The Surf Window

Florencia Bay

British Columbia, Canada

Beach breakIntermediate

Inside Pacific Rim National Park between Ucluelet and Tofino, Florencia Bay (also called Wreck Beach) is a long, pristine Pacific beach with consistent beach break accessible by trail, one of BC's most beautiful surf environments.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Size–NW 1.5–3m at 14–18s

Wind

E

Light under 15 knots

Tide

Mid tide

LowMidHigh

Season

Oct–Mar

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Beach break

Bottom

Sand

Shape

Multiple peaks along a long beach

Length

60–120m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Intermediate to advanced
  • •Why: Powerful Pacific beach break in a remote national park

Hazards

  • •Very cold water, hooded wetsuit essential
  • •Beach accessible by 2km trail from parking, factor this into emergency response time
  • •Old shipwreck timbers occasionally emerge from the sand

Local Tips

  • •The trail starts from Wick Road, allow 30 minutes each way
  • •The beach is pristine and often uncrowded even in good conditions
  • •A shipwreck (the Valencia, 1906) is visible from the headland at low tide, fascinating history

Location

Map showing the location of Florencia Bay in British Columbia, Canada

48.9667, -125.5667