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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Natashquan
Go for 1–2 nights only if you are already driving Route 138 east or riding the Bella Desgagnés; otherwise the 14-hour drive from Montréal is not worth it.
Natashquan is a village of about 280 people at the end of Route 138, on Quebec's Lower North Shore. It is known as the birthplace of singer Gilles Vigneault, for its cod-fishing heritage site Les Galets, and for a wooden boardwalk along the bay. There is no through road east of here: beyond Kegaska the coast is served by boat and plane only. Come for one or two nights as part of a North Shore drive, not as a destination on its own.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (cold, snow, many services 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$140–230 excl. bed · High C$230+ 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 or snack in the village | C$3–7 |
| Bistro or restaurant main | C$18–35 |
| Craft beer at Brasserie La Mouche | C$7–10 |
| Supermarket basics for a picnic, per person | C$12–20 |
| Museum entry (Le Bord du Cap) | C$5 per adult, free under 12 |
| Campground pitch, per night | C$25–50 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YNA · Natashquan Airport
- Adjacent to the village; small public airport run by the township. Schedules change by season: check with the airline.
Typical fares
- Harnois fuel, Natashquan
- open day and night, 28 chemin d'en Haut (check)
- Bella Desgagnés, Havre-Saint-Pierre → Natashquan
- about C$150 per person one way, cabin extra (check)
- Air Liaison / Air Labrador to YNA
- small planes, seasonal schedules — check with the airline
Get around
Route 138 is the main street; everything in the village is within about 2 km, so you can walk the centre, the boardwalk and Les Galets. A car is needed for Pointe-Parent, the campground and the trailheads. There is one gas station (Harnois, 28 chemin d'en Haut, open day and night) with an EV charger.Route 138 is the main street; everything in the village is within about 1.2 mi, so you can walk the centre, the boardwalk and Les Galets. A car is needed for Pointe-Parent, the campground and the trailheads. There is one gas station (Harnois, 28 chemin d'en Haut, open day and night) with an EV charger.
See and do
Known for
- Gilles Vigneault's birthplace
- Les Galets heritage fishing site
- La promenade des Anciens boardwalk
- Innu reserve of Pointe-Parent
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pointe-Parent Innu reserve | Drive or cycle about 5 km west on Route 138Drive or cycle about 3.1 mi west on Route 138 | About 15 min by car |
| Aguanish | Route 138 west by car | About 45 min |
| Kegaska | Route 138 east, the last connected village | About 1 h |
| Havre-Saint-Pierre | Route 138 west by car | About 3.5 h |
Sleep
- Village centre (chemin d'en Haut)
- Walkable to the tourist office, museums, boardwalk and the supermarket; best if you have no car.
- Rue du Pré / bay side
- Auberge and gîtes with water views, a few minutes' drive or a 15–20 min walk from the centre.
- Pointe-Parent (Innu reserve)
- Separate sector about 5 km west along Route 138; camping and a grocery, quieter.Separate sector about 3.1 mi west along Route 138; camping and a grocery, quieter.
- Municipal campground
- By the sea at 184 chemin d'en Haut; 38 sites in two sectors. Book ahead in July–August.
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 boardwalk? | Où est la promenade ?oo ay la prom-NAD |
| Can I pay by card? | Puis-je payer par carte ?pweezh pay-YAY par kart |
| I don't speak French | Je ne parle pas françaiszhuh nuh parl pah fran-SAY |
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
- Route 138 ends here: east of Kegaska there is no road, only the Bella Desgagnés ship and small planes.
- Distances are huge — Havre-Saint-Pierre is about 3.5 h west, Sept-Îles about 7 h, Montréal about 14 h.
- Cell coverage exists in the village but is patchy on the road and trails; download maps before you drive.
- Many lodgings and restaurants are seasonal and close outside June–September; confirm before booking.
- Fuel up here before heading further along the coast.
Very low crime; the real risks are distance, weather and isolation. Tell someone your route, carry fuel and water, and treat the bush and the water with respect.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Natashquan yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gilles Vigneault's birthplace
- Les Galets heritage fishing site
- La promenade des Anciens boardwalk
- Innu reserve of Pointe-Parent
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Municipality of Natashquan (official): www.natashquan.org/
- Traversiers — Bella Desgagnés, Anticosti and Lower North Shore service: www.traversiers.com/fr/nos-traverses/desserte-maritime-de-lile-danticosti-et-de-la-basse-cote-nord
- Wikivoyage: Natashquan, revision 5279057 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5279057
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Natashquan
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 consulates here; the nearest are in Québec City or Montréal. US citizens: US Consulate General, Montréal (check the address).
French is the main language; a few words go a long way. Innu-aimun is spoken in Pointe-Parent.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/natashquan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.