A full-service spa ferry on the water in the Old Port of Montreal
Grab your spa sandals and head to Bota Bota, a 45,000-square-foot floating spa docked along the Lachine Canal on the St. Lawrence River. Bota Bota showcases views of the Old Port of Montreal and Habitat 67, a housing complex designed by Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie and one of Montreal’s architectural landmarks.
This sprawling spa ferry features 18 cabins—with a recent expansion underway—and the Bota Chic for manicures and pedicures, in addition to four dry saunas, two steam baths, three whirlpools and an outdoor pool for thermotherapy. “The concept of Bota Bota, spa-on-water, comes from a visionary idea of the Emond family to transform a former high-end spa ferry in the heart of [the] Old Port of Montreal,” says spa manager Geneviève LeBlanc.
“The history of the boat begins in the ’50s, ensuring the shuttle between Sorel and Berthier,” she continues. “In 1967, it was transformed into a theater boat, renamed L’Escale, which hosted some of the biggest names in [the] music industry until 2007. In 2008, the Emond family revived the ferry, which officially opened in December 2010.”
Bota Bota offers an organic range for all skin types, featuring treatments with Eminence Organic Skin Care. The Queen of the Sea facial is customized to your individual skin type and needs, and treatments rotate seasonally—which makes any season the perfect time to relax on deck. botabota.ca