Tips and Tricks
Gaspésie begins in Sainte-Flavie via Route 132 or Mont-Joli via Highway 20.
In Sainte-Flavie, Route 132 splits into two: you can either head north (clockwise) or south (counterclockwise) on an 885-km loop drive around the Gaspé Peninsula.
Whichever direction you choose, you will be able to admire magnificent views on both sides of the road.
Gaspésie has a population of 133 500 people and covers an area of about 30 340 km2. The region is roughly the same size as Belgium or the state of Maryland.
The Gaspé Peninsula is bordered by to the north by the St. Lawrence Estuary, to the south by Chaleur Bay and to the east by the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
This vast region is divided into 8 sectors: La Mitis, La Matanie, La Haute-Gaspésie, La Côte-de-Gaspé, Le Rocher-Percé, La Baie-des-Chaleurs (Bonaventure), La Baie-des-Chaleurs (Avignon) and La Matapédia.
In Québec, tourist regions and directions to services, attractions and activities are indicated on blue road-side signs. For more information, visit www.panneaubleu.com.
Tourist Signage-
Village-Relais Accredited ServicesThese municipalities offer a variety of services such as gas stations, garages, accommodations and restaurants, making them pleasant and safe places to stop year-round. Visit villages-relais.qc.ca for more information. The villages-relais in Gaspésie are:
Mont-Joli
Cap-Chat
Saint-Maxime-du-Mont-Louis
Gaspé (Rivière-au-Renard)
Chandler
Paspébiac
New Richmond
Pointe-à-la-Croix
Amqui -
Appropriate ApparelTo enjoy to the fullest your sea cruises, evening strolls along the wharves, or mountain hikes, make sure you have a windbreaker and an extra layer of clothes.
In the spring and fall, bring boots if you plan to go hiking, since snow is often found in national parks and on the mountaintops during these seasons.
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Dogs are allowed in all national parks in Québec, except Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé. However, dogs are only authorized in certain areas, which vary from one park to another. Find out where dogs are authorized in each park during the summer here.
Travelling with a DogIf you must to leave your dog unattended, be sure not to leave it your car on a hot day. Always choose a shady place to park your car or use sun shields to prevent heat exhaustion, which is dangerous for your pet.
Several accommodation and all campgrounds accept pets: look for this symbol on this website. Read our blog post Visiting Gaspésie with your dog. Québec for All: Accessibility for People with Disabilities
About a hundred businesses in Gaspésie are certified as fully or partially accessible by Kéroul. Find them easily using search filters in our website and consult QuebecForAll.com for more information.
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To avoid disappointment, be sure to book your accommodations in advance from mid-July to mid-August, as this is the busiest tourist season.
Booking Accommodations -
Making a Comment or Conveying DissatisfactionIf you wish to comment on or convey dissatisfaction with the tourism services you received while in Québec, please contact:
Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec
1 877 686 8358, option 7
comment@alliancetouristique.com -
Depending on the weather, the best time to enjoy the fall colours is between late September and mid-October.
Fall Colours -
Mosquitoes
Mosquito season varies from year to year, depending on the weather, but is generally between late May and mid-July. Be sure to pack mosquito repellent! -
Tipping
Tipping is customary in restaurants, bars and taxis. The amount, which is not included on the bill, is generally 15% of the total before taxes. An easy way to calculate the tip is to add up both sales taxes. Tipping bellhops or porters is at your discretion (generally, $1 per bag).
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Taxes
In Québec, you will be charged two sales taxes on most purchases: the 5% federal goods and services tax (GST), and the 9.975% Québec sales tax (QST). A 3.5% tax on lodging is also added to the room rate in the region of Gaspésie.
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Road Conditions
To find out about road conditions and other related information, call 511 or 1 888 355-0511 or visit quebec511.info.
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Electric Vehicles
You can drive around the Gaspé Peninsula in an electric vehicle. Visit www.lecircuitelectrique.com to find charging stations throughout the region. -
Driving in QuébecSince Canada uses the metric system, speed limits are posted in kilometres per hour (km/h) and gasoline is sold by the litre (l).
Cell phones: Use of a cell phone is prohibited while driving unless it is a hands-free device.
Winter tires: All passenger vehicles and taxis registered in Québec must be equipped with winter tires from December 1 to March 15. This requirement also applies to rental passenger vehicles in Québec.
Weather Statistics for Mont-Joli
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
| Average temperature (ºC) | -12,3 | -10,9 | -5,0 | 1,6 | 8,5 | 14,4 | 17,5 | 16,2 | 11,4 | 5,3 | -0,7 | -8,3 |
| Average high (ºC) | -7,8 | -6,5 | -0,9 | 5,4 | 13,5 | 19,8 | 22,7 | 21,3 | 16,0 | 9,1 | 2,4 | -4,6 |
| Average low (ºC) | -16,7 | -15,2 | -9,0 | -2,3 | 3,4 | 9,0 | 12,2 | 11,1 | 6,7 | 1,5 | -3,8 | -12,0 |
| Average monthly snowfall (cm) Annual average: 350 cm |
78 | 59 | 58 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 38 | 80 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) Annual average: 606 mm |
9 | 6 | 15 | 34 | 82 | 73 | 85 | 89 | 78 | 80 | 41 | 14 |
Weather Statistics for Gaspé
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
| Average temperature (ºC) | -11,9 | -10,8 | -5,0 | 1,4 | 7,6 | 13,2 | 16,6 | 15,9 | 11,1 | 5,2 | -0,6 | -7,6 |
| Average high (ºC) | -6,0 | -4,7 | 0,5 | 6,0 | 13,8 | 19,9 | 23,0 | 22,3 | 17,3 | 10,4 | 3,5 | -2,8 |
| Average low (ºC) | -17,6 | -16,7 | -10,4 | -3,3 | 1,3 | 6,4 | 10,2 | 9,4 | 4,9 | 0 | -4,6 | -12,3 |
| Average monthly snowfall (cm) Annual average: 380 cm |
77 | 56 | 76 | 43 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 38 | 81 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) Annual average: 752 mm |
21 | 8 | 28 | 59 | 85 | 73 | 108 | 91 | 70 | 105 | 66 | 37 |
Source: www.theweathernetwork.com/ca