Ultimate Guide to Whale Watching in Tadoussac, Quebec – Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park

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Where to Start Your Whale-Watching Tour?

It’s that magical time of year between May and October when you can see plenty of whales in Cote Nord and Quebec Maritime! Located just three hours from Quebec City, it is an easy and very enjoyable drive on to Baie St. Catherine’s where you will cross over to Tadoussac on a ferry.

The first place to stop is to the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre (CIMM) in Tadoussac.  If you are going to look for whales in the ocean, you may need a little guidance and the CIMM keeps track of whale sightings on a daily basis.

I found the center to be helpful in understanding the different types of whales that you will see on the Whale Route.  Only one of  four National Marine Conservation Areas in Canada, the marine park provides a protected area for marine mammals. The centre also works with the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM), a non-profit organization dedicated to scientific research and marine conservation education in conjunction with the government and Canadian universities.

These collaborations track whales and help us understand what is needed to keep just over 900 beluga whales safe.  This is an essential task because, in 2017, they were placed on the endangered list!

Within the centre, you can view a short film describing the migration of beluga whales and the research in the St. Lawrence with other marine mammals.  It has an impressive 13-meter skeleton of a sperm whale and a few other smaller whales.  There are bones you can touch and whale sounds you can listen to. 

This is an interactive centre with activities for children and adults to learn more about whales before you embark on your whale-watching tour.  It has pictures to help you identify some of the belugas found in the St. Lawrence Seaway.

North Atlantic right whale at the CIMM Tadoussac Quebec

What Kind of Whales Will I See?

Within the center, you will see a poster of what species of whales live in the St. Lawrence Seaway. You can also purchase a fan deck with pictures of the whales and their characteristics from the gift shop (all the while supporting CIMM and its research). I’ve left the poster with the French names so you can listen for those names while on your whale-watching tour!

Whale Watching in Quebec Maritime @DownshiftingPRO
Details of which whales to look out for in the St. Lawrence Seaway (name of whales in French)
  • Blue Whale
  • Fin Whale
  • Humpback Whale
  • Minke Whale
  • Beluga
  • Harbour Porpoise
  • White Beak Dolphin
  • Long-finned Pilot Whale
  • Killer Whale
  • Sperm Whale
  • North Atlantic Wright Whale
  • Northern Bottlenose Whale (not on poster)
  • Atlantic White-sided Dolphin (not on poster)

The number one whale that you want to see is the Beluga.  As an adult, it is white, and when it comes up for air, there is a very bright reflection that is unmistakable once you know what to look for.  If you spot a small grey whale beside it, it’s likely a baby beluga!

Keep a lookout for a plume of water to spot a whale. Keep an eye out for this sign as you watch the horizon.  On your whale-watching in Tadoussac, the naturalist on these excursions is very helpful at finding whales.

How should I see them? On Land or by Sea?

Once you have learned more about the whales,  step out to the boulders facing the Saguenay River to spot any beluga and minke whales.  We were fortunate enough to spot a few from the rocks at Islet Point, just a short walk from the CIMM.  From this point, I recorded a FB Live post that you can view here

At the very beginning of the video, the shoreline across the bay is Pointe Noire in Baie St. Catherine where you will find the Interpretation and Observation Centre for the Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park.  This is worth a quick visit as you may see some belugas pods during the summer.

Islet Point, Tadoussac, Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park

There are a number of options for you to see whales in their natural habitat but be forewarned this is NEVER easy or guaranteed.  I have been whale watching in this region three times and each time was very different from the other.  Little did I know that our first excursion with AML Croisiers would be the most successful.  Maybe it was the time of year (beginning of July) as opposed to the end of August or the beginning of May (the second most successful tour).

Kayaking in Tadoussac for Whale Watching in Quebec @DownshiftingPRO

I have kayaked – although it was more in the Saguenay Fjords and, therefore, less likely to see any whales. The benefit of kayaking is you are closer to the water and marine life while moving stealthily as you paddle through the water.  Although it may be more intimidating if you see a giant whale, it is also exhilarating!

I also took three large boat cruises (the most effective for covering large areas), and we also went on a Zodiac (which could have been more successful).  The key is knowing that you may or may not see whales or seals, but you will have a wonderful trip through the St. Lawrence and Saguenay.

Whale Watching in Quebec Maritime by St. Simon @DownshiftingPRO
Whale Watching in Quebec Maritime by St. Simon with AML Croisiers @DownshiftingPRO

You can also see some beluga pods from the two different observatories: Pointe Noire by Baie St. Catherine (where you take the ferry across to Tadoussac) and Islet Point in Tadoussac.

If you have never been whale watching you are missing out on one of the most unique events in Quebec Maritime.  As the St. Lawrence Seaway flows in from the Atlantic, in to the estuary found in the Saguenay Fjords.  The seaway in Quebec Maritime is home to 13 types of whales because the waters are both cold and deep enough with plenty of fish to provide food and shelter to different types of whales and seals.  There are four different types of seals that you may encounter:  grey, harbour, hooded seals, and harp seals.

What Should I Wear While Whale Watching?

It did not matter whether it was May, July, August or October, it was cold on the water.  This is northern Quebec and the wind blows right off the Atlantic, so bundle up.  Make sure you have a warm jacket with a fleece, gloves or mitts, a hat and possibly a scarf.  Don’t let the sun fool you, it is a cold northern wind that hits you in the face when you are on the St. Lawrence Seaway. 

If you are cruising in the Saguenay Fjords, the wind will be a bit less intense but it will be there nonetheless.  I would avoid wearing shorts, dresses or skirts for the same reason – the wind! In my short video, as we enter the Fjords on the cruise, you can hear the wind in the audio!

Whale Watching in Quebec Maritime @DownshiftingPRO

If you are taking a Zodiac, ask the company ahead of time if they provide wet gear.  On our zodiac tour with Croisières Essipit, we were covered from head to toe!  At first, it seemed like overkill but there was fog that day and the wind was strong – the wet gear kept us warm and dry!  In a Zodiac, there is nowhere to hide from the wind and splash of the water.   Don’t forget, you will also be wearing a life jacket underneath your coat!

AML Croisiers - Cote Nord & Quebec Maritime DownshiftingPRO©2018
Whale Watching in Quebec on a Zodiac with Quebec Maritime @DownshiftingPRO

What Else Should You Know?

  • Bring sunscreen!  The sun is strong and you run the risk of a sunburn with all that sun reflecting off of the water.
  • These are usually 3-4 hour tours
  • Take snacks with you if you are going on a cruise (there is food available but if you have dietary restrictions, it’s best to bring your own snacks)
  • Admission to the CIMM centre is good for 24 hours if you want to go back and read up on the whales that you saw or chat with the naturalist should you have any questions
  • Every tour is different and it is the luck of the draw if you see whales or not.  The captain of the ship or the naturalist guiding the tour cannot guarantee that a friendly pod of whales is going to swim up to the boat.
  • Be alert and just take it in. Don’t worry about getting the perfect picture because they are very quick to come up for air!
  • Adopt a Beluga! That will guarantee that scientists continue their work to protect these amazing marine mammals and their environment
  • Where to stay? you ask… here are quite a few choices that you can find in my post:  Where to Stay in Quebec from futuristic pods to log cabins and geodomes in trees

Other interesting posts on Quebec Maritime:

Whale Watching in Quebec Maritime @DownshiftingPRO
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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.

16 thoughts on “Ultimate Guide to Whale Watching in Tadoussac, Quebec – Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park”

    • Although Montreal is my home town, there is so much more to Quebec than the urban centres of Montreal and Quebec City. I long to go back and see the beatiful Quebec Maritime again!

    • I’ve been a few times and the first time I went in July, we saw a bunch of whales. I was back in May a few years later and we only saw a few. They can be hard to spot sometimes but still worth the cruise on the beautiful St. Lawrence.

  1. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know you could see Beluga whales from Quebec. Your video makes me really want to visit so I can see them too!

    • There are also belugas in other parts of Canada but they love the St. Lawrence seaway. It was very exciting to see them, the museum is great to visit if you have a chance. That’s where I saw the video.

    • I just think it would be a bit colder in Quebec Maritime. It is such a cool thing to see if you are lucky enough to see these majestic creatures. Thanks for dropping by.

  2. Good post which includes both practical tips and personal observations. It sounds like a very educational trip. Thanks for sharing.

    • I have to admit, I didn’t know a lot about whales and how many varieties reside in the St. Lawrence River. That whole Quebec Maritime and Lac St. Jean/Saguenay region is extraordinary. I would love to live in the area.

  3. Oh my goodness look at you in that gear!! LOL. I didn’t realize you get completely soaked on a zodiac but that makes sense. Glad we took the boat instead in May. This is a wonderful adventure and I loved whale watching. It was exciting to see the whales and the seals too. Tadoussac is a gem.

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