Grande-Entrée, Québec's Lobster Capital

Located at the northeastern tip of the archipelago at the end of Route 199, Grande-Entrée earned its official designation as Quebec's lobster capital in 1994 thanks to the exceptional scale of its fishing operations: over a hundred colorful boats, known as lobster vessels, anchor in its busy port during the fishing season, which traditionally begins in May, making this community one of the most dynamic economic hubs across the entire Magdalen Islands archipelago. An easy two-kilometre hiking trail from the village leads to Île Boudreau, actually a peninsula connected to the mainland, where a remarkable natural landscape unfolds, featuring distinctive clay veins and home to a seal colony observable from shore—one of the rare opportunities for visitors to spot these marine mammals without requiring a dedicated sea excursion. The Seal Interpretation Centre, located directly on Route 199 near the Auberge La Salicorne, features an interactive exhibition that deepens your understanding of seal behavior, providing a natural educational complement to direct observation at Île Boudreau. For those seeking water activities, sea kayaking offers an exciting way to explore the surrounding cliffs, or visitors can don a wetsuit to access coastal caves directly from the water, extending your immersive experience in this exceptional maritime environment that defines the northern sector of the archipelago.