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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Francois
François
Go only if you want a roadless outport at the end of a fjord: 2 nights, ferry in and out, and a spare day for weather cancellations.
Francois is a village of about 89 people at the head of a 2 km fjord on Newfoundland's south coast. No road reaches it: you arrive by passenger ferry from Burgeo via Grey River, or by helicopter when the ferry is cancelled. There is one general store, a post office, a small museum and boardwalk paths instead of streets. Two nights is the working minimum, because wind can hold the boat.
- Country
- Canada
- Local name
- François
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (snowmobile-only access, ferry weather cancellations)
- Stay
- 2 nights
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$60–110 excl. bed (camping, groceries from the general store) · Mid C$100–160 excl. bed (store food plus a meal or two) · High C$160+ excl. bed (rental house split, boat trip) (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 · Marine emergency (coast guard) 16 · Ferry service enquiries +1 709 729-3835
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Ferry Burgeo → Francois, adult one way | C$11.75 |
| Ferry, child under 5 | Free |
| Old Salt Box rental house, per night for 1–4 | C$250 |
| Groceries at the general store | Outport prices, higher than mainland supermarkets |
| Boat trip to the old whaling station | Arrange locally; ask at the general store |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YQX · Gander International
- Closest large airport; long drive to Burgeo, then ferry.
- YYT · St. John's International
- Main provincial gateway; drive or bus to Burgeo, then ferry.
Typical fares
- Ferry Burgeo → Francois, adult
- C$11.75 one way; Burgeo–Grey River about 2 h, Grey River–Francois about 1 h 45 min
- Ferry, senior/student/child 5–13
- C$6 one way; under 5 free
- Helicopter Francois ↔ Burgeo
- Runs when the ferry is cancelled; seats limited, ask at the ferry office
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
No car roads. Narrow paved walkways and boardwalks double as 4-wheeler routes; everything in the village is walkable in minutes. Trails leave from the settlement edge.
See and do
Known for
- Roadless outport at the end of a fjord
- Boardwalk paths and the Friar headland
- Harbour Ruin waterfall
- Chaleur Bay hike
- Old Salt Box vacation home
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Grey River | Same ferry, Grey River to Francois leg, about 1 h 45 min | About 2 h |
| Burgeo | Ferry from Burgeo to Grey River, about 2 h | About 2 h |
| Ramea | Ferry connections via Burgeo; check the schedule | Half a day or more |
| Rencontre East | Ferry links along the south coast; check the schedule | Half a day or more |
| St. Lawrence | Drive from Burgeo via Route 470 and Route 220; no ferry link | About 3 h |
Sleep
- Main Path (Old Salt Box rental)
- Two-bedroom oceanview house, sleeps 1–4, full kitchen and laundry; about $250 a night, book well ahead.
- Church camping site
- Simple tent spot with picnic bench and outhouse; no services, no bookings.
- Resident home stays
- Several households rent rooms; rates on request and usually low. Arrange before you sail.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you / Merci |
| Hello | Hello / Bonjour |
| Where is the ferry? | Where's the ferry? |
| How much is it? | How much is that? |
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
- Access is by passenger ferry only; strong winds can cancel sailings and strand you a day or two.
- When the ferry is cancelled, a helicopter links Francois and Burgeo — seats are limited, so keep a buffer day.
- No bank, no fuel station, no car access: bring cash and any medication you need.
- Cell coverage is patchy; the library has internet access.
- Book the rental house or a room before you board; walk-up beds are not guaranteed.
Very low crime; the real risks are weather and isolation. Sail with a spare day, tell someone your plan, and carry cash, medication and warm rain gear.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Francois yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Roadless outport at the end of a fjord
- Boardwalk paths and the Friar headland
- Harbour Ruin waterfall
- Chaleur Bay hike
- Old Salt Box vacation home
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Newfoundland and Labrador ferry services — Francois: www.tw.gov.nl.ca/ferryservices/schedules/m_francois.html
- Wikivoyage: Francois, revision 5266466 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5266466
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
FrancoisFrançois
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Marine emergency (coast guard)16
- Ferry service enquiries+1 709 729-3835
No consulates in Francois; nearest consular help is in St. John's, and embassies are in Ottawa.
Print this card: ferry days and times change, and there is no phone signal on the trails.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/francois). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.