Planning Your Trip

Planning your kayaking adventure is part of the fun. Once you’ve chosen your adventure with Hello Nature Adventure Tours, finding out how to get here, what weather to expect, and what to pack should be next on your list to tackle.

When to Visit

The west coast of Vancouver Island’s features kilometers of breathtaking coastline and inland adventures that create amazing opportunities for kayaking throughout the year. Our kayaking season runs April to October when the weather is more predictable, and the ocean currents are more manageable for every level of kayaking.

The Barkley Sound and Clayoquot Sound offer unforgettable opportunities to see wildlife up close and personal throughout the kayaking season. Though certain species offer a higher likelihood of encounters during specific periods within the season, there’s plenty of opportunity to see a variety of wildlife on every kayaking adventure.

Kayaking in the Spring

One of our favourite seasons to kayak is the spring. Spring awakens an abundance of activity in our waters, including whale migrations, herring spawning, and maybe even the opportunity to see a bear. In the spring, expect days or rain and spring with mild to cool temperatures.

Kayaking in the Summer

The summer is our most popular kayaking season, and with good reason. In the summer, enjoy our glamping and multi-day experiences to the fullest- camping on the beach, swimming in crystal clear (cold) waters, and enjoying days of sunshine-filled adventure. While nights do cool down, our days will be filled with warmth and wonder.

Kayaking in the Fall

Fall on the west coast is some of our favorite weather to kayak in. Things slow down on the coast, and everything just seems quieter and more serene. Experience the breathtaking quietness of the water, discovering an abundance of wildlife along the ways. Wearing layers is to be expected as the weather starts to cool down.

Kayaking in the Winter

Kayaking in the winter is still possible on the west coast, and you’ll have opportunities to explore some of our best destinations in calm and quiet waters. While you should definitely be prepared for rain, the winter offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the inlet, and experience some of our kayaking experiences that bring you to local haunts like the Ucluelet Brewery and Ucluelet Aquarium.

Weather and Tides

Weather

Temperatures on the west coast of Vancouver Island can range from a damp cold and wet of 0°C in the winter, and up to 25-30°C in the summer. Annual rainfall on this side of the island is frequent, so we ask guests to come prepared for all types of weather depending on when their kayak trip takes place. We always aim to plan our kayak trips in the best weather possible, but the weather can be unexpected out here.

Depending on the type of kayaking activities you have planned and the time of year you’re booking, we recommend bringing waterproof layers and planning for the unexpected. We have a full list of what to pack here.

Tide Tables

Here is a link to the tide tables on the west coast of Vancouver Island. We will be utilizing these tides to plan the best time to plan your dream kayaking adventure.
Ucluelet Tidal Predictions (Barkley Sound)
Tofino Tidal Predictions (Clayoquot Sound)

Contact Hello Nature

200 Hemlock Street,
Small Craft Harbour Finger "F",
Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada, V0R 3A0

Tel: 250-726-2035
Toll Free: 1-844-706-2751
Email: adventures@hellonature.ca

Hello Nature Adventure Tours recognises and supports the indigenous rights and title of the Hesquiaht, Ahousaht, and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, Ucluelet, Toquaht and Tseshaht - the first peoples of the lands and waters now called Clayoquot Sound and Barkley Sound.

Accreditation of the Biosphere distinction