Remote Passages Marine Excursions — Attraction in Tofino

Absolutely worth every penny! We chose to do the Hot Springs Cove trip.

Reservations: right from the start, this company performed flawlessly. When I called at 8:15am, the man (whom I later found out was the owner) who took my call was friendly, knowledgeable, and straight forward. I had called two other companies who were kind enough but they seemed to be just wanting to answer my questions and do the bare minimum. Perhaps I just picked the wrong morning to call. He laid out also what we needed to bring with us on our trip as well as overall he told us our duration and the fact we would be on the water with many stops along the way to look for wildlife.

Arrival: the lady who greeted my wife and I at just before 12:30pm certainly was friendly and took her time to fix us up with our legal paperwork as well as show us a map of where we were going. She even made eye contact with other customers that came in as well as acknowledged them. Very good example of exceptional customer service!

Outbound trip to Hot Springs Cove - Everything ran like clockwork. We left just before 1pm as planned. Randy, our captain was knowledgeable and truly wanted to us to have the best experience possible. Clearly he is an experienced captain as well as tour guide! He piloted the Kodiak in a quick and safe manner at all times. He showed us a Gray whale; some other wildlife as they came upon us and was truly excited to show us his part of the world!

Hot Springs Cove - arrived within 2 hours after departing from Tofino and we were all given three hours to 'hike' to the hot springs as well as to return. The trail was nicely maintained and surprisingly, it was entirely made up like a boardwalk so it was easy for almost everyone to access the Hot Springs. The Hot Springs were magnificent and both my wife and I felt like we had ample time to enjoy the surrounding forest as well as soak in the natural hot pools.

Return trip to Tofino - Randy took us back through some interior passages with calmer waters to search for Starfish, Bald Eagles, Black bears, and other wildlife. Soon, we found ourselves back in open water searching for whales. Randy had heard there was a sighting of a pod of Orcas! What a precious priceless experience as we saw this pod of Orca whales on four separate occasions as Randy was tracking their progress with other captains who were still out with us. We arrived back to Tofino just after 8pm! Such a priceless experience! We will be back.

My wife who rarely expresses her emotions was just giddy like a young child from the trip. This company has a solid process they follow and thanks for a wonderful day! It was worth...

I don’t usually leave negative reviews, but my experience with Remote Passages in Tofino was disappointing enough that I feel a heads-up is warranted.​ I do not understand how they have so many good reviews.

From the beginning, things felt off. The entry to their property was nothing like what’s shown on their website or Instagram​, completely different layout, no clear signage​ or sidewalk, and it was genuinely confusing to figure out where to go. Not a great first impression.

Customer service didn’t improve things. The owner ​(we assume) came across as condescending and dismissive​ to us and towards their staff, which was surprising and off-putting, especially in a place known for its laid-back and friendly vibe.

Parking was another hassle. It’s awkwardly set up, looks like a scrap yard, and vehicles are blocked in while you’re out. I know for a fact my car was accessed while I was away​ as the alarm system was activated when I returned (I did not activate it when I left!), which is absolutely not okay. For what they charge, you’d expect at least basic respect for personal property and guest autonomy. With a packed itinerary, I would’ve preferred the flexibility to ​l​eave when I wanted without the unnecessary stress.​ If I had to visit here again I would find my own parking.

​Although our guide was fantastic (I'm sorry we didn't remember his name) the tour itself was underwhelming. Yes, we saw bears​ but they were so far away​,​ we ​have had a better view from ​the roadside. Combine that with the rigid rules and high cost, and it just didn’t add up to a good value. The atmosphere felt more like a field trip​ or lecture than an adventure.

Another glaring issue​ that my wife and daughter pointed out: not ​o​ne female guide in sight.​ The entire operation felt very male-dominated, which brings a noticeable imbalance to the energy and experience. It’s 2025​, this kind of lack of representation is disappointing and hard to ignore.

They did ​s​eem short-staffed, which could explain some of the tension, but it doesn't excuse the overall tone or treatment of guests.

We spent a lot of money to enjoy a short time in Tofino, as we do every summer. We know that Tofino has no shortage of tour operators who know the region, respect their guests, and deliver authentic experiences. I’d strongly recommend...

Great day out thanks to Remote Passages🤜🏻💥 You can’t come to Vancouver Island without seeing some wildlife so we signed up with these guys. I would book ahead to avoid disappointment. We did 2 separate trips. Firstly, in the morning we went looking for black bears ( no grizzly bears on the Island apparently). The rib boat was super stable as we travelled into a sound, away from the ocean. The ride was stable so no worries for those of you worried about motion sickness 🚤 🤢 !! We arrived in the sound and explored some coves. About 40 mins into the trip we saw a black bear on the beach 🏖️ 🐻! Amazing animal , thrilling to see a beautiful wild animal in its own habit! He zoomed back into the woods ( maybe needed to charge his iPhone?) so we carried on. No more bears but we saw harbour seals 🦭, bald eagles 🦅 sea otters and jelly fish. Honestly, even if you see NOTHING in the way of wildlife it was still a beautiful morning on the water 🚿. Next up, in the afternoon ( after snacks, coffee and mooching around Tofino) we returned for whale watching. As before you get a quick video and what to expect and a safety briefing. As before, you are supplied with very warm all in one type dry suits, woolly hats and gloves. It’s chilly when the rib is travelling fast so at least grab the hat. You head more towards the ocean on this trip so it’s choppy in places. If you are prone to sea sickness or travelling with someone who tends to throw up 🤮 then I would maybe give it a miss and stick to the bear trip. Anyway, we arrived in the bay and saw 2 grey whales 🐳 👀👍🏼Majestic as they spouted water through their blowholes and arched smoothly back through the brisk salty waters. Hard to take a pic 🤳 as the whole process takes just a handful of seconds! Boom 💥! We left them alone and headed away to see sea otters 🦦 ( super cute!!) before staying closer to the shore , returning to Tofino harbour. A long day- arrived 8am, left 5pm. Maybe split up the days ?? Maybe just do one?? All the staff were amiable, affable and amenable. Smiling, friendly could not have done more. Well done guys👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻Thank you...