Whale Watching Tour from Quebec City to Charlevoix

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Whale watching was the most memorable experience to kick off my adventures in Quebec. Viewing the dark dorsal fin of a Minke whale emerge from the water while hearing the “ohs” and “awws” from my tour mates was the perfect vacation moment. If you are planning a trip to Quebec City, consider adding a whale watching excursion in Charlevoix to your itinerary. 

The St Lawrence Marine Park’s unique geography and feeding grounds draw all types of whales and marine life from around the world. Conservation efforts are a high priority. Witnessing some of nature’s marvels up close is priceless. This post will provide you everything you need to know about the whale-watching tour, including practical tips I wish I had known before I went.

This post may contain affiliate links. Using these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you! This post is in partnership with TBEX Events, Quebec Cite, Bonjour Quebec and Croisières AML and all opinions are mine alone. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Major Hoff Takes A Wife! 

I still remember the first time I saw a dolphin in the water out in nature. No giant tanks, no glass walls, just the gymnastic leap straight into the air right in front of me. It was magical.

If you’ve visited before, you might know that I was a marine biology major. I highlighted my experience working with a female dolphin that now resides at Sea World San Antonio. But there is just something about encountering an animal out in the wild, in their own home, that really resonates, so I was absolutely thrilled when I discovered there were day trips from Quebec City to the Charlevoix area to whale watch.

What makes Charlevoix one of the most unique places to whale watch?

    The whale watching area that the boats traverse is a unique region. It is where the Saguenay River Fjord meets the Saint Lawrence River. The river divides the two whale watching towns- Baie-Saint-Catherine and Tadoussac. 

   There is a ferry that runs between the two cities, but Croisières AML picked up guests from both cities on our zodiac tour.  Tadoussac visitors boarded first and also boarded last, but that may vary from our experience.

     The Saint Lawrence is unique:  its salinity differs in different areas. At Île d’Orléans, just north of Quebec City, it is a mixture of freshwater (from the Great Lakes) and saltwater (from both the North Atlantic Ocean and the Labrador Sea). 

     This unique makeup is the reason why it is a major sanctuary for whales. There are vast amounts of fish, krill, and plankton for the whales to feed on. It is also a protected area that practices sustainable conservation habits that keep the whales safe. 

What types of whales and marine animals are in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park?

    The resident whales that the area is most well known for are their playful Beluga whales. In all, there are about 13 different whales that visit the area, including some of the largest animals, to those much smaller.. Among those are the Minke, Blue, Fin, and Humpback Whales. 

    Other mammals you might spy on your day trip are Harbor seals. They blend in really well with the rocks, so keep your eyes out. Several other species of seals also visit the area. Dolphins and porpoises like the area as well. There are black bears around, but they are very elusive. 

Which is better? A Zodiac tour or a larger Cruise boat?

    There are a few differences between the two boats, and I’ll say for me it wasn’t an easy decision. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. 

Pro's and Con's of a Zodiac Boat

• PRO- You are on a much lower viewing plane, so you might get more of an “up close feeling”.
• PRO- You’re on a zodiac! Hair flying in the wind, bumps below you- talk about an adventure!
• PRO- If a whale is spotted on the other side of the boat, your side gets to stand up to watch. 
• CON- the zodiac tour is a half hour shorter (although I think this is because the bigger boat doesn’t come into the dock as fast. Is it possible they might see another whale? Possible, yes.
• CON- It is cold. You do get wet. I’ll write more in the Expectations vs Reality section
• CON- There is no food or drinks on the zodiac, the boat does have food options. There is also the choice of an add on lunch for zodiac riders to be eaten before or after the excursion. 
• Also note- This is not recommended for people who have spinal issues or are pregnant.

Pro's and Con's of whale watching from a cruising boat:

• PRO: A much smoother ride. A bigger boat takes more of the force from the waves, so your body doesn’t feel them as much.
• PRO: Food and drinks on board! There are different packages you can buy, which vary all the way up to VIP level. Want an alcoholic beverage? Not a problem!
• PRO: There are protected areas inside where you can warm up and watch for whales out of the windows. There are also open areas.
• CON: If a whale is spotted on one side of the boat, you might not have enough room or time to run to the other side. By the time you get there, it might breach on the other side!
• CON: If you are on the top floor, you are at a downward viewing angle of the whales. This might work in your favor, or it might make photography more difficult.

What to Wear and What to Bring

    I didn’t find much online when I was researching. Croisières AML ( the tour operators) do provide you with fisherman style overall bibs and a heavy rain coat with a hood, which I’ll talk about more below. It still gets cold. I wore a long sleeve cotton top, fast drying travel pants, as well as quick dry-mesh sneakers. 

     Several other ladies wore sweaters. Some brought gloves. They were happy they did. I tend to run on the warmer side of things, and prefer to be cold rather  than overheat.

     I wanted to bring my mirrorless camera, and went back and forth on whether I should or not. In the end, I decided to bring it, but I bought a rain jacket for it. The one I used wasn’t a perfect fit, but it kept my camera protected.

     For my iPhone I debated about putting it on a waterproof case lanyard, but my case on it keeps it pretty dry, and it is fairly good with water nowadays. I ended up using a regular lanyard and a nifty trick I share down the post later when I discuss being fitted for the rain jackets. 

Will I get Seasick?

    This was my number one concern. It’s something to consider when debating a Zodiac boat or the larger boat. Several people suggested Dramamine, Bonine, or motion sickness patches. With all my crazy allergies, I wanted a different option.

    I invested in ginger gum and ginger lozenges. Before we boarded I sucked on several of the ginger candy (they are chewy, not hard, and they are delicious)! On board, I chewed the ginger gum.

    I also purchased sea bands and conveniently left them in my hotel room. Several people had the same story with both bands and meds! 

    I did not get seasick at all. One person on our excursion said they were a bit queasy, but overall, all the zodiac riders felt fine. The bigger boat group said they had no issues. Maybe a longer cruise would have been different. I’m glad I invested in the ginger and will travel with it from now on.

Bus Ride from Quebec City To Baie-Sainte-Catherine

    We were transported to Baie-Saint-Catherine in a newer charter bus / coach. There was a nice footrest that my short legs appreciated. Our tour guide would hop on the intercom at certain times to fill us in on roadside sights and interesting facts about the local area. 

    The ride is about 2.5 hours from Quebec City. The seats are comfortable enough to relax, and many people did choose to nap. To break it up a bit, we stopped at a working dairy, which I really appreciated.

    There were large windows to take in the amazing views along the way. I don’t recall if there was a USB charger or other ports. There was a working toilet onboard.

Food Stop at Laiterie Charlevoix

    Nestled in the hills is Laiterie Charlevoix. Elmina Fortin and Stanislas Labbé started the dairy in 1948, and it is still owned by the Labbé family. It started with milk delivery and expanded into cheese making. By the 1980’s, they went all in on making unique local cheeses, the first in Quebec to take this leap. 

    At the front of the shop you’ll find a darling little gift shop area with dishes, linens, and other souvenir items. In the main area, there is a large selection of meats and cheeses. There is also a refrigerated section for beverages. At the back were the most delicious looking farm fresh strawberries. 

    Off to the side of the gift shop area, and along the long wall of the grocery area, is a long bank of glass windows. From here you can peer in and view the cheesemakers performing their artistry. While we were there, they were stocking shelves with freshly made cheese curds in several varieties. YUM!

Quick Stop at a View Point

    We were running a bit ahead of schedule, so we pulled over at a lookout area off the side of the road. We had a few minutes to stretch our legs and admire a small tributary off the Saint Lawrence River. A little girl on the trip was proud to show us the dragonfly she had found.

    Not too long after, we arrived at Baie-Sainte-Catherine. It’s a small town, but its cute cottage style houses and buildings give it a very quaint feeling.

Arriving and Getting Suited Up:

    We were greeted with a fresh, crisp, chilly wind that smelled of seawater. It reminded me that I wasn’t in Texas anymore! The visitors center is a new modern building with clean bathrooms. There is also a little souvenir shop.

    Once it’s time to check in, you will be given a set of Gorton’s Fisherman style overall bibs and a nice thick hooded rain jacket. They didn’t ask me what size, so it might be a one-size-fits-all kind of thing, or they might just know from experience. 

    My bibs were really long, but I adjusted the shoulder straps. The jacket was a little big, but I was thankful for this. And this is exactly why:

big, but I was thankful for this. And this is exactly why:

***TOP TIP: With an oversize jacket, you can squeeze your camera and phone in and zip it up to keep it protected. Once you are at a watching area, the boat will slow down, and you can pull it out. They will give you enough warning to put it away again.

    Even with my little rain jacket for my camera, it would have gotten soaked. The jackets do their job, but anything on the outside is fair game to the elements. Another rider lost his hat while we were bouncing across the marine park area.

     After getting dressed, you have some time on the deck area to take in the area. There is also a fun wooden face sign where you and your friends can make goofy faces. There are posters highlighting what whales you might encounter.

     And then suddenly it’s time and you are walking down the gangplank. It’s a steep ramp, and I needed both arms on the handrails, so I didn’t film it. Getting on the zodiac required a big step, but staff members help you on and off.

My personal Experience on a Zodiac Boat tour:

    The zodiac goes quickly and there is an element of thrill to it. You do feel your butt bouncing on the seat, and I had to hold on for sure! There were a few turns that really made the adrenaline go, but it was not as adrenaline-producing as I was worried it might be.

    Each zodiac has a Captain and a Naturalist onboard. The Naturalist will go over the rules for the ride, and they will also provide lots of facts and education. They speak in French first, and then translate to English. 

    The Naturalist is also “the spotter”. They know the area and know where to look. As soon as they see something they will announce over the intercom, “Minke whale on your right side at 3 o’clock”. 

    You will quickly go out to another area and then the boat will slow down. From here, you will wait until something is spotted. This is the time to pull out the camera. Because once a whale breaches and is spotted, you have very little time to react.

    Towards the end of the tour, we were maneuvered over to the Saguenay River Fjord. Just before reaching it, we were taken right by a lighthouse in the middle of the water. It was impressive to see, and I couldn’t imagine climbing the ladder up into it.  

    The Fjord area is just as you would imagine, less open with rocky wooded cliffs on each side. You will notice this water area is more protected by the cliffs- it will be warmer and have less wind. 

    In this area, we were shown a waterfall that the naturalist told us they call the “Caribou pissing waterfall”. Tthat was a new one! It is 92 meters high and exists because of rainwater- there is no actual water source. 

    We then returned to the more open marine park and high-tailed it back to the dock in Baie-Sainte-Catherine. 

What Marine Mammals Did I Personally See?

     We were able to see a few things on this daytime cruise. We saw 2 different minke whales. One of these we saw come up several times.

When we drove into the more protected area of the Fjord we saw a single lone seal. When we went to the other side, we saw about ten seals basking in the sunshine hitting the rocks.

Expectations Vs Reality

Expectations Vs reality

     If you are expecting whales to leap up straight in front of you in slow motion like on television, this is very rare! Whale sightings go very quickly. The whales are swift, and it's hard to anticipate where in the water they will breach or even when. 

     You are often scanning the water furiously with your eyes. When our whales did come up, it was only to take a quick breath. There was no breaching. 

    There were no gymnastic leaps out of the water for us, but that was okay. They seem to dive down as quickly as they would come up. The time above the surface is fleeting- so don’t blink! 

     Often, you spend most of the time looking at the back of your boatmates heads. You’ll see a whole row of phones, cameras, and people in the orange suits just waiting for the perfect photo. You also spend a lot of time moving the boat from area to area looking for the whales.

Was it worth it to do a whale-watching cruise in Charlevoix from Quebec City?

     This is a decision you will have to weigh. It was a long drive, but the nice ride on the bus meant it was less stressful. Are there chances you might not see a whale? Yes, absolutely, but I think it is far more likely you will see one. They do offer a whale guarantee, so if you have no whale sightings, their website says they will put you on a future cruise free of charge. 

    When I was getting off my return flight in Chicago, I met a family that had just done the whale watching excursion. I asked them if they thought it was worth it (They purchased 4 tickets). They did not hesitate to tell me that yes it was. The little boy was very excited to tell me about the whale he saw. 

   Croisières AML  has done their best to stay compliant with green initiatives. They are both Green Alliance Certified and Biosphere certified. To have this certification, they must follow strict rules about speed limits, the amount of boats in the marine park, as well as the distance to the whales. I had a great experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in viewing whales in their natural habitat. 

Quick Answers to FAQ's on whale-watching in Quebec:

I hope that I have been able to provide you a good overview of how the excursion from Quebec City to Charlevoix for whale watching operates. I am so thankful I was able to experience this. It will rank up there with other animal encounters I have done in my travels like feeding wild reindeer and viewing alligators on an airboat with Wild Florida. What animal encounters have you experienced that you would love to share? Leave a comment and let me know!

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