This town of 1,500, located on Barclay Sound, was named for the Indian word for “safe harbour”.
Catch the Gray whale migration in March and April, and watch sea mammals like sea lions, seals otters, as well as eagles, deer and bear at the shoreline.
Ucluelet is a popular jumping-off point for whale watching tours (along with Tofino to the north).
The west coast of Vancouver Island along Pacific Rim National Park is quite spectacular between November and March during storm season, when 10 metre swells on the ocean turn into 15-18 metre (50-60 feet) waves that crash into the chore. Best wave watching is about 12 hours after a storm has passed, and the waves aren’t tossed by the wind. Never walk on the beach (or on slippery rocks) during extreme conditions. You can watch storms from Amphitrite Lighthouse.