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Major city · 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.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep (ferry and bike season); Feb for ice canoe and snowmobile
avoid Nov–Apr for cycling and most seasonal businesses
Airports
YQB · YUL
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
  • Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
  • Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.

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.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about L'Isle-aux-Coudres, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee and pastryC$5–9 (≈ US$4–7)
  • Sit-down mealDinner mainC$25–40 (≈ US$19–30)
  • Street or quick mealCasual lunch (soup, sandwich, poutine)C$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$25–45 (≈ US$19–35)
  • Museum or sight ticketMills entry (Les Moulins de l'Isle-aux-Coudres)C$8–15 (≈ US$6–11)
  • Budget bedHostel or campground bed, a night, per personC$45 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedInn or motel double room, a night, per roomC$190 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedInn or motel double room, a night, per roomC$320 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$160 (≈ US$120) · High C$280 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Water and wind mills (Les Moulins de l'Isle-aux-Coudres)Cidrerie Verges Pedneault and island orchardsFree ferry crossing from Saint-Joseph-de-la-RiveFlat cycling on chemin des Coudriers
Airports
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.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

L'Isle-aux-Coudres: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−6°C

−15°C

12 rd

Feb

−5°C

−14°C

10 rd

Mar

1°C

−8°C

10 rd

Apr

7°C

−1°C

11 rd

May

15°C

5°C

12 rd

Jun

20°C

10°C

12 rd

Jul

24°C

14°C

12 rd

Aug

23°C

13°C

12 rd

Sep

18°C

9°C

12 rd

Oct

11°C

3°C

13 rd

Nov

4°C

−3°C

13 rd

Dec

−3°C

−11°C

13 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting 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.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Les Éboulements and Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rivego

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Ferry to Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive, then a short drive on Route 362

The ferry wharf side; pair with the Route du Fleuve drive.

Baie-Saint-Paulgo

Door to door: About 1 h

Ferry, then Route 362 west

Galleries and food; an easy half-day from the island.

La Malbaiego

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Ferry, then Route 362 east

Casino, restaurants and the Charlevoix coast.

Saint-Irénéego

Door to door: About 45 min

Ferry, then Route 362 east

Beach and Domaine Forget on the river route.

Saint-Hilarion

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Ferry, then Route 138 inland

Inland village; only worth it if you are heading that way.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

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.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$150–230 (≈ US$110–170) excl. bed
High
C$250 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Inn or motel double room1 × 1 night × C$190C$190
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$160C$320
Ferry, Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive ↔ L'Isle-aux-Coudres2 × C$0 · Free service; check the scheduleC$0
Bike rental, one day2 × C$45C$90
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$30C$60
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$66
Trip total≈ C$363 per person per day, bed includedC$726≈ US$550

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; ferry is free for passengers and vehicles. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee and pastryC$5–9 (≈ US$4–7)
Cider tasting at the cidrerieC$5–15 (≈ US$4–11)
Mills entry (Les Moulins de l'Isle-aux-Coudres)C$8–15 (≈ US$6–11)
Casual lunch (soup, sandwich, poutine)C$15–25 (≈ US$11–19)
Dinner mainC$25–40 (≈ US$19–30)
Bike rental, one dayC$35–60 (≈ US$30–45)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$25–45 (≈ US$19–35)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

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.
  • 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.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

L'Isle-aux-CoudresL'Isle-aux-Coudres

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

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.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • 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 h
  • Bike rental, one day: C$35–60 (≈ US$30–45)

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
  • Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
  • Où est le traversier ? — Where is the ferry? (oo ay luh tra-vair-SYAY)
  • Puis-je payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (pweezh pay-YAY par KART)
  • Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-LET)

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for L'Isle-aux-Coudres. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep (ferry and bike season); Feb for ice canoe and snowmobile · avoid Nov–Apr for cycling and most seasonal businesses · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry timetable and last-crossing fixture for the Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive–Saint-Bernard-sur-Mer route.
  2. Four cycling clusters with rescue anchors: the ferry dock, the mills, La Baleine and the west-end parks.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for Les Moulins de l'Isle-aux-Coudres, the churches and the bird parks.
  4. Winter fixtures for ice canoe and snowmobile access.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources