Percé Rock &
Bonadventure Island
The village of Percé is about as
touristy as the region gets, with
numerous gift shops and seaside
restaurants that dish up French
inspired cuisine. The big draw is
Percé Rock, a massive limestone
boulder rising from the sea. This
famous natural landmark ranks as
one of the largest arches in the
world. Sea kayakers enjoy paddling
around it.
Tour boats glide past the Rock and
then circumnavigate Bonaventure
Island; the two form Percé National
Park. The boat slows on the cliff
side, providing glimpses of hundreds
of thousands of seabirds darting
about. I have never seen anything
quite like it.
The cruise continues until docking at
the island, uninhabited save for the
daytime staff of Park Rangers.
Bonaventure is home to a famous
colony of northern gannets, who
return to nest from April to October.
Visitors hike the National Park trails
to the island’s far side, where over
200,000 flock together. It’s surreal.
You get astonishing up close images
of these near 40-inch feathered
friends, who build their nesting
mounds very close to one another.
They seem to constantly bicker like
siblings when one crosses over into
another’s space. “Hey! That’s my
territory, get out,” they call.
I could have stayed for hours,
watching the fascinating behavior
and camaraderie of this species,
similar to Galapagos Blue-Footed
Boobies, but with black feet.
Bonaventure Island is the only place
in the world where you can see such
an immense rookery. I’d rank this
authentic outing a must for birders,
wildlife enthusiasts, photographers,
kids and anyone looking for nature’s
entertainment.
Lighthouses became essential in the
Quebec Maritimes, and if you are
among the fans who enjoy touring
them, you need to visit. More than
40 lighthouses line the coasts, 17
offer tourism activities or services
to the public. Some have been given
new life as museums, inns or cafés.
I am not a motorcycle rider, but if I
were, riding the 560-mile loop around
the peninsula would be on my list. The
uncrowded coastal roads reminded me
of the famed drive around the Cabot
Trail in Nova Scotia.
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