What It’s Like to Live and Work in Tofino, Vancouver Island
Why I Moved to Tofino
Tofino drew me in with its small-town coastal charm, world-class surf breaks, and rugged natural beauty. After spending a year in Canada’s cold interior and far from the ocean, I knew my next stop needed to be somewhere quieter, closer to nature, and near the water again.
Luckily, I landed a job at Mackenzie Beach Resort and found myself living right on the shoreline. Small-town life was the perfect escape from the everyday rush: biking into town for groceries with a crate strapped to my bike, watching sunsets from my doorstep, and having some of the best surf breaks just a ten-minute ride away.
Getting to Tofino
To get to Tofino, you’ll first take a 1 hour 40 minute ferry from Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver to Nanaimo. From there, it’s about a 3 hour 40 minute drive across Vancouver Island to reach town.
Public transport options are pretty limited – and often pricey – so renting a car is definitely the easiest way to go. There is a shuttle with IslandLink, but seats are limited and it costs roughly $85 each way.
Housing in Tofino
Housing in Tofino isn’t the easiest to come by – especially if you arrive without a job lined up. With such a small community and limited rentals, finding a place to live can easily be the biggest hurdle when moving here. The best workaround is to land a job that offers staff accommodation, which many of the hotels and resorts do. Not only does it take away the stress of house-hunting, but it also usually means you’re living right where all the action is.
When I worked at Mackenzie Beach Resort, I was lucky enough to stay in a shared staff house right at the front of the property, just steps from the sand. It was only a two-minute walk to work, which meant no commuting, no buses, and plenty of extra time for beach walks and surfing. The house had both upstairs and downstairs sections, with up to eight people sharing each level, so it definitely meant embracing communal living. There were moments of chaos – shared kitchens, busy mornings, and lots of personalities under one roof – but it also meant instant community, living with the people you work with, shared dinners, bonfires after work, and that fun “summer camp for adults” energy. Living so close to the beach, falling asleep to the sound of waves, and waking up knowing the ocean was right outside made it all absolutely worth it.
Working in Tofino
Before moving to Tofino, I assumed the hardest part would be finding a job, especially heading into the busy summer season. With it being such a small town, I figured opportunities would be limited and highly competitive. To my surprise, that wasn’t the case at all. There were plenty of roles being advertised, and it actually felt like there were more options than people to fill them. While I was there, it even seemed like many employers were actively struggling to find staff – so there are definitely opportunities out there if you know where to look!
Most opportunities are listed on indeed, but I found my job through a Tofino jobs Facebook page, so it’s worth looking everywhere and even reaching out directly!
My Job at Mackenzie Beach Resort
My partner and I both ended up landing jobs at Mackenzie Beach Resort – I started in Housekeeping and he joined the Maintenance team. After a few weeks, I was also offered some Front Desk shifts, so I often worked a mix of both roles. As strange as “split shifts” might sound, I actually loved the balance; it kept my days interesting and gave me a great mix of physical work, guest interaction, and variety.
In Housekeeping, I worked across a range of accommodation types – everything from Airstreams to modern suites and one to three-bedroom units. Some days I’d jump on laundry shifts or help clean the public washrooms first thing in the morning before starting my day. I genuinely enjoyed the work; there was something really satisfying about resetting spaces, and I loved that I could work independently or with a team depending on the day. Plus, being able to listen to music, podcasts, and occasionally even watch some Netflix during laundry made the shifts fly by.
Front Desk gave me a totally different side of the resort experience. It came with a bit more flexibility in hours – sometimes I’d have my mornings free and other days my evenings – and I really enjoyed chatting with guests, helping with bookings, and being part of the front-of-house buzz.
Meanwhile, my partner’s maintenance role spanned everything from looking after the resort’s hot tubs to general duties like chopping firewood, cleaning BBQs, and helping with jobs around the property. No two days were quite the same, which made it a pretty fun and hands-on role.
Eating in Tofino
Groceries
When it comes to groceries in Tofino, there’s pretty much one main option: the Co-op in town. If you’re staying near Mackenzie Beach Resort, there’s also Beaches Grocery just down the road, but it’s more of a convenience-style top-up store rather than a full supermarket.
Personally, I ended up going a different route and ordered meal boxes instead of relying fully on grocery shopping. Having lunches and dinners delivered made life so much easier, and it meant I only really needed to shop for breakfast and snacks. It was a great way to save time, avoid multiple bike trips into town, and still eat well. If you’re wanting to try it out you can get a free box here with hellofresh!
Restaurants
For a small town, Tofino has an amazing food scene. From great coffee and laid-back taco spots to incredible seafood restaurants and cozy dinner places, there’s no shortage of good food. It can be a little pricey and busy in peak season, but the quality, atmosphere, and oceanfront views make it worth it. My personal favourite was Shed, and for dessert it had to be my second job – Chocolate Tofino!
Getting Around Tofino
Getting around Tofino is honestly one of the charming parts of living there. The town is so small that there aren’t a huge number of places to go, but that’s what makes it so easy to walk or bike everywhere. In the summer there is a free shuttle that operates, but the schedule isn’t always the best so having another form of transportation helps. Some people had cars or rented cars during their stay, which definitely gives you more flexibility and makes it easier to explore beyond town, but I relied mostly on my trusty bike. I used it to get to and from town and around the outskirts, and it became such a fun part of daily life. Occasionally I’d walk, but since it took about an hour to get into town from where I lived, that was more of a “nice weather and lots of time” activity!
Final Thoughts on Living in Tofino
Living in Tofino was one of those rare experiences that manages to slow you down and remind you what really matters. Between the ocean, the community, the laid-back lifestyle, and the constant reminder to live a little more simply, it truly felt like a reset from “normal life.” It wasn’t always perfect – housing can be tricky, the weather can be wild, and life can feel remote – but the trade-off is waking up near the ocean, being surrounded by nature, and feeling part of something small but special. If you’re thinking about spending some time in Tofino, I can honestly say it’s an experience that stays with you long after you leave.
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