How to Visit the Magical Hot Springs Cove in Tofino BC
If you are looking for a unique experience in Tofino, you’ve found it!
Just imagine walking through a beautiful, lush forest full of old growth trees, only to find a hot waterfall flowing into several beautiful pools right next to the ocean. Hot Springs Cove has some of the most unique hot springs I have ever encountered!
I’d been to Tofino a couple of times before but never even knew this place existed until recently and it honestly made me fall in love with Tofino even more.
Hot Springs Cove is located on Vancouver Island near Tofino but you can only get there by a 1.5 hour boat ride or 20 minute sea plane flight because there are no roads or trails leading to the cove from the forest. The hot springs are in Maquinna Marine Provincial Park, in Ahousaht Hahuulthi (territory).
For everything you need to know about these incredible hot springs, including whether or not I think it is worth it, which tour you should book, what to bring and more, read this guide!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn us a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Hot Springs Cove
Hot Springs Cove Boat Tour at a glance
Hot Springs Cove Boat Tour with Ahous Adventures
Duration: 5.5 hours (1.5 hour boat ride each way + 2.5 hours at Hot Springs Cove)
Cost: from CAD259 per person
Start / End: I recommend doing the morning tour starting at 8am for the least amount of crowds at the hot springs.
Group size: Group tour – 10-14 people
Included in the Ahous Adventures tour: Ahousaht Stewardship Fee: $15 per person / BC Parks Fee: $3 per person for accessing Maquinna Provincial Park / Taxes & Eco Fees: Standard 5% GST and local environmental/conservation fees.
Food & drinks: Not included – you will need to bring your own water and lunch / snacks.
How to book: Check availability and book here
How to Visit Hot Springs Cove + options & cost
The only way to reach Hot Springs Cove is by boat or float plane, so the easiest way to visit is to book a tour like I did. Hot Springs Cove does join up with the rest of Vancouver Island, but there are no roads or trails through the forest to get there.
Option 1: Boat tour
This is the option I chose. There are a few different companies that you can choose to go with but I decided on Ahous Adventures which I’m very glad about in hindsight because they are the ones who actually own the land which the hot springs are on, meaning that because we were the first tour there, we had earlier access than other tours so that the springs weren’t too crowded.
The tour is 5.5 hours altogether and it takes around 90 minutes to get to the Hot Springs from Tofino, which also includes a bit of stopping for wildlife spotting.
Prices start at CAD 259 per person for the Ahous Adventures Boat tour.
Check availability and book here.
Option 2: Float plane
This option is a bit more expensive but you reach the hot springs much faster, however, with less animal spotting. Again, there are a few different companies that you can go with but as an example, a Tofino Air flight only takes 20 minutes to get to the Hot Springs Cove Marina.
Prices start at CAD 399 per person and needs a minimum of 2 people to operate.
Check availability and book here.
Option 3: Kayak
The last option is much more of an adventure than the other two and that is to kayak over the course of 5 days with a guide to Hot Springs Cove. The journey is a one way kayak, with your return trip to Tofino to be made by water taxi which is included in the tour.
Paddle West Kayaking include meals in the tour with the total price of the tour being $2,389 per person.
Check availability and read more about this insane adventure here!
My experience at Hot Springs Cove: Is it worth the money?
My friend and I decided to visit Hot Springs Cove with Ahous Adventures which is run by Ahousaht local guides. I got on the boat knowing absolutely nothing about Ahousaht or the springs and left feeling like I’d not only visited the hot springs but had also learnt so much about the Ahousaht culture and the places they call home in and around Tofino.
Getting the 8am tour
Our tour was at 8am and we were asked to arrive 30-45 minutes before. There are a few parking spots outside the tour office but if they are full, there is a paid parking lot a couple of minutes away which is $10 for the day.
Tip
I recommend booking the 8am tour because Ahous Adventures gets early access before the other tour companies, meaning that you will likely have just your tour group at the hot springs.
Once we checked in for our tour, we were given PFDs and shown how to fit them and then we waited for our captain to be ready to leave. During this time, you are free to go get a coffee from one of the local cafes. We got ours from MAQ Café (as an Aussie, I can recommend).
Once it was time to go, we settled into our seats on the boat which was undercover with indoor seating and an outdoor deck at the back and were given a safety briefing. Our guide’s name was Dora and after about 2 minutes of talking, I knew I liked her already. She was funny, gave us LOADS of information about the boat, the journey and the land and culture of the Ahousaht Nation and actually genuinely seemed to care about whether or not we had a great time.
Wildlife on the boat tour
Not even 15 minutes into our boat ride, we started seeing otters! I was so incredibly excited when we first saw one, but then we saw another and another and another! They were all so curious and watched us watch them. Along the way, it felt like not just a shuttle to Hot Springs Cove, but also a wildlife tour.
Apart from the otters, we also saw bald eagles, harbour seals, a bald eagle nest, a porpoise and even whales!
We spent around 90 minutes wildlife spotting on the way to the Hot Springs and again on the return trip to Tofino. Once we arrived at Hot Springs Cove, our guide, Dora dropped us off and we were set free for 2.5 hours to hike to the hot springs ourselves which I hadn’t expected but it worked out really well.
The boardwalk through an old growth forest
The trail to the hot springs from the marina is 2km one way, along a beautiful boardwalk through the forest. The walk is magical, with old growth, mossy trees and a couple of views of the ocean as you get closer to the hot springs.
I was expecting at least some of the trail to be muddy, but literally the entire trail was a boardwalk. It’s mostly flat, with some steps going up and down.
Facilities at the Hot Springs
The first thing you come to when walking to the hot springs, is the fork in the trail to go up to the drop toilets. Note: the toilet doors may be hooked open at the back so you need to unhook them to close them.
If you walk back down the trail and continue on, you will cross a bridge with hot water flowing underneath it. This was our first glimpse of the hot spring water! Next, you’ll come to a large wooden structure with seating, hooks for towels and 2 changing rooms. Everything was very clean and it seemed quite new when we went in July 2026.
Along the trail and at the changing rooms / toilets, there were loads of mosquitoes but at the hot springs themselves, we didn’t see a single one which was a relief.
Watch out for the squirrels and chipmunks!
Most people left all their belongings on the wooden seats but I decided to bring my backpack so that I could take photos with my phone. If you leave your belongings here, make sure you put any food away and close your bags because there were a few cheeky squirrels and chipmunks looking to see what they could get. I even caught one trying to unzip my friend’s bag.
Soaking in the hot springs
I’m so glad I wore my Tevas to get down to the hot springs and to climb from pool to pool because some of the rocks were quite sharp. The initial pool of water that you step into is quite hot and has a hot waterfall running off into it. This was too hot for me at first so I made my way through the pools towards the ocean.
The closer you get to the ocean, the cooler the pools get but these were still some of the hottest hot springs that I have experienced. Because the springs are located right next to the ocean, you can have a bit of a cold plunge in the ocean water, but we weren’t able to get fully into the water because it was dangerous with the waves being quite high and wild. Instead, we sat on a rock a bit closer to the water, where the waves could just reach us and we would get a cold plunge splash every now and then.
Tips for making the most of your Hot Springs Cove Boat Tour
- Take seasickness medication if you are prone to motion sickness
- Bring a jacket and a raincoat – at high speeds on the boat, it can get pretty chilly and Tofino is prone to being quite wet. If you book with Ahous Adventures, you will have an inside cabin to relax in during the journey.
- Wear your swimmers so you don’t need to get changed, however there are changing rooms at the springs.
- Wear water shoes such as Tevas as you will need to navigate sharp rocks to get into the hot springs.
- Bring cash to tip your guides.
- BYO food and drinks – these are not provided.
- Wear and bring sunscreen and mozzie repellent
- Bring your own towel
- Don’t forget your camera and a drybag!
- Remember that wildlife sightings are not guaranteed
Who this tour is best for
If you’re up for a bit of an adventure and love spending time outdoors, I think you’ll really enjoy this tour. It’s perfect if you enjoy hiking, wildlife spotting, and discovering places that feel a little more off the beaten track around Tofino. The boat ride through Clayoquot Sound is an experience in itself, and reaching the hot springs feels like a real adventure.
It’s also a great option for families. The hike to the hot springs is relatively short and easy, making it manageable for most kids, and the boat ride and chance to spot wildlife along the way help keep the journey exciting. Whether you’re visiting Tofino as a couple, with friends, or as a family, this is one of those experiences that’s likely to become a highlight of your trip.
If you’re expecting a luxurious spa experience, this probably isn’t it, but if you love natural hot springs and don’t mind earning them with a short hike, I think you’ll find it absolutely worth it.
frequently asked questions
My thoughts
I absolutely LOVED Hot Springs Cove. I find that usually hot springs end up being overhyped and a bit disappointing, but these ones definitely did not disappoint. The adventure of hiking to the hot springs along the boardwalk, couple with a morning of animal spotting, made me feel like I got SO much out of my day! I would definitely do this again if I had the chance.
You might also enjoy:
- Ultimate Tofino Weekend Itinerary
- Top Things to do in Tofino (plus what I would skip)
- Hiking to the Canso Plane Crash Site
- The Best Sunset Spot in Tofino: Cox Bay Lookout
- Things to do in Sooke
- Unique Waterfalls on Vancouver Island That You Need to Visit
- Best Views in Vancouver
📌 Like it? Pin it!
