There is a hidden gem a few hours up north from Quebec city and we feel a personal responsibility to tell you about it because we’ve spent nearly every summer of our childhood there. Between the hikes along the fjord, the humpback whales jumping out of the water, the wild blueberry picking, the red and white village, and the little restaurants on the dock overlooking the water, we hope you love Tadoussac and its surroundings as much as we do. 

Here is your complete guide to see the marvels of Tadoussac. You won’t regret it!

A LITTLE CONTEXT 

Tadoussac is a little village by the Saguenay fjord, a beautiful fjord connecting to the Saint-Laurent River where whales swim during the summer because of the saltiness of the water and its high quantity of krill.

Whale watching is the main attraction of the place! It was initially a fur trading post and gradually became a touristy place. It is considered to be the oldest village in the province of Quebec. In 1998, it was officially recognized as part of an international association named The most beautiful bays in the world club, an association promoting the most prestigious marine territories. Quite impressive isn’t it?

Now if you’re not convinced yet, let us walk you through the process of deeply exploring this destination!

WHEN TO GO

To see whales and make the most out of your trip, we highly recommend you go there during summer. We will speak more about the whales a little later on, but for now, let’s just say that it gets quite freezing during winter and you’ll have a better souvenir of Tadoussac if you go while you can stroll around without turning into an ice cube. The best temperature you’ll get will be between June and the end of August, maybe a few weeks in September if you’re lucky!

WHAT TO DO IN TADOUSSAC

The village itself is fairly small, but that doesn’t mean there is not a lot of stuff to do! Here are a few things you should be doing while you’re there.

Stroll down du Bord de l’Eau street

The street name means ‘’by the water’’. You’ll be able to peek at the fjord while entering many cute shops and restaurants, as it is the main street of the village. If you need a coffee break, go to the cutest little restaurant called Le Gibard. You’ll fall in love with its pink facade and cozy vibe. 

Try a craft beer at the Microbrasserie Tadoussac

Quebec is well-known for its numerous craft breweries and unique beers. One of those is situated next to Le Gibard and offers a variety of great homemade beers. Order a degustation platter and try out some of the locally brewed ones! 

Visit the Poste de traite Chauvin

If you’re a bit of a history geek, this one’s for you. It’s a replica of the first fur-trading post ever created in North America, now turned into a small museum where you can learn about the relationship between Europeans and Native Americans during the fur-trading period. It is open from June to October.

Visit the Centre d’interprétation des mammifères marins (CIMM)

Visiting the CIMM is a great way to learn about the whales in the area and the scientific research conducted on different species. The museum is filled with an impressive whale skeletons collection and a bunch of specialists are there to answer your questions. You need to pay a $15 fee to get in, but it’s totally worth it! You will learn a lot, and it will make your whole Tadoussac experience better. 

Walk down the Pointe de l’Islet path

Pointe de l’Islet is a small beautiful trail that goes around the bay. If you’re lucky enough, you might see some belugas whales hanging in there, so go walk in the wild forest and pay attention to the white little dots that you can see in the water! 

Attend the Festival de la chanson de Tadoussac

Every June, this festival turns the whole village into a big party! It was created to promote local artists from Quebec, so it’s a great way to encourage local art, discover new talent and have fun at the same time!

WHAT TO DO AROUND TADOUSSAC

Run down the Tadoussac Dunes

That’s unmissable. One of the highest and most majestic viewpoints of the area. Every year, we go there to run down the hills barefoot in the sand with the bright blue fjord unravelling before our eyes. If you go during August, you might witness little blueberries plants peeking through. Try some, the wild blueberries in this region are delicious! 

Scuba diving

We’ve personally never experienced it, but every year we see people doing scuba diving near the shore. Sea urchin, starfish, and multiples interesting species are present in the Saint-Laurent River. If it’s something that speaks to you, make sure to try it out!

Whale watching

Chances are that you chose this destination because of this specific reason. Whale watching is the heart of the place, the thing that brings thousands of tourists every year to this location. If you haven’t had the chance to see whales in your life so far, let us tell you that it is a breathtaking experience.

There are several types of species coming to the fjord each year. Great whales, minke whales, belugas, humpback whales, porpoise, and blue whales are the most common. But be aware that going whale watching there doesn’t necessarily mean that you will see every kind! 

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT WHALE WATCHING

When to go

Although beluga whales stay throughout the year, the other species won’t appear until June. Some arrive end of May depending on the temperature, but you probably won’t see a lot. The optimal months are July and August. The later the better, since the water gets warmer, attracting most species. Note that blue whales are the latest ones to arrive and to stay, making them hard to see before the end of August. Some of them even stay until October! So keep all of that in mind when planning your trip.

How to go

Now you must be thinking ‘’okay cool, but how the heck do I get on the water?’’. The great news is you have several options! Let’s explore them all.

• Your own boat. If you do have one, make sure you look up the tide schedule and hop to the Marina des Bergeronnes or to the Marina de Tadoussac and venture the water carefully by yourself. 
• A zodiac boat expedition. Clearly the most popular one, you’ll be with a group and a guide who knows all the best spots. It’s probably your best option to see the most whales.
• A kayak expedition, for the more adventurous souls! The principle remains the same, but you will be in a kayak instead of a zodiac, meaning you will be dramatically closer to the whales. 
• A paddleboard expedition! Now if you really are into a good adrenaline rush, you can hop on a paddleboard to see the whales, but we wouldn’t recommend it if you are not experienced already. 
• From the shore! Good news here, if you don’t have sea legs, you can STILL observe whales… from the comfort of the shore. It’s part of what makes Tadoussac one of the most unique and rare places in the world for whale watching. 

Indeed, because the water is extremely deep at the edge of the shore, the giant mammals swim just a few feet away from you! If you arm yourself with a little patience, you can have an amazing time there and spot multiple species. 

One of the best places to do that is at the Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Centre. There is a little fee (8,50$/adult) but it’s pretty cheap compared to a boat expedition.

Most of these can be booked through the website, where you’ll be able to browse through different options. 

Endangered species

Being able to gaze at these beautiful creatures is an immeasurable privilege, but we have to be careful if we want to keep it. Most of the species are so endangered that there are only a few left in the world. This is a subject we’re very sensitive to since we’ve personally noticed the decline of the population through the years.

As humans, we are connected to everything around us, including those majestic creatures. If marine mammals go extinct, we go extinct. It’s a subject so often ignored and we want to bring awareness to it. What can you personally do about the situation? 

• If you go whale-watching with your own boat, don’t get too close to them. It stresses them, weakening their immune system, perturbing their schedule, and even affecting their reproduction.
• If you find yourself close enough to a whale to touch it, don’t! Belugas are very sociable creatures that like to come very close to boats. With their cute little smile, you might be tempted to pet them, but their skin is extremely sensitive and prone to infections. 
• Speak and ask questions to the marine scientists! The more you learn about the situation, the more you can inform people around you.
• Donate to the GREMM. Most of their research is funded by donations. Even a small amount can make a difference!

WHERE TO STAY

We won’t lie to you, if you have the possibility to camp, it is an amazing experience and by far our favorite. It’s also the cheapest, and we’re all about budget travel. Now, some campgrounds are so close to the water that you can hear the whales breathe at night (no kidding!). Nothing beats that, believe us! If you don’t have a tent, you can also rent a chalet or a ready-to-camp tent in a lot of campgrounds. 

Since we have been to Tadoussac almost every year since we were borned, we’ve tried quite a few. Here are our favorites in Tadoussac and the surroundings:

• Paradis Marin (We’ve mentionned it before, by far our number 1!),
• Bon-Désir Camping
• Le Tipi Camping
• Tadoussac Camping
• Mer et Monde aux Bergeronnes Camping

You can also rent a cottage with Chalets Essipit in different places. They all offer a magnificent view of the sea:

• Anse-à-Jo
• Anse-à-Yves
• Chalets Shipek
• Lacs à Jimmy

Of course there are also motels and hotels if you prefer. You can find more here. 

THAT BEING SAID

Tadoussac deserves to be known. So does the beautiful nature surrounding it. We did not even cover everything there is to explore and do there, so don’t hesitate to wander off the beaten track.

Remember to always be mindful of the wilderness around you and thankful to have the chance to see wonders such as a humpback whale jumping in the golden hour. If you end up taking pictures, send them to us or tag us on social media!

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