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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Rencontre East
Go for 1–2 nights only if you accept the ferry timetable as your clock: no road in, no cars, one store. Otherwise skip and stay on the Burgeo or Fortune side.
Rencontre East is a ferry-only outport of about 115 people on Fortune Bay, reached by the MV Terra Nova from Pool's Cove (about 1 h 15 min) or Bay L'Argent (about 1 h 45 min). There is no road link, no car rental and one general store. You come for walking, boardwalks, bald eagles, salmon jumping into Rencontre Lake and a night in a place where ATVs are the main transport. Two nights is the practical maximum; one night is enough if the ferry times line up.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Mid-Jun–mid-Oct (full ferry week, warmest walking)
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (winter ferry days only, ice and wind)
- 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$140–220 excl. bed · High C$220+ 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 |
|---|---|
| Ferry, adult one way | C$6.75 |
| Ferry, child, student or senior 60+ one way | C$3.75 |
| Coffee or tea at the general store | C$2–4 |
| Basic grocery basket for a day | C$25–40 |
| Boat tour or kayak rental | check locally |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YYT · St. John's International
- About 4–5 h drive to the Pool's Cove or Bay L'Argent ferry terminals; check road conditions before setting out.
- YQX · Gander International
- Smaller gateway; onward drive to the ferry terminals is long, so plan an overnight en route.
Typical fares
- MV Terra Nova, Pool's Cove → Rencontre East
- C$6.75 adult one way, about 1 h 15 min
- MV Terra Nova, Bay L'Argent → Rencontre East
- C$6.75 adult one way, about 1 h 45 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
On foot. The streets are dirt and there are no cars in the village; residents use ATVs. Bring waterproof footwear, and ask locally before walking past the last houses, since some paths cross private land or fishing stages.
See and do
Known for
- Ferry-only outport on Fortune Bay
- Salmon jumping the gorge into Rencontre Lake
- Dirt roads and ATV transport
- Bald eagle and seabird watching
- St. Stephen's Anglican and Sacred Heart Catholic churches
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pool's Cove | MV Terra Nova ferry, about 1 h 15 min | About 1.5 h wharf to wharf |
| Bay L'Argent | MV Terra Nova ferry, about 1 h 45 min | About 2 h wharf to wharf |
| Burgeo | Drive from the ferry terminals, then the coastal road | Half a day or more |
| Ramea | Drive to Burgeo, then the Ramea ferry | A full day |
| Fortune | Drive from the ferry terminals via the Burin Peninsula | Several hours |
Sleep
- Village core near the ferry wharf
- Closest to Judy's General Store and the wharf; walkable to everything.
- Riverside camping spots
- Unofficial tent spots along the river north of the village; no facilities, pack out everything.
- Outport Quest yurts
- Yurt rentals and boat tours announced from 2025; confirm the season and booking before you rely on it.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you / Thanks |
| Where is the ferry wharf? | Where's the wharf? |
| Is the store open? | Is Judy's open? |
| Can I camp here? | Is it okay to camp here? |
| How long is the walk? | How far is the walk? |
| When is the next ferry? | When's the next ferry? |
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
- The ferry is the only way in and out: miss it and you stay until the next sailing.
- Winter service runs only on some days; check the provincial ferry schedule before booking anything else.
- No bank, no ATM and no pharmacy: bring cash and any medication you need.
- Mobile coverage is patchy; download offline maps and ferry timetables before you leave the terminal.
- Trails are unmarked in places and can be boggy; tell someone where you are going.
Very low crime; the real risks are weather, boggy unmarked trails and the ferry timetable. Carry cash, waterproofs and a charged phone, and treat the schedule as fixed.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Rencontre East yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ferry-only outport on Fortune Bay
- Salmon jumping the gorge into Rencontre Lake
- Dirt roads and ATV transport
- Bald eagle and seabird watching
- St. Stephen's Anglican and Sacred Heart Catholic churches
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Newfoundland and Labrador provincial ferry service — Rencontre East schedule: www.tw.gov.nl.ca/ferryservices/schedules/o_rencontr.html
- Wikivoyage: Rencontre East, revision 5322730 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5322730
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Rencontre East
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No consulates in the village; the nearest consular help is in St. John's, and national embassies are in Ottawa.
Cash is king here: no ATM in the village.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/rencontre-east). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.