Québec Road Trips

The Whale Route begins in lovely Tadoussac. The St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf provide a summer feast for 13 species of cetaceans. Several companies located in various villages along the Route offer whale-watching excursions by kayak, Zodiac or boat. Not to be missed are whale watching from the shore and many interpretation centres on whales.

1. Tadoussac is home to Canada's first trading post and an official member of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club. The town's fabulous panorama is at the heart of the Saguenay - St. Lawrence Marine Park.

2. Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park includes parts of the St. Lawrence Estuary and Saguenay Fjord. This marine park reveals its mysteries and immense natural bounty through interpretation sites and sea cruises.

3. Cap-du-bon-désir Interpretation and Observation Centre is a magnificent natural heartland ideal for observing marine mammals. Keep your eyes open, you will be surprised by their shapes and colours... all of this from the shores. Talk to the residents to learn about the history of the lighthouse, its residents and much more...

4. Les Escoumins. Founded in 1846, it was the first official village in Haute Côte-Nord. Discover the beauty of the marine life in this sector, one of Canada's best diving destinations.

5. Pointe-aux-Outardes is renowned for its rural way of life and rich historical and natural heritage. It will introduce you to the St. Lawrence Estuary. Visit the nature park which is renowned for bird-watching (over 200 bird species) and for its interpretation of Côte-Nord flora and fauna.

6. Baie-Comeau is the gateway to adventure as spectacular vistas blend with culture, entertainment, history and living geology. The new Maritime Glacier Garden, a marine adventure park, provides well-maintained infrastructures for experiencing the dramatic geology, steep rocky cliffs and dizzying seascapes of this unique glaciated region of Québec.

7. Off the road to Manic 5 - The Daniel-Johnson Dam is the largest multiple-arch-and-buttress dam in the world. Its unique design is a testament to Québec's engineering genius.

8. Baie-Trinité offers a wide range of recreational activities. Looking for history, visit the Pointe-des-Monts Lighthouse, for spooky adventures, see the shipwreck centre and relive some of the great maritime tragedies since 1600.

9. The magic of Minganie - A string of villages with Acadian, Gaspesian and Innu origins will charm you with their coastal scenery and local cuisine. It is the gateway to Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve of Canada. Established in 1984 it showcases the natural resources found on some 40 limestone islands as well as hundreds of coastal islets spread as far as the eye can see!

10. Off the road to Anticosti island - Accessible by boat or by plane, this limestone island is renowned for its impressive Vauréal canyon and falls, great wildlife and its history. The island was purchased in 1895 by a rich French chocolate maker, Henri Menier, for $ 125,000...

11. Natashquan and Pointe-Parent - This small village is today famous for its native artist and poet «Gilles Vigneault». With a population of 374, it was the first land of the Innu, who lived side by side with the Acadians, making the village something of an «Innucadia»!