Here’s a suggested four-day itinerary for a stay between sea and mountains in the La Haute-Gaspésie sector in Gaspésie. Home to Parc national de la Gaspésie, a popular hiking destination, this sector on the north side of the peninsula offers a variety of things to discover between Cap-Chat and Sainte-Madeleine-de-la-Rivière-Madeleine.
Day 1 – Arrival in Gaspésie and drive to La Haute Gaspésie
From Saint-Flavie, drive for about two hours towards Matane along Route 132 to Cap-Chat, the first village in La Haute-Gaspésie. Let your first stop be the Distillerie Cap-Chat, which produces a range of flavourful artisan spirits, including gins made with botanicals (wildflowers, spices and herbs), many of which are harvested from the distillery’s immediate surroundings.
Only 15 minutes past Cap-Chat, you’ll arrive in the sector’s main town, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. In and around here, you’ll find a variety of lodging options on a mountainside, overlooking the sea or in the heart of the forest.
Once you’ve checked in, head to La Face B, a seaside bar in Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis, for happy hour. Offering a breathtaking view of the St. Lawrence, this welcoming spot with a patio serves tapas, fine tinned fish, natural wines and other local products. The bar is in the same building as La Pointe Sec, a cultural space with a unique program featuring emerging artists.
Day 2 – Adventures at sea or on a river
You have many options when it comes to freshwater or saltwater activities in this sector. For example, the team at Eskamer Aventure in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts (Tourelle) offers two types of adventures: sea kayaking and canyoning. A guided sea kayaking excursion will give you the opportunity to see marine mammals as well as admire the St. Lawrence at sunset. Canyoning, on the other hand, is a thrilling river adventure involving navigating pools, natural slides and rocky outcrops—you can also soar above it all on a zipline!
At the end of the day, stop in at the Le Malbord microbrewery in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts for a refreshing craft beer either in the tasting room or on the seaside patio.
Day 3 – Gourmet discoveries
Still in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, visit the Couleur Chocolat chocolate economuseum where you can go on a virtual tour of the facilities and sample the chocolate creations made by Carl Pelletier. This passionate master chocolatier offers sweets inspired by his native Gaspésie, such as his renowned forest collection. His delicious artisanal ice cream is also a must in the summertime!
Next, stop in the Plein Ma Valise gourmet shop where you can stock up on fine cheeses, artisanal charcuterie, imported wines and various other local products.
Continue your drive to Marsoui and stop in at the L’Hybride café and bookstore. Here you can sip a hot or cold drink and then browse the small selection of books. Next, drop in at Atkins & Frères in Mont-Louis to sample and purchase smoked fish and seafood from this renowned smokehouse. A visit to the L’Amarré gourmet shop is a must to round out your shopping with a selection of local products. Head next to the Distillerie Cap-aux Péchés, which is located in a former church that’s been converted into a distillery with a view of the sea.
On the way by, pause at the Mont-Saint-Pierre Beach to admire a view of the mountain of the same name. You can then savour a good meal at the Le Délice motel restaurant, where you can enjoy smoked meat made on site in a Southern U.S. style. Before you leave, treat yourself to a homemade ice cream at Sucre Glace, a dairy bar just a few doors over.
Day 4 – A mountain ecotourism destination and wildlife art
Still in Mont-Saint-Pierre, visit the Station de montagne sur mer, a four-season ecotourism destination. Head first to the Espace Découverte (Discovery Space), where interactive screens and an immersive scale model reveal the secrets of this area. In the church, you can experience a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the mountain before starting your actual ascent of Mont Saint-Pierre (430 metres). At the summit, soak up an incredible view from the observation deck.
Before you leave this sector, stop at the Monique and Gisèle Benoit Centre in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts to admire the largest exhibition of wildlife art in Eastern Canada.
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.
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