Tofino boasts the sixth best beach in the world, according to Lonely Planet.
The publication announced its top 20 on Jan. 30 with Chesterman Beach shining in the sixth spot.
鈥淲e have sent our writers everywhere in search of sublime, surf-pounded shorelines and remote pockets of hard-to-reach paradise for Lonely Planet鈥檚 new book Best Beaches in the World. From Albania to Yemen and everywhere in between, our team has swam, snorkeled, slugged cocktails and hiked through rainforests, to create the definitive beach bible,鈥� the announcement reads.
Chesterman is one of two Canadian beaches on the list, with Prince Edward Island National Park鈥檚 Stanhope Beach at 18. Olympic National Park鈥檚 Ruby Beach in Washington is the U.S.A.鈥檚 only representative at 17.
鈥淢ost people come to Chesterman Beach to surf, but it鈥檚 the views that will take your breath away. From misty mornings where the fog comes off the soft sand to the fiery skies in the evening as the sun dips below the cedar trees, you could spend all day here. The beach is also great for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and observing the hundreds of colorful starfish, anemones, urchins and other sea creatures that appear in tide pools,鈥� Lonely Planet said of Chesterman in the announcement.
鈥淵ou can even enjoy the beach as you whale watch, partake in outdoor yoga, or walk across the sandbar at low tide. The calm summer months are perfect for beginner surfers and with several expert-led surf schools based locally. Winter, and its serious swells, draw experienced surfers. It also hosts surf competitions. Make sure you bring your wetsuit 鈥� water temperatures don鈥檛 get much higher than 57掳F (13.8掳C).鈥�
The sun came out as a rare winter cameo to celebrate Chesterman鈥檚 fame with beachgoers on Saturday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exceptional isn鈥檛 it? This is an absolutely beautiful place and, to be honest, there鈥檚 nothing else quite like it to visit, so it鈥檚 the only choice,鈥� Richard Pamplin, 80, told the Westerly News.
Richard and Silke Pamplin visit Tofino from Nanoose Bay every few months.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a wonderful beach. It鈥檚 so nice and open and especially today when the sun is out, wow,鈥� Silke said.
While maintaining a solid buzz amongst visitors as the sixth best beach internationally, Chesterman is well-established as number one in the hearts of many locals who enjoy their impeccable backyard playground.
Kaela Tompkins and her two sons Sam, 4, and Tommy, 7, are frequent frolickers at Chesterman and were basking in the sand on Saturday.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been at the beach for four hours today already. We鈥檙e four hours into the beach and all of our clothes are wet and it鈥檚 sunny and bright and beautiful,鈥� Tompkins told the Westerly.
鈥淚t鈥檚 super sunny and the kids can run around with their bare feet, jump in all the puddles and tidepools鈥 love seeing my kids exploring the tidepools, seeing all the little critters, making castles with their friends, it鈥檚 the best.鈥�
Laura Lunty said she goes to the beach with her family multiple times a week and enjoys the interactions her kids have with the natural landscapes.
鈥淚 am actually having the best day of my life. I surfed at North Chesterman, then I went for brunch, then I came back here,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 sunny and it hasn鈥檛 been sunny in a while and look at how happy these children are. And, what are we doing? Nothing. We鈥檙e not doing anything to entertain them, they鈥檙e entertaining themselves, so that鈥檚 great. They find their own fun in the elements, in nature.鈥�
She added the beach is also a key source of winter waves.
鈥淲hen Cox Bay is too big to surf, which it always is in the winter, then you can surf here and it鈥檚 not a death paddle out,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a much shorter span to get out and have fun.鈥�
Ron Weeks pointed to a tombolo as one of his favourite features of Chesterman.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the most well defined tombolo鈥檚 in the world, he said pointing to the sand bridge that was temporarily linking the beach to Frank Island around 1 p.m.
鈥淚t鈥檚 that idea that the island is connected part of the time, but part of the time it鈥檚 actually an island because the tide gets too high. I like walking out there. I like walking to Frank Island. It鈥檚 an interesting geographical feature,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very unique feature globally, there鈥檚 not a lot of those that are well defined in the world where two beaches come together and you have a tombolo that reaches an island.鈥�
Anne Weeks said the beach offers a wide range of adventures.
鈥淚 like the fact that you can walk all the way from certain points all the way around,鈥� she said.
鈥淵ou can join the other side of the beach, you can walk to Frank. I also like to walk towards the (Wickaninnish Inn), sometimes get a tea over there and you can cut through and there鈥檚 a nice little trail that goes through the forest and comes out where the (Tofino) Nature Kids hang out. There鈥檚 just lots of different options; that鈥檚 what I like about this beach.鈥�
Janet St. Pierre has lived in Tofino for 56 years and walks the beach at least once a week.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud that it鈥檚 a local beach and I love it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 gorgeous. Look at it. It鈥檚 absolutely gorgeous out here.鈥�
Luise Frommer said the scenery keeps drawing her back for new experiences in the same space.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always something different to see,鈥� she said, adding that whales can sometimes be spotted against the horizon. 鈥淓veryday you come and there鈥檚 different weather and the sky is different or the water鈥檚 up high against the houses and it鈥檚 rough or it鈥檚 calm.鈥�
Dan Devault added the myriad of sights is hard to match.
鈥淵ou can be looking at the surfers and seeing snowy mountains in the distance, it鈥檚 just unusual in the world I think to see that in one place,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been to a lot of beaches all over the Pacific and I think this is right up there with any of them that I鈥檝e been to.鈥�
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