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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Matane
Give Matane one night, two if you fish or hike: it is a ferry and Route 132 stopover, not a destination in itself.
Matane sits on the south shore of the St. Lawrence where Route 132 meets the road into the Gaspé Peninsula, and it is the Quebec side of a year-round ferry to Baie-Comeau and Godbout. The town is small, the salmon river runs through it, and shrimp and smoked fish are the local food. Most travellers pass through on the Gaspé loop or break the drive between Rimouski and Sainte-Anne-des-Monts.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (cold, many sights closed)
- 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$140–220 excl. bed · High C$220+ 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 · Info-Santé (24 h health advice) 811
- 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 a pastry | C$4–8 |
| Fish and chips or a seafood plate | C$18–35 |
| Lobster dinner in season | C$30–50 |
| Beer at a brew pub | C$7–10 |
| Lighthouse museum entry | C$4 adult, C$2 child |
| Salmon observation centre entry | C$3 adult, free under 13 |
| 18 holes at the golf club | C$42 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YYY · Mont-Joli regional airport
- About 1 h west by road; limited flights, often expensive
Typical fares
- Ferry Matane → Godbout, adult
- about C$22, 2 h 10 min
- Ferry Matane → Baie-Comeau, adult
- about C$22, 2 h 20 min
- Orléans Express bus Matane → Rimouski
- about 1 h 30 min
Get around
Matane is spread along Route 132 and the shore, so a car is the practical way to reach the wildlife reserve, the gardens and the east-end smokehouse. The centre around avenue Saint-Jérôme is walkable. Orléans Express buses stop on avenue du Phare Est; National has a rental desk on avenue du Phare Ouest.
See and do
Known for
- St. Lawrence ferry to the north shore
- Matane River salmon fishing
- Shrimp and smoked fish
- Chic-Choc mountain views
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Matane Wildlife Reserve | Route 195 southeast, about 40 km to the reserve gateRoute 195 southeast, about 25 mi to the reserve gate | About 45 min |
| Mont-Joli | Route 132 west by car, or Orléans Express bus | About 1 h |
| Sainte-Anne-des-Monts | Route 132 east along the coast | About 1 h 15 min |
| Baie-Comeau | Société des traversiers du Québec ferry across the St. Lawrence | About 2 h 20 min crossing |
Sleep
- Avenue du Phare Ouest (west end)
- Hotels, fish markets and the lighthouse museum; closest to the ferry terminal.
- Avenue Saint-Jérôme (town centre)
- Restaurants, bakery, brew pub and the salmon observation centre within walking distance.
- Matane-sur-Mer (east along the shore)
- Motels with sea views and the smokehouse; you need a car.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbon-ZHOOR |
| Thank you | Mercimair-SEE |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-BYEN sa KOOT |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtla-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH |
| Where is the ferry terminal? | Où est le traversier ?oo eh luh tra-vair-SYAY |
| I would like the fish | Je voudrais le poissonzhuh voo-DREH luh pwa-SON |
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 attractions run mid-June to early September only; outside that window check before you drive out.
- The ferry to Baie-Comeau and Godbout takes vehicles and books up in summer: reserve ahead.
- Cell coverage is patchy in the Matane wildlife reserve and on the Appalachian trail.
- Route 132 is a two-lane coastal road with moose near dawn and dusk.
Matane is a quiet small town and feels safe day and night. The real risks are the coastal road (moose at dawn and dusk, winter ice), cold water on the St. Lawrence, and remote trails in the wildlife reserve: tell someone your plan.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Matane yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- St. Lawrence ferry to the north shore
- Matane River salmon fishing
- Shrimp and smoked fish
- Chic-Choc mountain views
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Société des traversiers du Québec: www.traversiers.com/
- Orléans Express: www.orleansexpress.com/en/
- Wikivoyage: Matane, revision 5252587 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5252587
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Matane
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No consulate in Matane; the US consulate general is in Quebec City, and most other countries keep embassies in Ottawa.
French is the everyday language here; a bonjour goes a long way.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/matane). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.