Waiting for the whales

The Saint-Lawrence River is one of the best places in the world for whale watching.

Stafford waits for whales

The salty River meets the freshwater of the Saguenay Fjord creating an abundance of marine life, perfect for hungry whales. The combination of food and the depth and narrowness of the River make it easy to observe whales from the shoreline. The Minke, Beluga, Fin and Humpback whale all visit the River.

The Auberge de la Baie in Les Escoumins

Stafford and I have been on the hunt for whales since we arrived in the Côte-Nord. Our hotel, the comfortable Auberge de la Baie, faces the water and we’ve been squinting at the River, holding our breath when a wave breaks or we think we see a sliver of black on the horizon. Today we got our first glimpse of the whales of the Saint-Lawrence River.

The Cap-de-Bon-Désir, a Parks Canada site, offers interpretative activities, on location naturalist guides and easy viewing for whales.

We arrived earlier in the morning, got a comfy seat on the rocks and waited. We saw a seal and a lot of seagulls. Ninety minutes later, 20 metres from shore, a Minke whale’s shiny back emerged from the water. It was exhilarating!

Stafford sees a Fin whale!

Later that day, we saw a spout of water on the horizon. A Parks Canada guide told us that the smaller Minke and Beluga whale don’t spout, so we had a good chance of seeing a Humpback or even a Fin whale, the second largest whale in the world.

A model of the tiny part of the whale visible above the water

Moments later a massive black back rose from the River. It seemed to stretch forever before silently slipping beneath the surface. A Fin whale! A rare sighting and an amazing end to an exhilarating day.

Meredith waiting for the whales

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