Discovering the Sept-Îles Islands
A visit to Sept-Îles necessitates exploring the Sept-Îles archipelago. Just off the city, you'll find Île du Corossol, Île Manowin, Île Grande Basque, Île Petite Basque, Île Petite Boule, and Île Grosse Boule.
You can take a boat excursion to explore these islands. On board, you can get close to Île Corossol and see its lighthouse, one of the oldest in Canada. Today, Île Corossol is a protected sanctuary for birds. So, when you approach the island, you can observe countless species such as puffins, eiders, ducks, Atlantic puffins, black guillemots, and long-tailed ducks.
During such cruises, the captains can enlighten you about local history, and if you're lucky, marine mammals might make appearances.
Not all islands in the archipelago are accessible, but you can visit Île Grande Basque. Here, you'll find over 12 km of hiking trails. Moreover, with hills exceeding 120 meters in height, you can have a breathtaking view of Sept-Îles Bay.
It's also possible to spend a few days camping on Île Grande Basque and enjoy the beaches.
Île Grosse Boule is also accessible. Here lies the Maricole Purmer farm, where mussels, scallops, and seaweed are cultivated. You can spend the night here or simply visit and taste seafood products like seaweed chips.
The Mingan Archipelago
In the heart of Minganie lies the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve. This is where the largest concentration of erosion monoliths in Canada can be found.
One activity to discover the islands is to book your transportation with one of the many boat companies in the region that can take you on tours of the Mingan Archipelago islands. On some of the islands, an interpreter guide is present to provide more information about the islands, whether it's their history, flora, or fauna.
The islands are a preferred location for bird exploration. Some 40,000 pairs of seabirds nest on the islands, including the largest populations of common eiders, Arctic terns, and Arctic terns in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, as well as a few colonies of Atlantic puffins.
There are over 200 species of birds in the National Park Reserve. If you visit the island, it's important to respect the animals' space as most are nesting during the tourist season.
Numerous accommodation options are also available on the islands, such as several camping sites. It's also possible to spend the night on Perroquets Island. This island is the site of the Perroquets Island lighthouse station. Therefore, it's possible to sleep in the lighthouse keeper's house. You can also discover the people who have occupied the lighthouse over the years and experience the solitude of this place.
Oasis Accommodation
If you want to experience something unique during your vacation, what could be better than spending a night inside the Oasis at the Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve? Moreover, you can admire the magnificent landscapes of the region. Shaped like a water droplet, the structure has a bench that converts into a bed on the ground floor and a hammock mezzanine above. The perfect place for a couple or a small family.
By Vincent Rioux-Berrouard for the Côte-Nord tourist magazine Between Nature and Grandeur
