There are lots of things to do with children in Gaspésie, but if you’re in the Chaleur Bay area, the Bioparc de la Gaspésie is a must-see. If you’re anything like me, watching animals will make you feel like a kid again—and this is exactly how I felt when I visited the Bioparc.

Let me begin by saying that you’ll want to spend a whole day in this animal park. With over 40 animal species indigenous to Gaspésie on site as well as the insectarium and little farm to visit, there’s something for everyone, even adults.

The Bioparc is divided into 5 ecosystems where the animals live: the bay, the barachois, the tundra, the forest and the river. The following are my favourite parts of the park:

The bay

An harbour seal playing in the pool© Sophie Jean

The bay is home to many seabirds as well as harbour seals, which fascinated me. I spent at least half an hour watching the seals play in the pool, which also delighted the children all around me. There’s a window that lets you look into the pool and see the seals up close whenever they swim over to say hello.

The river

The otters are the stars of this ecosystem. They like to hop along the channel that’s been built for them, which is very amusing to watch. You’ll be surprised by how fast they can move!

The forest

Spend the night during the “Overnight with the Wolves”© Bioparc de la Gaspésie

The ecosystem that impressed me the most was the forest. It’s in this area that the biggest animals are found, including wolves, deer, moose and bear. You won’t actually run into them as you walk through the forest (which, in some cases, is a good thing!), but you can approach them safely and admire them in all their glory.

The petting farm and  insectarium

Visit the animals at the petting farm© Bioparc de la Gaspésie

Children will love the petting farm, where you can interact with the barnyard animals. It’s a great opportunity to become familiar with these animals and even pet them. The insectarium is also worth visiting: it houses an impressive collection of insects, which will fascinate even those who are a bit scared of bugs!

New in 2016!

• New species in the Bioparc such as Canadian beavers and bobcats
• New pavilion featuring amphibians and reptiles
• New exhibit in the insectarium
• Many renovations, including to the gift shop and restaurant

  
  Additional info

• Make sure you time your visit so you can watch the animals feeding. This way, you are more likely to see animals that have a tendency to hide and you also get to watch them eat, which is a lot of fun! Mealtimes are posted throughout the site.
• Comfortable Bioparc cottages© Jérôme Landry
  The Bioparc offers 9 cottages along Chaleur Bay, which can accommodate up to 8 people each. You can also participate in the “Overnight with the Wolves” activity and watch these animals at night, accompanied by naturalist guides who will share their knowledge with you.

If you’re planning a visit to the Chaleur Bay area, make sure you include the Bioparc de la Gaspésie in your itinerary. This animal park will satisfy your curiosity about the animals of Québec, and you will really enjoy watching them in action!

For more information:

Bioparc de la Gaspésie
123, rue des Vieux Ponts
Bonaventure (Québec) Canada
G0C 1E0
Toll-free: 1-866-534-1997
www.quebecmaritime.ca/en/bioparc