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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
L'Isle-aux-Coudres
Go for 1–2 nights, not a day trip: the free ferry from Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive takes about 15 min, and the 11 km island is best by bike.
L'Isle-aux-Coudres is an 11 km island in the St. Lawrence, reached only by a free ferry from Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive in Charlevoix. It is a slow, flat, bike-and-cider stop: water and wind mills, a maritime history, orchards and a handful of villages. One night covers it; two if you want the beaches and bird parks at low tide.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (ferry and bike season); Feb for ice canoe and snowmobile
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr for cycling and most seasonal businesses
- Stay
- 1–2 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$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
- 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 and pastry | C$5–9 |
| Cider tasting at the cidrerie | C$5–15 |
| Mills entry (Les Moulins de l'Isle-aux-Coudres) | C$8–15 |
| Casual lunch (soup, sandwich, poutine) | C$15–25 |
| Dinner main | C$25–40 |
| Bike rental, one day | C$35–60 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$25–45 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YQB · Québec City Jean Lesage
- About 1 h 30 min by car to the Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive ferry wharf via Route 138 and 362.
- YUL · Montréal–Trudeau
- About 4 h by car; most travellers drive from Québec City instead.
Typical fares
- Ferry, Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive → Saint-Bernard-sur-Mer
- free, about 15 min
- Québec City → Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive by car
- about 121 km, 2 habout 75 mi, 2 h
- Bike rental, one day
- C$35–60
Get around
The island is 11.2 km long by 4.3 km wide at high tide, and the main road (chemin des Coudriers) is flat. Bring or rent a bike; a car is useful for the far ends. Fuel is at the Irving station in Saint-Bernard-sur-Mer. An EV terminal is at the MRC office on chemin des Coudriers.The island is 7 mi long by 2.7 mi wide at high tide, and the main road (chemin des Coudriers) is flat. Bring or rent a bike; a car is useful for the far ends. Fuel is at the Irving station in Saint-Bernard-sur-Mer. An EV terminal is at the MRC office on chemin des Coudriers.
See and do
Known for
- Water and wind mills (Les Moulins de l'Isle-aux-Coudres)
- Cidrerie Verges Pedneault and island orchards
- Free ferry crossing from Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive
- Flat cycling on chemin des Coudriers
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Les Éboulements and Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive | Ferry to Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, then a short drive on Route 362 | About 30–45 min |
| Baie-Saint-Paul | Ferry, then Route 362 west | About 1 h |
| La Malbaie | Ferry, then Route 362 east | About 1 h 15 min |
| Saint-Irénée | Ferry, then Route 362 east | About 45 min |
| Saint-Hilarion | Ferry, then Route 138 inland | About 45 min |
Sleep
- Saint-Bernard-sur-Mer
- Main village at the ferry dock; walk to the wharf, shops and restaurants.
- La Baleine
- Southeast side; quieter, closer to the beaches and bird parks.
- Cap-aux-Pierres / Isle-aux-Coudres village
- West and southwest; inns and campgrounds near the mills and bays.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbon-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Mercimair-SEE |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-BYEN sa KOOT |
| Where is the ferry? | Où est le traversier ?oo ay luh tra-vair-SYAY |
| 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
- The ferry is the only road access; check the crossing schedule before you drive to the wharf.
- At low tide the sandstone flats stretch up to 4.9 km southwest — do not walk out on soft flats.
- Many seasonal businesses close outside Jun–Sep.
- Cell coverage is patchy on parts of the island.
Very safe. The real risks are the river itself (cold water and fast tides), soft sandstone flats at low tide, and deer or cyclists on chemin des Coudriers at dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for L'Isle-aux-Coudres yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Water and wind mills (Les Moulins de l'Isle-aux-Coudres)
- Cidrerie Verges Pedneault and island orchards
- Free ferry crossing from Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive
- Flat cycling on chemin des Coudriers
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tourisme Isle-aux-Coudres: tourismeisleauxcoudres.com/
- Traversiers — L'Isle-aux-Coudres / Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive ferry schedule: www.traversiers.com/fr/nos-traverses/traverse-lisle-aux-coudres-saint-joseph-de-la-rive/horaire
- Les Moulins de l'Isle-aux-Coudres: www.lesmoulinsdelisleauxcoudres.com
- Tourisme Charlevoix — Route des Saveurs: www.tourisme-charlevoix.com/quoi-faire/routes-et-circuits/route-des-saveurs/
- Wikivoyage: L'Isle-aux-Coudres, revision 5332761 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5332761
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
L'Isle-aux-Coudres
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
No embassies on the island; the US consulate general is in Montréal and the US consulate general in Québec City (check). Other countries: embassies in Ottawa, consulates in Montréal.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/lisle-aux-coudres). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.