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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Bonaventure
Stay one night in Bonaventure for the Acadian museum and Bioparc, then move on: it is a stop on Route 132, not a base for the Gaspé.
Bonaventure is a small Acadian town of about 2,800 people on the south shore of Chaleur Bay, on Route 132 between Saint-Siméon and New Carlisle. Its two anchors are the Musée acadien du Québec and the Bioparc de la Gaspésie, both a short drive from the centre. Most travellers see it in half a day to a day, sleep one night, and continue along the peninsula.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (most attractions and hotels 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 $70–110 excl. bed · Mid $120–190 excl. bed · High $200+ 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 · Tourist Office (Jun–early Oct) +1 418-534-4014
- 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 | $3–5 |
| Breakfast at Café Acadien | $7–16 |
| Main course | $17–20 |
| Beer in a pub | $7–9 |
| Museum entry, adult | $13 |
| Bioparc entry, adult | $24 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YVB · Bonaventure Airport
- About 3 km (1.9 mi) northeast of town; flights from Montréal, Québec City and Îles-de-la-Madeleine (check current schedule).About 1.9 mi (3 km) northeast of town; flights from Montréal, Québec City and Îles-de-la-Madeleine (check current schedule).
Typical fares
- Musée acadien, adult
- $13
- Bioparc de la Gaspésie, adult
- $24
- Campsite, 1–3 services
- $26–45
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
You need a car. Route 132 runs through town and links the museum, Bioparc, campground and the cave at Saint-Elzéar-de-Bonaventure. Orléans Express stops in Bonaventure on its Gaspé–Rimouski route, but local sights are not walkable from the stop.
See and do
Known for
- Musée acadien du Québec
- Bioparc de la Gaspésie
- Acadian culture on the Gaspé
- Bonaventure River canoeing
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pointe-à-la-Croix | Drive west on Route 132 | About 1 h |
| Saint-Siméon-de-Bonaventure | Drive west on Route 132 | About 20 min |
| Chandler | Drive east on Route 132 | About 45 min |
| Gaspé | Drive east on Route 132 | About 3 h |
Sleep
- Avenue de Port-Royal / waterfront
- Riôtel Bonaventure and the museum are here; walk to the barachois and picnic tables.
- Avenue Grand-Pré
- Motel Grand-Pré, Pub St-Joseph and La Chope à Soupe; the practical centre for one night.
- Camping Beaubassin Beach
- Rue Beaubassin, sandy beach on the bay; tents and RVs, online reservations.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbon-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Mercimair-SEE |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-BYEN sa KOOT |
| I would like… | Je voudrais…zhuh voo-DREH |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?oo son lay twa-LET |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais ?par-lay VOO ahn-GLEH |
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
- Most restaurants, hotels and the Bioparc close from mid-October to May: check dates before you book.
- The Grotte de St Elzéar requires a reservation; walk-up entry is not guaranteed.
- French is the main language (63% French only in 2021): basic French helps.
- Fuel and food gaps on Route 132: fill up before long stretches.
A quiet, low-crime town; the real risks are seasonal closures, wildlife and moose on Route 132 at dusk, and cold water in Chaleur Bay.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bonaventure yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Musée acadien du Québec
- Bioparc de la Gaspésie
- Acadian culture on the Gaspé
- Bonaventure River canoeing
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Bioparc de la Gaspésie: bioparc.ca/en/
- Orléans Express: www.orleansexpress.com/en/
- Wikivoyage: Bonaventure, revision 5327615 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5327615
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Bonaventure
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
- Tourist Office (Jun–early Oct)+1 418-534-4014
No embassy in Bonaventure; US consulate general in Montréal, other embassies in Ottawa (check).
Tipping is expected: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/bonaventure). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.