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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Aguanish
Stop for one night on Route 138: beach, bird sanctuary and two short trails. No town centre to wander — a car is required.
Aguanish is a small waterfront village on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, in the Minganie region of eastern Quebec, on Route 138 and the Route des Baleines. It is a road-stop village: a long fine-sand beach at the mouth of the Aguanish River, the Watshishou bird sanctuary shared with Baie-Johan-Beetz, and trails that reach the coast. Services are thin and spread along Route 138, so most travellers use it as one night between Havre-Saint-Pierre and Natashquan.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (cold, snow, some services closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$90–140 excl. bed · Mid C$150–230 excl. bed · High C$250+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Aguanish tourist information / Parks Canada kiosk +1-418-533-2228
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | C$2–4 |
| Casual meal (canteen or restaurant) | C$15–30 |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a dépanneur | C$7–9 / C$2–4 |
| Grocery basics for a picnic | C$10–20 |
| Campsite pitch per night | C$25–50 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$10–25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YZV · Sept-Îles
- About 339 km (211 mi) west by Route 138; the practical air gateway for the region.About 211 mi (339 km) west by Route 138; the practical air gateway for the region.
- YHR · Havre-Saint-Pierre
- About 67 km (42 mi) west by Route 138; small regional airport.About 42 mi (67 km) west by Route 138; small regional airport.
Typical fares
- Route 138, Aguanish → Havre-Saint-Pierre
- about 67 km (42 mi), roughly 1 h by carabout 42 mi (67 km), roughly 1 h by car
- Route 138, Aguanish → Natashquan
- about 83 km (52 mi), roughly 1 h 15 min by carabout 52 mi (83 km), roughly 1 h 15 min by car
- Intercar bus, Havre-Saint-Pierre → Sept-Îles
- about 2 h 45 min, several days a week
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Route 138 is the only main road and runs east–west through the village. There is no local transit: drive, walk the beach and trailheads, or use the campground as a base. Fuel and groceries are limited — fill up in Havre-Saint-Pierre or Natashquan.
See and do
Known for
- Aguanish beach and river mouth
- Watshishou bird sanctuary
- Pas du Portageur trail
- Route des Baleines road stop
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Havre-Saint-Pierre and Mingan Archipelago | Route 138 west, about 67 km (42 mi)Route 138 west, about 42 mi (67 km) | About 1 h drive |
| Natashquan | Route 138 east, about 83 km (52 mi)Route 138 east, about 52 mi (83 km) | About 1 h 15 min drive |
| Baie-Johan-Beetz | Route 138 west, about 40 km (25 mi)Route 138 west, about 25 mi (40 km) | About 40 min drive |
| Anticosti Island | Access by sea or air via Havre-Saint-Pierre or Sept-Îles | Half a day or more |
Sleep
- Route Jacques-Cartier (village strip)
- The main road through the village; most services, the campground and the restaurants sit along it.
- Camping-Relais De Cayes
- At the eastern exit of the village; campsite with a bar-café.
- Nabisipi River outfitter
- East of the village on Route 138, in Innu territory; a lodge-style stay rather than a village bed.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbon-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Mercimer-SEE |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-BYEN sa KOOT |
| Where is the beach? | Où est la plage ?oo ay la PLAZH |
| Can I pay by card? | Puis-je payer par carte ?pweezh pay-YAY par KART |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?oo son lay twa-LET |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Long gaps between services on Route 138: fuel, food and repairs are hours apart.
- Cell coverage exists in and around the village but drops on the road toward Sept-Îles and Kegaska.
- The beach and river mouth are cold water and strong current: no lifeguards, swim with care.
- Black flies and mosquitoes are heavy in June and July; bring repellent.
- Many businesses are seasonal and close outside summer: check before you rely on them.
A quiet, low-crime village. The real risks are the road (long distances, wildlife, no fuel for hours), cold water at the beach and river mouth, and insects in early summer.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Aguanish yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Aguanish beach and river mouth
- Watshishou bird sanctuary
- Pas du Portageur trail
- Route des Baleines road stop
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Aguanish official site: www.aguanish.org/
- Tourisme Côte-Nord: www.tourismecote-nord.com/
- Parks Canada — Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve: www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/qc/mingan
- Wikivoyage: Aguanish, revision 5185935 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5185935
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Aguanish
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Aguanish tourist information / Parks Canada kiosk+1-418-533-2228
No embassies here; the nearest consulates are in Québec City and Montréal.
French is the main language; a few words go a long way.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/aguanish). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.