Whale watching in Sept-Îles

Hi!

After browsing the site, I didn’t find any precise info about whale watching in Sept-Îles. I’m planning a trip to Quebec from June 10 to July 7, 2012, and I’d *love* to see whales. The Sept-Îles area appeals to me for its wilder side, plus the hiking and camping opportunities along the river.

Does anyone have info on kayak rentals in Sept-Îles, a nice campsite, or excursions to do? Has anyone seen whales there in June? I read there are spots where Atlantic puffins nest—any more details on that?

Trip planned with a tent, binoculars, and a camera!

Thanks for your tips!

Hi, While doing a little research, I found this site: http://www.tourismeseptiles.ca/ In the practical guide, on page 8, you’ll find companies that organize whale-watching trips. That said, I haven’t tried them myself (since, like many, I went whale watching in Grandes-Bergeronnes). Have a great trip!

For whales, the Grande Bergeronne - Tadoussac area will give you plenty to see. Sept-Îles (450 km north of Tadoussac) offers lots of wide-open spaces and many industrial activities (mines), but it’s not usually part of the typical tourist circuit. You can go kayaking (rentals available) on the Saguenay River. Here’s a spot you shouldn’t miss: http://vupar.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

I hadn’t seen Sept-Îles looking so industrial... What bothers me about Tadoussac is the "tourist factory" vibe. Since nothing’s organized yet, I’m open to other suggestions! The Paradis Marin campground near Bergeronnes seems really popular, though! I was thinking of renting a car for a week (to get to Sept-Îles initially). Is it worth stopping in Bergeronnes and then continuing to Pointe des Monts? I was also interested in that area!

Thanks!

hi there Like you, I wanted to see whales somewhere less touristy than Tadoussac!!!!😎

So... I can suggest one... one of my favorite spots on the North Shore. Since you're planning to head toward Sept-Îles, you'll pass through, so try to spend the night there. Oh, and I didn't tell you where yet! It's at Pointe des Monts. There's a campground right on the St. Lawrence River called "Domaine de l'Astérie."

I went there in August 2005, and their website mentioned a whale-watching spot. When I arrived, I asked the owner (who was really friendly, by the way) where the whales were!!!! She said, "Well, right here!" And as I turned toward the St. Lawrence... right there, just under our noses... a whale showing its back and letting us hear its breath... barely 200 meters from shore! We spent the night in our tent, lulled by the sound of the whales breathing. We ate while watching them... one of my best memories of the region. The St. Lawrence is deep very close to shore here, and the whales come to feed, so they get really close to the coast. I highly recommend this place! You can even email the owners to ask if the whales will be around during your visit—we were there in August.

In the morning... don’t hesitate to wake up early to see the sunrise over the St. Lawrence. The colors are amazing, and you’ll still hear the whales breathing!

Otherwise, in the area, I also went to Lac Walker (I think it's a wildlife reserve in that area). It's west of Port-Cartier. There are also the Manitou Falls near Sept-Îles, which are nice to see and usually have very few people.

The North Shore... it's a beautiful place, and you feel far from everything... so small! Happy travels

And I’ve got something even better!! The Mingan Islands from Havre-Saint-Pierre. Much farther than Sept-Îles but no factories!!! A stunning end-of-the-world spot. Parks Canada offers island walks and whale-watching cruises. We’ve been there twice, but the second time we didn’t revisit the Mingan Islands. Check out my travel journal: http://www.vacanceo.com/voyage_membres/fiche-voyage_2615.php Here’s the Parks Canada site: http://www.pc.gc.ca/fra/pn-np/qc/mingan/visit.aspx Happy travels.

Hi Maried42,

I live in Baie-Comeau, which is located on the North Shore between Pointe-des-Monts (100 km to the east) and Tadoussac (200 km to the west).

Right now in Sept-Îles, there’s a lot of activity—mining projects are taking up a lot of space. There’s a shortage of housing, and some businesspeople even want to bring a cruise ship to the Sept-Îles dock to accommodate workers.

I agree with Hawkesbury about Pointe-des-Monts at Domaine de l’Astérie http://www.asterie.ca/. For the past fifteen years or so, I’ve rented the senior keeper’s house for a week at the end of August, and everything Hawkesbury said is true. Plus, there have been many shipwrecks of sailing vessels in the area. You can discuss this with the owners. A little farther from Pointe-des-Monts—about ten kilometers—is the municipality of Baie-Trinité. There’s an interpretation center there about the shipwrecks of sailing vessels.

Mimi48 mentioned the Mingan Islands—it’s a beautiful place to visit, and you can even camp on one of the islands.

There’s another spot that might interest you: the village of Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, located about 100 km before Havre-St-Pierre. The GPS coordinates for Google Earth are 50°15'37" North 64°9'11" West. At the entrance to the village, there’s a campground owned by the Loiselle family http://www.tourisme-loiselle.com/ that organizes whale-watching tours, about six people at a time. Also in the same village, there’s a team of whale researchers who sometimes take people along for their studies at sea. The only catch is you know when you leave but not when you’ll return. From Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, you could also visit the Mingan Islands, in my opinion.

For your flight, I recommend arriving at Québec City’s Jean Lesage Airport rather than Montréal, especially if you only have a week of vacation. Montréal to Québec City is about 250 km, Québec City to Tadoussac is 230 km, Tadoussac to Pointe-des-Monts is 300 km, Pointe-des-Monts to Sept-Îles is 150 km, and Sept-Îles to Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan is about 150 km.

See you next time, Juas

If you're up for taking the bus (domestic flights are expensive in Quebec), there's one that leaves from Montreal for Sept-Îles, passing through Quebec City... It takes about 8 hours with stops, including the ferry between Baie-Sainte-Catherine and Tadoussac... Once you arrive in Sept-Îles, the Nordic Express boat will take you to the Mingan Islands and other communities on the Lower North Shore (stunningly wild!) via Anticosti Island. A really great trip! ;o) http://www.relaisnordik.com/fr/home/241.aspx