Things to do in Tadoussac
I will give you 2 good reasons to visit Tadoussac: Whales and astonishing landscapes. Saint-Lawrence Estuary is one of the best places in the world to see whales! It has 13 species of whales for you to admire. While you might have your eyes fixed on the vast waters trying to see whales, you will see the sheer natural beauty of the region. Tadoussac is a colourful village that sits at the junction between the Saguenay Fjord and the vast St-Lawrence river and the views are breathtaking. Here are the best things to do in Tadoussac!
It’s easy to fall in love with Tadoussac and my goal is to help you plan your next vacation to the region. Trust me, when visiting Quebec, this is a must!
Tadoussac whale watching
Let’s start with the first reason to visit the area: whales! They are the talk of the town and with a good reason, the encounters with these behemoths are ones that will last a lifetime.
There are different ways to see the marine giants. Seeing whales can be a luck of the draw, you might see none or you might see several dozens. We were beyond lucky and we saw close to 60 whales! I could not believe my luck of how many we saw! On the other hand, I know people who only saw one for the duration of their trip. Seeing them depends, in part, on the time of the year you go. I will get into this later. Also, keep in mind that these are wild animals who swim freely in the waters. While whales get the well-deserved spotlight, you might see other animals like 3 types of seals.
Whale watching boat tours
The most popular way of catching a glimpse of the whales is by taking a boat tour. You have different options to choose from. The leading boat company is Croisieres AML. They offer different types of boats and packages - choose the one that fits your needs better.
I will say it again, no tour company can guarantee whale sightings, don’t be a jerk by requesting a refund because you did not see them. The tour guides are masters in spotting whale fins, know their behaviour and are in constant communication with other boats so they will do everything in their power for you to see as many whales as possible.
The two main boats are Zodiacs and Larger boats. Both options have pros and cons. Zodiacs are like speedboats and give you the impression of being closer to the animals. However, you will most probably get WET! Before embarking they will provide you with waterproof jackets and pants. If you are planning to take pictures, I will suggest a waterproof camera or putting your phone in a waterproof case. There are people who get wet and others who don’t, it all depends on the weather and the river conditions. The boat is very rocky and depending on the conditions, you can get sick if you are sensible to the motion.
Boats are larger and more stable. If you, like me get seasick, this might be the best option for you. They have outside and inside seating areas, washrooms and food/drink availability. We decided to take this one. We took the AML Grand Fleuve boat. With the big boats, you will not get wet but you will see the whales from farther.
Pro tip: Get the option with the gangway. You will be at the top of the boat with 360 views and you will have fewer people. This option is a little more expensive but it is worth the price difference. Trust me on this one!
Both options last around 2h or 3h depending on the season.
Whichever type of Tadoussac whale-watching tour you decide to go on, dress warmly, even in summer. The water is at around 4C and the cold from the water goes up to the boat and there is a lot of wind. I suggest bringing your windbreaker and a scarf. However, check the temperature and dress accordingly before embarking.
The AML company is committed to the protection of the whales by being part of the Alliance Eco-baleine and having the Green Marine environmental certification. We were relieved to have this information as we did not want to have a negative impact on the whales.
Kayaking in the Marine Park
Kayaking in the waters with whales sounds frightening. When I knew this activity was in our itinerary, I was scared and seriously considered not doing it. I even went kayaking twice before to make sure I was comfortable enough. However, this experience was MAGICAL! When you hear that some memories will last a lifetime, for me, this was one of them!
Kayaking on the St-Laurent will allow you to have a more intimate encounter with whales. Since the Kayaks make less noise, the whale will be less disturbed and possibly come closer.
There are small risks associated with this activity. Don’t worry, whales won’t eat you. There is a small chance for your kayak to tip over, this usually occurs once a year. The biggest threat here is hypothermia, the water is COLD. The guide will bring you back on board in less than 3 minutes. So no, you will not drown like Jack on the Titanic either.
How close will you see them? We are in a marine park which means that the whales are protected and there are reglementary distances to keep, even in a kayak. You will keep your distance between 100m to 400m, depending on the species. If a whale comes near you, the guide will ask you to distance yourself.
When we kayaked, there was one whale who came really close to us. It circled us and we could see its head and its eye. The whale was curious about what we were, came to say hi and left. During our activity, we saw many minkes and a beluga pod of around 40 members! It was such a great experience! One of the things that surprised me from this activity is how quiet the river is and the noise that whales and seals make. While you are on the kayak, don’t forget to enjoy the scenery and look at the waters near you, you might see a medusa or other interesting life forms.
The activity can last half a day or a full day. And before getting into the waters, they will provide you with wetsuits, lifevest and basic kayak training. This will last around 1 hour. You will go in a double kayak with a group of 4 others plus the guide. Our guide was great, he was a kayaking pro and knew a lot about marine life.
We did the half-day kayaking tours with Mer et Monde. The tours set off in Les Bergeronnes just a 25-minute drive north of Tadoussac.
Whale watching from shore in Tadoussac
If playing in the water is not for you, you could still see the whales from shore. The town of Tadoussac has 2 viewpoints. Pointe-de-l’Islet trail which is right at the Tadoussac’s marina. My suggestion will be to leave the boardwalk and get a better view of the rocky shoreline.
Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre (CIMM) offers a great viewpoint of the Saguenay Fjord (We will get into the CIMM later in the article.)
Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay is popular for its “Beluga nursery”. Beluga moms like to go to the Baie-Sainte-Marguerite with their babies. It offers tranquil water with little disruption and plenty of food. To see them, you will need to do an easy hike of 6km to La Halte du Béluga. From here, sit on a rock and wait.
Parks Canada has 3 land places in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park:
Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Centre is a great place to see them since the shore is close to very deep waters. The park also offers hikes, I suggest walking along the shore and then taking a hike into the woods. There is a lighthouse for you to see also.
Pointe Noire Interpretation and Observation Centre – You can make a quick stop before taking the ferry as it is just a few minutes away.
Marine Environment Discovery Centre, where you will dip deeper into the knowledge of marine life. It is truly an immersion under the water with exhibitions and interpretive activities like the St. Lawrence Live: a lively indoor activity where visitors follow a live dive in the St. Lawrence.
At these 3 stops, you have marine biologists and naturalists who are there for you to ask questions and to do activities. I HIGHLY suggest going to see them, you will learn so much about marine life. We were lucky to chat with them and ask our burning questions about whale preservation and their behaviour. Do you remember the whale that came to Montreal during the pandemic? I had tons of questions about it and they answered them all!
Tadoussac whale watching season
The majority of the whales come to the region to eat from May to November. Then they migrate south to reproduce. The whales come to the region to feast as they don’t eat in the south. Only the belugas are permanent residents of the region. The summer months get very busy, so I will suggest going in September. The crowds have left and the whale loves the cold air so they are most active at this time. We went during the first week of September and we had a lovely time.
Go hiking in Tadoussac!
The second best reason to visit Tadoussac is its surroundings and its many outdoor activities.
The Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay spans over 100 km and countless hike trails. There is a multi-day trail, le Sentier du Fjord which is one of the most popular among serious hikers.
Go to the Dunes. Yes, there are Dunes in Tadoussac. They are sand deltas created by a river flowing under the ice during glacial times. From here, you can see the whales from the top and then go on a hike. The dunes are a renowned bird-watching spot, so bring your binoculars. You can also visit La Maison des Dunes an interpretation center for the dunes.
Colline-de-l’Anse-à-l’Eau Trail: This trail gives you a beautiful top view of the Saguenay Fjord, the St. Lawrence Estuary and the village. It will bring you from the forest to the top of the l’Anse-à-l’Eau hill. Depending on the time of your visit you can see the confluence of saltwater and freshwater.
Head to the Observatoire d’Oiseaux de Tadoussac (OOT) for fine bird watching. This is the first bird observatory in the province. The area has 4.5 million birds.
Other things to do in Tadoussac
Tadoussac is a beautiful village. In fact, it is voted one of the “Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club”, which regroups 41 bays all over the world. The best thing to do is to wander around the boardwalk, go to the beach and go to one of the multiple terraces.
The Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre is a must-stop to understand more about the whales. The museum has real whale bones and it will strike you how big these animals are. While you will hear that they measure 6m, seeing the bones will put things into perspective. The displays are in French but the guides are bilingual and always there to help you. The guides are Naturalists from the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM). Don’t forget to go to the boutique, all the profits made from the sale of their products go towards whale conservation. I bought a cute beluga T-shirt.
At the top of the village, there is the Petite Chapelle, also known as the Indian Chapel. It is the oldest wooden church in Canada. Another stop to make could be visiting the Chauvin Trading Post, which is a replica of the first fur-trading post built in 1600.
Where to eat and drink in Tadoussac?
If you are a foodie, there are a few notable spots for you.
The Tadoussac Brewery is one of them. The pub has around 15 varieties of beer and they change the menu regularly. In 2019 they won several gold and silver medals, as the best beer in Canada. I loved their Carmerise beer. Camerise is a local fruit that gives a hint of sour taste to the beer. Their food was also good.
Cafe Bohème is a great spot to go to brunch, lunch or even dinner. We went there for breakfast and dinner. The cranberry pancake with smoked salmon and poached egg was delicious!
Chez Mathilde is the foodie flagship of the region, a true delight to your taste buds. The menu is seasonal and they take most of the ingredients from the Cote Nord region. The chef has 3 tasting menu with a 6 or 4-course meal. They also have a wine pairing option or you can choose a wine from their wine list. We took the 4-dish course with wine pairing, every dish was deliciously balanced, creative and beautifully presented.
Where to stay in Tadoussac?
Tadoussac is full of B&B and small hotels. There are no big hotel chains here. The most iconic hotel is Hotel Tadoussac which is easily recognizable by its size and the bright red rooftops. The hotel dates back to the late 1800s and was the playground of the rich. I would recommend staying at least one night in the heart of the town and one night in the surroundings, depending on your activities.
On our first trip, we stayed at Ferme 5 etoiles. The farm is located in Sacré-Coeur, around a 20-minute drive north and has a huge terrain with plenty of activities to do. In terms of lodging, you can stay in standard rooms, cottages, yurts, camps and more! We stayed in a cabin, it was rustic and had a kitchen. The farm is an animal rescue center. They take injured animals, rehabilitate them and put them back in the wild. The ones that are not rehabilitated back, stay at the farm and you can see them and interact with them. The farm offers activities like Sugar Shack in the Spring, dog sledding and snowshoeing in Winter and quad trail and sea kayaking in the Summer. We did the quad excursion and it brings you to a beautiful viewpoint of the Fjord.
On our second trip to Cote Nord, we stayed in Grandes-Bergeronnes at Auberge La Rosepierre. The beautiful B&B was handbuilt by a stonemason, who built this magnificent house himself in the 1980s. The B&B is owned by a young family that started this new adventure in the middle of the pandemic, in 2020.
During our first 4-day visit, we stayed in the charming B&B, La Sainte-Paix. The inn is perfectly located on a small quiet street but 2 blocks away from the action and restaurants. You are a short walk from the shore and the MMIC. If you get one of the rooms with a view, you might even see whales from your window. The rooms are a comfortable size with a private bathroom. The inn also has a beautiful garden for you to enjoy and a small shared kitchen that you can use. Due to COVID-19, breakfast is cancelled, maybe it will be back later. The hosts are super friendly and will help you with local tips for having the best time in Tadoussac.
PS: Please note that La Sainte-Paix sadly closed its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How many days in Tadoussac?
Tadoussac can be a destination on its own or you can combine it with Quebec City or Charlevoix to make a wonderful road trip to Quebec. Independently of how you choose to go to Tadoussac, I will stay at least 3 days to do as many activities as possible. Tadoussac is the door to the huge territory of Cote Nord, an incredible road trip through Route 138, the whale route. You can read all about it here.
So, when are you planning your next trip to Tadoussac? Don’t forget to come back and tell me all about it!
Disclaimer: This wonderful trip was a press trip organized by Quebec Maritme. As always, all opinions are our own.
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