The Gaspé Peninsula (Gaspésie region of Québec) is an area of unique coastal and mountainous beauty, and Percé is probably its most famed area due to its iconic “pierced” rock (aka the Rocher Percé) just offshore. Beyond this mountain of a rock, the town and surrounding have so much more to offer, definitely enough to keep you entertained for several days, including several beautiful hiking areas and the world’s second-largest Northern Gannet colony on Bonaventure Island. Below we present our Top Things to See and Do in Percé to help you get the most out of your time in the area.
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Percé Orientation
The small town of Percé (population of approximately 3,000), located a the eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula (Gaspésie region of Québec), is about 1,000 km from Montreal. Most people will visit Percé (and the Gapsé Peninsula) via a road trip from Montreal or Québec City. Although a long drive, it is very scenic, particularly as you can get north of Québec City.
There are several great spots along the way to either stop to stretch your legs or spend the night. On the way up to Percé, we spent the night in the fantastic Gaspésie National Park, and on the way back to Montreal we spent the night in Rimouski, near the beautiful coastal BIC National Park. For more information on what to see and do along the way, check out the pages on our Gaspe Peninsula Roadtrip Itinerary (coming soon) and how to best enjoy nearby Forillon National Park.
If you would prefer to avoid the long drive, there are regional flights into the nearby town of Gaspé, 50 km north of Percé, from where you can also rent a car. However, direct flights to and from Montreal are generally only available during the mid-summer high season, otherwise, you’ll have to fly out of Quebec City. Either way, these tickets rarely come cheap considering the short trip and regional nature of the flight.
Finally, note that because of its remoteness and harsh winters, many sites and attractions in the area are only open for a few months during the summer (usually from early/mid-June to mid/late September). The best time to visit is late June or early September to get the best weather with fewer tourists.
The Percé Rock (“Le Rocher Percé“)
For many, the town of Percé is synonymous with its major attraction, the Percé Rock.
The Percé Rock is a huge sheer rock formation in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula (433 metres (1,421 ft) long, 90 metres (300 ft) wide, and 88 metres (289 ft) high, with an arch 15 metres (49 ft) high on its seaward southern end). It is one of the world’s largest natural arches located in water and is considered a geologically and historically rich natural icon of Quebec.
You can see the rock from pretty much anywhere in the area: the cliffs above it at Cap Mont Joli (requires a short 2 min hike and 1$ entrance fee to access the viewpoint), along the road coming from the north or south, along the town beach and promenade, or high above from the hiking viewpoints in the Percé UNESCO Global Geopark (described below).
At low tide, the rock is approachable on foot, as it is connected to the mainland by way of a sandbar. However, authorities don’t recommend getting too close to the rock because of the potential of falling rocks.
Although technically part of the National Park that includes Bonaventure Island (“Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock National Park“), the Rocher Percé can be seen from everywhere and as such do not need to pay park entry fees to admire its beauty. You will however need to pay fees if visiting Bonaventure Island, which we highly recommend and is described below.
Stroll along Percé’s Boardwalk
Officially known as the “Promenade de Percé“, this beautiful but short wooden boardwalk takes you between the town’s main drag and the beach. Along the boardwalk, you’ll find swing sets, long chairs, an observation tower and, more importantly, nonstop views of the Percé Rock. It’s the perfect place for a morning or evening stroll.
Though you can go for a swim by the beach, know that the water is very very cool here, peaking at around 16°C (60°F) in August, but it will usually be around 10°C in early June or late September (50°F).
Bonaventure Island National Park and the Northern Gannet Colony
Bonaventure Island is, without a doubt, one of the gems of the Gaspé Peninsula. Despite its relatively small size, the island is home to the largest migratory bird refuge in North America. Its colony of 110,000 northern gannets is the most accessible in the world. It is estimated that a total of 300,000 seabirds nest on the island, including razor-billed auks, gulls, kittiwakes, murres, and cormorants.
Bonaventure Island also offers four hiking trails, one of which is a historic heritage trail that reflects the island’s prosperous past (the longest and most southern route, the “Chemin-du-Roy” trail). We recommend taking the Mousses trail (the most northern trail) from the docks (on the west coast of the island) to the Gannet colony (yellow area in the below map) and then taking the Chemin-du-Roy trail on your way back. Doing the full loop will take you about 2-3 h to complete an 8.4 km route, depending on your fitness level and propensity to take pictures. The trails are mostly flat with modest elevation gains of about 100 m each way.
How to reach the island?
Bonaventure Island is only accessible by boat. Les Bateaux de Croisières Julien Cloutier and Les bateliers de Percé offer trips departing from the Percé wharf (by the boardwalk). Tickets are available on-site only from one of the ticket booths in Percé. Note that boat trips do not include admission to the park.
No overnight stays are permitted on the island, and thus it is mandatory to leave at the last with the last departing boat. We recommend getting on the first boat to the island, if possible, and heading straight to the colony via the Mousses trail. Otherwise, it can get crowded with tourists near the colony viewing areas.
Hiking in Percé’s UNESCO Global Geopark
Percé’s UNESCO Global Geopark is only one of five in Canada — these Geoparks are “unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development”.
The are many things to do at the Percé UNESCO Global Geopark, including exploring a network of 18 km (11 mi.) of hiking trails, visiting Tektonic — a multimedia center that brings you on a virtual journey through 500 million years of geological history, enjoying a fantastic view of the area from a suspended glass platform — which juts out the side of a cliff at an altitude of 200 metres (660 feet), and a 300m long zip line.
The trails and standard lookouts are free of charge at all times. Visiting the suspended glass platform or the Tektonic exhibition costs 15$ (2023), and ziplining costs 35$.
Of the hiking trails, in our opinion, the two most rewarding trails are the Belvedere trail (5km return), which has several viewpoints and provides access to the glass platform about halfway up the trail, and the Magic Forest trail (1km loop), which starts and ends just after the suspended platform along the Belvedere trail. On Alltrails.com, a shortened combined version of both trails is listed under the La Grive trail, which can be completed in under 2 hours. The full combo is listed under the Arpenteurs Trail. Most people can do both trails and visit the suspended platform in about 3 hrs, starting from the town campground near the Tektonic Pavillon.
Alternatively, you can take a shuttle from the pavilion directly to the suspended glass platform. From there, you can also choose to explore the nearby Magic Forest trail, which is a relatively flat trail with occasional uneven terrain.
Explore nearby Forillon National Park
Forillon National Park is one of 42 Canadian National Parks and was the first established in Québec in 1970. One of the best things to do in this national park is to explore the various beautiful coastal hiking trails it has to offer. You can also do some sea-kayaking and whale-watching tours. Located just 100 km north of Percé, Forillon is a must-do day trip if you are spending several days in the area.
For more information on the park and its hiking trails, check out our Best Hiking Trails in Forillon National Park page. For some quick and beautiful views close to a parking lot, check out Cap Bon Ami (pictured below).
If you are willing to do a quick but steep climb, hike up to the Mont-Saint-Alban Belvedere from the Cap Bon Ami parking lot. The views are quite breathtaking.
If you would prefer just a light stroll through marshy and mossy forests, head to the La Taïga trail on the western end of the park.
Visit Canada’s tallest lighthouse
Immediately north of Forillon National Park lies the Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse, which at 34 metres (112 feet) high, is the tallest in Canada. It was declared a national historic site in 1974, and the tower itself was designated a Classified Federal Heritage Building in 1994 — the lighthouse is one of just seven in Canada to hold this double classification. The lighthouse site opens on June 24 and closes at the beginning of September, and guided tours are available.
If you are curious about other lighthouses in the area, check out our page on Gaspésie’s Most Beautiful Lighthouses.
The town of Gaspé
Gaspé is both the administrative capital and the largest town of the Gaspé Peninsula. While we wouldn’t urge anyone to go out of their way to visit the town, it can provide a worthwhile stop either on your way to or from Forillon National Park. There’s a lovely waterfront promenade and a well-regarded history museum on its eastern end, and a short walk from the promenade, you will find the only wooden cathedral in North America.
If you are looking for a place to eat while in town, check out the Bise-Brise bistro bar.
WWII Peninsula Fort
Like the town of Gaspé, this is not a must-visit attraction, but it does have important historical significance. It is the only World War II shore battery that has been completely preserved and that is open to the public in Quebec.
From 1942 to 1944, German “U-boats” (submarines) entered the St. Lawrence Gulf and River to disrupt critical supply routes between Canada and the Allied forces in Europe, where they sank 23 ships during what has become known as the Battle of the St. Lawrence. In response to this danger, Canadian Navy strategists chose this site as a naval base to defend the St. Lawrence Gulf and River.
Beer tasting at local microbreweries
Did you know that beer is a big thing in this area? If you are a fan of beer and were looking for an additional reason to visit the Gaspésie region of Québec, this is it! Despite its very modest population of slightly over 100,000 inhabitants, the region is home to 8 microbreweries, all of which are part of a 19-microbrewery Eastern Québec Beer trail that offers a great selection of craft beers made from local ingredients.
Of these, five are within an hour’s drive of Percé. Our two favourites are Pit Caribou, which has a brewery location in L’Anse-à-Beaufils (a 10 min drive south of Percé) with a beautiful oceanside terrace (pictured below — it also more recently opened a pub in Percé), and Auval (an 8 min drive further inland). However, Auval doesn’t offer tastings: you just show up and buy whatever they have on hand — you’ll end up with something somewhat rare as they sell only a small portion of their artisanal production outside of the region.
Where to eat in Percé?
Note that several of these restaurants in town are closed for most of the year and only open during the tourist season – do not be alarmed by “temporarily closed” statements if researching off-season.
Le Paqbo (Percé) — The view and food here were so good we went twice! (though it was also conveniently located inside our hotel, the Riôtel). It was a bit pricy, but the food was excellent and the coastal views afforded by the wall-turned window were spectacular, which made for a memorable experience.
La Maison du Pêcheur (Percé) — It’s apparently THE place to eat in Percé, but sadly we didn’t get to try it out, as it’s often fully booked more than a week ahead. Although every night there is a waiting line outside in the event of cancellations (and there are indeed several during the course of the evening), we weren’t that desperate and chose an alternative instead (see next option).
La Boîte à Fruits de Mer (Percé) — Simultaneously a fish store and a restaurant, where the lobster is king. They have a lovely outdoor seating area with views of the Percé Rock.
Resto du Village (Percé) — A very low-key place for a quick bit to eat. Though it specializes in your typical fast food dishes, they have a large outdoor seating and delicious lobster sandwiches.
Pub Pit Caribou Percé (Percé) — A very popular pub in town. We didn’t try it, however, as we visited their microbrewery in L’Anse-à-Beaufils where we sampled several of their refreshing beers (see microbrewery above section).
La Vieille Usine de l’Anse-à-Beaufils (L’Anse-à-Beaufils) — A great place to have a sit-down dinner after having sampled a few beers at the nearby Pit Caribou microbrewery.
Peppino Pizza (near Forillon National Park) — Nice local pizzeria. Though not necessarily worthy of a lengthy detour, it’s a great option when near the Forillon National Park.
Where to stay in Percé?
There are many options in and around Percé, despite the generally small size of the town. We loved our stay in the Riôtel Percé, which is more of a high-end motel along the waterfront. The views from our room were fantastic (see below) and the on-site restaurant was one of our favourites in town.
Map of Percé attractions
Location of some of the top things to see and do in Percé
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Top Things to See and Do in Percé and that it will prove useful for planning your trip in the Gaspésie region of Québec.
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Preparing a trip to the Gaspe Peninsula (Gaspésie)?
We highly recommend these guidebooks:
- Gaspé the Romantique ‘Revisited’: A Road Trip Guide to the History, Legends and Attractions
- Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Ontario & Quebec
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You might also be interested in these related pages:
