Luxury Resort Review: Le Baluchon Eco Village, Quebec, Canada

Updated October 2026: the nearby zoo at Saint-Édouard recommended here closed in 2019 after its animals were seized, so don't plan a visit around it.

Le Baluchon Eco Village

From its inception, this high-end luxury resort has been designed and operated with the environment, land, heritage, and history of the area front of mind. It has won many awards over the years and the focus is still creating an environmentally friendly resort experience for visitors.

• Location: Situated in Saint-Paulin (Quebec), the resort is about a 90-minute drive from Montreal or 2 hours from Quebec City. You can also travel by train to Charette train station (VIA Rail Canada) and then take a 12-minute taxi ride to the resort. As you approach, you will notice the forest, flowing river, and charming countryside. 

• Accommodation: All the rooms and facilities are in different buildings throughout the resort and within about 10 min walking distance from each other. There are two Chalet style accommodation suitable for families wanting more privacy and their own space. Four auberges (lodges or inns) with close to ninety classic and luxury rooms with a combination of rustic and modern interiors. Much of the decoration comes from local artisans and the material used for construction was also primarily sourced locally. 

• Dining options: A fine dining restaurant and an eco-café are available onsite. The culinary experience at Le Baluchon provides modern cuisine with produce sourced in the region with a rural atmosphere. In-room dining is also available.     

• What else is there: The resort offers 35km of trails winding across the forest and along the river. There are many activities such as walking, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking and archery available for guests free of charge. You can also enjoy horseback riding, horse-drawn carriage outing, Yoga or Spa treatments for an additional fee. For relaxation, Le Baluchon has a full range Health Spa and a Nordic Spa. Riverside covered shelters are used in summer to enhance the experience of receiving treatments outdoors with the sound of the river or surrounding forest. The property has an indoor pool and an outdoor seasonal pool.     

• What’s nearby: If the beautiful forest and riverside scenery surrounding the resort and activities are not enough, La Mauricie National Park is about a 50-minute drive from the resort and there are more activities offered around the region. The zoo of St-Edourad is about a 20-minute drive from the resort and will be of interest to kids.  

• Why go: Relaxation or a romantic getaway! This resort is a perfect place to get close to nature and unwind from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It caters for both summer and winter activities and you can set the pace of your stay to suit your needs.    

The Space

With a thousand acres of forest, trails, agriculture land and a river flowing through it, Le Baluchon Eco Village resort offers a unique experience in the countryside of Quebec. Clean, well-appointed rooms in different lodges offer varying levels of privacy and luxury based on what you need. The resort is also used for weddings and corporate meetings. There is a small chapel and a windmill onsite that add to the charm of this place. 

Where We Stayed

We stayed in the Archipelago Lodge in a large luxurious room with a queen bed. It had plenty of natural light during the day, and the decorations reflected the country charm with modern facilities. The room had a fireplace, air-conditioning and a large ensuite. The sleep quality was 5 out of 5. 

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves

• The friendly service we received from the staff at the reception, fine dining restaurant and the eco café.
• The environment – whether you are inside your room or enjoying the outdoors, there is a sense of peace, slow pace and relaxation built into the various aspects of the resort.
• The relaxing sound of the river from the balcony of our lodge over an afternoon tea and the refreshing early morning walk along the river.   

Insider Tips  

• The resort can get quite busy during peak times, and it is best to book in advance some of the activities and fine dining packages to avoid any disappointment. 
• Some activities are seasonal (e.g., outdoor massage in summer) and worth checking at the time of booking. If you go in summer, we recommend trying a relaxing massage outdoors while listening to the sound of the flowing water near the river.     

The Details

Le Baluchon Eco Resort is at 3550, chemin des Trembles, Saint-Paulin (Québec) J0K 3G0 Canada; https://www.baluchon.com

Making a proper trip of Quebec? Pack Ya Bags can put together the on-the-ground side of a Mauricie and Quebec itinerary for travellers from Australia and New Zealand — guided days, regional transfers and the bookings that are awkward to arrange from the other side of the world. Drop them a note at info@packyabags.com.

Editor's note. Fact-checked and updated on 20 October 2026. Le Baluchon is still trading at the same address, under its full name Le Baluchon Éco-villégiature, with its four lodges and more than ninety rooms, the Archipel lodge, the Au bout du monde eco-café, the chapel, the windmill, the thousand acres and the 35km of trails all as described; the spa's outdoor thermal circuit has since gained an infinity pool above the river. Archery, mountain biking, horse riding and carriage rides are all still offered, and canoeing and kayaking run in the warmer months only. Two things have changed since this was written: the zoo at Saint-Édouard-de-Maskinongé no longer exists, having been closed after the seizure of its animals in 2019, and La Mauricie National Park, while open and well worth the drive, now runs on a seasonal schedule with parts of the parkway closed over winter. Charette is a request stop on VIA Rail's Montreal line rather than a scheduled one, so arrange the connection with the resort; the drive times quoted here are the writer's own and we could not verify them.