The Gaspé Peninsula is full of surprises. There’s vibrant culture and history, outstanding scenery, delicious seafood, and amazing wildlife. It’s a dream vacation destination.
Nestled in the maritime region of Quebec, between the St. Lawrence River, to the north, and the Chaleur Bay, to the south, the peninsula has a lot of highlights that make it a wonderful place to relax and enjoy.
From the iconic Percé Rock, Forillon National Park, charming small towns, and a wide range of wildlife, it’s ideal for outdoor lovers, foodies, history buffs, and photographers.
On a road trip through the Gaspé Peninsula, there are a lot of surprises to explore. Read on for some of my favourite things about the region.
Looking for more from the Quebec maritime regions? Watch my full road trip video on my way from Percé to Tadoussac.
A drive like nowhere else
Canada has a number of amazing coastal drives, and this is still one of the best road trips. The drive along the St. Lawrence River–particularly between Matane and Percé on highway 132–is four hours of the best coastal views, scenic cliffs, and small towns that you will find in the country.
Throughout the drive, the highway hugs the edge of the shoreline, with rest areas every few miles so you can stop, enjoy the view, and take in the unmatched beauty of the Gaspé Peninsula.
There are a number of lighthouses along the coast, and small communities where you can stop for meals, step out onto the beach in many places, and stay the night at motels, inns, and hotels.
This is one of those rare destinations where the drive is actually a big part of the experience.
Whale watching and wildlife
From Percé to Gaspé Bay, and on to Forillon National Park, there is an incredible amount of wildlife to see, and that includes whales, seals, birds, deer, moose, and more.
In Percé, visit l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé park to see one of the largest colonies of Northern gannets in the world, plus seals, eagles, and other sea birds. The island park is accessible by boat, and the cruise to the island includes stunning views and lots of information about the marine and bird life, and history before you hike the trails.
Visit Bioparc de la Gaspésie in Bonaventure for a chance to see some of the local wildlife in a beautiful park setting. Perfect for kids and families, and anyone who loves animals, you can see seals, moose, bears, caribou, coyotes, wolves, and a lot more.
And maybe best of all, in Gaspé Bay and Forillon National Park you can go whale watching. There are seven species of whales that frequent the area between May and early October, including giant blue whales. Cruises take about 2.5 hours, and it’s an adventure going out on the ocean in small boats that can get quite close to the whales without disturbing them.
The best hiking, biking, and the great outdoors
Step out into some of the most beautiful natural landscapes, with rolling hills, forests and lowlands, beaches, and stunning hiking.
Outdoor enthusiasts and campers will find countless places to stop and explore, with campsites and RV parks throughout the region.
Summer in the area is often as warm as the rest of Canada, but cooled by ocean breezes, making it ideal for hiking and biking. Bring your binoculars and you will likely see lots of wildlife, and for anyone with a SCUBA licence, there are numerous places to go diving.
Forillon National Park offers a wide range of activities, with camping and places to stay, and stunning hiking trails. There are also numerous biking trails throughout the park, whether you want a challenging trail, or something easier. Penouille trail is perfect for beginners, while experts may want to try Les Lacs trail, and L’Anse-aux-Amérindiens is an intermediate trail that’s just 6.4 km long, round trip.
For the hikers visiting the national park, definitely consider a trip to Cap Gaspé Loop and Cap Bon Ami, La Chute trail, and Cap Gaspé.
Otherwise, l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé park is an easy hiking spot for a good afternoon out, and to the north Gaspésie National Park is ideal for longer adventures up mountains that are over 1000 metres tall.
And Percé UNESCO Geopark has 18 km of trails and an epic lookout over the town and Percé rock below. If you’re looking for more ideas, Tourism Gaspesie has other hiking suggestions in the region.
Quebec maritime culture, food, and hospitality
Look no further than Quebec’s small towns for some of the best culture, food, and hospitality in the province. The Gaspé Peninsula is dotted with small communities that are friendly and welcoming, and I had amazing meals everywhere I went, from a lobster club sandwich, seafood, burgers, and beer at microbreweries, to desserts, and local cheeses.
Throughout the summer you can take in sea-side music festivals, like Festival BleuBleu in Carleton-sur-Mer, Percé’s Festi-Plage Cap-d’Espoir, and Festival Musique du Bout du Monde in Gaspé. Whether you’re fans of the artists or newcomers, these are perfect ways to discover new music and dive into the culture.
Quebec’s maritime culture is on full display everywhere you go, whether it’s with the people, who share their love for the region with visitors, in the many museums, or even in the many, many rest stops that you can enjoy. There is a lot of history and stories to find everywhere in the region.
Microbrasseries
Get to know some locals, and some other travellers, with a stop at one of Quebec’s many amazing breweries. Microbrasseries in the Gaspé Peninsula offer a wide range of beer styles to try, including local favourites, and classics from around the world.
They have lagers and ales, fruit beers, session ales, sours, and so much more. Trying a few breweries in the area you can also travel the world, and the award-winning selections are definitely worth a stop.
A few suggestions include Le Ketch in Sainte-Flavie, Le Malbord in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, La Captive in Amqui, and one of my favourites, Pit Caribou in Percé.
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to take on an epic road trip, there’s even a 12-day, 1,475 km route you can drive from La Pocatière to Tadoussac to explore a wide range of the breweries.
More information
Are you ready to explore the region? For more ideas visit Tourisme Gaspésie and Quebec Maritime.
For local resources, visit Percé Tourism, Tourism Matane, Sépaq for more on the parks, or visit Bonjour Quebec.
Looking for more in the Quebec maritime regions? Learn more about an amazing road trip route you can enjoy, and whale watching on the St. Lawrence River.
All photos: W. Andrew Powell/The GATE.
