Tour + Accommodation
Packages

Côte-Nord
Charlevoix

World’s best whale experience

A 1 245 kmmarine
protected area

Up to 13 different species of whale

On the way to the whalesBaie-Ste-
Catherine
Tadoussac
Les EscouminsBaie-Comeau GodboutSaguenayGaspé
Toronto1,021 km1,059 km1,220 km1,018 km1,467 km
Boston829 km866 km1,053 km818 km1,178 km
Ottawa654 km699 km859 km651 km1,110 km
Montréal468 km510 km671 km465 km915 km
Québec208 km252 km413 km211 km695 km
New York1,051 km1,088 km1,250 km1,039 km1,495 km
Package

Tour + accommodation

Meet the most magnificent creatures on the planet, the whales!
With the exceptional view from the comfortable Croisières AML boat, you’ll enjoy a fascinating cruise in the heart of the Saguenay-Saint-Lawrence Marine Park. The package includes the whale-watching cruise, one night’s accommodation and breakfast.
From
$139person per night
Zodiac Whale Watching Tour
Zodiac

Zodiac Whale Watching Tour

Come aboard our Zodiacs for a gripping and sporty experience in the heart of the best whale watching site in the world. This expedition in the Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park is a unique opportunity that must be experienced at least once in a lifetime!

You will meet the giants of the sea, the species most frequently observed being minke whales, fin whales, humpback whales, porpoises and harbor seals. Then you will end your excursion with a foray into the majestic Saguenay Fjord.

Whale Watching Boat Tour
Cruise

Whale Watching Boat Tour

Come live an extraordinary adventure to meet whales in complete comfort aboard our boats equipped with observation decks and fully glazed which have been specially designed to contemplate marine mammals. On board, let our bilingual certified naturalist guides teach you more about the giants of the sea and their life habits.

From May to October, it is possible to observe several species during a single cruise, this is one of the reasons why the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park is internationally recognized for the quality of the observations that we can achieve it.

Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park
Whale Watching from the Shores

Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park

Harbouring exceptional biodiversity, the marine park is a marine protected area that can be discovered any number of ways. Participate in a host of cultural or outdoor activities and visit sites offering spectacular vantage points over the St. Lawrence and the Saguenay Fjord, some of which will give you the chance to observe whales from shore, including the St. Lawrence beluga.
Package

Tour + accommodation

Make the most of the Côte-Nord with our “Cruise and Accommodation” packages. Meet the largest mammals on Earth on a boat or zodiac excursion on the Côte-Nord. Take advantage of your stay to discover the attractions, activities and sheer vastness of this region!
From
$139person per night
Zodiac whale watching tour
Zodiac

Zodiac whale watching tour

Departing from Tadoussac, the most beautiful village in Quebec, come and enjoy a striking experience aboard our 24 or 60 passenger Zodiacs.

In the company of our experienced bilingual captains, set off to meet up to 13 species of marine mammals, including humpback whales, porpoises, minke whales and fin whales during this unique cruise lasting two and a half hours.

Whale watching boat tour
Cruise

Whale watching boat tour

Treat yourself to an incredible nature adventure aboard one of our boats specially designed for whale watching. Our bilingual naturalist guides will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about these giants of the sea.

During this 3-hour excursion, you will have the chance to encounter up to 13 species of marine mammals including the humpback whale and the famous blue whale, the largest animal on the planet.

Essipit Cruises
Zodiac

Essipit Cruises

With its six stalwart crafts, Essipit Cruises introduces you to a whole new aspect of the sea.

Launching from the wharf at Les Bergeronnes, some 24 km east of Tadoussac, you’ll enjoy a two-hour excursion helmed by a captain/naturalist, to a place where whales frolic against a breathtaking backdrop.

Unmissable!

On the way to the whales

Full-day Bus Excursion and Whale Watching Boat Tour
Itinerary

Full-day Bus Excursion and Whale Watching Boat Tour

A once in a lifetime excursion! You will travel by bus from the historical Quebec City towards the breathtaking landscapes of Charlevoix where you will set sail on a zodiac or a comfortable boat to watch up to 13 species of whales in the hearth of the best observation site in the world!

During your day trip, a guide will take you in and share his passion for marine life.

5 Reasons to Spend Your Summer Vacation in Québec City
Itinerary

5 Reasons to Spend Your Summer Vacation in Québec City

With its historic district that feels like a trip back in time, and its wide-open spaces that offer a variety of outdoor activities, Québec City has everything you need to make the most of your precious summer vacation. Here are 5 reasons to make Québec City your destination of choice.
Must-See Attractions: Top 10 Things to Do
Vacation

Must-See Attractions: Top 10 Things to Do

Explore 400 years of history with these 10 Québec City must-sees. Say bonjour to an unforgettable vacation and wonderful memories !

Our roads and our circuits

Heading Out to See the Whales and Enjoy Québec's Must-Sees!
The must-see circuit offered by Voyages AML

Heading Out to See the Whales and Enjoy Québec's Must-Sees!

Starting from Montréal, treat yourself to the best of Québec with this tour that will allow you to observe whales and explore Québec City, Charlevoix and the Côte-Nord, as well as get a taste of the other maritime regions of the province!

9 days and 8 nights – Starting from $1,299 per person based on double occupancy.

Road Trip to Tadoussac, the Most Beautiful Village in Québec
Côte-Nord circuit offered by Voyages AML

Road Trip to Tadoussac, the Most Beautiful Village in Québec

Experience an unforgettable adventure in the heart of the world’s best whale-watching site! After a 3-day visit to Québec City, head out to meet the giants of the sea as you stay for 2 nights at the Ferme 5 Étoiles.

5 days and 4 nights – Starting from $649 per person based on double occupancy.

Escape to Charlevoix, Between River and Mountains
Charlevoix circuit offered by Voyages AML

Escape to Charlevoix, Between River and Mountains

Departing from Québec City, discover the beautiful region of Charlevoix with this 4-night getaway. In addition to a whale-watching cruise by boat or zodiac, this package includes several other activities to discover the region.

5 days and 4 nights – Starting from $649 per person based on double occupancy.

The Route des baleines

The Côte-Nord is synonymous with whales. Every year these huge mammals show up at and own the north shore of the Saint Lawrence. Route 138—the Whale Route—is aptly named because up to 13 species of whale and marine mammal can be seen from the Côte-Nord coast—among them, the largest mammal on the face of the earth: the great blue whale.

St. Lawrence Route

On the St. Lawrence Route, turn your windows down and your favourite driving playlist up as you pass through 78 km of pure beauty along the St. Lawrence River. From Baie-Saint-Paul to La Malbaie and through Les Éboulements and Saint-Irénée and Isle-aux-Coudres, smell the intoxicating perfumes of the ocean where endless skies of blues and light merge on one of North America’s most beautiful panoramic roads.
The Route des Navigateurs

The Route des Navigateurs

The “Route des Navigateurs” highlights the Saint Lawrence River, one of the largest in the world. The easternmost section is filled with landscapes of unique beauty, views that one must take time to explore. With its lighthouses, islands… and whales, this route is a must see.
The Gaspésie Tour

The Gaspésie Tour

Want to experience something extraordinary? Set off on an epic 885 km road trip! In Gaspésie, the extraordinary is all around you and you can experience it in the simplest things. The extraordinary is the endless sea, the crystal-clear rivers and majestic mountains, and the great outdoors, including sea excursions to observe wildlife.

The Lighthouse Trail

Proud witnesses to our history, over 40 lighthouses dot the coastlines of the maritime regions of Québec. Much to the delight of travellers, many of these buildings have been given new life through the efforts of dedicated individuals who have turned them into interpretation sites or accommodation establishments.

Our whales
and partners

Whales of Québec, discover up to 13 species

Blue whale

The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet, and one of the most widely travelled.

  • Size : 21 to 30 M
  • Weight : 80 to 135 T
  • Diving : 10 to 30 Min
  • Comparison : 2 trailer trucks

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

Fin whale

Nicknamed the greyhound of the sea, this second world giant is one of the fastest whales, with speeds of up to 40 km/hr.!

  • Size : 18 to 27 M
  • Weight : 40 to 50 T
  • Diving : 5 to 15 Min
  • Comparison : 2 buses and a car or 7 moose

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

Right whale

This slow-moving species has a powerful V-shaped blowhole. Long hunted, the last remaining 400 now face the risks of collision and entanglement.

  • Size : 10 to 17 M
  • Weight : 30 to 60 T
  • Diving : 6 to 8 Min
  • Comparison : 2 buses

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

Sperm whale

The ocean’s Moby Dick. The deepest of divers, it hunts fish and squid. After taking a deep breath at the surface, it often only comes back up for another two hours later.

  • Size : 11 to 15 M
  • Weight : 15 to 50 T
  • Diving : 15 to 90 Min
  • Comparison : 2 buses

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

Humpback whale

Every year, over 7500 humpback whales swim the thousands of kilometres that separate their breeding grounds in the Caribbean from their feeding grounds in the North Atlantic.

  • Size : 11 to 13 M
  • Weight : 25 to 35 T
  • Diving : 8 to 15 Min
  • Comparison : 3 elephants

Credits: C. Soucy / © Parks Canada & GREMM

Killer whale

The largest dolphin of them all is a strategic hunter that hunts in pods. It adapts its manoeuvres to its prey, marine mammals, fish, birds, and squid.

  • Size : 6 to 10 M
  • Weight : 3 to 7 T
  • Diving : 3 to 5 Min
  • Comparison : 2 vans

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

Northern bottlenose whale

This deep-sea diver is rare – fewer than 200 individuals live off the coast of Nova Scotia – and they prefer deep waters, of up to 1500 m.

  • Size : 6 to 10 M
  • Weight : 3 to 7 T
  • Diving : 3 to 70 Min
  • Comparison : 2 vans

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

Minke whale

Solitary by nature and the smallest of the rorquals, the minke is one of the most dynamic whales and a formidable hunter.

  • Size : 6 to 9 M
  • Weight : 6 to 8 T
  • Diving : 2 to 10 Min
  • Comparison : 2 vans

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

Long-finned pilot whale

These members of the dolphin family live in pods of 10, 20 and even up to 100. Known for their mass strandings.

  • Size : 4 to 8 M
  • Weight : 2 to 3.5 T
  • Diving : 5 to 20 Min
  • Comparison : 2 cows

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

St. Lawrence beluga

This declining population is the only year-round resident of the St. Lawrence River. The beluga is known for its social skills and vocalizations; its nickname is the “canary of the sea.”

  • Size : 4 to 5 M
  • Weight : 1 to 2 T
  • Diving : 2 to 15 Min
  • Comparison : 2 cows

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

Atlantic white-sided dolphin

They live in pods. Dynamic and exuberant, they can be seen taking turns leaping in the wake of boats.

  • Size : 2 to 2.7 M
  • Weight : 180 to 230 KG
  • Diving : 1 to 2 Min
  • Comparison : 1 adult + one child

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

White-beaked dolphin

They’re fast, but you can glimpse their grey and white sides as they take turns leaping above the waves. They live in pods.

  • Size : 2 to 3 M
  • Weight : 180 to 350 KG
  • Diving : 1 to 2 Min
  • Comparison : 1 adult + one child

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

Grey seal

A gregarious creature on land, it’s a loner when it feeds in the sea. The grey seal is one the largest seals in St. Lawrence River.

  • Size : 2 to 2.4 M
  • Weight : 225 to 300 KG
  • Diving : 2 to 30 Min
  • Comparison : A small car

Credits: GREMM

Harbour porpoise

The harbour porpoise is the smallest cetacean in the St. Lawrence River and one the smallest in the world. They often swim in small groups, which makes them easier to see.

  • Size : 1.5 to 2 M
  • Weight : 45 to 65 KG
  • Diving : 1 to 3 Min
  • Comparison : 1 adult human

Credits: C. Soucy / ©Parks Canada & GREMM

Greenland Seal

Harp seals often form large groups whose movements on the surface literally churn the water. Hunted commercially, there are several million harp seals in the St. Lawrence River.

  • Size : 1.6 to 1.9 M
  • Weight : 85 to 180 KG
  • Diving : 15 Min.
  • Comparison : A motorcycle

Credits: GREMM

Harbour seal

This small coastal seal lives year round in the St. Lawrence River. Harbour seals live in groups on the land, while in the water each acts alone.

  • Size : 1.4 to 1.5 M
  • Weight : 100 KG
  • Diving : 2 to 30 Min
  • Comparison : 2 bikes

Credits: GREMM

Événements Attractions Québec

Événements Attractions Québec understands the importance of giving a boost to tourism and culture in Quebec. This organization’s mission is to promote the province’s rich and diverse tourism offering. Its tourism portals, Quebecvacances.com and Quebecgetaways.com offer content that highlights new discoveries and activities that promise great moments to share.

Learn more

Société des Traversiers du Québec

The Société des Traversiers du Québec invites you to discover the St. Lawrence Estuary through its gateways to the Côte-Nord, Charlevoix and Bas-Saint-Laurent. Our ferry crossings provide more than a passage from one region to another: they’re also the perfect opportunity to soak up the beauty of the St. Lawrence, where the river meets the sea!

Learn more

Québec by the Sea

Côte-Nord, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and the Îles de la Madeleine shares one asset: the sea. You can discover the rich maritime heritage of these regions via a multitude of road trip routes on both sides of the St. Lawrence.

What to see: up to 13 species of whales, 10 national parks, islands, beaches, lighthouses and much more.

Learn more

Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

The Saguenay Fjord impresses with its steep cliffs, its dark waters and its majestic landscapes. Discover its exceptional wildlife environment and the marine species that abound it. Travel the Route du Fjord from village to village and enjoy the multitude of activities, gourmet stops and cozy stopovers.

Learn more

Québec Adventure Outdoor

Reconnect with nature and discover a host of outdoor activities in Quebec’s different regions that will live up to all your expectations. Whatever your level of outdoorsmanship, adventure of the highest quality standards is within reach of all. In a kayak, on a hike, on a bike or any other way, explore your possibilities for the perfect outdoor experience.

Learn more

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