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Major city · Canada

Wemindji

Go only if you are driving the James Bay Road or flying in for Cree cultural trips: 1–2 nights, July to early September, no alcohol.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jul–early Sep
avoid Nov–Apr (cold, snow, limited access)
Airport
YNC
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.

Wemindji is a Cree village of about 1,400 people on Paint Hills Bay, roughly 5 km from the open water of James Bay. It sits at the end of a 96 km gravel road off the James Bay Road, 518 km north of Matagami, so most visitors arrive by car on a northern loop or by Air Creebec from Montréal or Val-d'Or. The draw is guided boat trips to James Bay islands, the August pow wow, and Cree-run camps that teach fishing, plants and tipi building. It is a dry community, services are few, and the trip is about the land and the people, not about a resort.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Wemindji, 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 or a meal in the villagecheckC$5–25 (≈ US$4–19)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
  • Budget bedInformal camping or RV spot, a night, per personC$0 (≈ under US$1)
  • Mid-range bedMaquatua Inn room, a night, per roomC$190 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedMaquatua Inn room, a night, per roomC$260 (≈ US$190)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$100 (≈ US$75) · Mid C$180 (≈ US$140) · 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 →

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.

Cree Nation of WemindjiJames Bay and Paint Hills BayGuided motorboat excursionsWemindji Pow WowCree cultural camps
Airports
YNC Wemindji Airport (Air Creebec links to Montréal-Trudeau, Val-d'Or, Chibougamau, Chisasibi, Eastmain, Kuujjuarapik, Nemaska and Waskaganish.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Wemindji: 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

−16°C

−26°C

12 rd

Feb

−14°C

−25°C

10 rd

Mar

−7°C

−19°C

10 rd

Apr

1°C

−10°C

9 rd

May

9°C

−2°C

10 rd

Jun

16°C

4°C

11 rd

Jul

20°C

8°C

13 rd

Aug

19°C

8°C

14 rd

Sep

13°C

4°C

15 rd

Oct

6°C

−1°C

15 rd

Nov

−3°C

−9°C

15 rd

Dec

−12°C

−21°C

14 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 village is small and walkable. Mawabou Taxi covers the rest. In summer, canoes, kayaks and guided freighter canoes reach the surrounding lakes and James Bay; in winter, snowmobiles. Boat rentals run July to early September.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Radisson and the Robert-Bourassa generating station

caution

Door to door: About 2.5 h each way

Drive the James Bay Road south, 198 km

Long return drive; fuel at Radisson.

Chisasibi

overnight

Door to door: About 3 h each way

Drive the James Bay Road, 268 km

Too far for a comfortable day return.

Eastmain

overnight

Door to door: About 4 h each way

Drive the James Bay Road, 366 km

Plan a night on the road.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Maquatua River mouth

Maquatua Inn, 30 rooms with private bath, fridge and microwave; dining room open nightly.

Riverside / village centre

Kookum Sarah's Bed & Breakfast; walkable to the store and the boat launch.

Outside the village

Informal camping and RV spots on gravel; ask at the police station or village office first.

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$80–150 (≈ US$60–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$150–250 (≈ US$110–190) excl. bed
High
C$250 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Maquatua Inn room1 × 2 nights × C$190C$380
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × C$180C$720
Guided motorboat excursion, 2 h2 × C$219C$438
Guided motorboat excursion, 3 h2 × C$310C$620
Canoe or kayak rental, full day2 × C$60C$120
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$233
Trip total≈ C$640 per person per day, bed includedC$2,561≈ US$1,900

check

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; flights and vehicle costs excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Guided motorboat excursion, 2 hJuly to early September.C$219 (≈ US$160) per person
Guided motorboat excursion, 3 hJuly to early September.C$310 (≈ US$250) per person
Canoe or kayak rentalLife jackets and paddles included.C$25–30 (≈ US$19–25) for 2 h; C$55–60 (≈ US$40–45) full day
Coffee or a meal in the villagecheckC$5–25 (≈ US$4–19)
Fuel in WemindjiSibi Gas Station; not always 24 h.check
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Violent crime is rare; the real risks are the remote road, fast-changing weather on James Bay, bears and insects, and the lack of services. Tell someone your route before any boat or bush trip.
  • Wemindji is a dry community: no alcohol is legally available.
  • The James Bay Road is remote; fuel is 24 h at Matagami (km 0), Relais Routier (km 381) and Radisson (km 620), and in Wemindji at Sibi Gas Station, but not always 24 h.
  • There are no services on the 96 km gravel access road until you reach the village.
  • Open water on James Bay needs offshore ocean skills; carry GPS and tell locals your boating plans.
  • Black bears and insects are common; keep a clean camp.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance (Canada-wide)
911
Wemindji Police Force
+1 819-978-0320
Ambulance
+1 819-978-3911
Fire Department
+1 819-978-3773
Clinic
+1 819-978-3117

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.

WemindjiWemindji

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

checkTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Wemindji Police Force+1 819-978-0320
  • Ambulance+1 819-978-3911
  • Clinic+1 819-978-3117

Embassy

No embassies in Wemindji; the nearest consulates are in Montréal. US citizens: US Consulate General, Montréal (check the address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Guided motorboat excursion, 2 h: C$219 (≈ US$160) per person, July to early September
  • Canoe or kayak rental, full day: C$55–60 (≈ US$40–45), life jackets and paddles included
  • Village taxi: check

Say or show

  • Wachiya — Hello (wa-chee-ya)
  • Mikwetch — Thank you (mi-kwech)
  • Iye — Yes (ee-yeh)
  • Namoya — No (na-mo-ya)
  • check — How much is it? (check)
  • check — Where is the toilet? (check)

Cree is the first language in Wemindji; English is widely spoken as a second language.

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 Wemindji. 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: Jul–early Sep · avoid Nov–Apr (cold, snow, limited access) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources