On the Whale Route

Departure from Montreal and direction North Shore.

Your first day will be spent driving to Tadoussac, the gateway to the North Shore.

To reach the North Shore, take the ferry that links Baie-Sainte-Catherine to Tadoussac. The ferry is free.

The road that separates Tadoussac from Sept-Îles is one of the longest of this road trip because it is 400 kilometers long. You can make several stops to admire the scenery.

An idyllic place to stop is the Pointe-des-Monts lighthouse located about 45 minutes from Baie-Comeau. It was built in 1829-1830 and remained in operation until 1964. Today, it has been transformed into a museum you can visit.

Shaputuan Museum: The Shaputuan Museum is the first stop in Sept-Îles East to discover Innu culture. The main mission of this museum is to facilitate dialogue between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals through intercultural exchanges. It is open year-round.

Sept-Îles Archipelago: This archipelago gave its name to the city of Sept-Îles. You will take the boat to discover the Grande Basque Island located about 4 kilometers from the coast.

You will spend one night in an Amerindian hotel. Le repos du guerrier offers several rooms with kitchenette and each of them tells a story of the Innu people. On site, you will have the opportunity to see the store which is located next to the hotel and showcases the Innu artisans of the region.

On the North Shore, the Mingan Islands is a must-see destination. Consisting of more than 1000 islands and islets, the archipelago, which covers nearly 150 km², is protected by the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, one of Canada’s four national parks located in Quebec.

The tour of the Archipelago begins at Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan where you board one of the Loiselle family boats to discover Île aux Perroquets and Île Nue.

First stop: Île aux Perroquets.

This name refers to the colony of puffins, nicknamed the “parrot of the seas”, which inhabits the island.

Second stop: Île Nue

It is the absence of forest that gave its name to the island. Parks Canada interpreters will be on site to answer all your questions and offer guided tours. With a bit of luck, you will be able to see minke whales.

To learn more about whales

In order to raise public awareness about the life of marine mammals, the station offers an interpretation center where you can meet naturalists and learn more about the research they do.

Havre-Saint-Pierre

For the rest of your visit of the archipelago, you go to Havre-Saint-Pierre to reach Île Quarry. Like Île Nue, Île Quarry is also known for its giant monoliths.

You will have the opportunity to spend the night in one of Parks Canada’s oTENTik tents. Six oTENTik tents are available on Île Quarry.

The Pointe-aux-Outardes Nature Park is located about 20 minutes from Baie-Comeau. Nine ecosystems are grouped together on a 2 km² territory. In the space of a few steps, you can go from the boreal forest to the salt marsh (the second largest in Quebec), from the dunes to the tidal flats, the landscape is constantly changing in front of your eyes.

Several activities are also offered to discover the fauna, flora and history of the region. For hiking enthusiasts, several trails (1 to 5 kilometers) will take you through the 9 ecosystems of the park. It is possible to go on a pneumatic expedition in the salt marshes, discover Innu culture and admire the stars during an astronomy evening in the company of an astronomer. Pointe-aux-Outardes Nature Park is ranked among the 5 best bird-watching sites in Quebec.

You can sleep in a giant nesting box. The Nature Park offers 5 giant ready-to-camp style nesting boxes.

Back in the Tadoussac region, you will discover the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. The park is located on the water, in a protected marine environment that covers an area of 1245 km². Internationally recognized for the observation of marine mammals, it is the perfect place to spot whales.

Marine Environment Discovery Centre

To learn more about the underwater life of the St. Lawrence, you can visit the Marine Environment Discovery Centre ($7.80 per person). Here you can go whale-watching from land, but the center also offers a whole series of activities to familiarize visitors with the marine environment of the St. Lawrence.

Essipit Cruises

Now that you know a little bit more about whales, it’s time to go and take a closer look at them. In the Tadoussac area, several companies offer all kinds of excursions that vary in size and adrenaline level. For your visit, you have the possibility of taking a zodiac tour (2 hours) with Croisières Essipit.

Kayak excursion

Another interesting way to observe whales is by kayak with Mer et monde écotours. The day begins with the basic courses (1 hour on land) where experts explain how to use the kayak and introduce you to the mammals that you may see during your excursion.