At Du Fleuve, we invite you to take the time to discover our beautiful corner of the country. The Haute-Côte-Nord is famous for whale watching, but the region has so much more to offer!
The St. Lawrence is not always a long, quiet river. The weather changes very quickly and sometimes fog or waves force us to postpone our cruises to another time or another date. By staying a few days in the area, you give yourself the opportunity to postpone your cruise if the weather conditions on the river are unfavorable. You've been dreaming of it 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
- Start off big with a whale or bird cruise aboard a 12-seater zodiac from Du Fleuve! And if the weather is not on our side that day, you have 3 days left to postpone your cruise.
- Continue with a visit to the Marine Environment Discovery Centre , right next door to us. If you are there on a Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday, don't miss the “Saint-Laurent en direct” activity: scientific divers enter the water a few metres from the CDMM, and they film and comment on their dive live!
- Then go for a little stroll on the trails of the Innu community of Essipit (free!). With a bit of luck, whales will pass right there, before your astonished eyes.
- In the late afternoon, enjoy the landscape of the Haute-Côte-Nord with a panoramic flight offered by our friends at Totem Aviation . Discover the Côte-Nord from a new angle 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 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 around 5 km (1h30) 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!). Slide down the dune on the way down, enjoy the magnificent beach, then it's time to go back up... it's less fun than the way down, we grant you! If you still have enough energy to walk 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 little 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 walk to Baie Ste Marguerite (in the Saguenay Fjord National Park). At the end of the 3km trail, with a little luck and patience, you may 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 part of all there is to discover in our beautiful 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!
Ça donne le goût ! Merci pour ce partage.