Tofino sits on the edge of Clayoquot Sound, a vast sweep of temperate rainforest and deep inlets, and it’s one of the best places on Vancouver Island to look for wildlife. On this two-and-a-half-hour black bear watching trip with Ahous Adventures, you’ll head out by boat into the calm waters of the Sound, scanning the shoreline where bears are often seen at low tide.

Ahous Adventures is owned and operated by the Ahousaht Nation, so this experience is not just about ticking off a sighting, it’s also about understanding the place you’re travelling through. Your Ahousaht guide will share local knowledge of the coastline and its ecosystems, alongside cultural context and stories connected to these waters and homelands.

At low tide, black bears sometimes wander down to the shoreline to forage for shellfish such as crabs, clams and barnacles, which makes it possible to watch them from a safe distance out on the water. As well as bears, you may also spot bald eagles, seals and sea lions along the way, depending on the conditions on the day.