Maritime Québec

The coastline is calling

Kayak, Forillon National Park of Canada, Gaspésie, © MTOQ / J.-F. Bergeron / Enviro Foto

Made up of five tourist regions—the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Duplessis, Manicouagan, Gaspésie and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine—maritime Québec astounds visitors with one breathtaking panorama after another for the entire length of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A fertile breeding ground for countless sea birds and marine mammals, the area is also a hub of outdoor activities, and the tasty fish yielded by a generous sea adorn restaurant tables. Maritime Québec: Let yourself be swept away!

Parks bursting with treasures

Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé, Gaspésie, © MTOQ / J.-F. Bergeron / Enviro Foto

Parc national du Bic is a veritable gem to explore, with many bays harbouring numerous sea bird species. A jewel set where river and fjord meet, the spectacular Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park shines the spotlight on these unique resources while also preserving them. The Mingan Archipelago serves up spellbinding and strangely shaped rock giants. Meanwhile, Parc national d’Anticosti, with its magical Vauréal waterfall, abounds with white-tailed deer.

Around May, Parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé welcomes an impressive Northern gannet colony, which nests there until autumn. Fossil-seekers can make thrilling discoveries at Parc national de Miguasha, a Unesco World Heritage site. Popular among campers, Forillon National Park of Canada—located at the eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula—and Parc national de la Gaspésie treat hikers to astounding views from high in the mountains.

Seashells and sea breezes

Tadoussac, Manicouagan, © MTOQ / Robert Buck

All the scenic routes lead to maritime Québec… The Côte-Nord, comprising Manicouagan and Duplessis, boasts one of the prettiest drives: the Whale Route (Route des Baleines), which hugs the north shore of the St. Lawrence estuary and gulf between Tadoussac and Blanc-Sablon. Some 13 cetacean species frequent the area depending on migration periods. Follow the Navigators' Route (Route des Navigateurs), where the Bas-Saint-Laurent reveals its history at every turn and where heritage homes and other structures will give you a glimpse into the way of life of three centuries of fishermen and navigators.