Lilo Floating Tiki Bar on the Ottawa River (Gatineau Pickup)
Description
Climb aboard our Hawaiian-style Tiki Hut and enjoy a relaxing cruise along the beautiful Ottawa River with your family, friends, or coworkers! Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, enjoying a romantic escape, or bringing a school group for a unique heritage experience, there’s no better way to experience Canada’s capital from the water. Departures are from the Canadian Museum of History. For operational reasons, all tours return to the Wharf, approximately a 3-minute walk from the Museum. Prefer to depart from the Ottawa (Ontario) side? Simply send us an email after booking or select one of our Ottawa departure tours.
Tour Options
Itinerary
See the sights in Canada’s Capital from the Ottawa River while floating downstream on a Hawaiian style tiki boat. Look out at Canada’s Parliament Buildings from the river and snap photos of the spectacular city views. Marvel at the mix of natural beauty and modern, urban development while enjoying refreshments or cocktails and listening to your favourite tropical tunes. Possible points of interest that you'll see: National Gallery of Canada Nepean Point Canadian Museum of History Supreme Court of Canada Parliament Hill and Buildings Royal Canadian Mint Rideau Falls Prime Minister's Official Residence Rockcliffe Park Pavillion
Begin your journey at the historic Ottawa Locks, one of North America’s oldest manually operated lock systems and the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal.
Enjoy spectacular waterfront views of Canada’s Parliament Buildings, one of the country’s most iconic landmarks. From the river, you’ll capture a unique perspective rarely seen by visitors.
Pass beneath the historic Alexandra Bridge, connecting Ottawa and Gatineau while offering panoramic views of both provinces.
Admire the striking architecture of the Canadian Museum of History on the Quebec shoreline, one of Canada’s most visited museums.
Glide past Victoria Island, located at the heart of the Ottawa River. This culturally significant island lies within the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation.
Witness the beautiful Rideau Falls, where the Rideau River cascades into the Ottawa River, creating one of the capital’s most picturesque natural attractions.
Cruise by the shoreline near the official residence of Canada’s Prime Minister, located in one of Ottawa’s most prestigious neighbourhoods.
Cruise along the scenic Rockcliffe shoreline, known for its elegant homes, mature forests, and tranquil waterfront views.
Arrive at the NCC River House, a beautifully restored heritage boathouse that has become one of Ottawa’s premier waterfront destinations for swimming, relaxing, and enjoying the Ottawa River.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(80)
Awesome sunset on the river. My wife and I had a great time
You have to go on this tour at least once because its so much fun. Everytime we have visitors I book this tour & we all enjoy the music, tour info & drinks. Great way for visitors to see Ottawa from the river. First time I went with a group of lady friends & we had a blast. The owners & staff really want us to have a great time. They are fantastic & knowledgeable.
Hi Annamarie, thank you for your wonderful review and for choosing us whenever you have visitors! We’re delighted that you continue to enjoy the music, drinks, tour commentary, and beautiful views of Ottawa from the river. Your kind words about our team mean so much to us. We can’t wait to welcome you and your guests aboard again!
We had the best time on the tiki tour for a bachelorette party! Drinks were fantastic and the views were incredible! Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a different experience in Ottawa.
Hi Kristen, thank you for celebrating with us! We’re thrilled that your group had such a wonderful time on the bachelorette cruise and enjoyed the drinks and incredible views. Thank you for recommending this unique Ottawa experience—we hope to welcome you aboard for another celebration soon!
What a gorgeous way to see Ottawa and Gatineau. Our Bartender Nour and our Captain Magic were fantastic hosts that just elevated our experience. Highly recommend this experience.
Hi Tara, thank you for the fantastic review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed such a beautiful way to experience Ottawa and Gatineau. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Nour and Captain Magic—they’ll be delighted to know they made your cruise extra special. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you aboard again soon!
The captain and bartender were very friendly and the great music created a relaxing fun filled vibe that everyone on board enjoyed. We all loved our cup that we got to take home - a reminder of a great day! The option to bring your own snacks is great as we celebrated a birthday. Everyone should try this; already planning another trip!!
Hi Marlene, thank you for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled that the friendly crew, great music, and relaxing atmosphere made your birthday celebration so memorable. We’re also glad you loved your souvenir cups! Thank you for recommending us—we can’t wait to welcome you aboard for your next trip!
Being it's a small boat it makes the cruise more intimate! The guides were very friendly and attentive.
Hi Nancy, thank you for your lovely review! We’re delighted that you enjoyed the intimate atmosphere of our small boat and the friendly, attentive service from our crew. We hope to welcome you aboard again soon!
Viator gave us the wrong address to get on the boat. It was down the road They found us and we had a great time.
Hi Katherine, thank you for your review! We’re sorry about the incorrect pickup address provided by Viator and the confusion it caused. We’re glad our team found you and that you and your friends had a great time aboard. We appreciate the feedback and hope to welcome you back for another fun cruise!
Only leave from the water just past the locks. We had to run over the bridge to get there on time. We had a really nice time, we loved seeing the falls. Drinks were expensive but not unexpected and that didn’t deter us from ordering more. They were so yummy. It was good to get out of the busy city streets and take in the coast line. Thanks
Thank you so much for your review! We're thrilled to hear you had a great time and enjoyed seeing the falls. We're sorry the departure location was a bit challenging to find—we appreciate your feedback and are always looking for ways to make the boarding experience even smoother. As for the drinks, we're glad you found them delicious! We work hard to keep our prices competitive. With beers starting at $8 and handcrafted cocktails at $10–12, we believe they offer great value—especially since each cocktail comes in a souvenir cup you get to take home. Many venues charge $20 or more for a basic cocktail, so we strive to provide both quality and value. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you aboard again soon!
Fun afternoon with friends on the Rideau river our captain Magic and bartender Emma were a lot of fun!
Thank you for your review, Kim! We’re so glad you and your friends had a fun afternoon on the river. There’s nothing better than great company, beautiful views, and a little tiki magic along the way! We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Magic and Emma. They both do an amazing job creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere, and we’re delighted they helped make your cruise so enjoyable. Thank you for choosing Palapa Tours, and we hope to see you back aboard the Lilo for another unforgettable tiki adventure soon! 🌴🍹🚤 Cheers, The Palapa Tours Team
Great way to spend a few hours watching the sunset, and taking in the architecture and landscape along the Ottawa River. The drinks were delicious and the music was spot on for the experience!
Thank you for your wonderful review, Molly! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time aboard the Lilo. Watching the sunset on the Ottawa River while taking in the city’s beautiful architecture and scenery is one of our favorite experiences too! We’re especially happy to hear that you enjoyed the drinks and music—creating the perfect tiki vibe is a big part of what makes the experience so special. Thank you for joining us and for sharing your experience. We hope to welcome you back aboard for another sunset cruise and tiki adventure soon! 🌴🍹🌅🚤 Cheers, The Palapa Tours Team
