Territory capital · Canada
Kuujjuarapikᑰᔾᔪᐊᕌᐱᒃ
Go only if you have a reason to be on the Hudson Bay coast: 2 nights covers the village, the falls walk and a boat out to the islands.
Kuujjuarapik is the southernmost Inuit village in Nunavik, paired with the Cree community of Whapmagoostui across the same spit of land at the mouth of the Great Whale River. Together they hold about 1,800 people. There is one hotel, one restaurant, two grocery stores and no road in: you arrive by air from Montréal or from a neighbouring Nunavik community. Two nights is the working answer — one to arrive and walk the village, one for the river and the islands — and anything longer needs a specific reason such as wildlife watching, fishing or a community visit.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jul–Aug (ice-free water, warmest days, boat access to the islands)
- avoid Nov–May (deep cold, sea ice, no boat access); Jun and Sep are shoulder months with changeable conditions
- Airport
- YGW
- Nights
- 2
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.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Kuujjuarapik911 ▾
- Police, fire and ambulance (nationwide)911
- Kuujjuarapik police+1 819-929-9111
- Eeyou Eenou police (Whapmagoostui)+1 819-929-3700
- Kuujjuarapik fire+1 819-929-9000
- Whapmagoostui fire+1 819-929-9110
- On-call nurse+1 819-929-9090
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kuujjuarapik, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $).Canada-wide
- SIM or eSIMRogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores.Canada-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).Canada-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.Canada-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Canada-wide
- SafetyThe village is small and quiet; the real risks are weather, distance and isolation.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire and ambulance (nationwide) · +1 819-929-9111 Kuujjuarapik police · +1 819-929-3700 Eeyou Eenou police (Whapmagoostui)
- Sundays & holidaysStatutory holidays close shops and offices, varying by province; many park facilities are seasonal (about mid-May to mid-October).Canada-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportYGW Kuujjuarapik Airport (Air Inuit daily from Montréal; Air Creebec three times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri).
- Getting aroundOn foot: the whole village is about a 20-minute walk end to end.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Budget bedCo-op hotel room (only hotel in town), a night, per roomC$235 (≈ US$180)
- Mid-range bedCo-op hotel room (only hotel in town), a night, per roomC$235 (≈ US$180)
- High-end bedCo-op hotel room (only hotel in town), a night, per roomC$235 (≈ US$180)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$120 (≈ US$90) · Mid C$200 (≈ US$150) · High C$320 (≈ 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 →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
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.
- Airports
- YGW Kuujjuarapik Airport (Air Inuit daily from Montréal; Air Creebec three times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri). Air Inuit also links Radisson, Puvirnituq, Sanikiluaq and Umiujaq. The terminal sits across the road from the only hotel.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−18°C (0°F)0°F (−18°C)
Feb
Avoid
−17°C (1°F)1°F (−17°C)
Mar
Avoid
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
Apr
Avoid
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
May
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Jun
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Jul
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Aug
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Sep
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Oct
not flagged
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Nov
Avoid
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
Dec
Avoid
−13°C (9°F)9°F (−13°C)
Best: Jul–Aug. Avoid: Sep, Nov–Jun. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)), coolest Jan (−28°C (−18°F)−18°F (−28°C) low), wettest Sep (16 rain days), driest Apr (9). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kuujjuarapik: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−18°C (0°F)0°F (−18°C)
−28°C (−18°F)−18°F (−28°C)
12 rd
Feb
−17°C (1°F)1°F (−17°C)
−28°C (−18°F)−18°F (−28°C)
10 rd
Mar
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
−23°C (−9°F)−9°F (−23°C)
10 rd
Apr
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
−14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C)
9 rd
May
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
10 rd
Jun
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
11 rd
Jul
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
13 rd
Aug
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
15 rd
Sep
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
16 rd
Oct
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
16 rd
Nov
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
15 rd
Dec
−13°C (9°F)9°F (−13°C)
−22°C (−8°F)−8°F (−22°C)
14 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
On foot: the whole village is about a 20-minute walk end to end. Taxis run at a flat $7 per person in town and $15 per person to or from the airport, cash only. There is no car rental and no road out of the community.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Amitapanuch Falls
goDoor to door: Half a day
Upstream on the Great Whale River, about 12 km (7.5 mi) from the village; go with a local boat or guideUpstream on the Great Whale River, about 7.5 mi (12 km) from the village; go with a local boat or guide
The reason most visitors come. Arrange the boat locally; the river is not a walking route.
Manitonuk Islands
goDoor to door: 2–4 h
Boat from the village across Hudson Bay
Bird colonies, seals and belugas. Sea state and ice decide whether it runs.
Whapmagoostui
goDoor to door: Under 30 min
Walk across the spit
The Cree half of the twin community; the old church and its painting are the landmark.
Umiujaq
overnightDoor to door: Half a day or more
Air Inuit flight along the coast
A flight, not a day trip: sleep there if you go.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Airport strip (Av. Henry Jamet)
The co-op hotel is the only hotel in town and faces the terminal; the airport restaurant is a short walk south. Everything else is a 20-minute walk.
Village core near the stores
Co-op and Northern Store cluster; handy if you are self-catering, but there is no other commercial lodging.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- C$120–180 (≈ US$90–140) excl. bed (self-catered groceries, walking, one taxi)
- Mid
- C$180–280 (≈ US$140–250) excl. bed (some meals out, a taxi most days, a boat trip)
- High
- C$280 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed (guided wildlife or fishing days, private boat)
Trip budget
| Co-op hotel room (only hotel in town)1 × 2 nights × C$235 | C$470 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × C$200 | C$800 |
| Taxi, airport to hotel2 × C$15 | C$30 |
| Taxi in town2 × C$7 | C$14 |
| Boat trip on the Great Whale River or to the islands1 × C$300 · check — locally arranged, price varies with fuel and distance | C$300 |
| eSIM or local SIM data2 × C$40 · check | C$80 |
| Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$254 |
| Trip total≈ C$487 per person per day, bed included | C$1,948≈ US$1,500 |
check — one published rate, no competition
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Hotel room, per nightcheck — the only hotel; book ahead | C$235 (≈ US$180) |
| Taxi in town / to the airportCash only. | C$7 (≈ US$6) / C$15 (≈ US$11) per person |
| Soapstone carving at the co-op | C$225–300 (≈ US$170–250) |
| Grocery basket for two dayscheck — northern freight raises prices well above southern Canada | C$60–100 (≈ US$45–75) |
| Fast food main at the airport restaurantcheck | C$15–25 (≈ US$11–19) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No road access: flights are the only way in, and weather cancels them — build a spare day into any onward plan.
- Cell service is limited: Qiniq/SSi Mobile is the local provider and only Rogers has a roaming agreement. Bell and Videotron customers have no service.
- Cash matters. The taxi is cash only and card acceptance is uneven outside the two main stores.
- Alcohol is restricted in Nunavik communities; do not assume you can buy or bring it freely.
- Summer is bug season on the tundra and by the river: bring a head net and repellent.
- Boat trips to the islands depend on ice and wind; arrange them locally and treat the date as movable.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire and ambulance (nationwide)
- 911
- Kuujjuarapik police
- +1 819-929-9111
- Eeyou Eenou police (Whapmagoostui)
- +1 819-929-3700
- Kuujjuarapik fire
- +1 819-929-9000
- Whapmagoostui fire
- +1 819-929-9110
- On-call nurse
- +1 819-929-9090
Pocket card
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Kuujjuarapikᑰᔾᔪᐊᕌᐱᒃ
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ᐅᕙᓂ ᐊᑎᖓᒧᑦTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire and ambulance911
- Kuujjuarapik police+1 819-929-9111
- On-call nurse+1 819-929-9090
Embassy
No embassy or consulate in Nunavik. The nearest foreign consulates are in Montréal; for emergencies abroad contact your own country's embassy in Ottawa.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi, village to airport: C$15 (≈ US$11) per person, cash only
- Taxi in town: C$7 (≈ US$6) per person, cash only
- Hotel room: C$235 (≈ US$180) per night (check)
Say or show
- ᐊᐃ — Hello (ai)
- ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᒃ — Thank you (qujannamiik)
- ᐄ — Yes (ii)
- ᓇᒃᑳ — No (nakka)
- ᖃᑉᐸᑦ? — How much is it? (qappat)
- ᓇᐅᑦᑎᖅᑕᐅᕙ? — Where is the hotel? (nauttiqtauva)
Inuktitut spellings vary by community; show the written form if pronunciation fails.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
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 Kuujjuarapik. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jul–Aug (ice-free water, warmest days, boat access to the islands) · avoid Nov–May (deep cold, sea ice, no boat access); Jun and Sep are shoulder months with changeable conditions · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for YGW: Air Inuit and Air Creebec schedules field-checked, weather-cancellation fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: airport strip, the two stores, the river mouth.
- Place pages with verified access notes (Manitonuk Islands, Amitapanuch Falls, the old church) and eat pages with the airport restaurant's closed Sunday.
- Winter and shoulder-season fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialNorthern Village of Kuujjuarapik
- officialNunavik Tourism
- officialAir Inuit
- officialAir Creebec
- officialNunavik hotels — Kuujjuarapik
- secondaryWikivoyage: Kuujjuarapik, revision 5058410 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Kuujjuarapik
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