IISAAK Ecolodge

The IISAAK Ecolodge is a small, alcohol-free lodge set in 12 acres of coastal rainforest garden on the edge of Tofino, BC. The old Tofino Botanical Gardens is now the Clayoquot Campus, run by an Indigenous-led nonprofit. It's best for groups planning a retreat or field course, and for solo travelers who want a quiet, unplugged base.

What it's like

If you knew this place as the Tofino Botanical Gardens, the land is the same but almost everything else has changed. The 12-acre property on Tofino's Pacific Rim Highway is now called the Clayoquot Campus. The gardens have been renamed the Naa'Waya'Sum Coastal Gardens, and the lodge is now the IISAAK Ecolodge.

The campus sits in the traditional territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht. Ownership passed to the Clayoquot Indigenous Conservation Innovation Centre, a Canadian charity, on January 1, 2025. Day-to-day operations are handled by the IISAAK OLAM Foundation, an Indigenous-led nonprofit. The lodge takes its name from a Nuu-chah-nulth teaching that the team translates as "to observe, appreciate, and act accordingly."

That spirit shapes the stay. The lodge is strictly alcohol-free, rooms have no televisions and there's no room service. Wi-Fi is free throughout if you need it. Outside, the old European-style botanical garden is being rewilded back toward native coastal rainforest, with trails, viewpoints and carvings leading down to the inlet.

In 2024 and 2025 the lodge went through a deep energy retrofit and accessibility upgrade. It now runs as a net-zero energy building and is set up to welcome guests of all physical abilities.

The programs

The IISAAK Ecolodge is more of a retreat venue than a place with its own fixed schedule of classes. There are two main ways to stay:

• Group bookings. Organizations, schools and community groups can book several rooms or take the whole lodge. There's a large activity room and a dining and lounge area that can hold 30 or more people, which suits workshops, field schools, yoga or meditation groups and team retreats. Groups need to book at least three nights.
• Individual stays. When the lodge isn't hosting a full-house retreat, single rooms are open to travelers, small groups and families, with a two-night minimum.

On campus you'll also find the Naa'Waya'Sum Gardens, open year round, a carving facility and gallery tied to the Carving On The Edge Festival, and the seasonal čukʷaa haʔuk cafe. In 2026 the cafe ran with guest chef Lisa Ahier of Tofino's SoBo. It closes for winter and is due to reopen in spring 2027, and the team can arrange catering for groups.

The rooms

The lodge sleeps 10 guests in private rooms, or up to 18 when people share. Standard rooms have a queen bed or two singles, with shared, Jack and Jill or semi-private bathrooms depending on the room. The larger garden and forest suites have a sitting area, a kitchenette and a private bathroom, which makes them a good fit for couples, small families or anyone staying a while.

Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

It's a strong match for groups that want a quiet, nature-focused space with room to meet, and for travelers who care about Indigenous-led conservation and want their stay to support it. Solo guests looking for a calm, unplugged base in Tofino will feel at home too.

It isn't the place for a party weekend, since no alcohol is allowed. Don't expect a full-service resort with a spa or set daily yoga classes either. If you want a guided program, you'll need to bring your own teacher or join a group that has booked the lodge.

Getting there

The campus is at 1084 Pacific Rim Highway, on the approach into Tofino on Vancouver Island's west coast. Most people drive across the island on Highway 4, often from the ferry terminals at Nanaimo. Tofino also has a small regional airport. There's parking on site for up to 10 cars.