Major city · Canada
Bonaventure
Stay one night in Bonaventure for the Acadian museum and Bioparc, then move on: it is a stop on Route 132, not a base for the Gaspé.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- avoid Nov–Apr (most attractions and hotels closed)
- Airport
- YVB
- Nights
- 1
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.
Bonaventure is a small Acadian town of about 2,800 people on the south shore of Chaleur Bay, on Route 132 between Saint-Siméon and New Carlisle. Its two anchors are the Musée acadien du Québec and the Bioparc de la Gaspésie, both a short drive from the centre. Most travellers see it in half a day to a day, sleep one night, and continue along the peninsula.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Bonaventure, 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
- SafetyA quiet, low-crime town; the real risks are seasonal closures, wildlife and moose on Route 132 at dusk, and cold water in Chaleur Bay.
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · +1 418-534-4014 (≈ US$3,000) Tourist Office (Jun–early Oct)
- 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.
- AirportcheckYVB Bonaventure Airport (About 3 km northeast of town; flights from Montréal, Québec City and Îles-de-la-Madeleine (check current schedule).).YVB Bonaventure Airport (About 1.9 mi northeast of town; flights from Montréal, Québec City and Îles-de-la-Madeleine (check current schedule).).
- Getting aroundYou need a car.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–5 (≈ US$3–4)
- Sit-down mealMain course$17–20 (≈ US$13–15)
- Street or quick mealBreakfast at Café Acadien$7–16 (≈ US$6–12)
- BeerBeer in a pub$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry, adult$13 (≈ US$10)
- Budget bedCampsite, 1–3 services, a night, per roomC$26 (≈ US$19)
- Mid-range bedCampsite, 1–3 services, a night, per roomC$38 (≈ US$30)
- High-end bedCampsite, 1–3 services, a night, per roomC$45 (≈ US$35)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$70 (≈ US$55) · Mid C$130 (≈ US$95) · High C$220 (≈ US$160)
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.
- Airports
- YVB Bonaventure Airport (About 3 km northeast of town; flights from Montréal, Québec City and Îles-de-la-Madeleine (check current schedule).)YVB Bonaventure Airport (About 1.9 mi northeast of town; flights from Montréal, Québec City and Îles-de-la-Madeleine (check current schedule).)
Weather and climate
Bonaventure: 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
−5°C23°F
−15°C5°F
12 rd
Feb
−4°C25°F
−14°C7°F
10 rd
Mar
1°C34°F
−8°C18°F
11 rd
Apr
7°C45°F
−2°C28°F
11 rd
May
15°C59°F
4°C39°F
12 rd
Jun
20°C68°F
9°C48°F
12 rd
Jul
24°C75°F
13°C55°F
12 rd
Aug
23°C73°F
13°C55°F
12 rd
Sep
18°C64°F
8°C46°F
11 rd
Oct
11°C52°F
3°C37°F
12 rd
Nov
4°C39°F
−3°C27°F
12 rd
Dec
−2°C28°F
−10°C14°F
13 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
You need a car. Route 132 runs through town and links the museum, Bioparc, campground and the cave at Saint-Elzéar-de-Bonaventure. Orléans Express stops in Bonaventure on its Gaspé–Rimouski route, but local sights are not walkable from the stop.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Pointe-à-la-Croix
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive west on Route 132
Battle of Restigouche site and the bridge to Campbellton, New Brunswick.
Saint-Siméon-de-Bonaventure
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Drive west on Route 132
Village stop on the same shore; pair with the Bonaventure sights.
Chandler
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Drive east on Route 132
Useful as a Route 132 stop toward Percé and Gaspé.
Door to door: About 3 h
Drive east on Route 132
Too far for a return day; sleep there instead.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Avenue de Port-Royal / waterfront
Riôtel Bonaventure and the museum are here; walk to the barachois and picnic tables.
Avenue Grand-Pré
Motel Grand-Pré, Pub St-Joseph and La Chope à Soupe; the practical centre for one night.
Camping Beaubassin Beach
Rue Beaubassin, sandy beach on the bay; tents and RVs, online reservations.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $70–110 (≈ US$55–80) excl. bed
- Mid
- $120–190 (≈ US$90–140) excl. bed
- High
- $200 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel double room1 × 1 night × C$130 | C$130 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$130 | C$260 |
| Musée acadien entry, adult2 × C$13 | C$26 |
| Bioparc de la Gaspésie, adult2 × C$24 | C$48 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$30 · check | C$60 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$52 |
| Trip total≈ C$288 per person per day, bed included | C$576≈ US$450 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; prices before sales tax. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–5 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Breakfast at Café Acadien | $7–16 (≈ US$6–12) |
| Main course | $17–20 (≈ US$13–15) |
| Beer in a pub | $7–9 (≈ US$6–7) |
| Museum entry, adult | $13 (≈ US$10) |
| Bioparc entry, adult | $24 (≈ US$18) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Most restaurants, hotels and the Bioparc close from mid-October to May: check dates before you book.
- The Grotte de St Elzéar requires a reservation; walk-up entry is not guaranteed.
- French is the main language (63% French only in 2021): basic French helps.
- Fuel and food gaps on Route 132: fill up before long stretches.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Tourist Office (Jun–early Oct)
- +1 418-534-4014
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BonaventureBonaventure
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Tourist Office (Jun–early Oct)+1 418-534-4014
Embassy
No embassy in Bonaventure; US consulate general in Montréal, other embassies in Ottawa (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Musée acadien, adult: $13 (≈ US$10)
- Bioparc de la Gaspésie, adult: $24 (≈ US$18)
- Campsite, 1–3 services: $26–45 (≈ US$19–35)
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it? (kom-BYEN sa KOOT)
- Je voudrais… — I would like… (zhuh voo-DREH)
- Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-LET)
- Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? (par-lay VOO ahn-GLEH)
Tipping is expected: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.
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 Bonaventure. 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: Jun–Sep · avoid Nov–Apr (most attractions and hotels closed) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for YVB: confirm the current schedule, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters: Avenue de Port-Royal and the museum, Avenue Grand-Pré, the campground beach.
- Place pages with verified hours for the Musée acadien, Bioparc and Grotte de St Elzéar, plus eat pages with last orders.
- Seasonal closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green outside Jun–Sep.
Sources
- officialTourisme Bonaventure
- officialMusée acadien du Québec
- officialBioparc de la Gaspésie
- officialOrléans Express
- secondaryWikivoyage: Bonaventure, revision 5327615 (CC BY-SA 4.0)