5 Sea Activities in Gaspésie

Here are 5 activities you can enjoy on or in the salt waters of Gaspésie!

Breathe in salty fresh air during a sea excursion in Gaspésie! In a sightseeing boat or Zodiac, observe blue whales, minke whales, common dolphins, North Atlantic right whales, basking sharks and other marine species off Percé and Gaspé.

Excursion companies (Les Bateliers de Percé and Croisières Julien Cloutier) offer several daily departures from the Percé wharf for a short cruise to visit Bonaventure Island. Get up close to the northern gannets in parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé and admire legendary Percé Rock from another angle.

Explore the maritime landscapes of Forillon National Park (Gaspé) in complete safety and comfort while discovering the fascinating lives of marine mammals with interpreter guides and experienced captains from Croisières Baie de Gaspé, Cap Aventure - Croisières aux baleines and Croisière Forillon.

Climb aboard the CE Marin - Exploramer (Sainte-Anne-des-Monts) and set out to sea for an ecological cruise during which you will learn about the ecosystem of the St.Lawrence. Watch rock crab and waved whelks fishing traps being hauled from the water or participate in the collecting of scientific data.

In the magnificent Baie des Chaleurs, on very stable boats, experience the freedom offered by a sailing cruise with Écovoile Baie-des-Chaleurs or with Excursions en catamaran TaxSea (Carleton-sur-Mer). La Belle Vie Sailing (Paspébiac), offers discovery sailing packages and lessons on a luxury catamaran sailboat.

Forillon National Park. Photo: Mathieu Dupuis

Go sea kayaking along the coast off Percé or Forillon and enjoy delightful encounters with the many grey and harbour seals that like to bask on long flat rocks in this area. Here is a tip to tell these species apart: grey seals have long snouts that resemble a horse’s head (which is why they are also called horse-head seals), while harbour seals have dog-like snouts.

Your sea kayaking excursion will also give you the opportunity to approach Percé Rock as well as the caves and impressive cliffs in Forillon and Percé.

In these sectors, Cap Aventure (Forillon) and Le Nordet (Pointe-Saint-Pierre) offer guided excursions. Eskamer Aventure also offers them near Sainte-Anne-des-Monts.

Avolo plein air. Photo: Roger St-Laurent

Explore one of the most beautiful diving sites in Québec, in Percé Bay! You will be delighted to see colourful coral reefs and a variety of marine species: lobsters, crabs, a multitude of fish and curious seals. The Club nautique de Percé (a yacht club) offers introductory dives to level 3 certification.

Photo: Club nautique de Percé

Fishing trips on the St. Lawrence, departing from Matane, embark on a Destination Haute-Mer adventure with captains and fishing guides. You can fish for mackerel, cod, striped bass and several species of groundfish or simply head out to sea to observe marine mammals. Also take advantage of the services of Pêche L'Aventurier (Cap-Chat) which also offers fishing excursions with a guide.

From the Carleton-sur-Mer marina, Pêche Sportive Baie-des-Chaleurs offers various sea excursions to go fishing for striped bass, mackerel, plaice or sea trout. This unique experience includes the services of a guide, fishing gear, life jackets and gutting the fish you catch. Live similar fishing experiences with a departure from Bonaventure Rats de Marées - Guide de pêche or from Chandler with Fish On Aventure.

Photo: Pêche Sportive Baie-des-Chaleurs

Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is offered in many locations, at Écovoile Baie-des-Chaleurs (Carleton-sur-Mer), at Camp de Base Gaspésie (Percé) and in Forillon National Park with Cap Aventure, where you can enjoy a stunning sunset adventure off the Penouille sandspit.

Surfing, a sport that is gaining in popularity, can be enjoyed in Percé, near iconic Percé Rock, as well as in Sainte-Flavie, at the gateway to Gaspésie. Put on your wetsuit and get ready to catch the waves in the invigorating waters of Gaspésie! Gaspé Bay, Carleton-sur-Mer and Sainte-Flavie also attract kitesurfing enthusiasts.

Come and discover the beauty of the Little Cascapédia River’s estuary and Chaleur Bay while kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding or pedal boarding at the Parc de la Pointe Taylor (New Richmond).

Stand-up paddle boarding in Forillon National Park. Photo: Roger St-Laurent

Enjoy the many sea activities available in Gaspésie!

See also: 

• 5 Lighthouses Worth Visiting in Gaspésie
• Fatbike Beach Rides in Gaspésie