At Du Fleuve, we invite you to take the time to discover our magnificent corner of the country. The Haute-Côte-Nord is famous for whale watching, but the region has much more to offer!
The St. Lawrence isn't always a long, calm river. The weather changes very quickly, and sometimes fog or waves force us to postpone our cruises to another time or date. By staying in the area for a few days, you have the option of postponing your cruise if the weather conditions on the river are unfavorable. You've been dreaming of this for a long time, so don't let the vagaries of the weather spoil your encounter with the whales!
Here is a guide to discovering our beautiful corner of the Haute Côte-Nord, falling in love... and coming back to see us every summer!
Day 1: Les Escoumins
- Get off to a great start with a whale-watching or bird-watching cruise aboard a 12-seater Zodiac from Du Fleuve! And if the weather isn't on our side that day, you have 3 days to reschedule your cruise.
- Continue with a visit to the Marine Environment Discovery Centre , right next door to us. If you're there on a Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday, don't miss the "Saint-Laurent en direct" activity: scientific divers enter the water just a few meters from the CDMM, and they film and comment on their dive live!
- Then head out for a short stroll along the trails of the Innu community ofEssipit (free!). With a bit of luck, whales will pass right by, right before your astonished eyes.
- In the late afternoon, enjoy the scenery of the Haute-Côte-Nord with a panoramic flight offered by our friends at Totem Aviation . Discover the Côte-Nord from a new perspective and live an unforgettable experience!
- And end the day with a little dinner at Kiboikoi , listening to music or enjoying the board games available to you.
Day 2: The Bergeronnes
- Start the day with a visit to the Archéo-Topo Center , to learn more about the archaeology and fauna of the region.
- Stop for a picnic at the outdoor center (free!).
- As we never tire of observing marine mammals and birds, you can spend part of the afternoon on the rocks of Cap de Bon Désir , where rorquals and belugas sometimes pass very, very close to the coast!
- And end this beautiful day with dinner at Bistro Henri .
Day 3: Tadoussac
- Stay immersed in the world of whales by visiting the Marine Mammal Interpretation Center , the museum of the Marine Mammal Research and Education Group. The real whale skeletons hanging from the ceiling will give you a better idea of the immensity of these animals, after seeing them from a Du Fleuve Zodiac or from the shore.
- Continue with a short hike of approximately 5 km (1.5 hours) on the hill of Anse à la Barque , which will take you to a magnificent viewpoint, at the confluence between the Saguenay Fjord and the Saint-Laurent River.
- Then discover the majestic dunes of Tadoussac (free!). Hurtle down the dune, enjoy the magnificent beach, then it's time to go back up... it's less fun than the descent, we grant you! If you still have enough energy to walk for about 15 minutes, the estuary trail (which starts behind the dune house) gives you access to a superb viewpoint of the dunes and the river. Ideal for a small aperitif with a view, while enjoying a beer from the Microbrasserie de Tadoussac !
- And to end the day with a good meal, the La Bolée restaurant welcomes you in its warm glass roof.
Day 4: Sacred Heart
- Start the day with agritourism: Herbamiel welcomes you to his foraging garden, to discover the well-organized life of bees.
- Continue with a stroll to Baie Ste Marguerite (in the Saguenay Fjord National Park). At the end of the 3km trail, with a little luck and patience, you might be able to observe groups of belugas relaxing in the calm waters of the fjord.
- Continue with a superb kayak trip in the fjord at sunset with the 5-star Farm .
- And end this wonderful stay with a delicious homemade pizza in the magical garden of Canopée Lit.
We hope you enjoy these recommendations, which are just a small sample of all there is to discover in our magnificent Côte-Nord region. And if you don't have time to do everything, you'll have to come back next year!
Have a good road trip and see you soon!
For more information about our cruises, click here.
