Canada’s sauna and cold plunge culture can be traced back to Indigenous sweat lodge practices, which have been used by First Nations for centuries. Today, eco tours are a great way to take part in the healing and spiritual connection that comes from these ancient practices and the natural power of the land. And there’s no better way to experience it than through an Indigenous-led tour.
Owned and operated by the Ahousaht Nation, Ahous Adventures offers travellers an array of eco and cultural adventures to choose from during their visit to the South Island. This includes a guided tour to Hot Springs Cove (Mux̣šiƛa hot springs), which provides travellers with the perspective of the people who have lived on and stewarded Ahousaht haḥuułii (territorial lands, waters and culture) since time immemorial.
A forested boardwalk trail
The journey to Hot Springs Cove starts with a boat tour of the coast and inlets of Clayoquot Sound, followed by a 2 km hike through the woods on a boardwalk trail.
According to Ahous Adventures, the intermediate trail winds its way through the old-growth rainforest past ancient flora and fauna to the rocky coastline where the hot springs await.
Tourism Tofino recommends wearing sandals with straps or water shoes on the 30-minute boardwalk trail, especially as weather conditions make the path more slippery.
Note that those with limited mobility may find the boardwalk trail challenging, and any extra time on the trail will reduce your stay at the hot springs.
The hot springs website notes, “B.C. Parks charges a $3 per person fee for day-use access to Maquinna Park. In addition, MHSS (park operator) has established the Ahousaht Stewardship Fund as a way for visitors to financially support the work of the Ha’wiłh, Stewardship Guardians, Biologists and MHSS in carrying out the Ha’wiłh’s ancestral responsibilities.”
Ancient hot springs
Once you reach the cove, you’ll be able to enjoy a relaxing soak in the warm, healing mineral waters for one and a half to two hours. You also have the option of hot-and-cold cycling with a refreshing dip into the cold waters of the Pacific.
The hot springs themselves took thousands of years to form, their geothermal waters cascading down a waterfall into six rocky pools. As they flow from one pool to the next, the waters cool gradually as the ocean water mixes with the fresh spring waters.
Knowledgeable guides will be there to share the history and profound cultural significance of the hot springs, which have been used by the Ahousaht Nation for their medicinal and spiritual benefits for hundreds of years.
Ready to experience it for yourself? The experience is $239 per person, which includes all transportation to and from Hot Springs Cove. Guests are asked to bring their own lunch and bottled water (reusable container, but no glass), bathing suits, and towels.
All in all, the experience takes approximately five and a half hours to complete, and is suitable for visitors aged two and up.
Enjoy your visit!
When: Availability through July, August, September, October, and November 2025
Time: Varies
Where: Tofino, B.C.
Cost: $239 per adult, $219 for youth, and $209 per child
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