Perched above the beautiful Pacific Ocean on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia sits one of Canada's most exciting new boutique hotels, The Nami Project. Opened in 2023 in the modest fishing village of Ucluelet, the unique modern hotel features a main lodge with four hotel room suites and four individual oceanside cabins built into the rocky bluff. Saunas and cedar hot tubs are everywhere you look—as is nature.
This past summer I had the joy of visiting and staying in both accommodations. Read on for the full property rundown, and my first-hand experience, including when to visit and what to watch out for.
The Nami Project Accommodations
Influenced by Japanese, Scandinavian, and Pacific Northwest design sensibilities in equal measure, the project aims to submerse visitors in nature for a restorative escape. And it does a great job of it. I was blown away at the landscape, both man-made and natural. Trails spur right from the parking lot and the views are endless.
The cabins and suites each feature a host of amenities, including a king-sized bed, full kitchen, living and dining area, and sliding glass doors that lead onto a deck with panoramic views of the surroundings. Each guest room reflects minimalist inspiration, with organic linens, natural wood furnishings, and local art integrated throughout the spaces.
Most notably, all rooms and cabins feature a private sauna, with the cabins also gaining their own outdoor cedar hot tub. For those staying in the suites, the property hosts two additional public cedar hot tubs, and a cold plunge tub in a shared outdoor area with a fire pit . All are made by local hot tub and sauna manufacturer Forest Cooperage.
Nami Project Review: Suites & Cabins Pros & Cons
During our five night visit we stayed half of our time in the Arashi Cabin and half in the Mozuku Suite. Both were truly world class accommodations. And feature a hefty per night price to match. (Full transparency, our cabin stay was comped and we paid full price for the suite reservation.)
The Arashi Cabin is probably the most secluded and private room on the property, with no other buildings visible from it's ocean-facing windows and deck. The interior is very comfortable, well styled, and chic. The private cedar hot tub on the deck was very luxurious. And we used the interior sauna daily. We didn't use the kitchenette much, but was nice to know it was there if needed.
The Mozuku Suite is on the second floor of the main lodge building, accessed through a shared stairwell with three other units, The suite offers ample space inside with a generous balcony overlooking the property and the Pacific—all offering fantastic sunset views. The private sauna was a favorite, and in general, the two-room suite offered everything we could have wanted.
Though, there were some minor downsides to our experience.
Mainly, mosquitos. When our taxi driver dropped us off she mentioned the property that this area of the island had previously been a marsh. Within a few seconds we understood what she meant—the mosquitos were ravenous. Unfortunately this ruled out us enjoying the many hot tubs and the massive sliding glass doors in each room. Good news is, this is a summer-only issue. And largely out of the control of The Nami Project.
We did experience a few other oddities during our stay that are worth mentioning, too. First up, all of the rooms feature enormous sliding glass doors that, when open, let all of the natural world in. And when closed, create a soundproof box of a room. With just one inland facing window in the cabin and no operable windows in the suite, this meant our only choice for a sea breeze—or even to hear the ocean—was to crack the floor to ceiling glass door (without screens) and leave our room open to the wilds (and mosquitos), or sleep in pin-drop silence. I found this rather disappointing. Not being able to even hear the waves while sleeping just feet from the sea was a shame.
Lastly, there seems to be some confusion on the owners's behalf as to whether this is a hotel or a series of connected short term rentals. We booked our room through Airbnb (direct online booking is now available, though the Airbnb listings are still active, too) and each room came with printed rules of the type you expect (and loathe) to see in a short term rental, like do your dishes and take the trash out. I have to say, it felt rather ridiculous to pay $500+ a night for a luxe hotel experience (including a $100+ cleaning fee) only to be asked to wash my own coffee cup and take the trash out at end of my stay. Nonetheless we did as asked and beside the slight annoyance it didn't ruin our stay.
All that said, we very much enjoyed our visit and would absolutely love to visit again in the future (preferably in fall or winter). If you can afford to splurge on a stay at The Nami Project, it's an incredible experience that you may never forget.
How to Get to Ucluelet and The Nami Project
Ucluelet (or Ukee, as the locals prefer) is not any easy place to get to. But it has retained a real authentic vibe because of this. Whereas nearby Tofino is very built up and rather expensive, Ucluelet is still more or less a humble fishing town. It is home to one of the Canada's best tasting menu restaurants (Pluvio, book ahead and enjoy!) but beside that there's nothing pretentious about the tiny town.
Traveling from Vancouver, BC it's about a five hour drive to Ucluelet, including the ferry ride to Nanaimo. Or you can fly into Tofnio on a float plane via Tofino Air, or into Tofino Airport on a Pacific Coastal Airlines prop plane. Both flights last about an hour. We did the latter, connecting from Vancouver International Airport. Once on the ground at Tofino Airport we took Ucluelet's only taxi to tTe Nami Project ($100 CAD one way). The views was worth every penny, every step the of way. And most all Ukee has to offer is within a 15-30 minute walk of The Nami Project.
What to do in Ucluelet and on Vancouver Island
However you get there, there's so much to see and do on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The road between Ukee and Tofino, the popular surf destination located 40km north, splits an epic coastline of sandy beaches and surf breaks and the lush, old-growth vegetation of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Tofino is much more built up with tons of fantastic restaurants, cool shops, and many boutique lodging options.
Besides Tofino's legendary surf, there's a bounty of outdoor activities in the area, including hiking, fishing, whale watching, and wildlife spotting. and just outside its door lies the Wild Pacific Trail, an accessible walking path perfect for a morning stroll. And although Ucluelet remains rugged and tranquil (with a welcoming surf culture of its own), the little town provides all the provisions you'd need for a cozy Pacific Northwest weekend. * The Nami Project cabins and suites are now available to rent from $257 - $350 CAD per night*
Published 08-12-2024
Updated 08-14-2024
