Free
Pointe-de-l'Islet trail
A short loop on the rocks at the mouth of the fjord, a good spot to see whales from shore.
Côte-Nord, Quebec
Tadoussac
A tiny village where the Saguenay Fjord meets the St. Lawrence: belugas and big whales offshore, sand dunes, fjord trails and the site of an early French trading post from 1600.
Photo: Tadoussac bay, Selbymay, CC BY-SA 3.0
Tadoussac sits at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord, inside the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park. Cold, rich water draws minke, fin and sometimes blue whales in summer, and belugas live here all year. Keep watching the water.
A French trading post was built here in 1600. The village has a red-roofed historic hotel, a small 1747 chapel and sand dunes that drop steeply to the river.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Tadoussac dunes
Huge sand dunes above the St. Lawrence. Climbing back up is the hard part.
Free
Baie-Sainte-Catherine–Tadoussac ferry
The free ferry across the mouth of the Saguenay, watch for belugas.
Cheap
Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay
Fjord-top trails with big views, including Le Fjord trail.
Cheap
Cap-de-Bon-Désir
A lighthouse point where whales often pass close to the rocks.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Tadoussac bay and village
The sandy bay, the historic red-roofed hotel and the village streets.
Free
Tadoussac chapel
A small wooden chapel from 1747, one of the oldest in North America.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Cheap
Chauvin Trading Post
A replica of the 1600 trading post, telling the story of early contact.
Cheap
Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre
Whale skeletons and exhibits on the whales of the St. Lawrence.
Paid
Whale-watching cruise
Boat and zodiac trips to see whales.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Sea kayaking with whales
Guided sea-kayak outings near Tadoussac.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Whale-watching cruise Cruise
Part of our St. Lawrence estuary guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Whale-watching trips run from morning to evening.
- The fjord trails and dunes fill a second day.
- Sunsets over the St. Lawrence from the bay are worth waiting for.
Nearby and worth the drive
Québec Cityabout 3 h 30 · Guide ↗
Along the Charlevoix coast.
Les Bergeronnesabout 25 min
Shore-based whale watching at Cap-de-Bon-Désir.
Ready-made trips with Tadoussac
Good to know
- Getting there: Cross the Saguenay on the free ferry from Baie-Sainte-Catherine.
- Whales: Whale-watching is seasonal, roughly late spring to fall. Keep your distance from belugas from shore and on the water.
- Tourism: tadoussac.com.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Tadoussac bay, Selbymay, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: The Saguenay Fjord from Le Fjord trail, J-A Béland, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: The dunes of Tadoussac, Maxime Laterreur, CC BY 4.0
Photo: The Chauvin Trading Post replica, Pierre André Leclercq, CC BY 4.0
Photo: A beluga at Tadoussac, Luca Galuzzi (Lucag), CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: The historic Hôtel Tadoussac, Selbymay, CC BY-SA 3.0