Tofino camping: Crystal Cove Campground on the beach

If you are travelling on Vancouver Island – and we highly recommend that you do – you should head for campsites in Tofino. Tofino is a small place on the west coast of Vancouver Island (British Columbia) and, with only around 1,900 inhabitants, definitely counts as one of the small towns in Canada. The town lives off surfers and whale-watching tours.

Our absolute stroke of luck was the Crystal Cove campground. This small campsite offers either accommodation in lovingly furnished wooden cabins or, alternatively, a pitch for motorhomes or caravans.

Every RV pitch is equipped with a fire pit. There is free wood too – and we really needed it with a morning temperature of 5 degrees. You read that right: 5 degrees – and that in June. Our absolute tip: pack warm clothes. In Tofino you never know, after all the site is directly on a natural beach and therefore on the open sea.

But temperature or no temperature, one thing we can say in advance: the Crystal Cove Campground in Tofino is one of the most beautiful places we have travelled to so far!

Getting to the Tofino camping "Crystal Cove"

There was already a lot to see on the way from the ferry in Nanaimo to Tofino. At the start of our Canada trip we still took the bear warnings with quite a bit of distance. I mean, how likely is it that you will meet a bear at the roadside or on hiking trails? After all, the animals also know that people are around and do not necessarily want a confrontation. So we chatted, laughed and steered the camper towards Tofino. Then suddenly it happened: an American black bear was sitting right at the roadside and was calmly wandering from one side of the road to the other.

Good job we were completely on our own – not a soul far and wide. That meant we could reduce our speed and finally stop at a respectful distance in front of the small bear. We had the camera ready to hand. Unfortunately we only managed to take one photo of our first Canadian bear – then it was gone again. Wow.

On we go. We still have quite a distance ahead of us and want to arrive before it gets dark. Because then there is much more wildlife crossing the roads – and we definitely do not want to run over any forest-dwelling animal.

Free firewood for all campers

The Tofino campsite scored a real plus point with us when we heard that a whole shipping container full of firewood was available for everyone to help themselves to for free. The only thing you still have to do yourself is chop the wood on the block standing next to it. Luckily there was an axe in our motorhome – which is probably item no. 1 in every car or motorhome in Canada. Very conveniently, there was also a small handcart with which you could transport the wood easily to your pitch.

The wood is quickly placed in the slightly rusty but still very practical metal drum. Add a few small pieces of wood, some matches and it is burning. Really good, because it is not exactly warm – but with the fire it is all the more cosy. Very conveniently, there is also a grill rack next to it. It has certainly seen better days, but so what. We simply place the rack from our grill on top of the rack of the metal drum and that works perfectly. So on tonight’s menu: bison steak grilled directly over the fire of the Canadian Douglas fir! At least I am guessing it is Douglas fir. Next door there is a huge Douglas fir forest. So it is quite likely, but do not rely on it.

The campsite is located right on the beach

The Crystal Cove campsite is already really beautiful in itself, even without the natural beach adding another level. The beach is directly on the open sea and is therefore a bit rougher. But that is exactly what gives it its charm.

There are lots of rocks on the beach itself. In between, though, there are always sandy patches. Swimming was no problem at all – at least for others who were camping in Tofino. We gave it a wide berth: who on earth goes swimming at 10 degrees? The rocks and seaweed really are the least of your worries then.

All sorts of things are washed up on the beach. Whether it is driftwood or seaweed that sometimes looks like jewellery, there is a lot to discover if you keep your eyes open.

What else does the campsite offer?

In addition to free Wi-Fi and electricity directly at your pitch there is also a laundry. We took the opportunity straight away and washed everything. To be honest, we were not prepared for the rather cool weather in the Canadian summer. Accordingly, we had worn some items for quite a few days in a row. So why not treat yourself to fresh and, above all, dry clothes and towels.

There is also a Starbucks integrated at reception. Not a proper Starbucks café, but a counter where the staff prepare Starbucks coffee. So if you want to warm up or fancy defying filter coffee for a day, we can recommend a coffee at reception.