Baie-des-Chaleurs
Quebec regionGaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
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QCBaie des Chaleurs

Baie-des-Chaleurs

By Olivier••172 views

Running along the south shore of the Gaspé Peninsula, the Baie-des-Chaleurs — the "bay of warmth" — lives up to its name beautifully. Named by Jacques Cartier in 1534, who was struck by the mildness of its waters, it is one of the most peaceful and welcoming bays in eastern Quebec. With its fine sand beaches, its surprisingly temperate water for the region and its blazing sunsets over neighbouring New Brunswick, it appeals to nature lovers and to travellers looking for quiet alike.

The region is full of picturesque villages with colourful houses that recall the Gaspé's Acadian, Scottish, Irish and Québécois heritage. Carleton-sur-Mer, tucked at the foot of the mont Saint-Joseph, is a genuine jewel with its seaside promenade, its good restaurants and its relaxed summer atmosphere. New Richmond, Bonaventure, Maria, Paspébiac and Pointe-à-la-Croix each have their own charm, blending heritage, food and outdoor activities.

Outdoor enthusiasts are happy here in any season. You can sea kayak in the bay, run the magnificent Bonaventure River — one of the clearest in the world — by canoe or inner tube, watch seals at the Banc-de-Paspébiac, hike in Miguasha National Park (a fossil site recognized by UNESCO), or climb the summits of the Réserve faunique des Chic-Chocs a little farther north.

The region also stands out for its cultural life. The Bioparc de Bonaventure lets you discover Quebec wildlife in natural habitat, while the Musée acadien du Québec pays tribute to the rich and moving history of the Acadians. On the food side, the local products are hard to resist: artisanal cheeses, microbreweries, fresh seafood, salt cod and the famous galettes blanches.

With its peaceful pace, its legendary hospitality and its breathtaking landscapes where the sea meets the mountains, the Baie-des-Chaleurs offers an authentic Gaspé experience, well off the beaten path, perfect for decompressing and reconnecting with what matters.

We left in July 2025 for 7 days, in a house we had rented. The idea was to show the Gaspé to our Swiss visitors, since Nany was visiting Quebec that week.

Practical information

Duration
7 jours
Season
Juillet 2025
Getting around
Tesla
Accommodation
Maison de Jade à Bonaventure et AirBnB à Gaspé

Itinerary

Chargement de la carte…
1
Québec
2
Sainte-Flavie
3
Bonaventure
4
Gaspé
5
Percé
6
Port-Daniel-Gascons
7
Newport
8
Carleton-sur-Mer
9
Québec

 

Ste-Flavie

Le Grand Rassemblement / Galerie Marcel Gagnon

Le Grand Rassemblement is a nature-art work unlike any other in the world, in continual transformation. It was made in several stages by its creator, Marcel Gagnon. He began by painting his figures, then decided to give them shape by sculpting them. Inspired by the movement of the sea and its tides, he set his work in the waters of the St. Lawrence River.

Bonaventure

La Maison de Jade and its lovely owner

La Maison de Jade, built in the early 20th century, looks out on breathtaking scenery between the sea and the mountains. Magnificent sunsets on one of the loveliest country roads in Quebec, overlooking the Baie-des-Chaleurs. Daniel, the owner, makes sure your stay goes as well as it can. The warm welcome made us feel at home right away. To give you an example: we asked him whether he had beach umbrellas, and he didn't — but when we came in at the end of the day, umbrellas were waiting for us on the porch for our beach outing the next day!

Bioparc de Bonaventure

Located in Bonaventure, the park presents about forty animal species native to Quebec. It's divided into five distinct Gaspé ecosystems (the bay, the barachois, the river, the forest and the tundra) that shelter the local wildlife. If you can avoid a day of intense heat, you'll have a better chance of seeing all the residents of this beautiful park.

Bonaventure River (Rapides Malin)

The site gives access to the river for canoeing and kayaking, including running class 1 and 2 rapids. It's also known for its exceptionally clear water, a major draw for swimmers. Access to the site is charged. The boisé de Bonaventure has trails for walking, mountain biking and horseback riding. A loop of roughly 9 km links rue Thivierge and the Le Malin site.

Percé

Chute de la Rivière aux Émeraudes

The Chute de la Rivière aux Émeraudes, also known as the chute de la rivière du Portage, is an impressive waterfall near Percé, in the Gaspé. It's one of the most loved natural sites in the region because of its pool with emerald green reflections, which is where the river gets its name.

Cruise to the Rocher Percé and Île Bonaventure

To visit the Rocher Percé and Île Bonaventure, you take a passenger boat that leaves from the Percé wharf. The trip includes a cruise around the Rocher Percé, then a stop on Île Bonaventure. The famous limestone monolith remains a must-see in Quebec, not to be missed!

Gaspé

The cradle of Canada

Gaspé is nicknamed the "Cradle of Canada" because it was in its bay that the explorer Jacques Cartier landed on July 24, 1534. He planted a cross there in the name of the king of France, François I, claiming the territory and marking the beginning of the French presence in North America

 Newport

Plage des Beaux Sables

The Newport beach, the Plage des Beaux Sables, is magnificent, appreciated for its wild character. It's ideal for swimming. The services at the municipal rest area — washrooms and picnic areas — are appreciated too.

Gascons

Parc Colborne

The park commemorates the wreck of the ship Colborne on October 16, 1838, in which 38 people lost their lives. Three rustic old-style cabins are available to rent from mid-June to early October. They have no electricity and the drinking water must be boiled.

Carleton-sur-Mer

Mont Saint-Joseph

The mont Saint-Joseph offers a spectacular panorama. Perched at 555 metres in Carleton-sur-Mer, it gives an unobstructed view over the Baie-des-Chaleurs, one of the most beautiful bays in the world. The view of the estuary and the town is breathtaking too. The summit can be reached by car for those who prefer a less athletic approach, particularly for people with reduced mobility. To stretch out your stay, the park has geodomes and cabins built into the mountainside, for a unique glamping experience. At the top of the mountain stands a small chapel steeped in history, which can be an occasion for a quiet moment. In short, a visit to the mont Saint-Joseph is a chance to recharge in the middle of nature while enjoying good facilities and a breathtaking view.

Highlights

  • •
    La maison et son proprio
  • •
    Le grand rassemblement à Ste-Flavie / Galerie Marcel Gagnon
  • •
    Chute de la Rivière aux Émeraudes
  • •
    Le berceau du Canada
  • •
    Croisière Rocher Percé et Île Bonaventure
  • •
    Bioparc Bonaventure
  • •
    Rivière Bonaventure (Rapides Malin)
  • •
    Plage Newport
  • •
    Parc Colborne
  • •
    Mont Saint-Joseph

Tips

  • 💡
    En Tesla, la Gaspésie, anytime! Charger la voiture a été d’une simplicité jour après jour, étouffant rapidement les quelques appréhensions que nous avions avant le départ.
  • 💡
    Rendez vous en Gaspésie avant la fin de la pêche aux homards si vous voulez en savourer du frais pêché.
  • 💡
    En allant à la plage de Newport, arrêtez vous au marchand de bateaux fait main, c’est surprenant comme c’est abordable et le monsieur est fort sympathique.
  • 💡
    La poissonnerie St-Godefroi est un incontournable pour manger toutes sortes de variétés de poissons frais. Le personnel est tellement enthousiasme.
  • 💡
    Il faut aller au Parc Colborne à L’Anse aux Gascons, méconnu, pas du tout touristique. Un petit km de marche pour aller pique-niquer sur une reproduction de ce bateau ayant échoué sur cette côte. Le summum, arrêtez-vous chercher un sous-marin et une poutine chez DeDe. Si vous avez des enfants, au retour arrêtez de nouveau pour que vos enfants puissent demander à DeDe de faire eux-mêmes leur crème molle!!
  • 💡
    Débarquez à l’Île Bonaventure juste si vous n’avez pas de jeunes enfants afin d’aller observer les oiseaux dans les sentiers de l’Île, trop long pour de petites pattes, mais renversant pour les plus grands.

Photo gallery

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Frequently asked questions

Can you do the Gaspé in an electric car?
Yes, without hesitation. We had a few worries before setting out, and they cleared up very quickly: charging the car was simple, day after day. In a Tesla, the Gaspé, anytime! The charging network has grown a great deal along Route 132 and in the villages around the bay.
When should you go to eat fresh lobster?
Before the end of the lobster season, which generally wraps up at the end of June or the beginning of July depending on the zone. If freshly caught lobster is part of your plans, schedule your stay accordingly. For fish, the poissonnerie Saint-Godefroi is a must, with genuinely enthusiastic staff.
Why is the bay called the Baie-des-Chaleurs?
Because Jacques Cartier named it that in 1534, struck by the mildness of its waters. The name is well earned: the bay has surprisingly temperate water for the region, fine sand beaches and blazing sunsets over neighbouring New Brunswick.
Should you get off the boat on Île Bonaventure?
It depends on your group. The island's trails are stunning for watching the northern gannets, but they're too long for little legs. Our advice: only go ashore if you don't have young children. Otherwise, the cruise around the Rocher Percé is already well worth the trip on its own.
What is the Grand Rassemblement in Sainte-Flavie?
A nature-art work unlike any other in the world, in continual transformation, made in several stages by Marcel Gagnon. He first painted his figures, then decided to give them shape by sculpting them. Inspired by the movement of the sea and the tides, he set his work directly in the waters of the St. Lawrence.
What's the best-kept secret in the region?
Parc Colborne, in L'Anse-aux-Gascons. Little known and not touristy at all, it commemorates the wreck of the ship Colborne on October 16, 1838, in which 38 people lost their lives. A walk of about a kilometre leads to a reproduction of the ship where you can picnic. Three rustic cabins are also rented there from mid-June to early October.
Where should you eat around L'Anse-aux-Gascons?
Chez DeDe, for a sub and a poutine. It's the perfect complement to a visit to Parc Colborne. And if you have children, stop again on the way back: DeDe lets them make their own soft serve. The kind of detail they'll talk about for the rest of the trip.
What is there to see at the Bioparc de Bonaventure?
About forty animal species native to Quebec, spread across five distinct Gaspé ecosystems: the bay, the barachois, the river, the forest and the tundra. One tip: avoid days of intense heat. You'll have a much better chance of seeing all the park's residents, who hide when it gets too hot.
Can you drive up the mont Saint-Joseph?
Yes, the summit can be reached by car, which makes it workable for people with reduced mobility or for anyone who prefers a less athletic approach. Perched at 555 metres in Carleton-sur-Mer, it gives an unobstructed view over the Baie-des-Chaleurs. A small chapel steeped in history crowns the summit, and geodomes and cabins are rented on the mountainside.
What is there to do on the Bonaventure River?
The Rapides Malin site gives access to the river for canoeing and kayaking, with class 1 and 2 rapids. The river is known for its exceptionally clear water, which also makes it an outstanding place to swim. Access to the site is charged. The boisé de Bonaventure also offers a loop of roughly 9 km for walking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

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