One of the most popular destinations in Gaspesie is the Parc national de l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé.  The park groups together two sites that are a must-see if you are visiting the area.

Since these two sites are located off-shore there are a number of boats that take you out on the water.  Since there are a number of different boating companies, I opted to buy my ticket on the same day and did not have any trouble getting onboard.  However, this wasn’t during peak season.  Expect to pay around 35$ for adults and 15$ for children.  I also recommend checking the departure times and arriving a good 30 minutes prior.

The water can be a bit choppy depending on the weather, so if you are prone to any motion sickness I recommend taking an anti-nausea medication and have a good breakfast to keep your stomach settled.  Also pack a sweater because it gets cold on the boat.

 

Most boat rides begin by a visit of the infamous Percé Rock and an explanation of the unique geological formation.  Prior to arriving at Bonaventure Island, the captain will take you around the island so that you can be amazed by the colonies of birds, known as the Northern Gannet that live there.  It is home to one of the largest colonies in the world.  It’s incredible to see the amount of birds perched on the rocks.  From far away their white coat makes it look like the rocks are covered with snow.

Once arrived at the island, you have to wait for a general orientation session provided by one of the staff members before being free to explore.  There is also a fee to access the island since it is part of the National Parks network (SEPAQ).  The island has a gift shop and restaurant available.  The main draw is walking around this iconic location.  What struck me immediately were the fields of wildflowers that was so picturesque.  You also get a beautiful vantage point of Percé.

There are several different trails that you can complete and all are fairly easy and with minimal elevation. The one I would recommend is the Route du Roi (King’s trail).  It is 9.4 km in length and goes around the perimeter of the island.  The terrain is not difficult and should take about three hours to complete not including any stops.  The trail offers a couple of highlights along the way that make it worthwhile.

The first is obviously getting to see the Northern Gannets up close.  The sights, sounds, and smell is absolutely impressive.  What I found particularly interesting are the informational panels that explain the different behaviours of the birds and what it means. When are they flirting and when are they fighting!

Further along the trail you reach a set of stairs that wind down to a beach among cliffs.  I wouldn’t recommend swimming there, but it does provide a different view point of the island to be close to the water.

Lastly, there are various old buildings that were the homes of the original settlers.  They provide a historical look at life in the early days.

The tranquility and preserved nature was really incredible to experience.  The tall trees, colourful fields of flowers, and blue water felt like a bubble away from the normal chaos of everyday life.  For more information about the park check out their website.

I spent a total of 5 hours on the island and felt it was more than suffice.  You can take any boat back once you are done your visit, which is really convenient.  I would recommend visiting the city after your trip out to the island as many of the shops are open later anyways.  There lots of cute shops selling local products and the usual souvenirs.  I would also suggest heading to Pit Caribou for a glass of beer to end the afternoon (see my post about local beers here!).  There are lots of restaurants in the area, but pick wisely because the food quality varies quite a bit (see my post about La Maison du Pecheur).