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Quebec · Canada
The peninsula at the far eastern tip of Quebec: Percé Rock, Bonaventure Island with its northern gannets, and Forillon National Park, where the Appalachian chain ends.
In the photo: Percé, its harbor and Percé Rock, in Gaspésie
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Gaspésie is the large peninsula in eastern Quebec between the Saint Lawrence estuary and Chaleur Bay. A single road, Route 132, circles the peninsula, with more than 800 km of coastline, cliffs, fishing villages and the Chic-Chocs mountains inland, the final section of the Appalachian range.
At the tip of the peninsula is Percé, known for Percé Rock, a limestone stack about 88 meters high with an arch carved by the sea, a few meters off the shore. Offshore, Bonaventure Island hosts one of the largest colonies of northern gannets in the world, with over 100,000 birds that nest on the cliff tops in summer.
The town of Gaspé, to the north, sits in a deep bay where Jacques Cartier landed in 1534 and erected a cross in the name of the King of France. Nearby, Forillon National Park occupies the peninsula’s tip, with cliffs, pebble beaches, trails, seals and whales in season.
The region has a strong fishing tradition and a mix of francophone, anglophone and Mi'gmaq communities.
This destination brings together 2 cities: Percé, Gaspé.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Boundaries: Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence) / geoBoundaries. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ Aéroport Michel-Pouliot de Gaspé (YGP), in Gaspé · 65 km to Percé
Gaspé Airport (YGP) handles regional flights, mainly from Montreal and Quebec City, and is about 65 km from Percé. By car, Percé is roughly 750 km from Quebec City via Route 132.
Suggested arrival point: Percé
Fishermen’s village on the tip of the Gaspésie, facing the Rocher Percé and Bonaventure Island, which together form a Quebec national park. Boats leave from the pier to circle the rock and disembark on the island. On the summit of mont Sainte-Anne, the geopark has a glass platform overlooking the village and the sea.
Town at the head of Gaspé Bay where Jacques Cartier landed in 1534 and erected a cross in the name of the King of France. It has the Musée de la Gaspésie, with the Cartier monument, and is the gateway to Forillon National Park at the peninsula’s tip, where the Appalachian chain ends.
The local experience
A Canadian national park at the tip of Gaspésie, with limestone cliffs, the Cap-Gaspé lighthouse, pebble beaches, the historic village of Grande-Grave and the end of the Appalachian chain.
Limestone rock about 88 meters high and more than 400 meters long in front of Percé, with an arch opened by the sea.
Island in front of Percé with one of the largest colonies of black-legged kittiwakes in the world — more than 100,000 birds — reached by trails from the boat pier.
A regional museum on Gaspé Bay about the peninsula’s history, with the Jacques Cartier monument, made of bronze stelae, beside it.
UNESCO global geopark with an interpretation center and a suspended glass platform on mont Sainte-Anne, about 200 meters above the village and the sea.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
From June to September, when Bonaventure Island, the boat tours and the parks are operating; the northern gannets usually stay on the island from June to October. Early autumn brings mountain colors and fewer people. In winter many coastal services close.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Four days: two in Percé, including Bonaventure Island, and two in Gaspé and Forillon National Park. If you’re driving from Quebec City you should add at least two days on the road.
Percé has accommodations in the town center, facing the rock, and around the village. Gaspé concentrates services and is about 30 km from Forillon National Park; there are campsites and cabins in and near the park.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Four days for Percé, Bonaventure Island, Gaspé and Forillon National Park, not counting the drive from Quebec City or Montreal.
Yes. Villages, parks and viewpoints are far apart, and public transport is limited.
The birds usually stay on the island from June to October, during the breeding season. The park typically opens from late May to mid-October.
Yes, via Route 132, with more than 800 km of coastline. The most common itinerary takes five to seven days with stops.
The same as Montreal and Quebec City: UTC−5, and UTC−4 from March to November.
