Day 18, 19 & 20 - Percé, Quebec

Length of Stay: 4 nights

Visited: 29 August - 2 September 2023

I booked our campsite months ago so as to wake in the morning with a view of Percé Rock. Isn't that why we are here...one of the reasons. Let the adventure begin. But first, you just don't know what will happen on these extended trips so you always pack for the unexpected...so I thought. Brownie, our oldest( almost 13) woke all of us up screaming bloody murder. I forgot his just in case pain medication. No vet in this part of the woods. Anyway after 24 hours he seems to be doing somewhat better...lets hope.

Percé is a small town in the Gaspe Peninsula. Depending from which way you come you drop down into a quaint but old coastal town at sea level. There are just over 3,000 permanent residents. During the summer months the streets are crowded with tourists here to seek a glimpse of Percé Rock. This iconic behemoth stands 88 m tall(288') and 471 m long (1545'). Due to the wind and sea Percé Rock is forever changing. Percé is made of limestone that gathered at the bottom of the sea 375 million years ago. At one point in time Percé Rock had more than one arch. The second arch gave way 17 June 1845 that is how the rock comes to look like it does today.

We walked to the top of Mount Joli for another breathtaking view of Percé Rock. Approximately 410 million years ago Percé Rock was attached to Mont Joli. 

Cape Blanc Lighthouse

Another major attraction to the area is Bonaventure Island which is located about 3km of the coast of Percé. It has the most accessible view of Northern Gannets then anywhere in the world. In 1971 the island became the property of the Quebec government.

We toured the Discovery Center in downtown Percé to get a better understanding of how the town came to be and the relevance of cod fishing to the area.

The downtown Quai or dock is where you get a boat to Bonaventure Island or whale watching tours. Before leaving town I bought my ticket for Friday to explore Bonaventure Island. Can't wait.

Coming from the west about 7 kms from Percé it is a series of twists and turns ending in an elevation drop(18% grade) into the town. The views are breathtaking.