Itinerary to Discover La Baie-des-Chaleurs in Gaspésie

Here’s a suggested five-day itinerary to explore the La Baie-des-Chaleurs sector in Gaspésie. Discover saltwater beaches, crystal-clear rivers, a mountain of trails and a wide variety of gourmet delights in this sector.

Day 1 – Arrival in Gaspésie and drive to La Baie-des-Chaleurs

Once you arrive in Mont-Joli, you’re in Gaspésie! To get to the La Baie-des-Chaleurs sector, head towards Amqui and then keep driving along the south side of the Gaspé Peninsula. It will take you about 3.5 hours to get to New Richmond.

Drop off your luggage at one of the many lodging establishments in New Richmond, Bonaventure or the surrounding area and then head to Taylor’s Point Park in New Richmond. The park offers a beach, kayak and paddleboard rentals, a bike path and a playground.

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat, Resto-Pub Bayou offers burgers as well as grilled and tartare dishes along the banks of the Petite Cascapédia River in New Richmond. In Bonaventure, Poissonnerie du Pêcheur is a fish market with a dining room serving dishes made with the freshest fish and seafood.

At Café Acadien, near the Bonaventure marina, you can sample a menu inspired by regional flavours featuring fish and seafood. Finally, at Le 1760 Bar & Grill in the centre of town, you can choose from a varied menu that includes seafood poutine and pasta dishes with a local twist.

Day 2 – Hiking or mountain biking, beaches or fishing

Start your day with an active morning of hiking or mountain biking. Located inland in New Richmond, the Pin Rouge tourist resort (which is a ski hill in the winter) offers 21 km of hiking trails, nearly 9 km of cross-country mountain bike trails and a bike park with a pump track and skills course. From the top of the mountain, at an altitude of over 670 metres, you can admire the Chic-Chocs and Chaleur Bay.

Next, head to the Boisé Le Malin lookout, which offers a unique and spectacular view of the Bonaventure River. In the afternoon, relax on a beach between dips in the salty waters of Chaleur Bay. The Bonaventure area offers lots of options: you have seven beaches to choose from!

Want to go fishing in one of the crystal-clear rivers in La Baie-des-Chaleurs? At the Zec de la Petite-Rivière-Cascapédia, you can go fly fishing for salmon or brook trout. You can also camp on site or stay in a fully equipped cottage. Another option is to go fishing for salmon or take a fishing class at the Zec de la Rivière-Bonaventure. On site you’ll also find a campground that offers glamping options.

If you’d rather go on a sea outing, Rats de Marées offers sport fishing excursions on Chaleur Bay departing from Bonaventure. Your guide will provide you with invaluable tips on how to catch striped bass, cod, mackerel or flounder.

For happy hour, head to the Microbrasserie La Belle Aventure brewpub in the centre of Bonaventure. Enjoy a cold beer and appetizers featuring local flavours in a warm atmosphere.

Day 3 – Gourmet treats and local crafts

Start your day in Bonaventure with a delicious breakfast at the La Pétrie bakery, where you’ll find it hard to choose between the freshly baked breads, butter croissants, breakfast pastries and other tempting treats!

Then stop by Verre et Bulles, a glass-blowing studio and shop selling beautiful objects made of kiln-formed glass, a collection of glass and sterling silver jewellery pieces and a range of soaps made with natural ingredients.

In Saint-Siméon-de-Bonaventure, stop by Ferme Bourdages Tradition, a strawberry farm that also makes spreads and pies as well as strawberry and rhubarb wines.

Next, head to Caplan to the superb facilities of Distillerie des Marigots, which overlooks the water. Here you can sample or purchase the distillery’s award-winning gins or get your hands on one of their other spirits produced in small batches. Their copper pot still is also worth a look!

Also in Caplan, fill your cooler with fresh fish and seafood from Poissonnerie La Coquille, a fish market that’s renowned for their rigorous quality control processes.

Back in New Richmond, take Route 299 and then Route des Ponts to visit the Cascapédia Smoke House, which sells tasty hot- and cold-smoked trout and salmon. On your return journey, you can follow Route de Patrickton (which turns into Route de Saint-Jules) back to Route 132.

Day 4 – Discovering Maria and local culture

Next, drive a little further along the coast to Maria. This stretch of Route 132, which runs along the Maria sand bank, provides magnificent views! Along the way, you’ll find a rest area with access to Plage des Goélands (Gull Beach), where you can go for a dip. In the middle of town, go for a stroll in Parc du Vieux-Quai, which offers shows and exhibitions in the summer as well as access to the beach. Have lunch at Auberge du Marchand, which specializes in dishes made with local fish, seafood and lamb, and then browse their specialty food corner.

Treat yourself to dinner at a restaurant such as Pub St-Joseph Carleton, which offers a varied menu (grilled dishes, pizza, seafood pasta, etc.) in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. If you’re looking for something more upscale, opt for Le Marin d’Eau Douce, where you can enjoy flavourful fish, seafood and meat dishes in a cozy atmosphere.

After dinner, head to Quai des Arts, a cultural centre in Carleton-sur-Mer that hosts exhibitions as well as theatre and musical performances. Operating within the centre, Théâtre À Tour de Rôle stages original productions, readings and other activities.

Day 5 – Outdoor activities or spa experience

To get your last day off to a good start, head to the La Mie Véritable bakery and let your nose guide your decisions… The delicious aromas of coffee, pastries and freshly baked bread are bound to make your mouth water! Next, head back to Maria to stock up on honey and mead at the Rucher des Framboisiers.

Head next to [ÈST] Éco-cabines where you can enjoy a spa experience that includes a hammam (steam bath), dry sauna, hot and cold pools as well as relaxation areas. Holistic treatments and massage therapy are also available on site.

A variety of outdoor activities are offered on local rivers, at sea or in the forest in this sector of Gaspésie. To enjoy a river or mountain adventure, head to Nature Aventure in Matapédia, where you can take advantage of one of their guided canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, snorkelling or hiking packages.

After your day in the great outdoors, enjoy a refreshing beer at the Le Naufrageur brewpub, which offers live entertainment and an outdoor patio with a fireplace.

To extend your stay, find out more about all seven sectors of Gaspésie.

Please note that this itinerary is intended for information purposes only and is not a package. It is meant to inspire you and may be modified as you wish.