Tour + Accommodation
Packages

Côte-Nord
Charlevoix

World’s best whale experience

A 1 245 kmmarine
protected area

13 different species of whale

Charlevoix

Package

Tour + accommodation

Meet the most magnificent creatures on the planet, the whales!
With the exceptional view from the comfortable AML boat, you’ll enjoy a fascinating cruise in the heart of the Saguenay-Saint-Lawrence Marine Park. The package includes the whale-watching cruise, one night’s accommodation and breakfast.
From
$139person per night
Zodiac Whale Watching Tour
Zodiac

Zodiac Whale Watching Tour

Departing from the village of Baie-Ste-Catherine, come aboard one of our 24 or 60-passenger Zodiacs for a breathtaking experience.

Accompanied by our experienced captains, meet humpback whales, porpoises, belugas, minke whales and fin whales on this unique two-and-a-half-hour cruise. You’ll also have the chance to make an incursion into the majestic Saguenay Fjord.

Whale Watching Boat Tour
Cruise

Whale Watching Boat Tour

Come live an extraordinary nature experience aboard one of our boats specially designed for whale watching.

Our certified naturalist-guides will teach you all about the giants of the sea that populate the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, the best whale-watching site in the world. We offer several departures a day from May to October.

Parks Canada
Watching from the shore

Parks Canada

In the heart of the peaceful village of Baie-Sainte-Catherine, discover the Pointe-Noire Interpretation and Observation Centre. Nestled in the cliff, the centre offers spectacular views over the Saguenay fjord and Tadoussac Bay and is the ideal place for watching birds and marine mammals. Visit the two other Parks Canada sites located in the Côte-Nord region.

Côte-Nord

Package

Tour + accommodation

Make the most of the Côte-Nord with our “Cruises and Accommodation” packages. Meet the largest mammals on Earth on a boat or zodiac excursion on the Côte-Nord. Take advantage of your stay to discover the attractions, activities and sheer vastness of this region!
From
$139person per night
Zodiac Whale Watching Tour
Zodiac

Zodiac Whale Watching Tour

Departing from Tadoussac, come aboard one of our 24- or 60-passenger Zodiacs for a breathtaking experience.

Accompanied by our experienced captains, meet humpback whales, porpoises, belugas, minke whales and fin whales on this unique two-and-a-half-hour cruise. You’ll also have the chance to make an incursion into the majestic Saguenay Fjord.

Whale Watching Boat Tour
Cruise

Whale Watching Boat Tour

Come live an extraordinary nature experience aboard one of our boats specially designed for whale watching.

Our certified naturalist-guides will teach you all about the giants of the sea that populate the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, the best whale-watching site in the world. We offer several departures a day from May to October.

Whale Watching and Fjord Cruise
Cruise

Whale Watching and Fjord Cruise

Treat yourself to two of the province’s must-see attractions. First, meet up to 13 species of whales aboard one of our boats equipped specifically for marine observation.

Then enjoy an excursion into the majestic Saguenay Fjord, which has forged a unique landscape in Quebec. If you opt for the morning departure, you’ll be able to enjoy an extraordinary scenery as the light rises over the St. Lawrence River.

Essipit Cruises
Zodiac

Essipit Cruises

With its six stalwart crafts, Essipit Cruises introduces you to a whole new aspect of the sea.

Launching from the wharf at Les Bergeronnes, some 24 km east of Tadoussac, you’ll enjoy a two-hour excursion helmed by a captain/naturalist, to a place where whales frolic against a breathtaking backdrop.

Unmissable!

Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay

Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay

Bordering both shores of the Saguenay Fjord, the park welcomes lovers of the great outdoors and adventure in two very distinct sectors. With your family, discover the belugas and the beauty of the fjord from the shore of the Baie Sainte-Marguerite. Meet up at Baie-Éternité for hiking, water sports and via ferrata. Camping, discovery activities and more.
Marine Mammal Interpretation Center
Indoor

Marine Mammal Interpretation Center

At the Marine Mammal Interpretation Center, you’ll get up close and personal with a 13-metre-long sperm whale, view baleen belonging to the right whale Piper, touch a narwhal tooth, and explore the enthralling music of the whales. Discover the largest collection of whale skeletons in Canada! Naturalists will be happy to answer your questions. And if you keep your eyes peeled, you might even get lucky and spot a beluga swimming a stone’s throw away!

On the way to the whales

Itinerary

Experience Québec City

Among the many benefits of spending a few days in the charming UNESCO heritage gem that is Québec City is the fact that one can hit the road and go on a whale expedition further east – and come back to wine and dine in the city on the same day.

Visit Québec City and make it your starting point to the best whale experience in the world!

An eco-friendly trip
Itinerary

An eco-friendly trip

Embark on a two-week, 8-stage, environmentally friendly road trip where you will discover several eco-responsible businesses that sell locally sourced supplies and work toward reducing their carbon footprint.

A responsible way to enjoy the best whale experience in the world!

5 reasons to spend your summer vacation in Québec City
Itinerary

5 reasons to spend your summer vacation in Québec City

The sights, the history, the activities, the culture, the flavours, that undeniable, irresistible European je-ne-sais-quoi: Québec City has all that and so much more to turn an extended stay into a great vacation.
The top 10 things to do in Québec City
Itinerary

The top 10 things to do in Québec City

From historical sites to natural sights, from family fun to ancestral traditions, from enchanting island to fascinating museums: there’s something for everyone and every taste in and around Québec City.
Itinerary

Québec by the Sea

If your goal is to enjoy the best whale experience in the world, head East and discover the rich maritime heritage of our four coastal regions. Thirteen species of sea mammals, ten national parks, scenic roads, islands, beaches, lighthouses, flavours from the sea, outdoor activities, seaside lodging: you’ll find all of this and much more.
Here are six road trip ideas that will help you plan an amazing vacation.
Itinerary

Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

The Saguenay Fjord impresses with its steep cliffs, its dark waters and its majestic landscapes. Discover its exceptional wildlife environment and the marine species that abound it. Travel the Route du Fjord from village to village and enjoy the multitude of activities, gourmet stops and cozy stopovers.
Itinerary

Montréal

Montréal is a big, busy, exhilarating city, with so much to see and do. Discover it through long bike rides, picnics at the park, street art hunts, adventures on the water and visits to the museum. Top off your visit to Montréal with a trip to see the whales.
On the way to the whalesBaie-Ste-
Catherine
Tadoussac
Les EscouminsBaie-Comeau
Godbout
SaguenaySept-ilesGaspé
Toronto1021 km1059 km1220 km1018 km1449 km1467 km
Boston829 km866 km1053 km818 km1282 km1178 km
Ottawa654 km699 km859 km651 km1088 km1110 km
Montréal468 km510 km671 km465 km897 km915 km
Québec208 km252 km413 km211 km642 km695 km
Matane266 km227 km64.4 km381 km237 km288 km

Our circuits

Best of Quebec and whales
The must-see circuit offered by Voyages AML

Best of Quebec and whales

Treat yourself to the best of Quebec with this stay that will allow you to discover Quebec City, the magnificent Charlevoix region, as well as Tadoussac, the most beautiful village in the province!

6 nights – 7 days – $999.99*
*Price plus taxes, per person and per night in double occupancy

Mountains, river and whales
Charlevoix circuit offered by Voyages AML

Mountains, river and whales

Discover the magnificent Charlevoix region with this 2-night family getaway at the Hotel Baie-St-Paul or the Auberge des 3 canards. The package also includes a whale watching cruise by boat or Zodiac.

2 nights – 3 days – $114.99*
*Price plus taxes, per person and per night in quadruple occupancy

Tadoussac: the most beautiful village in Quebec
Côte-Nord circuit offered by Voyages AML

Tadoussac: the most beautiful village in Quebec

Live a memorable experience in the heart of the best whale watching site in the world! Sail to meet the giants of the sea and spend two nights in one of the Ferme 5 étoiles apartments.

2 nights – 3 days – $99.99*
*Price plus taxes, per person and per night in quadruple occupancy

Route du Fleuve

On the St. Lawrence Route, turn your windows down and your favourite driving playlist up as you pass through 78 km of pure beauty along the St. Lawrence River. From Baie-Saint-Paul to La Malbaie and through Les Éboulements and Saint-Irénée and Isle-aux-Coudres, smell the intoxicating perfumes of the ocean where endless skies of blues and light merge on one of North America’s most beautiful panoramic roads.

Route du Fjord

Take the time to marvel at the Saguenay Fjord by travelling the Route du Fjord. Admire its breathtaking scenery, the species that frequent its waters and discover the activities that surround it. This inland and coastal route will allow you to visit some of the most beautiful villages in Quebec. You will feel it, a very special energy emanates from here!

Route des baleines

The Côte-Nord is synonymous with whales. Every year these huge mammals show up at and own the north shore of the Saint Lawrence. Route 138—the Whale Route—is aptly named because 13 species of whale and marine mammal can be seen from the Côte-Nord coast—among them, the largest mammal on the face of the earth: the great blue whale.

The whales
of Québec

The Saguenay – St. Lawrence Marine Park is:

  • One of the best whale-watching sites in the world.
  • A 1245 km2 marine protected area
  • 13 different species of whale.

Learn more

Discover the species

ST. LAWRENCE BELUGA

This declining population is the only year-round resident of the St. Lawrence River. The beluga is known for its social skills and vocalizations. Its nickname is the “canary of the sea”. 

  • Presence: frequent
  • Endangered species

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

MINKE WHALE

Solitary, it is often seen near the shore. It is one of the most dynamic whales and a formidable hunter. You might see it even jump out of the water

  • Presence: frequent

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

FIN WHALE

You will hear its breath before you see it. Fast and long, it surfaces, revealing its dark back. Rather solitary, it joins others for eating.

  • Presence: frequent
  • Species of special concern

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

HUMPBACK WHALE

Graceful, it reveals its tail during dives. It is also known for its acrobatic jumps. Once endangered, today’s population is growing. 

  • Presence: frequent

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

HARBOUR PORPOISE

As the smallest cetacean in the St. Lawrence River, it is noticeable given it often swims in small groups. Its breath can be heard in calm weather.

  • Presence: frequent

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

BLUE WHALE

The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet, and one of the most widely travelled. Only about a dozen are found at the marine park.

  • Presence: occasional
  • Endangered species

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

ATLANTIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN

They live in pods. Dynamic and exuberant, we see them jumping, in turn, in the wake of boats. 

  • Presence: rare

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHIN

They are fast, and you will see their grey and white sides as they leap out of the water in alternating directions. They live in pods.

  • Presence: rare

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

RIGHT WHALE

This slow-moving species has a powerful “V” shaped breath. Long hunted, the 400 survivors must now deal with the risks of collisions and entanglements.

  • Presence: rare
  • Endangered species

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

SPERM WHALE

The “Moby Dick” of the oceans. Deep sea diver, it hunts fish and squid. After taking a deep breath at the surface, it sometimes spends two hours underwater before returning for another breath.

  • Presence: rare

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

LONG-FINNED PILOT WHALE

The few observers who have crossed its path have pointed out its imposing fin on its back. It lives in pods of 10, 20, and even 100.

  • Presence: rare

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

KILLER WHALE

You may know it as the “orca.” A strategic hunter and a group hunter, it adapts its manoeuvres to the prey it is pursuing: marine mammals, fish, birds and squid. 

  • Presence: rare
  • Species of special concern

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

NORTHERN BOTTLENOSE WHALE

Never heard of it? This large diver is rare—fewer than 200 individuals live off Nova Scotia—and it prefers deep water up to 1,500 m.

  • Presence: rare
  • Endangered species

Credit images: C. Soucy/©Parks Canada

Quebec Adventure Outdoor

Aventure Écotourisme Québec

Reconnect with nature and discover a host of outdoor activities in Quebec’s different regions that will live up to all your expectations. Whatever your level of outdoorsmanship, adventure of the highest quality standards is within reach of all. In a kayak, on a hike, on a bike or any other way, explore your possibilities for the perfect outdoor experience.

Find out more

Événement Attraction Québec

 Your reference for things to do in Quebec

Événements Attractions Québec understands the importance of giving a boost to tourism and culture in Quebec. This organization’s mission is to promote the province’s rich and diverse tourism offering. Its tourism portals, Quebecvacances.com and Quebecgetaways.com offer content that highlights new discoveries and activities that promise great moments to share.

Learn more

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