6 Day Québec Maritime Road Trip Itinerary – The Wild Outdoors

What You’ll Get Out Of This Itinerary

• A day-by-day detailed route, complete with driving times, ferry crossings, and scenic stops- from Tadoussac to Percé and back to Rimouski.
• Unique wildlife experiences, including whale-watching cruises, and seabird encounters on Bonaventure Island.
• Top trail and lighthouse highlights, such as hikes in Forillon National Park and visits to iconic lighthouses like Cap-des-Rosiers and Pointe-à-la-Renommée.
• Curated food and lodging recommendations, featuring cozy inns, local cafés, seafood shacks, and craft brewpubs along the route.
• Insider tips for whale-watching, photographing Percé Rock, and mistakes we made, you’ll be much more prepared for your own trip.

TOP TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO QUÉBEC MARITIME

• Where to stay – Auberge La Galouïne for its central location, cozy rooms, and easy access to Tadoussac’s top sights and dining.
• Must-pack item – Binoculars, perfect for spotting whales, seabirds, and distant lighthouses along the Quebec Maritime coast.
• Recommended tour – While the Croisières AML is the de-facto whale watching cruise in Tadoussac, we actually preferred the sunset zodiac experience with Du Fleuve because it was a more intimate experience and it’s a time when there are less boats on the water which you’ll appreciate.
• Before you go – While they don’t get the kind of traffic that the big cities get in the summer season, they also don’t have as much capacity. This means that you want to book your accommodations, car rental, ferry-crossing, SEPAQ entry pass, whale watching excursions, and trip to Bonaventure Island 2 months before the start of the high-season in July if you’re going anytime between July and September.
• Amex not accepted – As a heads up, we noticed that our American Express Platinum was not accepted in most small businesses. There were still places like grocery stores and larger businesses that did but make sure you have a back up
• Car rentals – If you’re not driving here with your own vehicle, you’ll need to rent your own car so make sure you’re saving the most money with these car rental coupon codes. We also recommend checking Discover Cars and RentalCars first to quickly scan what the base rates are across all companies.
• Flights – If you are flying in from elsewhere use the Skyscanner “Everywhere” feature to find the best deals from your local airport. Check how much it would be for you to get to Québec City to start your road trip!
• Insurance – We always recommend having travel insurance wherever you go! Make sure you’re covered with the best travel insurance. Our go to is always HeyMondo, the rates are great, and it has solid all-round coverage. Also, with our link you automatically get 5% off!
• Hottest deals – Never be without our frequently updated travel deals page.

📚 Québec Maritime Mini Guide 📚

Trip Planning Map

🏨 Best Hotels – Auberge La Galouïne, Motel Camping des Ancêtres, Hôtel Le Mirage, and Hotel Rimouski

🍴Where To Eat – Café Bohème, Bistro Le Bar Rayé, Casse-Croûte du Connaisseur, Poissonnerie Les Escoumins, Crêpes Chignon, Cantine du Pêcheur, Au Frontibus Microbrewery, Pit Caribou Brewpub, La Maison du Pêcheur, Mich Café, Restaurant Maison du (M) Burger, and Shaker Cuisine & Mixologie

🎟️ Best Places To Visit – Les Dunes, Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre (CIMM), Cap de Bon-Désir, La Martre Lighthouse, Cap de la Madeleine Lighthouse, Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse, Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse, Forillon National Park, Percé Rock, Percé UNESCO Global Geopark, Parc Colborne, Hope Beach, and Pointe-au-Père.

⭐️ Must Do Activities – Whale watching from Tadoussac, sunset zodiac whale-watching, and Les Bateliers de Percé to Bonaventure Island.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 119 QC-138, Baie-Sainte-Catherine, QC G0T 1A0
• Hours: Open daily at all hours of the day, and runs every 20 minutes.
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Price: Free
• Website: Traversiers Tadoussac–Baie-Sainte-Catherine Ferry
• Tips: 
  • Before you take the ferry, there’s a a parking lot and viewpoint. Walk down the path from here to get to Pointe-Noire Interpretation and Observation Centre.
  • Make sure the parking brake is on and turn off your engine.
  • Once you drive the car onto the ferry, take the ramp and stairs up to the deck. Be on the lookout for whales and belugas on the ferry ride.
  • There isn’t a covered cabin on the ferry since it’s so short but there are areas of cover on the lower deck and mid-level. If it’s raining, you can stay also inside your car.
  • When planning your trip, don’t assume that it’s a quick 10 minute hop over. Depending on when you show up and how busy it is, you might not get on the next ferry which means that it can easily be 30-60 minutes.
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Do you need to make reservations for the ferry? No, reservations aren’t possible and they aren’t needed because of how frequent they run.
• Getting There: Take Route 138 all the way to the end of the road. The road literally ends with the ferry and doesn’t continue any further.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: Chem. de la Rivière-du-Moulin-à-Baude, Tadoussac, QC G0T 2A0
• Hours: Open year-round
• Duration: There is a 1km path that can take you down the dunes (and to the beach) and then back up. If you just want to take a peek, this isn’t too long of a stop but if you want to spend some time on the beach, expect to spend roughly an hour here.
• Price: Free
• Parking: Above the dunes, there is a parking lot but it fills up easily so you’ll see people start parking on the side of the road. We noticed that there’s a park management team here on golf carts so they’ll be directing some traffic.
• Website: This isn’t an official park (yet) so there isn’t one.
• Tips: 
  • There are actually two levels of dunes. On the way here, you’ll pass by the upper dunes and the ones that people visit are the lower dunes that leads down to the St. Lawrence River.
  • As a dune, there is a diagonal path that leads down it but you’ll see people making their own (often more steep) trail down which is totally allowed.
  • Keep in mind that going down is much easier than coming up.
  • Since this is soft and fine sand, you’ll likely get sand in your shoes. We saw many people opt to take off their shoes.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 80 Rue de la Cale Sèche, Tadoussac, QC G0T 2A0
• Hours: Open year-round
• Duration: 1.3 km (0.8 mi) loop, takes about 30 minutes to complete.
• Price: Free
• Parking: There is street parking by the Tadoussac Marina but there are a limited number of spots. The other closest parking is the lot for Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre. The price for either is $4/hour up to $20 max (enforced 6AM to 9PM). Payment is by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Interac) or coins only.
• Website: Pointe de l’Islet
• Tips: 
  • The trail has two nearby access points: one is located directly beside the parking lot, while the other sits at the end of the street near the marina.
  • The trail is a mix of rocky outcrops, wooden boardwalks, and a few stairs so comfortable hiking shoes are recommended.
  • Bring your camera and a good zoom lens — the coastal scenery is stunning, and pay attention to the water as you might spot a whale.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

This is a modest B&B located in town that is a more budget-friendly option compared to Hôtel Tadoussac. As a heads up, this property is actually a combination of multiple houses but they are all close to one another. They also no longer have a restaurant anymore.

• Address: 251 Rue des Pionniers, Tadoussac, Quebec G0T 2A0
• Parking: Each unit is assigned a specific parking spot and is complimentary for guests.
• Website: Auberge La Galouïne
• Room: The particular room we had was in the basement of the main house and while we were a bit skeptical walking in, it turned out to be a great stay because it’s been completely renovated and modernized. Inside is also a kitchenette and the bathrooms which is great for storing supplies. The room also came with a sofa bed so it could easily fit 3 -4 people.
• Breakfast: One of the added benefits of this property is that they provide to-go breakfast baskets for guests. These come with juice, coffee/tea, yogurt, jam, and freshly baked muffins and croissants.
• Location: Ultimately, it’s their location that is a huge advantage. Since parking isn’t free in town, you can walk to all of the main attractions and restaurants from here.

This is a popular restaurant with long lines leading out of its entrance so we recommend that you go for an early or late dinner.

Québec Maritime Day 1 Summary

What you’ll see and do:

• Traversiers ferry from Baie-Sainte-Catherine to Tadoussac
• Les Dunes
• Pointe-de-l’Islet Trail

Where you’ll eat:

• Lunch: Resto-Pub Belles & Bum in Malbaie if you have time on your drive in
• Dinner: Café Bohème

Where you’ll stay:

• Auberge La Galouïne (TripAdvisor/Direct/Booking) – Located in the heart of Tadoussac, just steps from shops, restaurants, and the waterfront. The inn offers clean, comfortable rooms with a cozy, rustic feel, and even has its own restaurant specializing in local seafood and regional flavors. It’s a convenient and charming base for exploring everything Tadoussac has to offer.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 101 Rue du Bord de l’Eau, Tadoussac, Quebec G0T 2A0
• Hours: Open May 14 to November 2, with departure times of 9:45AM, 1PM, 4:15PM and 5PM. That said, their hours may change as currently they’re only offering 9:45AM, 1PM, and 4:40PM so be sure to check their website. T stands for Tadoussac and B stands for Baie-Ste-Catherine.
• Duration: About 3 hours and this was true for our cruise.
• Price: Upper Deck access starts at $159.99/adult, and $129.99/child (0-12).
• Parking: Similar to Pointe-de-l’Islet, you’ll have the same parking options – either street parking by the marina or at the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre. Cost is $4/hour up to a max of $20. Payment is by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Interac) or coins only. Since parking is on the expensive side, consider walking to the marina if you’re staying in Tadoussac. If you’re hoping to get the paid street parking by the marina, we suggest you get there by 8:45AM for the 9:45AM departure.
• Website: Croisières AML
• Tips: 
  • We highly recommend reserving 2 months in advance, especially during the peak season (July-August) as cruises do sell-out.
  • The upgrade to the Upper Deck is absolutely worth it if you’re a photographer or just interested in having the best vantage point for whales. With the walkway, you can quickly reposition and have close to a 360-degree view. There are also less people up here so there aren’t as many people to fight for position with.
  • They suggest showing up 9:20AM for the 9:45AM departure but we noticed that they allow people to get into the queue starting at 9:15AM (30 minutes ahead of time). That said, there honestly isn’t a need to get on the ship early as there’s plenty of space and also time until you might actually see whales.
  • The VIPs (including Upper Deck ticket holders) get to board the ship first.
  • If you’re boarding from Tadoussac, there’s some time wasted time because the ship needs to cross the fjord to Baie-Ste-Catherine to pick up passengers. On the way back though, you’ll be dropped off in Tadoussac first. This is for T-B cruises. If it’s a B-T cruise, it’ll be the opposite.
  • The disadvantage of the large boat is that it’s less nimble in terms of getting closer to whales and repositioning. You also don’t get that low-to-the-water angle that is great for photography.
  • Most tours continue even if weather conditions are rainy, so take a rain jacket if weather shows rain.
  • Weather on the boat can also be a bit chilly, especially on the Upper Deck, so long-sleeve shirts, pants and closed toed shoes are recommended.
  • You can also book with Viator or GetYourGuide if you prefer.
• Photography:
  • One of the advantages of a larger boat versus a zodiac is that the ship is much more stable so you don’t have to deal with trying to stabilize your body and camera.
  • We opted for two camera bodies so that we could have better coverage of range. We learned from our whale watching in Richmond, BC that you really don’t know how close or far they’ll be.
  • If you’re curious what we packed in our Peak Design 45L Outdoor Backpack, we had the OM-1 Mark 2 with the 150-400mm lens and the OM-1 Mark 1 with the 40-150mm lens. One camera was mostly in hand but with the option to clip onto the backpack’s Capture and the other was around my neck with the Slide Lite.
  • I highly recommend that you set your wildlife settings ahead of time and be very well versed with where everything is in the case you need to make quick changes on the fly.
  • From our experience, you will likely have better success with single focus as subject detection will have trouble. You’ll also want to shoot higher FPS to capture the moment because it goes by quickly.
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Is there a whale guarantee? Yes, one of the distinct advantages of Croisières AML is that they have a Whale Warranty. If you don’t see a whale on your cruise, you’ll get a free ticket for a future cruise.
  • Is it easy to get seasick/nauseous? Chantelle is prone to this but she was fine on this cruise. That said, she did take a Gravol (Dramamine). Overall, we did not find the waters rough at all when the ship was moving or sitting still when whale watching.
  • Is there food to buy onboard? Yes, there is a cafe on the main deck (menu is in the photos above). There is also a restaurant on the lower deck but it was not open when we were there.
  • Are there bathrooms? Yes, next to the gift shop and cafe are men and women restrooms. They are clean and easy to use although strange that the doors are kept open.
  • If I have an Upper Deck ticket, can I be in the other parts of the ship? Yes, absolutely. In fact, while there are 12 Muskoka chairs in this area, you might be a bit chilly so you’re free to walk to other areas of the boat.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 108 Rue De la Cale-Seche, Tadoussac, Quebec G0T 2A0
• Hours:  The average duration of the museum is an hour.
  • 2025 Season:
    • May 11 to June 14: 12PM to 5PM
    • June 15 to November 5: 9AM to 6PM
  • 2026 Season:
    • May 3 to June 12: 9AM to 5PM
    • June 13 to October 12: 9AM to 6PM
    • October 13 to November 1st: 12PM to 8PM
• Price: $15/adult and free for children (17 and under) if accompanied by an adult. Taxes included.
• Parking: The parking lot adjacent to CIMM is the old dry dock. Rate is $4/hour up to a max of $20. The machine only takes credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Interac) or coins.
• Website: CIMM which is managed by the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM).
• Tips: 
  • For English visitors, you’ll be provided a booklet which has English translations of the exhibits so that you can follow along. This means that yes, all of the signage in the museum are in French.
  • There are many naturalists on-site in the museum and all of them are bilingual so you can ask them any questions you have.
  • We recommend that you wait for their talks which happen periodically and are available in English. The topics rotate so you probably won’t be able to listen to them all but don’t be afraid to ask questions. They also have a light show where the dim the lights in the museum and highlight the different whale skeletons they have on display.
  • For groups of 12 people or more, reservations are required ahead of time.
  • If you’re looking to buy souvenirs in Tadoussac, we recommend waiting until you come to the gift shop all proceeds benefit GREMM’s scientific research to support the whales of the St. Lawrence.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 13 Chemin du Cap de Bon Désir, Les Bergeronnes, Quebec G0T 1G0
• Hours: Open daily, June through October
  • June 21 – September 1: 9AM – 6PM
  • September 2 – 7: 9AM – 5PM
  • September 7 to October 13: Wednesday to Sunday and Thanksgiving, from 9AM – 5PM
  • Last admission is 5:30PM up to September 1. Afterwards, it’s 4:30PM.
• Price: Free admission from June 20 to September 2, 2025 thanks to the Canada Strong Pass. We recommend getting the Discovery Pass for annual access to Parks Canada sites for 12 months. Otherwise, the day-rates are:
  • Adults – $9.00
  • Senior (65+) – $7.75
  • Youth (6-17) – Free
  • Group/Family (Up to seven people arriving in a single vehicle) – $17.50
• Parking: There is a large complimentary parking lot beyond the entrance gate.
• Website: Cap de Bon-Désir
• Tips:
  • This Parks Canada site is strictly gated which means that you need to make sure that your car is out of the gate before the closing time. Otherwise, your car will be stuck inside.
  • As a tip we heard while we were there, if you want to be here outside of operating hours, you can park your car outside of the gate and walk in. Just know that there won’t be any park rangers on-site and all facilities will be closed. This is how you can get out here for sunrise/sunset.
  • If you’re coming here for whale watching, we suggest that you dedicate at least 2 hours here to just sit and wait. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a whale sighting. If you’re not sure, make sure to ask one of the Parks Canada rangers that are stationed there.
  • There aren’t really any bad places to sit on the rocks by the water so feel free to spread out and find your own spot.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 31 Rue des Pilotes, Les Escoumins, QC G0T 1K0
• Hours: They start operating cruises as early as May and go into late October. Cruises typically run for 2.5 hours.
  • Private cruise – 6:30AM
  • Standard cruise hours – 9:30AM, 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM
• Price: $90/adult (16+) and $80/child (5-15). Children under 5 are not allowed on the zodiac.
• Parking: They have plenty of free parking in front of their shop.
• Website: Du Fleuve
• Tips: 
  • The best seats on the zodiac are on the front of the boat because you can more easily pivot from left, forward, and right. While there’s no guarantee, you can always ask the crew nicely to see if you can sit there.
  • Make sure to arrive 30 minutes before departure so you have time to gear up in your Mustang suit (jacket and overalls) + optional gloves and toque.
  • Since you’ll be exposed to the elements, you’ll want to dress warmly. A toque and gloves will help but thankfully they have those for guests to use.
  • You don’t necessarily need to have any waterproofing gear as the Mustang suit you wear gives you all of the protection you need. Also, the chances of splashing are quite low.
  • While the captain/naturalist is bilingual, if most of the passengers onboard are French-speaking, don’t expect full translations into English. This was probably the only knock we had on this tour but to be honest, it wasn’t that big of a deal because there was so much to see.
  • The big advantage of Du Fleuve is their focus on small-scale whale watching. Their boats are only for 12 and they purposely choose times when there aren’t as many other cruise operators on the water, creating a much more intimate experience.
• Photography:
  • Similar to the tips with Croisières AML, another tip we’d add is to have extra memory cards and batteries readily available in a pocket, especially if you’re doing the sunset cruise and it’s the end of the day when these are more likely to be depleted.
  • Word of warning that shooting from a zodiac is definitely more challenging than from a large ship as you’ll be bobbing a ton. While we found that it’s possible to mount your body and lens onto the zodiac itself, it actually doesn’t help with the image stabilization. Instead, I found more success using my own body as a gimbal to help smooth out the motion of the boat. What helps is to make sure your lower body is stabilized on the boat by having your feet wedged on the zodiac.
  • We still recommend having two bodies because we had a mix of whales that were really far away and ones that were very close. The only regret was not having something wider for the beluga encounter but luckily Chantelle was filming with our DJI Osmo Pocket 3.
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  • What is the cancellation policy? You can cancel without penalty 15 days prior. 8-14 days gets you 50% back and anything 7 days or less is no refund.
  • Do they have a whale guarantee? No, they do not but the chances are incredibly high here.
  • Are you allowed to stand in the zodiac? Yes, when the zodiac is not in motion, you are allowed to stand up. Moving around is a bit limited though because of the tight spaces. That said, out of respect for the people behind you, the front row is asked to sit, allowing the back row to stand, so everyone can see.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: Ferry Ramp, Les Escoumins, Quebec G0T 1K0
• Hours: The crossing calendar is your best bet for the schedule because it changes on a daily basis.
• Duration: 90 minutes
• Price: A $50 deposit is required right away. The remainder is paid after you board the ferry.
  • Vehicle (Car/Minivan/SUV) – $61
  • Adult (12-64) – $27.75
  • Senior (65+) – $25.75
  • Child (5-11) – $17.75
  • Infant (0-5) – Free
• Website: CNB Traverse Ferry
• Tips: 
  • You are required to show up to the ferry 1 hour before departure.
  • Once on the ferry, you are required to turn off the car, exit your vehicle, and head up to the upper deck of the ship.
  • Unfortunately, what’s not super clear is that first thing, you need to visit the office/cashier . The only reason why we clued in was because we saw a group of people lining up. What you’re supposed to do is line up and pay the remaining amount on the ship. Note that American Express is not accepted.
  • We saw that there is a standby queue of cars to the left so it must be possible to get on without reservations in the lower season.
  • If you know you have to take this ferry, you should absolutely make reservations 1-2 months before the start of the high season (ideally May). It’s a small ship and it only runs at most 1 to 3 times a day so it sells out fast.
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  • What is the cancellation policy? You can cancel via website or by calling. If it’s greater than 24 hours, you’ll get your deposit refunded minus a cancellation fee of 3% (4% for international cards) plus $0.30 per transaction. If it’s less than 24 hours, you’ll forfeit the deposit.
  • Is there food on board? Yes, there is a small cafe with quite the menu of items and is very affordable. We had the smoked meat panini and it was quite excellent.
  • Are there restrooms on the ship? Yes, there are clean individual restrooms on the upper deck.
  • Is the ship accessible? There are no elevators (stairs only) to get to the upper deck so I am not sure what would happen if you require assistance.
  • Are there tables onboard? This is not a large ship and so in the enclosed upper deck, it’s quite cramped quarters. There is really only one table we saw in one corner. Otherwise, it’s only chairs.
• Getting There: When you arrive at the ferry, you’ll be greeted by a staff member at the gate. You’ll provide a printout of your ticket and they’ll let you know which lane to take.

They are very strict with parking enforcement so make sure that you pay for parking when eating at Crêpes Chignon.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: La Haute, Gaspésie, 11 Rte du Phare, Cap-Chat, Quebec G0J 1E0
• Hours: Open daily, 24 hours. We are guessing that the entrance is manned during business hours but is otherwise free for cars to come in and out.
• Difficulty: The hike is gentle and easy. Primarily on gravel road.
• Price: The visit is technically free but the private campground encourages donations for your visit. Not knowing what the typical amount is, we gave $3.
• Parking: There is plenty of parking available for visitors.
• Website: Phare Cap-Chat
• Tips:
  • If you’re feeling a bit tight on schedule, this lighthouse is probably skippable.
  • Keep in mind that the lighthouse keeper’s house is a bookable property which would be interesting as a guest but as a visitor, might feel a bit awkward especially if someone is there. Campers might even set up a tent next to the lighthouse.
  • If you have time, there are other short hike trails and viewpoints that you can do here which you’ll be able to see on their map.
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Are there restrooms here? Yes, there is a comfort station designed for camping guests which you’ll be able to use.
• Getting there: From Route 132 on the northern shore of the Gaspé Peninsula, turn into Rte du Phare where you’ll see signs for Phare Cap-Chat campground. The gravel road will eventually take you to the entrance booth where staff will greet you.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 10 Av. du Phare, La Martre, Quebec G0E 2H0
• Hours: The tower and museum are open from June through early September between 9AM and 5PM. 
• Price: The lighthouse is free to visit. They also offer 60-minute guided tours in English which is $12/adult, $10/child, $40/families (2 adults and 2 children), and shorter 15 minute tours for $6. Taxes included
• Parking: There is sufficient parking in the main gravel area but there is a lot of available spillover spots nearby.
• Website: La Martre Lighthouse
• Tips:
  • Pay attention to the fresnel lens of the lighthouse and notice how it actually moves – something quite unique in Québec.
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Are there restrooms? Yes, there’s a restroom building behind the museum/gift shop.
• Getting there: From Route 132 on the northern shore of the Gaspé Peninsula, turn onto Avenue du Phare in La Martre and drive a short distance up the hill.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 4, Rue du Phare, Sainte-Madeleine-de-la-Rivière-Madeleine, Quebec G0E 1P0
• Hours:
  • June to August: 8AM – 6PM
  • September: 8AM – 5PM
• Price: Free to visit the grounds. You can pay to climb up to the top of the lighthouse ($5) and visit the museum ($5).
• Parking: There’s plenty of parking around the lighthouse grounds.
• Website: Parks Canada and the town of Sainte-Madeleine.
• Tips: 
  • There’s a nice viewpoint of the lighthouse on the approach where you can photograph it include the inner cliffs.
  • Here, you’ll find a coffee shop, craft shop, museum, and picnic area adjacent to the lighthouse. 
  • Guided tours available (price unknown).
• Getting there: From Route 132 in Rivière-la-Madeleine, turn north onto Rue du Phare, which ends after 0.6 km (0.4 miles) at the lighthouse.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 884, Boulevard de L’Anse-à-Valleau, Gaspé, Quebec G4X 4A2
• Hours: Open daily in the summer months, early June to October, 9AM – 5PM with last entry at 4PM.
• Price:
  • Site Access: $3.00 per person. Children 5 and under are free.
  • Tour of exhibitions, lighthouse, lighthouse keeper’s house and Marconi station (includes site access):
    • Adult: $15.00
    • Children 6-17: $6.00
    • Children 5 and under: Free
• Parking: There is free on-site parking.
• Website: Pointe-à-la-Renommée
• Tips: 
  • Once you turn off from the main road, it’s a gravel road all the way through and it’s longer than you think. There are a few parts that are a bit steep and we spotted a few potholes as well. That said, we think that a standard sedan shouldn’t have any issues getting there. Just make sure to drive carefully.
  • There are several hiking trails here from family-friendly to advanced so budget for that time if you’re interested.
  • If you want to visit the lighthouse outside of operating hours, you are still able to drive in since they don’t have any gates.
  • Lots of hiking trails on site so bring your comfiest hiking shoes!
• Getting There: The lighthouse is near L’Anse-à-Valleau where you will see signs alongside the road indicating the turnoff for Pointe à la Renommée Lighthouse and Marconi Station. Follow Chemin de Pointe-à-la-Renommée, a dirt road with a steep grade, for 4.3 km (2.7 miles) to its end at the lighthouse.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 865 Boulevard Anse-a-Valleau, L’Anse-a-Valleau, Quebec G4X 4A1
• Parking: Free on-site.
• Website: Motel Camping des Ancêtres
• Room: The particular room certainly had a bit of the 90s motel vibe with some of the older kitchen appliances and styling but we can tell that they’ve made an attempt to modernize. Overall, it was comfortable or the quick night that we had here with comfortable beds and spacious room. We also appreciated having a fridge. We stayed in Unit 1.
• Breakfast: Breakfast isn’t included here.
• Location: We ultimately chose this location because we didn’t want the added pressure of driving all the way to Forillon National Park. Since Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse is the last attraction for the day, this property is in the perfect spot along the main route.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 1331 Boulevard de Cap-des-Rosiers, Gaspé, Quebec G4X 6G7
• Hours: Daily 9AM to 5PM July 1 to August 31.
• Price: The virtual tour includes a tablet with visual and audio content while you explore on your own time.

• Parking: Free parking on the grounds.
• Website: Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse
• Tips:
  • The lighthouse is technically not within the gates of Forillon National Park, so you don’t need to pay for park access.
  • Unlike other lighthouses where you’re able to walk around freely outside of operating hours, this lighthouse is actually behind a closed gate. The good news is that you can still see the lighthouse from beyond the gate.
  • The best view of the lighthouse is actually at the nearby beach which you can access by hike trail or you can drive to the parking lot along the side of the road.
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Are drones allowed? No, the lighthouse is under Parks Canada jurisdiction where drones are explicitly not allowed unless you have special permissions.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: Parc National Forillon, Gaspé, Quebec G4X 6L7
• Hours: The North Gate tollbooth is open May 30 to October 13 in 2025 (exact date changes year to year).
• Difficulty: Very easy except for the fact that there is a long staircase to get down to the beach so it is not the most accessible.
• Duration: 30-40 minutes
• Price: Free admission from June 20 to September 2, 2025 thanks to the Canada Strong Pass. We recommend getting the Discovery Pass for annual access to Parks Canada sites for 12 months. Otherwise, the day-rates are:
  • Adult: $9.00
  • Senior (65 and up): $7.75
  • Youth (6-17 years): Free
  • Family/Group (Up to seven people arriving in a single vehicle in a national park): $17.50
• Parking: There is ample parking at Cap Bon Ami.
• Website: Forillon National Park
• Tips: 
  • The earlier you come, the better chances you’ll have this area all to yourselves.
  • Make sure to take the stairs down to the beach and pay attention to the mossy waterfalls to your right of the staircase, and birds that might be on the rocks on the left side of the beach.
  • Having a good pair of binoculars will be handy to spot the various birds you’ll see here including nesting along the cliffs.
  • There is no cellular signal for a bulk of this area.
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Are drones allowed in the national park? No, drones are expressly not allowed in Forillon National Park unless you have special permission.
• Getting There: The most important thing to understand about accessing Forillon National Park is that there are two entry gates – north and south. The reason for this is that the two sides of the park are not connected by car. Cap Bon Ami can only be accessed through the North Gate.

We didn’t get to go oursevles but we heard that there’s a good chance to see seals at Petit-Gaspé.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: Parc National Forillon, Gaspé, Quebec G4X 6L7
• Hours: The South Gate tollbooth is also open May 30 to October 13 in 2025 (exact date changes year to year).
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. The trail is perfectly groomed and wide gravel trail. There are side trails that you can take but they are not too difficult. Most of the energy will be spent on the sudden incline you’ll need to take at the very end to get to the lighthouse.
• Duration: On average most people spend 1.5 – 2.5 hours. With our photography and videography, we clocked in at 3.5 hours.
• Price: If you paid for admission in the North Gate, you won’t need to pay again when entering through the South Gate.
• Parking: L’Anse-aux-Amérindiens is a cul-de-sac/round-about where cars are able to park all around the edges of the road. These spots fill up quite quickly so everyone ends up parking on the side of the road leading to the trailhead.
• Website: Forillon National Park Trails
• Tips: 
  • Highly recommend the pass-through detours that get you off of the gravel path. The ones that put you closer to Gaspé Bay give you great openings to potentially see whales. So again, don’t forget to bring your pinoculars!
  • While you might be pretty tired after to steep uphill to get to Cap Gaspé Lighthouse, the walk down to Land’s End isn’t as far as it seems like. It’s only an 8-10 minutes to get to the very end and the elevation change is quite gradual.
  • There are a few benches and the two red Parks Canada chairs as well, making this a great spot to picnic.
  • Bikes are allowed on the gravel trail.
  • Cellular signal is good for a large part of the trail.
• Getting There: To get to the South Gate, you’ll need to exit from the South Gate and take Rte 132 (passing by La Chute) and entering the national park again.
• Hiking Map: This is our own personally-tracked hike. I started the tracking a few minutes in, hence the start and end is slightly off.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

What was not super clear to us when planning this trip is how they are multiple approaches to get to Mont Saint-Alban and most people talk about hiking from Cap Bon Ami because it looks closer on the map but in fact, the easy way up is from Grande-Grave in the south.

• Address: Parc National Forillon, Gaspé, Quebec G4X 6L7
• Difficulty: Moderate. By taking the route from Grande-Grave, the incline to the junction point is significantly easier and gradual versus starting the hike from Cap Bon Ami.
• Duration: On average the easier trail takes 1- 2 hours that includes going up to the tower and turning back. In practice at our slower pace, we took 3 hours.
• Price: If you paid for admission in the North Gate, you won’t need to pay again when entering through the South Gate.
• Parking: There isn’t an official parking lot for this trailhead. Instead, you’ll see most cards parked on the side of the main road nearby. We found that the most convenient area to park is right in front of the Dolbel-Roberts House.
• Website: Forillon National Park Trails
• Tips: 
  • The start of the trail isn’t the most obvious so we made sure to mark it on our custom Google Map. The easiest way to spot it is to look out for the yellow stripe-painted pavement that indicates a crosswalk.
  • Out of all of the Parks Canada’s red chairs in Forillon, the one you’ll encounter on this trail might be the easiest to take a photo with.
  • The wooden tower is really sturdy but can trigger vertigo when you’re up at the top if you’re prone to it.
  • The recommendation we had gotten from park rangers is that unless you’re looking for a longer hike, there’s no need to do the loop trail as it’s not particularly scenic. Just do the tower and back.
  • Cellular signal cuts in and out throughout the hike.
  • The top of the tower can be vertigo inducing if you’re afraid of heights.
• Hiking Map: This is our own personally-tracked hike. I started the tracking a few minutes in, hence the start and end is slightly off.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 288 Rte 132 Ouest, Perce, Quebec G0C 2L0
• Parking: Free private parking on-site. Each room is assigned a parking spot. They also have a Level 2 EV charger which is $10 for 3 hours.
• Website: Hôtel Le Mirage
• Room: The room definitely is definitely a bit dated but we enjoyed having an extremely spacious room that was very clean. We also definitely took advantage of the Nespresso machine.
• Breakfast: Breakfast isn’t included here. They do have a café in the main building and we’ve included the menu above.
• Location: You definitely want to be pretty strategic with where you stay in Percé and the main thing you’re looking for is a room with a direct view of Percé Rock. Even better is if the room has a private balcony. Hôtel Le Mirage checks all of these boxes.
• Tips: When booking, make sure to request to be on the second floor balcony in the far back building that we had.
• Note: One thing they are very explicit about is that you are not allowed to bring fish or seafood into the room. This was a bit puzzling but perhaps it’s for those that go fishing in the area.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 162, Rte 132 Ouest, C.P. 278, Percé, Quebec G0C 2L0
• Hours: There are three periods of the sailing season which varies from year to year:
  • June 15 – September 20: Departures (9AM, 10:30AM, 12PM, 1:30PM), Returns (10AM, 11:30AM, 1PM, 2:30PM, 4PM, 5PM)
  • September 21 – October 13: Schedule to come
  • October 14 – TBD: Schedule to come
  • There are also boat rides without the tour at 8:45AM
  • Lastly, they also have a boat tour that doesn’t drop you off on the island at 3PM.
• Duration: The boat ride to Bonaventure Island includes a tour around Percé Rock and the island itself. This takes 1h15 to 1h20. The ride back which goes back to Percé takes 15-20 minutes.
• Price: These include taxes.
  • Adult: $45.00
  • Children (6-12): $25.00
  • Infant (up to 5): Free
  • You will also need to pay an entry fee to SEPAQ. This is $10.10/adults and free for children 17 and under. Save time by paying the entry fee online ahead of time.
• Parking: There is a parking lot right next to Les Batelier de Percé’s main office. They charge $13 for the full day and includes in-and-out privileges. Payment is via credit card. However, you can park elsewhere or walk to the wharf from your hotel.
• Website: Les Bateliers de Percé and Les Bateaux de Croisières Julien Cloutier
• Tips: 
  • WARNING – The guidance from the tour companies is to show up 20 minutes before departure to pick up your tickets from the office. You are also expected to show up 15 minutes before. This is not enough time because there’s usually a queue at the office at the time and there’s at least another 5 minute walk to the wharf. On top of that, we learned the hard way that the time slots you book are not guarantees and the boats will fill up with whoever is there in line and one it’s full, they’re gone, even if that means leaving people behind. The boat has a maximum capacity of around 100 people.
  • Our suggestion is that if you have taking the 9AM sailing, be at the offie at 8AM and then immediately go to the wharf to queue. Having missed this sailing, we ended up on the 10:30AM departure. When we arrived at 10AM, the queue was already 20 people long. Arrive ideally 40 minutes ahead of time. We also learned that large groups get to skip the line entirely so you definitely don’t want to be late.
  • The best seats on the boat are on the upper deck which isn’t covered. However, if you’re a photographer, you’re better off standing by the edges at front of the boat. Also, when boarding the ship and people tell you that the upper seats is full, that doesn’t mean that the standing spots are filled.
  • You might be wondering, where is the return schedule? It’s not posted on Les Batelier de Percé but Les Bateaux de Croisières Julien Cloutier has it on their schedule page.
  • For the return from the island, we suggest that you aim to get in line 20 minutes ahead of time to guarantee a spot.
  • The last departure from the island is 5PM so make sure you don’t miss it.
  • The secret we learned is that Les Batelier de Percé and Les Bateaux de Croisières Julien Cloutier collaborate to eliminate the competition that used to exist in between them. That’s why their prices are identical and no matter who you book with, you might end up on the other’s boat.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 180 Rte 132 O, Percé, Quebec G0C 2L0
• Hours: 
  • June 1 – October 4: Open daily 9AM to 5PM
  • October 5 – November 1: Wednesday and Friday – Sunday
• Duration: There aren’t any secondary activities on the platform so it’s very much about walking on the glass, going to the edge, enjoying the views, and taking photos. Expect to spend anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour.
• Price: Prices do not include tax. Children under 5 are free. It’s possible to buy tickets online but they charge an admin fee.
  • Platform – $15/adult and $10/children (6-15)
  • Shuttle – Round trip is $10.44/adult and $5.25/children but you can also purchase a one-way as well.
• Parking: A large parking lot is available in front of the main Percé Geopark building. You’ll have to pay a parking attendant $9 by credit card.
• Website: Percé Geopark
• Tips: 
  • To enter, you must first use the brush to clean the bottom of your shoe. You also need to take your shoes off to walk on the platform.
  • You aren’t allowed to drive directly up to the suspended platform. This means to get there, you have to visit the main building first to purchase tickets and shuttle.
  • To get up to the platform, you have the option to hike up and down on your own, take the shuttle both ways, or shuttle up and hike down (or vice versa).
  • The last shuttle up to the platform is around 1 hour before closing (~4PM).
  • There isn’t a fixed shuttle schedule. They pretty much run on an as-needed basis as they use radios to communicate with each other.

We noticed that between parking lots and admission for places like Cap Mont Joli are strictly enforced. However, since collection is done manually, once they are off work, it becomes free.  So in Batelier de Percé’s parking lot case, the attendant was off at 5PM and at Cap Mont Joli, they were off at 7PM.

It is close to impossible to get a table by walking in at La Maison du Pêcheur and the other popular restaurants in Percé.  We asked the waitress and she recommended at least one month in advance during high-season.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: We couldn’t find a specific address but we’ve pinned it on our custom Google Map to make sure you know exactly where it is. That’s how hidden this spot is.
• Hours: Open year-round.
• Duration: 30-40 minutes.
• Difficulty: Easy 2.1 km out and back trail that’s mostly flat and easy to follow.
• Price: Free
• Parking: There are only roughly 5 spots of official parking but it should be pretty easy to park wherever there is open space.
• Website: Le Parc du Colborne
• Tips: 
  • When you enter the trail, you’ll first past by a few B&B properties which are available for rent.
  • There several boards set up on the trail with red posts that tell the story of the shipwreck. They are in French so you’ll need to translate them.
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Are there restrooms here? I would say no. There is a porta-potty near the trailhead but it has not been maintained and would not recommend using it.
• Getting There: From Rte 132, you’ll see a relatively large sign with “Parc Colborne” on it. Turn in and you’ll be on a smooth and easy gravel road. This path will continue on for a bit. The signage from here is not great so we recommend that you follow your phone’s GPS.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: Plage de Hope, QC-132, Hope, QC G0C 2K0
• Hours: Open year-round.
• Duration: 5-15 minutes.
• Price: Free
• Parking: There is a small flat grassy patch that can fit 5-6 cars.
• Website: Plage de Hope
• Tips: 
  • There is a lot of uneven ground and cliff drops here so make sure to watch your step.
  • This is less of a hike trail and more of a place to come check out the interesting red rock cliff formations. This spot also makes for a great place for a picnic as well.
• Getting There: You’ll be turning onto a red-dirt road next to a church. There aren’t any signs here for the beach but don’t be alarmed. Keep driving until you get to the end of the road.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 1000, Rue Du Phare, Rimouski, Quebec G5M 1L8
• Hours: Open daily

• Price:

• Parking: There are two free parking spaces, accessible only to small vehicles and SUVs. All types of vehicles (including trailers and RVs) can park on the Pointe-au-Père wharf. Both are quite spacious.
• Website: Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site
• Tips: 
  • We were surprised how early the sites close so if you end up getting here late in the day, know that you’ll still be able to walk around and see the sites from the outside as there aren’t any gates that close them off.
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Are you allowed to fly a drone here? The airspace itself is clean but the Point-au-Pére Lighthouse is a Parks Canada site which has very strict rules so you can’t fly above or in close proximity around that site.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Address: 288 Rte 132 Ouest, Perce, Quebec G0C 2L0
• Parking: Free parking
• Website: Hotel Rimouski
• Room: While the exterior might not look too exciting, the lobby and room interiors have
• Breakfast: Breakfast isn’t included but there is a buffet option at the hotel restaurant, La Brigade 225, which is a buffet.
• Location: Hotel is located right in the heart of Rimouski so it’s quite convenient.

You can use the map as-is by bookmarking this article and coming back to it during your planning or while on the trip.  The other way is to create a copy onto your Google account.  Simply maximize the map by clicking on the button on the top right.  This will open the custom map in a new tab.  From here, click on the triple dots and “Copy Map”.  This will save a copy of this map to your Google account if you’re logged in.  Now when you open your Google Maps app, you’ll be able to access this map under the “You” tab at the bottom and “Maps” which is located at the very bottom.

Travel Resources For Your Next Trip

If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.

Credit cards: Don’t get burned by hidden fees on top of terrible exchange rates. When we travel now, we use the Wise Card. Simply load it with the currency you need before you go and use it as a regular VISA or their digital wallet card. Use their free app to track how much you have and top up when you need to.

Flights: Of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature. Kayak is also another that’s we will often check as well.

Car Rental: If you’re looking to save money, these car rental coupon codes will be a true game-changer. Otherwise, DiscoverCars and RentalCars are great places to start.

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eSIM: Lately, we’ve really loved using eSIMs. We’ve tested several over the years and we have access to a few special promotions.

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Wifi Hotspot: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.

Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.

Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).

Tours and Activities: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.

Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.

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• InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.

If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.