Adventure Blanc-Sablon & Bonne Espérance with Explore-Qc 4N/5D

Your breakfast at your hotel is included .

Having had your rental vehicle since the day before, a good day awaits you on this second day. On the program, your departure, early after breakfast to go to the site of the aquaculture farm ; site of interest located in Salmon Bay (direction West). This segment of the 138 is impressive. You will have the opportunity, from various points, throughout this day spent largely in Good Hope to enjoy a spectacular view of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, its islands and islets.

You are expected at 08:30 at the aquaculture farm , after approximately 40 km of driving. You will spend the morning there with your hosts. They have developed this breeding farm (scallop culture) for many years. You will be able to learn the ins and outs and visualize what the breeding process is all about. In addition, the site is conducive to hiking. You will therefore be invited to accompany your guide on a pontoon, and on a walk for a course on the rocks, undoubtedly benefiting from anecdotes and miscellaneous facts.

Everything will end with a substantial tasting that should delight the palate of seafood lovers at noon.

The afternoon is announced by continuing your journey a little further west. On the heights, a belvedere (with interpretation panels) offers you a beautiful view before descending towards the next village and stopping there at the Whiteley museum , about thirty kilometers further than Salmon Bay . You are expected at the museum at 1:00 p.m. It is an interpretive establishment that was courageously developed over the years by the people of the region.

It presents, among other things, an invention developed by an illustrious gentleman from New England (Massachusset): the cod trap. You will have a dessert and a good coffee, tea or other.

We are here in Rivière-Saint-Paula village which , together with Vieux-Fort (a name that says a lot about the history of the region), makes up the municipality of Bonne-Espérance. Garland Nadeau, a typical character of very warm welcome and high knowledge of his region, will give you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with his local English speaking. Your new guide for the afternoon, Garland Nadeau, is now captain to take you aboard a safe boat equipped with an outboard motor in which you will take place to discover discover the archipelago of Rivière- St.Paul,which is said to be the oldest village on the Lower North Shore, dating from the time of the French Regime. During your trip on the water, it will be a question of conflicts between Innu and Inuit in this very place and also of the port of Brest in America, while you will contemplate the landscape and the many islands protecting the Bay. The site of the Whiteley family establishment will be indicated and explained to you, as well as a visit to the Basque occupation site which was recently discovered (site only accessible by boat).

Formerly called “Rivière aux Esquimaux”, the Saint-Paul River is known for salmon fishing. Windswept rocks, seabirds, seals and/or minke whales might be spotted as you pass by on your boat ride which, depending on the tides, might also take you upstream on the river. And if the weather permits, you could possibly cast a line while grabbing some trout to grill on the grill as a snack, as you’ll have to make your way back to your hotel in the late afternoon. the Blanc-Sablon sector, in time for a free dinner at the start of the evening.

If the weather permits, you are recommended to push a little further west before returning to Blanc-Sablon. Indeed if you are a history buff, a brief visit to the village of Vieux-Fort at the western end of the local section of the 138 may be worth the effort as Vieux-Fort would have been the former trading post called “Brest (just like the Breton town). The existence in Canada of a fishing port named Brest is attested, and repeatedly cited in documents from the end of the 15^th and the beginning of the 16^th century.centuries. One can easily imagine that it was Breton fishermen who thus named this whaling hamlet of yesteryear; place where Jacques Cartier, having supplied himself with fresh water, food and wood, planted the first cross to then continue his journey along the coasts of Newfoundland, going to explore those of Gaspésie and then circumventing the East from Anticosti Island (which he named Île de l’Assomption), to the strait which, on the north side, bears his name today. All this before returning to France via the same Strait of Belle Isle through which he had arrived and crossing the North Atlantic again.

As for you, dear customers, we recommend that at the end of this region you stop, on your return from Rivière-Saint-Paul or Vieux-Fort, at the interpretation center of the quiet community of Middle Bay , closer to Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon. You will have the opportunity (admission included in your package) to be welcomed and learn more about the Basque whaling establishment that held its oil production activities here to light the streets and houses. Europeans in the 15^th and 16^th centuries . A craft shop is also accessible in this place of interpretation developed by the community.

Free dinner at the place of your choice before returning to your hotel room.
Accommodation in a 2* hotel, breakfast included.

It goes without saying that the Voyages CoSte solidarity cooperative wishes you those who take advantage of this package to enjoy beautiful sunny days throughout their stay in these confines of the Lower North Shore and its busy villages. of history. We know that the weather can vary, particularly in these places where mist, high winds and rainy weather are legion in equal parts with calm and magnificent sunny days. Coasters (residents of the Lower North Shore) are also aware of this.

We therefore adapt to the land and sea weather conditions, for your well-being so that you make the most of your stay.

This is why it was planned that days 3 and 4 (see below) be interchangeable in their sequences (decision to be made* * *in agreement with the service providers of the CoStecooperative according to the latest forecasts when you start your journey of discovery in this part of the country that was once considered Labrador at the time of Lower Canada and then Quebec Labrador when confederation was signed).

We have planned, in all consideration of the temperature factor, that your second full day begins with a morning of rest, good weather helping, to go for a walk around your place of accommodation, walk on the Sentier de l’Astragale (summit of the Mont Parent ) and contemplate the landscape from the top of the elevation where the statue of the Virgin of Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon was erected.

So let’s consider this, for the moment, as the official program for this half day of free time while the other part of the day (afternoon of day 3 or 4) would be spent offshore, with the services of a tour provider chosen for their knowledge of the area and their equipment that is perfectly adapted to the type of excursion offered. As mentioned above, if the day was rainy and sunny weather was forecast for the next day, the program for day 4 would then be applicable for you, according to arrangements, since activities take place indoors.

Otherwise, the excursion of day 3 (included and therefore part of your package) will allow you to interpret the history of Blanc-Sablon (which Jacques Cartier dared to describe as the land that God gave to Cain < < if he knew the he interest that we have today in the region, he would not write the same thing...>>an excursion, therefore, which takes you to the open sea on the surrounding islands with your accredited tour provider.

* * This will be done at the appropriate time by the CoSte team after having consulted the latest weather reports for the region and having agreed with the tour provider for this day or the day after (tour that will take place, anyway, according to the best possible conditions in terms of wind and desirable sunshine).

Did you know, moreover, that the first East-West flight in the North Atlantic landed here, after the German aircraft, the Bremen, with 3 crew members on board, had to make an emergency landing, lack of fuel, on Greenly Island off Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon? Having deviated from its route by several hundred kilometers (the city of New York being quite far away…), it was nevertheless a feat which was widely underlined by the press of the time which found all the means to send journalists on the spot. . It was in 1928.

On board the excursion boat, your local tour operator will therefore take you to this island of the Bremen forced landing and, facing the bay of Blanc-Sablon, to Île-au- Bois . This last island is classified as a heritage site. It is characterized by concentric plateaus, steep coasts, coves and beaches. There is an archaeological site linked to intense and seasonal economic activities by the Basques, Bretons and Normans during the 17^th and 18^th centuries , and in the 19^th century.century by Jersey fishermen. There then followed several companies interested in cod fishing. Your tour operator also offers you to go along the seabird sanctuary which is located on the cliffs of Ile -aux-Perroquets .

When you return, your dinner (not included in the package) and your evening are free.
Accommodation in a 2* hotel, lunch included

Note: after the breakfast included in your package at your hotel establishment, this day is completely free.

You are therefore free to enter the territory of the neighboring province where you can have your lunch and possibly your supper in Labrador, in one or other of the establishments on your route (the 510). It is suggested that you go to the national site of Red Bay (Parks-Canada) where the whale hunt by the Basques has been the subject of a reconstruction and the conservation of numerous artefacts.

Your return will be in the early evening, at the latest because your return flight to Montreal is already scheduled for the next day. So it’s time to prepare your return luggage and get a well-deserved good night’s sleep at your hotel establishment.

During the last few days, you will have had the opportunity to travel along the Strait of Belle Isle and enjoy the attractions, products and services over a very long stretch of this Quebec Labrador.

Accommodation in a 2* hotel, lunch included

Today is the day you hand in your rental vehicle (which can normally be done at the airport).

Your return flight is reserved for this fifth day of the interesting basic package you have taken advantage of to get to know this part of the maritime country that is certainly unique in Quebec.

After your breakfast (included with your accommodation establishment), depending on the time of your departure, you may or may not enjoy a free period before returning your vehicle and boarding theAir Liaison to your destination Montreal. Once again, depending on cloud conditions, the view of the Lower North Shore from the air can be a significant element of your trip to Northeastern Quebec Maritime.

Your car is waiting for you at the terminal parking lot in Montreal.

The people from the solidarity cooperative, Voyages CoStewill be happy to take note of your comments when you pass by Rivière-au-Tonnerre office on your return trip , which you could take on the 138 by crossing from Godbout to Matane to return by the Bas-Saint-Laurent insofar as you would have already traveled the entire route 138 from Quebec City or from Tadoussac when you came