Cozy Cabins near Tofino: Ocean Village Resort

Ocean Village Resort is an amazing group of 51 cabins on Mackenzie Beach near Tofino, BC.

1 and 2 bedroom cabins, studio cabins and garden suites are steps from the fine sand of Mackenzie Beach.

Each of the cabins has a full kitchen, propane fireplace, full size bathtub, chairs on a small patio, and a picnic table. Relax inside with a coffee with views of the water or take a stroll in the beach.

The cabins are open all year round and are perfect for warming up and storm watching in the winter or a base for surfing and playing in the water in the summer.

I recently spent 3 nights there in February. We were treated with 100 km/h winds the first night, snow the second day, and warm sun the last 2 days.

What do the cabins have in them?

The cabins have a full kitchen with dishes and cookware.

The bathroom has a full tub and local organiic toiletries. Towels and bed linens are provided.

The cabins were build in 1976 and updated in 2009. The staff keep them very clean and well-maintained.

I was worried our first night when the wind gusts off the water were reaching 100 km/h and shaking the cabins. We had no issues with anything and the power didn’t even go out.

Sleeping that night was tough! I was worried something would break but absolutely nothing did. Though they get storms regularly (great for storm watching!) wind that strong is rare.

The resort also has wifi and laundry.

What can you do at the resort?

Just at the resort there’s lots to do. We spent most of our time roaming the beach and then warming up in the cabin, enjoying the view.

An indoor heated pool and hut tub were great for warming up. The ocean isn’t ever very warm!

Adirondack chairs are on the patios and around the property by the firepits. A picnic shelter with a BBQ is a great place for lunch.

A small hedge maze for the kids is right beside the cabins.

A few steps down the grass and you’re on Mackenzie Beach, 1 km long beach with fine sand and great islands to explore at the south end. At low tide you can walk right to the rocks and trees that make up the islands.

One thing to note is there is no restaurant at the restaurant. There are a ton of great place to eat or buy food a few minutes away in Tofino. We brought our own food to cook in the kitchen. Some of it was premade to save even more time for playing on the beach.

What’s nearby to do?

Outside the resort the options are too many to list.

A short 6 min (4km) drive and you’re in Tofino with all it’s surf shops, local art galleries, and restaurants. You could spend a week just exploring the nooks and crannies in Tofino alone. The bike path along the highway is a great way to get there too.

A 10 minute drive away is the world famous Long Beach. Long Beach is 16km long and gorgeous the entire way. You can ride your bike on it, surf, beachcomb or just lay in the sand.

At the other end of the peninsula is Ucluelet, a quieter, but no less interesting town. It’s not known for it’s beaches but the Wild Pacific Trail winds it’s way along the rocky cliffs. A short walk from the parking lot is the Amphritrite Point lighthouse. During the storms, the waves explode dozens of feet into the area on the rocks around the lighthouse. The Ucluelet Aquarium has local wildlife found and released every year from the nearby ocean.

Hike the Canso Bomber Crash. Such a cool piece of history to be found through a beautiful west cost biome. Radar Hill is another local piece of history with amazing views.

A short hike along the Rainforest Trail takes you along boardwalk through lush west coast rainforest.

Many of the shops in Tofino rent bikes. The town itself is very ridable and then there is the bike path in the forest along the highway. You can ride the 17km to Long Beach, the 40km to Ucluelet, or just around town.

Beachcoming along Mackenzie Beach right in front of the resort is great. There is also Chesterman Beach, Cox Bay, Florencia Bay, Long Beach, Combers Beach, Wickaninnish Beach and smaller ones like Tonquin, Middle, Third and Tinwis.

And of course there is there surfing. The conditions change daily and different seasons will be better for beginners or experienced pros. You can check the weather and webcams ahead of time. I suck at surfing so best to talk to one of the shops for more info!

How close are the cabins to the beach?

Literally a few steps. There a grassy field out the front door of most of the cabins and then onto the beach.

Is it close to Tofino?

Yes, is it a 6 minute drive to Tofino from Ocean Village. There is a paved path that leads along the main road into Tofino as well so it’s about a 4km walk or ride. Bikes are a popular way to get around here.

Ucluelet is much farther, about 40km or a 30 minute drive.

Is it dog friendly?

Yes, you can have dogs at Ocean Village and on Mackenzie Beach. They even get a pet care package. They must be on a leash. There is a limit of 2 per unit and a fee of $30/night.

Since they may be wet and sandy from the beach, there is a dog washing station near the cabins. Bad Dog Tofino has gear, treats, and pup cups.

Can you surf at Ocean Village?

Mackenzie Beach is a fairly small bay that doesn’t usually produce good surfing waves. It can be good for beginners or during storms. Cox Bay, Chesterman Beach, and Long Beach are usually better for surfing.

There are many places to rent surf and paddle boards in Tofino. Many of them offer lessons as well like Tofino Surf School, Pacific Surf School, and Surf Sister.

How to get to Tofino

Tofino is on the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. It is a 3 hour drive from Nanaimo or 4 hours from Victoria. There are many beautiful views a long the way, so allow time for that if you want to stop or have a break.

Tofino does have it’s own airport and there are daily flights from Vancouver as well.