Québec City: Whale Watching Tour with Bus Transportation

Overview

Available languages

English

French

11 hours

Mobile ticket

Embark on a hassle-free adventure from historic Québec City and journey to the stunning Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park for a breathtaking whale watching tour. Choose between a spacious observation boat or an intimate Zodiac ride and encounter up to 13 captivating whale species with guidance from expert naturalists. Sit back and relax with round-trip bus transportation, enjoying a scenic journey through picturesque landscapes along the St. Lawrence River.

- Skip driving and enjoy comfortable travel by bus for this full-day adventure

- Discover breathtaking Charlevoix landscapes on the journey from historic Québec City

- Pick your adventure upon booking between boat or Zodiac, for a unique whale watching experience

- Get the chance to observe up to 13 whale species with commentary by naturalist guides

- Immerse yourself in the enchanting vistas of the Saguenay Fjord and its surrounding mountains

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Meals are not included. You can either pack a lunch and/or snacks, or you can buy a preprepared lunchbox from our lunchbox service upon arrival at Baie-Sainte-Catherine (depending on availability). Our lunchboxes are also available for preorder.

Please note that yours meal is not allowed aboard our boats. A one-hour lunch break is scheduled before the cruise, where you can enjoy your meal.

Please dress warmly, as it can be quite cold on the river. An insulated jacket, hat, gloves and closed-toes shoes are highly recommended.

Minimum age is 6 years for the zodiac boat

Zodiac excursions are not advisable, and even prohibited for certain persons such as young children (under the age of 6), pregnant people, people suffering from articulation, back, or autonomy problems. If you or any members of your group fall under these criteria, we recommend choosing the boat option for a comfortable and equally exciting whale watching experience.

Zodiac excursions are not advisable, and even prohibited for certain persons such as young children (under the age of 6), pregnant women, people suffering from articulation, back, or autonomy problems, or persons in wheelchairs. If you or any members of your group fall under these criteria, we recommend choosing our whale watching boat tour for a comfortable and equally exciting experience.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Expert and certified naturalist guide onboard

Waterproof jacket and pants (if choosing the Zodiac option)

All Fees and Taxes

2.5-hour or 3-hour whale-watching cruise

Bilingual commentary

Food and drink

Binoculars

What To Expect

Your full-day journey begins with pickup from your accommodation before meeting your group at Fontaine de Tourny. Board a coach for a scenic drive along the St. Lawrence River to Baie-Sainte-Catherine, Charlevoix—home to the world’s top whale watching sites. Majestic Whales: Our certified bilingual naturalist guides will share fascinating insights about the 13 whale species that frequent the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park. The best season for sightings is from May to October, so get ready for an unforgettable adventure! Boat or Zodiac Option: Step aboard our state-of-the-art observation boats, designed for maximum comfort and optimal whale watching, or opt for one of our sleek Zodiacs, designed for an immersive experience and minimal environmental impact. Whale Guarantee: Our sighting rate is extremely high, but as the marine park is a natural environment, sometimes mammals can be more elusive. If no sightings are made, we'll offer you another whale watching tour (boat tour only). Relaxing Return: After your cruise, unwind on the motorcoach back to Québec City, soaking in the scenic landscapes along the St. Lawrence River as you reflect on your incredible adventure.

Options

Zodiac Cruise

A small, faster, open-air boat that holds either 24 or 60 passengers and allows you to get very close to the whales.

Big Boat Cruise

Boat Cruise: Whale-watching cruise on a large, three-level, 105-foot (32-meter) boat with a glassed-in main deck, observation platform and covered upper deck.

Reviews

4.21

400 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

220

103

Whale watching from Quebec City
Barbara C,
Jul 11, 2025
- Viator
5.00
The views are beautiful! The guide was very knowledgeable, helpful, personable, and it was fun to be on the tour with her. We are thankful we took the tours advice to dress warmly, in layers for the experience. We look forward to returning to do this again in the future.
Amazing experience
Frank D,
Jul 11, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Amazing experience, beautiful scenery, and lots of whales, seals, and loons. My guide was excellent, and gave a wonderful bilingual tour of the region and the history of the cote nord du Québec.
No whales
Jill F,
Jul 5, 2025
- Viator
3.00
Don’t expect to see a whale! It was a very long journey to board the ship only to be a little disappointed not to see a whale. But as we all know, there is no way to guarantee seeing any kind of wildlife and you have to be prepared for disappointment. Our outward bus ride was spent listening to our guide saying everything in Canadian french and English with barely any respite. She was a lovely lady, very helpful but it was all too much for 3hours. We also found her quite difficult to understand but a really nice person. Coming back we got caught up in the Quebec summer festival traffic which was extra busy because the local buses were on strike. Overall a long day and to improve it I think I would suggest the tour guide should give the passengers a little more down time on the outbound part of the trip.
Coach breakdown fiasco
mary m,
Jul 3, 2025
- Viator
3.00
No chance to get a decent meal for what is a long day. Also coach broke down as an emergency worker in UK felt it was dangerous leaving a coach load on the side of a busy road for well over an hour and a half. Got back into Québec very late so no restuarnats where open and only one drop off. Not good enough really end spoilt the day to be honest
Relaxing trip from Quebec City
Stephanie A,
Jun 25, 2025
- Viator
5.00
The meeting point was very easy to find. Our driver Henri and guide Priscilla were very pleasant and answered any questions we had. On the way out, Pricsilla pointed out interesting landmarks and facts on both sides of the bus. There was a nice stop for a break. Once we reached the destination, everything was explained clearly and boarding the “big boat” went smoothly. The only real complaint I have was that some passengers were spread out on the seats so that others had to stand, but that’s no fault of the tour. As it was, we ended up standing at the front with the best view anyway! It was a beautiful day and the naturalists on board were able to provide lots of information between whale sightings. We did see whales! Not as many as we would have liked, but it was still nice. After the main tour we went into the fjord. The big boat has amenities like bathrooms, a little gift shop and cafe. The wind and being on the water did cause a drop in temperature, but most of us were fine with long pants and a sweatshirt. In general , it was a wonderful day trip and we didn’t have to drive. The return ride was quiet and we got back to the Foubtain in Quebec City in great time. Highly recommend.