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As the weather continues to improve and we are headed in the right direction with the pandemic, I turn my thoughts to travel plans in the summer. I am optimistic that in late summer or early fall, I can make plans for road trips in Quebec Maritime. There may be some stops outside of Quebec City or even the Eastern Townships but for now, I continue to #DreamNowTravelLater until I can get to the maritime region of Quebec.
I’ve put together a list of possible road trips in Quebec Maritime that may be of interest to you. From motorcycle to and car tours and of course, the traditional lighthouse trail and whale route, there is a road trip to maritime Quebec that you will want to plan for.
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On the Quebec Maritime website, you can find detail itineraries for a variety of road trips. I will cover some of which I have personally travelled on my two trips to the region. I also have a few suggestions for other road trips in Quebec Maritime that you may want to consider.
⬧ Bas-Saint-Laurent – Gaspésie Tour
⬧ The Lighthouse Trail
⬧ Cycling Tours on La Route Verte
⬧ The National Park Tour
⬧ Bird-watching itineraries
⬧ Island hopping Tour on motorcycles
Routes can be found on either the north or south shore of the maritime region of Québec. Whether you choose to drive, cycle or motorcycle moving from one shore to another without backtracking is easy. There are four ferries that serve as extensions of the road network and let you cross over easily. In the winter months, you can even take a ferry while cruising on your snowmobile. No question, these relatively short ferry rides offer unique perspectives on the breathtaking scenery and marine mammals. These sea routes increase your travel options. Depending on how much time you have in Quebec Maritime, you can choose from the Escapade, Getaway, Discovery or Explorer itinerary.
The Bas-Saint-Laurent – Gaspésie Tours
The National Park Tour
A traditional driving or motorcycle tour, you can follow Route 132 from the Kamouraska area to Gaspé, travelling past famous Percé Rock. From there you can continue on Route 132 heading south from Percé Rock to Rimouski. The Bas-Saint-Laurent – Gaspésie Tour is a legendary scenic drive that loops around the huge Gaspé Peninsula. This 1270 km (790 mi.) loop will bring you within close proximity to Parc national du Bic, Parc national de Miguasha, UNESCO Bioparc de la Gaspésie, Parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé, Forillon National Park, Parc national de la Gaspésie, Réserve faunique de Matane, and finally, Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata .
Appalachian mountain chain
Insiders’ Tip: The Bas-Saint-Laurent – Gaspésie Tours would likely take 10-14 days depending on where you wanted to stop and what activities you wanted to try. You would be able to combine parts of both The Lighthouse Trail, the Whale Route and even The Beer Route for an overall road trip of Quebec Maritime. The Quebec Maritime website is one of the best resources for putting together a full itinerary. It is worth noting in 2013, National Geographic Traveler included this region on its list of Canada’s 50 Places of a Lifetime, while the renowned Michelin Green Guide has given it 3 stars.
The Lighthouse Trail
I cannot say enough about this itinerary. The focus is in the name, it’s the maritime region of Quebec. As such, lighthouses are part of the history and heritage of the region. Once sentinels of the shores, they are now guardians of Quebec Maritime culture. With more than 40 lighthouses, 18 offer tourism activities or services to the public. Given new life as museums, unique accommodations or cafés, they provide visitors with an opportunity to discover history and architecture in a new way. The entire trail is 2020 km (1255 mi) but is carefully broken down into segments. During our 7 day tour, we were able to visit 6 (and cruise by Le Prince which sits in the St. Lawrence).
Full brochure can be downloaded here
If you would like a quick video tour of The Lighthouse Trail you can watch my two short videos (Part One and Part Two). You can also read more about quirky and unique accommodations (including a stay in two different lighthouses).
A National Historic Site, Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse is a great stop on the Lighthouse Trail. Built in 1909, the lighthouse is the second tallest in Canada and one of the few to still have its prism. It is also home to the Empress of Ireland Museum (documenting Canada’s worst maritime disaster) and The Onondaga submarine. Take an audio tour of the Onondaga and find out about the daily lives of the 70 crew members who lived for months at a time in this 90-metre (300-foot) submarine.
Cycling Tour on La Route Verte
The maritime regions of Québec are home to a wide variety of bike paths and trails that give you the opportunity to cycle through our regions at your own pace. Bring your own bike or rent one once you are here (a few of the national parks offer bike rentals). The Route Verte cycling trail is a network of bikeways crisscrossing the regions of Québec, including the maritime regions of Québec. The Green Trail cover 5,300 km, 18 tourist regions, 382 communities and seven national parks. On our girl’s getaway, one of the travel bloggers road part of the véloroute des bleuets which is part of the bigger La Route Verte tour.
In Bas-Saint-Laurent, the Petit Témis Interprovincial Linear Park is a 134-kilometre cycling trail that runs along an old railway bed. The north section of the park goes from Rivière-du-Loup to Cabano, while the south section links Cabano to Edmunston, New Brunswick.
Birdwatching Tour
One of four possible birding road trips in Quebec Maritime, the bird-watching itinerary in Gaspésie loops around most of the Gaspé Peninsula, giving you the opportunity to explore bays, wetlands and even rest areas with excellent observation sites. Covering 565 km (350 mi.), most of the national parks in this region are also prime bird-watching destinations. Over 150 species of birds are found in the mountains and valleys of Parc national de la Gaspésie. In Forillon National Park you can observe seabirds nesting on the rocky cliffs. But the region’s signature bird species is found in Parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé!
During my 2016 tour of the maritime region of Quebec, we took a boat excursion to Bonaventure Island to see the northern gannets. From Perce, you take a boat ride that circles the island and then you hike up to the world’s most accessible colony of these birds. About 110,000 of them migrate to the island to breed every summer. It was one of the most spectacular things I’ve ever seen! Well worth the stop in this area!
Côte Nord Road Trips
You can also consider a birding tour in Quebec Maritime’s North Shore (Côte-Nord) and visit the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, which is one of the rare places in Québec where you can observe the adorable Atlantic puffins, a fascinating bird species also known as sea parrots. Or you could visit the lighthouses at Cap-de-Bon-Désir, Pointe-des-Monts, Île aux Perroquets (Côte-Nord), or at L’Anse-Amour (Labrador) where you can participate in interpretive activities and learn more about the history of these sentinels of the sea.
Insiders’ Tip: What the North Shore (Côte-Nord) region is best known for is The Whale Route. Beginning in Tadoussac, it is the entryway to the Saguenay – St. Lawrence Marine Park and the Saguenay Fjords. We began our whale watching tour in Tadoussac and headed up the St. Lawrence River. I’ve done this tour both in a larger boat and in a zodiac (and I am very keen on trying a sea kayak), it is an activity I strongly recommend that you consider. Although it is never guaranteed that you will see whales, we were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a pod of beluga, minke and wright whales.
The Whale Route
You will begin this route in Tadoussac at the Marine Mammal Interpretive Centre as a guide to whale watching in Quebec Maritime. There you will learn a great deal about the whales that live in the region or that migrate through the St. Lawrence Seaway. The route on Quebec’s North Shore (Côte-Nord) borders the St. Lawrence River for 1250 km (775 mi.), from Tadoussac to Blanc-Sablon. The coastline of this region has been designated the Whale Route, since 13 different species of whales, including the blue whale, can be found in the waters of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, very close to the shore.
Island Hopping tour on the Îles de la Madeleine
For a complete change of pace and scenery, nothing beats the Îles de la Madeleine. Whether you visit to enjoy the water and wind or to explore the rich culture of an island people surrounded by the sea, you will leave with wonderful memories and only one thought in mind: to come back for another visit! Each of the archipelago’s seven inhabited islands has its own features and attractions.
Since Route 199, the main road crossing the Îles de la Madeleine is only about 85 km (55 mi.) long, it makes sense to explore each island in turn. We recommend you choose a home base and
take day trips from there to discover the whole region. There are various ways of getting to and around the archipelago. What means of transportation you opt for will depend on the length of your stay, your interests and the order in which you want to discover the secrets of each of these islands.
From several locations, you can participate in sea excursions (by sightseeing boat, Zodiac or even sea kayak) to see these fascinating animals. Whales can also be observed from the shore in several places. The Whale Route will take you across a land of extremes, where distances, rivers, forests and even the hearts of the residents are larger than life. The itinerary described here is meant to be a round trip; however, if you prefer, you can take a ferry to the south shore of the St. Lawrence River on your return journey.
Disclosure: I am working with Quebec Maritime tourism board to promote a region I know and love. Although there are restrictions to travel at this time, I encourage you check with each individual locations before making plans. At the very least #DreamNowTravelLater to this region. All opinions are my own. #Ad
Some images in this post are the property of @QuebecMaritime and used with permission.
There are plenty of winter activities in Quebec Maritime to plan other winter-focused travel.
Photo Credit: Quebec Maritime
Other Activities in Quebec Maritime
- 10+ Quirky and Unique Accommodations in Quebec Maritime
- Quebec by the Sea – The Lighthouse Trail in Quebec Maritime – Detailed Itinerary
- 6 of the Best Road Trips in Quebec Maritime
- Family Travel in Quebec Maritime – Ferme 5 Etoiles Family Farm is a must-see
- A Comprehensive Guide to Whale Watching in Tadoussac, Quebec – Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park
- International Garden Festival – Large Scale Garden Installations in the Jardin Metis/Reford Gardens
- Percé Rock in the Gaspésie Region of Quebec–#QuebecMaritime
- From Working Farms to Futuristic Pods in the woods: Your Guide to Where to stay in Quebec
- Video – FB Live of Jacob the Wolf at Ferme 5 Etoiles in Quebec Maritime
- Video – Lighthouse Trail in Quebec Maritime Part One and Part Two
🥾 Explore: Tours & Experiences
🏡 Where to Stay: Top Accommodations
🚙 Hit the Road: Car Rental Deals
🛫 Get Away: Find Flight Deals
🎒 Shop: Travel Essentials
Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.
I Love Travelling. And Road Trips Gives More Adventurous Experiences. Loved Your Post And Pictures.
Thanks so much for dropping by. I too love road trips so it has been difficult but I know we can Dream now and travel later.