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Côte-Nord

An immense region extending from the coast to the northern taiga via a boreal forest abounding in game and nearly uninhabited by humans, Côte-Nord takes you along the Whale Route, northbound or past the end of the road!

THE WHALE ROUTE

From Tadoussac to Blanc-Sablon, Côte-Nord is really the Whale Route.
Most of the 13 species of whales found in the St. Lawrence are easily observable along this route, from the small harbour porpoise to the enormous blue whale, the largest mammal on the planet. This region is one of the five best places in the world in which to observe several species of whales each year. It is no coincidence that four internationally renowned research groups are based in this area.

Tadoussac Bay, a member of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club, is at the heart of the Saguenay-St.Lawrence Marine Park and is the home base of several companies offering sea excursions. While Tadoussac is the best known area for whale watching, several other sites in Côte-Nord, in both the Manicouagan and the Duplessis regions, offer exceptional observation conditions—even from the shore. Keep your eyes peeled from April to November, and remember that three species of seals and many species of marine birds will probably join in the show for your visual pleasure.

While exploring the Whale Route, be sure to stop at the new Garden of the Glaciers in Baie-Comeau. This attraction offers unique multisensory experiences that focus on phenomena associated with the last ice age, climate change and the migration of the first peoples. Located in a converted church, the Glacier Exploration Center features a multimedia show trail with spectacular projections and décors. Continue your adventure in the Maritime Adventure Park where you can observe how the surrounding landscape has been carved out by glaciers over 10,000 years ago. The park offers three interactive guided tours, including the Valley of the Seashells, a site that is unique in the world. Outdoor lovers will also want to visit the Adrenaline Zone, which offers a multitude of exciting activities. Finally, sea kayaking and hiking are also possible in the park.

NORTHBOUND

While the coast offers magnificent fine-sand beaches, the interior is blessed with a myriad of lakes and rivers, including the Magpie River, which is world-renowned among white water paddling enthusiasts. Giant dams have been built on some of these rivers, including the largest multiple-arch and buttress dam in the world, Manic-5, a proud witness to our industrial heritage. 
 
Deep in a wild and untouched wilderness, immerse yourself in the world of the black bear, which you can observe in complete safety thanks to the know-how of a professional guide. The Groulx Mountains offer experienced hikers a captivating adventure in the wild. Few mountain ranges provide such an impression of freedom in the face of the immensity of their landscapes. Route 389, which takes you there, also goes all the way to Fermont and Labrador, opening the way to a unique and as yet little-known tour.
 

PAST THE END OF THE ROAD

Further east and nearly at the end of Route 138, discover mysteriously shaped monoliths in the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve of Canada. Keep an eye out for the famous Atlantic puffin among the many marine birds.

On Anticosti Island, Anticosti National Park presents nature at its best and most unusual: canyons, cliffs, fossils, crystal-clear waters, etc. With an area of under 8000 km² (3000 square miles)—which is 2 ½ times the area of Rhode Island and 17 times that of the Island of Montréal— Anticosti Island is home to 250 people and 130,000 white-tailed deer.
 
Once you arrive in Natashquan, you have reached the end of the road. From there only the Relais Nordik boat or a plane can take you to Harrington Harbour, Tête-à-la-Baleine or Blanc-Sablon. This is the region that Jacques Cartier called the “land of many isles” because of their sheer number. Today, the Lower North Shore is made up of over a dozen francophone, anglophone and Aboriginal villages. The joyous Kuai Kuai with which the Innu will greet you marks the beginning of a unique cultural adventure you must experience to truly understand!