerary:
- Start your day with a Whale, Bear & Wildlife Tour. Get ready for an experience of a lifetime! Local whale & wildlife tour operators provide a fantastic opportunity for you to experience the breathtaking beauty of coastal British Columbia and the majestic whales and wildlife in their natural environment. March to October is peak season for tours.
- After a refreshing day out on the water, time to fuel up! The brewery is a great spot to take in the view of the harbour, while sipping some locally made ales.
- Before heading home for the day, pop into the Ucluelet Collect & Release Eco Aquarium (seasonal: open from March to end of November). The entire family always loves to see what lives in our intertidal zones including an octopus, don’t forget the interactive touch tanks!
- Make sure you stock up on some souvenirs from Reflecting Spirits Gallery. With a huge selection of local artwork, you will be sure to find something memorable to take home with you.
Make sure you make time to stop (on the way in or out of town) to go Ziplining! Soar through the old-growth rainforests, spot the waterfalls along the way and feel the roar as you glide down the Kennedy River Canyon along Highway 4. The cultural guided tour as you move from line to line, is not to be missed! Start or end your vacation by stopping at Westcoast Wild Ziplining.
Are you thinking of staying for the entire week? Check out our 5-day + Itinerary to find out what else you can do while you are here! Or, if you are only here for the day, visit our Perfect Day Trip Itinerary for some inspiration.
More than 5 days in Ucluelet- lucky you! Check out our recommendations under the “weekender” tab and add on these additional adventures for the trip of a lifetime! You have the time, make the most of it!
- Kayak the Broken Group Islands of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. One of the top ten kayaking destinations in the world! Kayaking through the archipelago of over a hundred islands, you will discover sandy white beaches, calm lagoons, blowholes, diverse wildlife and indigenous history on a day trip or multi-night tour. Watch harbour seals, sea lions, eagles, bears and the occasional whale (from a distance) in your unique vantage point on the water while gliding past the rocky Pacific Coast shoreline.
- Head out and do some saltwater fishing. Year after year, Ucluelet has some of the best saltwater fishing in North America. The fishing charter business here is booming; people come from all over the world to fish off our pristine coastline. Barkley Sound—minutes from Ucluelet—has been called the ‘Salmon Superhighway’: coho, sockeye, pink, chinook and chum can all easily be fished from here, as well as halibut and lingcod.
- Get an eagle’s-eye view! Experience the West Coast from above on a Flight Tour you will never forget. See the rainforest, beaches and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve from the air—it’s a unique way to witness the pristine coastline of Canada.
Can only swing a day trip or weekend? Explore our Perfect Day Trip Itinerary or Weekend Itinerary to maximize your visit to Ucluelet.