What to see in the Gaspé Peninsula ⋆ chic everywhere

We took a road trip to the bulbous lower portion of the province of Quebec known as the Gaspé Peninsula or the Gaspésie region. This Maritime region is one of the epic road trips within Canada that doesn't have the same recognition as some of other areas of the country but totally should. This is what to see in the Gaspé Peninsula.

Before you worry about what to do you need to plan where to stay in Gaspé. Note there are no big chains in this part of Quebec. You can't stay in a Mariott, Holiday Inn or Best Western. We stayed at the Riotel which is a regional chain with renovated motel rooms in Matane, Percé and Carleton sur Mer.

What to see in the Gaspé Peninsula

If epic drives with magnificent views are not reason enough to head to the Gaspé region then let me list out what else you can expect.

There are a number of provincial and national parks, particularly Forillon National Park. There are hiking and cycling trails. Wildlife observation including whale watching and bird watching. You can follow the Lighthouse trail, visit maritime museums, geological sites and take sea cruises. I will give a deeper look at the places we saw during our Gaspé road trip.

lighthouse, what to do in the gaspé peninsula

The Lighthouse Trail is home to more than 40 lighthouses in the Maritime region of Quebec. Fourteen of those are in Gaspésie. There is so much variation in the lighthouses and so much history in this area tied to these spaces that each one is worth visiting if only to have a place to get out and stretch before heading to the next lighthouse. One note that I want to share that I didn't see anyone else talking about is that the road to the Pointe a la Renommée lighthouse is a bit challenging and off the beaten path. It is a dirt road and can be narrow at times. It is also twisty with blind corners. If you feel like you have gotten in over your head there really isn't anywhere to turn around so it is best to take things slow.

mountain coastal drive, what to see in the gaspé peninsula

From Matane to Percé there are some epic coastal and mountain drives. Twists and turns, every view is more gorgeous than the next. This stretch, especially before you get to Forillian National park, is less populous with what seems like just the road and the water stretching out in front of you.

One of the highlights of this road trip was our stop in Percé. Percé Rock and Bonaventure Island are a must see as is just taking in the beauty of this area. Here you can take whale watching tours, take a cruise around Bonaventure Island, get off on the island if you want to and visit the bird sanctuary and spy the seals. You can also do whale watching on the Saint Lawrence side of the penninsula. We did this a few years ago in Rivière du Loup which is technically Bas Sainte Laurent region, but you can take whale watching tours from the city of Gaspé or Percé while in Gaspesie.

When people think of food in Quebec I am sure the first thing that comes to mind is poutine. But in Gaspésie, seafood trumps poutine. Lobster and crab rolls, smoked salmon, fish and chips. Honestly if you want it they got it seafood wise. This is a great place to get ultra fresh seafood that we just don't get in more interior provinces like Ontario or the prairies.

There is so much hiking available in this region. We did an easy hike in Forillon National park but you can also hike the Chic Choc mountains in Parc national de la Gaspesie, the Geopark in Perce, Mount St Joseph near Carleton Sur Mer, or you can hike the interior on part of the International Appalachian Trail. Or you can go fossil hunting at Miguasha National Park and see the amazing fossil samples from the Devonian Era including some missing link fossils from when fish transitioned to air breathing terrestrial vertebrates.

This area has so much natural beauty and honestly more than we could possibly see without going at a frantic pace. Whether you want to experience hiking, see whales, eat seafood, learn about Maritime history or just relax in a seaside town for a few days this is a region of Canada that needs more attention. The road trip from Banff to Jasper in Alberta gets so much love and attention (rightly so, it is beautiful) but the Gaspé Peninsula is another epic Canadian road trip that you need to experience.