Ucluelet proffers a surprisingly full portfolio to 21st-Century adventurers and explorers. Life on the edge? Come and try bear watching or sea kayaking. See this pristine wilderness and its wildlife from a ferryboat, a zodiac (high-speed inflatable boat), a river raft, a zip line or a floatplane.
Adventure Tours
The essential, accessible, affordable adventure is Archipelago Cruises' all-day excursion aboard the 16m/53f Rainforest Maiden. Welcome to the great Pacific safari: hydraulic stabilizers make for smooth sailing at open sea and through the tranquil Broken Group Islands. Keep binoculars and zoom lenses trained for grey, humpback and orca whales, sea lions, sea otters and bald eagles whose nests weigh in at 1800kl/4000lb The exciting moment for seasoned hosts Toddy and Al Landry was encountering a pod of killer whales attacking a colony of seals in search of brunch. Nature's way prevails. Come home with brilliant images of whales and wildlife and a deeply recharged sense of wonder.
The Ferryboat Adventure
Regular, inexpensive ferryboat sightseeing aboard the Lady Rose or MV Francis Barkley also ranks as an adventure. Through summer, departing at 10.30am and 3.45pm, these vintage cruisers whisk travellers and explorers from Ucluelet's Whisky Dock through the Broken Group Islands to the beautiful hamlet of Bamfield and starting point for the legendary West Coast Trail.
West Coast Wild
West Coast Wild, (944 Peninsula Rd) is another outfit with a big folio: Zip line (harnessed to a wire) through an old-growth rainforest in Clayoquot Sound and thread through the wild Kennedy River Canyon on nine different zip lines. Kayak the pristine Kennedy River with an interpretive guide. Charter a floatplane for breathtaking views of the grey whale migration from the sky. Floatplane to North America's highest waterfall, soaring over rainforests and touching down to picnic at a remote hot springs.
Bear Watching Tours
Black bears abound on the shores of Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds. At low tide, they gather on the shores in search of rock crab. Bear watching tours are taking their place as second only to whale watching. Visitors can tour by sea kayak, canoe, zodiac or cruiser. Boats come close but maintain safe distances for both bears and people, so bring zoom lenses. The wilderness camera has never had it so good.
For more information on adventure tours in and around Ucluelet, head to the Visitor Centre.