Tadoussac/Charlevoix: Tour de avistamiento de ballenas

Very foggy and chilly on the St. Lawrence. Visibility severely limited. Instead of spotting the whales, we listened for them. And we found them!—beluga, minke and fin whales. Great experience. Can’t stress enough to dress warm.

​We booked the Zodiac whale watching tour from Quebec City. While the nature experience itself and seeing the whales was great, the organization of the day trip left much to be desired for Zodiac passengers. ​Key points to be aware of if you book this tour: ​Bus logistics and group merging: We were told when booking that we would travel in a minibus specifically for the Zodiac group. Instead, we were put on a large bus combined with the group going on the big ship. ​No options for hot food or drinks: Passengers on the large ship have access to an indoor heated salon, a restaurant, and hot drinks on board. On the Zodiac, there are zero amenities. However, the bus logistics didn't account for this at all. The only stop along the 3-hour route was a small local gourmet shop selling cheese, cold cuts, and snacks. There was no place to buy hot tea, coffee, or a hot meal during the entire 10-hour trip. ​Schedule confusion: In the written confirmation, the departure time was listed as 8:30 AM, but I received a phone call the day before stating the bus leaves at 9:00 AM. ​Advice for future travelers on the Zodiac: Do not rely on the tour operator for comfort or food. Eat a heavy hot breakfast before leaving, bring your own thermal flask with a hot drink, pack plenty of food (repacked compactly), and wear heavy windproof clothing with warm layers, gloves, and extra socks. You will get very cold on the water, and there will be no way to warm up until you get back home.

Knowledgeable guide knew where to take us to see whales and other wildlife. Also the weather was great. That added to the experience.

Amazing experience! So many whales and other marine animals. Great service from planning, to booking, to site change to interpretation!! Thanks.

Charges a very high price for a three-hour cruise that only lasts 2.5 hours Required to pay for parking a 25-minute walk away and take a shuttle, while waiting for half an hour Too bad because the cruise is interesting Lack of professionalism

This was a brilliant experience. I’ve experienced many whale watches before, but this was next level. The zokiac allowed us to get up close and personal in a respectful manner. Specially, a humpback whale swam under the port side of our boat. It was otherworldly!! I highly recommend this tour. We saw many fin and minke whales and seals as well!

Good experience. Despite the crowd on the boat, everyone was able to see whales, belugas, and seals. Bring warm clothing

Saw 4 types of whales and 2 kids of seals. We were lucky - the humpback was diving and we saw the tail.

We had such a fun time! It was a whale bonanza!! Humpbacks, fin whales and one beluga whale. We saw so many whales in such a short time that we went back and got to explore the fjord and see a beautiful waterfall, sea lions sunning themselves on the rocks and just the most stunning scenery. Guides were informative, entertaining and kind. The information was given in French and English.

A must-do by zodiac. Lots of whales of different species, top-notch and enthusiastic guide.