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Newfoundland and Labrador · Canada
The south coast of Labrador: a 16th-century Basque whaling station (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the tallest lighthouse on the Canadian Atlantic, and the fishing village of Battle Harbour.
In the photo: Red Bay coast, on southern Labrador
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
Southern Labrador is the continental strip of coast across the Strait of Belle Isle, facing the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland. Highway 510 links fishing villages through a landscape of rock, low tundra, rivers and coves, with icebergs appearing in early summer.
In the 16th century, Basque whalers came every summer to Red Bay to hunt whales and produce oil, which was sold in Europe. The remains of the workshops, the tryworks and submerged ships, including the galleon San Juan (1565), made Red Bay a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.
Along the way is Point Amour Lighthouse, the tallest on the Canadian Atlantic. Further north, the boat to Battle Harbour departs from Mary’s Harbour — a restored 18th–19th-century cod-fishing village on an island. The region has few residents and limited services, and requires planning.
Visits are often combined with northern Newfoundland, using the ferry from St. Barbe.
This destination brings together 2 cities: Red Bay, Mary's Harbour.
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.
✈ Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon Airport (YBX), in Blanc-Sablon · 85 km to Red Bay
The St. Barbe ferry, from northern Newfoundland, crosses the strait to Blanc-Sablon in about 1 hour 45 minutes. From there, Red Bay is about 80 km via Highway 510. Blanc-Sablon Airport (YBX) receives regional flights from Quebec.
Suggested arrival point: Red Bay
A fishing village on the south coast of Labrador where 16th-century Basque whalers established the largest whaling station of the time in the Americas. The ruins, sunken ships and the visitor centre form a UNESCO World Heritage site. A wooden boardwalk climbs Tracey Hill for views over the bay.
A fishing village on the southeast coast of Labrador, on the banks of the St. Mary’s River. It grew after a fire destroyed the hospital at Battle Harbour in 1930, and is the departure point for the boat to the historic village of Battle Harbour.
The local experience
A former cod-fishing village on an island off Mary’s Harbour, with restored warehouses, wharf and fishermen’s houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a national historic district.
Remains of the station where Basque whalers hunted whales and rendered blubber in stone ovens to produce oil in the 16th century, with a visitor centre, ruins on Saddle Island and shipwrecks in the bay. A UNESCO World Heritage site.
A stone lighthouse about 33 metres high, completed in 1858 on the Belle Isle Strait coast; the tallest on the Canadian Atlantic and open to climb.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
Mid-June to early September, when sites, boats and accommodations operate. Icebergs typically appear in June and July. Outside summer, almost everything closes.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Three or four days: one or two in Red Bay and Point Amour, and two in Mary’s Harbour and Battle Harbour.
Red Bay, L'Anse au Clair and Forteau have small inns and motels. In Battle Harbour, lodging is in the restored historic houses on the island. Book in advance: there are few spaces.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
By the St. Barbe ferry to Blanc-Sablon and then about 80 km by road, or by plane to Blanc-Sablon.
Yes — in summer the St. Barbe ferry fills up and car spaces are limited.
Mid-June to early September, when the boat runs from Mary’s Harbour.
Yes. Blanc-Sablon follows Atlantic Time without observing daylight saving, while Labrador follows Newfoundland time; check the ferry schedule.
Newfoundland Time: UTC−3:30, and UTC−2:30 from March to November.
