Sand, sea + simple pleasures
EXPERIENCE WAKING UP TO CANADA'S #1 SURF DESTINATION—TOFINO, BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Read the story of Pacific Sands Beach Resort40+ years of sun, fun, surf, and the good life
Only Pacific Sands Beach Resort can take you this close to spectacular Cox Bay on Vancouver Island. Come spend some time on the edge of Pacific Rim National Park, just a short scenic drive from Long Beach and the charming, seaside village of Tofino.
Our guests have revered and returned to Pacific Sands for decades. Maybe it has something to do with making memories building s’mores and playing board-games around the fire. It could be that Pacific Sands is steps from the best surfing in Canada, or sunset boardwalk strolls to Pettinger Point. Others say it’s the ocean air as you relax on your private deck, enjoy a home-cooked meal from your fully-equipped kitchen, or venture out to explore Tofino’s food scene, including many award-winning restaurants. And from spring/summer whale-watching and winter storm watching, to all season hiking and beach-combing, you can take your pick of year-round activities . Nestled in old-growth forests and powered by the beat of pounding surf, Pacific Sands Beach Resort offers a range of beachfront and ocean view accommodations . The perfect convergence of land, sea, and simple pleasures.
Family First: The history of Pacific Sands Beach Resort
In 1972, Bill Pettinger—a real estate developing visionary, risk taker, and lover of the land—found his next bet when his brother Barry called about an ad for a motel in Tofino, British Columbia. Which at the time, was a little-known area on the west coast of Vancouver Island. They ventured out on the majestic drive, and six hair-raising hours later (now far less, and smoother) they laid eyes on Pacific Paradise Motel and breathtaking Cox Bay for the first time. The rest is—as they say—history. The property would become Pacific Sands Beach Resort. The family rolled up their sleeves, methodically and lovingly growing the resort to 77 beach houses and suites.
New Perspective
In 2015—after almost 42 years of friends, family, and legendary stories—the Pettingers passed ownership to Gordon Nelson Inc (now solely owned by Nelson Investments Inc.), another family-run resort operator. With a vision for ‘staged development’ that embraces Tofino’s unique setting, the new team looks forward to carrying on the resort’s rich legacy, greeting the many loyal guests who come back year after year, and helping to create new generations of memories and stories.