The Québec maritime Blog

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SEBKA, Saint-André-de-Kamouraska, Bas-Saint-Laurent
Patric Nadeau/Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent
Thrills and Adventure: Exciting Activities to Try in Eastern Québec!
As you may know, the maritime regions of Québec are home to mountainous terrain as well as easily accessible bodies of fresh and salt water. These geographical features provide many opportunities to enjoy a wide variety of exciting outdoor activities.
Do you enjoy soaking up vertiginous views or discovering white water while facing the vagaries of nature? Here are some outdoor activities available in the maritime regions of Québec that are sure to push you out of your comfort zone!
Canyoning
Canyoning typically takes place in areas where there are narrow gorges and flowing water. A bit like exploring a natural waterpark, this activity allows you to discover places that are often otherwise inaccessible and involves sliding over rocks, climbing rock walls and jumping into pools of water.
This is one of the activities offered by Eskamer Aventure, an outdoor adventure company located in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, in Gaspésie. Depending on the level of difficulty you choose, you may have to rappel down waterfalls, jump into pools and slide down smooth rocks to get to your destination. Three magnificent half- or full-day routes are available. In addition to being accompanied by professional guides, you’ll also be provided with all the safety equipment you need, including a thermal wetsuit, which offers greater comfort in the water.
Still in Gaspésie but this time in Gaspé, Griffon Aventure, a company located near Forillon National Park, offers you the opportunity to climb, swim and slide down a rugged waterway. Forged over thousands of years of natural erosion, this canyoning site includes natural slides, emerald-green pools and several impressive waterfalls. This activity lasts 5 hours and includes all the necessary equipment (except shoes). You’ll be served a light lunch during a break in the middle of the day, in an area that’s been described as breathtaking!
Rafting
Rafting involves travelling down a river with rapids in an unsinkable inflatable boat. These vessels can accommodate from 2 to 10 people, who sit on the edge of the raft in pairs. Rafting is an activity that requires serious teamwork but is also great fun!
Chic-Chac in Murdochville, in Gaspésie, offers this thrilling experience from May to June on the York and Madeleine rivers. This activity is suitable for all levels, whether you’re a beginner or experienced rafter. During your day on the river, you’ll be provided with a drysuit, as you’re bound to get soaked!
If you’re comfortable in the water and able to walk on rocks and in the forest, Noryak Aventures in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, in Côte-Nord, offers you the opportunity to paddle down the Magpie River in 6 days. Included in this adventure is a trip by floatplane to the middle of the boreal forest as well as delicious meals made with fresh local ingredients. This extraordinary experience will allow you to forge strong bonds with your fellow paddlers!
Rock climbing, via ferrata climbing and ziplining
For an authentic Côte-Nord experience, Attitude Nordique, near Baie-Comeau, offers several activities that will give you the opportunity to soak up impressive panoramic views. Whether you combine rock climbing and hiking during a via ferrata climb along the sea or go ziplining over Saint-Pancrace Bay, you’re in for an adrenaline rush!
To climb some of the most renowned rockfaces in Québec, visit the SEBKA park in Bas-Saint-Laurent. The orthoquartzite cliffs in this park offer 115 rock climbing routes for beginner to advanced climbers. If you’re a beginner and don’t have your own gear, you can take a climbing course with a qualified instructor on site (with all necessary equipment provided). A breathtaking view of fields and the sea awaits you at the summit!
If you’re visiting Gaspésie, be sure to try the via ferrata climbing route in Saint-Alexandre-des-Lacs. Your objective for the day is to reach the top of the Chute à Philomène waterfall via steep rockface trails that include several vertical sections and suspended footbridges. This adventure offers a good dose of adrenaline along with magnificent views!
At Eskamer Aventure in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, in the La Haute-Gaspésie sector, you can soar over a canyon that’s 50 metres (165 feet) deep on a zipline that also happens to be the longest in Eastern Québec! To access it, you’ll have to cross suspended bridges and stairs, and then rappel to complete your adventure, which lasts less than an hour.
Kitesurfing
If you want to play in the water and wind, nothing beats the Îles de la Madeleine! The archipelago provides the perfect geographical and weather conditions for kitesurfing, a wind-powered sport that involves using a kite to pull yourself on a surfboard at high speed over the water. Don’t miss this opportunity to try one of the most popular activities available on the Islands!
The archipelago offers warm, shallow waters for beginners as well as weather conditions that provide great waves for the more experienced. Whether you’ve been kitesurfing for years and have all the gear or simply want to try it out, this exciting sport is accessible to all. Various local companies offer both introductory and advanced kitesurfing courses.
Are you ready for adventure in the maritime regions of Québec? Treat yourself to an adrenaline rush with these extraordinary activities!
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