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Beaches, sports, nautical activities and museums: what to do on the Magdalen Islands

Îles-de-la-Madeleine skyview

Eager to arrive on the Islands but wondering how to make the most of your stay? Here is a guide and a few suggestions to assure that you appreciate the atmosphere of the Magdalen Islands to the fullest.  Discover a variety of essential activities you must do when the CTMA Vacancier arrives at the dock, in this legendary island.

The most beautiful beaches are on the Magdalen Islands

The Islands and their 300 km of beaches offer many options for those who enjoy a sand bath and salty air. The water temperature is around 18°C (64°F) in mid-August, and can go up to 20°C (68°F) in the lagoons and bays. The Magdalen Islands offer many spots ideal for swimming if you are willing and able to adapt to cold water.

Notice when your feet tread the sand of the beaches and you might hear humming. In fact, on many beaches of the island, you can hear a unique squeak to the rhythm of your feet. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the sand of these beaches comes from the erosion of cliffs containing microscopic particles of quartz bleached by the sea.

The coastal landscape of the island is in constant motion and is shaped daily by the tides and the wind. Thus every year, the iconic cliffs of the archipelago are eroded.

Although more than 70,000 tourists visit the Magdalen Islands each summer, it is possible to feel alone in the world due to the vast extent of its coastlines. Here are the many beaches and attractions you will find across the Magdalen Islands. It’s up to you to explore them and fill up with many amazing and unforgettable memories. 

North Dune Beach

This beach near the village of Fatima owes its name to a shipwreck that occurred on its shores at the end of the 19th century. Its protection from the wind and currents, offers an ideal environment to practice several activities. It extends to 18 km with a width varying between 20 and 40 meters. The Fatima Shoal, one of the two places on the islands to practice the buggy, is behind the Dune, on the side of the lagoon. This place is also prized by birdwatchers, there you can peep the Piping Plover, a rare and endangered species.

West Dune Beach

Its long beaches and beautiful sunsets make it an ideal place for lovers who wish to enjoy long strolls along the seaside. It offers more than 8.7 kilometres of sand. Kayaking and bird watching are other activities you can practice there.

Corfu Beach

This beach takes its name from the ship that sank in 1963. You can see the remains still stuck in the sand after all these years. This beach is very popular amongst surfers.

North Dune Beach

Accessible by the village of Fatima, this beach, on the side of the lagoon, offers you an observation area for seals. They are not the only ones to take advantage of the abundant waves in this sector of the Islands.

South Dune Beach

Unique in its kind because of its cliffs, this beach offers you the opportunity to explore caves at low tide. Extremely popular and highly appreciated for its lack of wind, it is an ideal activity for the whole family. You will find picnic tables and toilets.

Cormorandière - South Dune Beach

Quieter than the western part of the South Dune, this beach is where you can enjoy long and intimate strolls on golden sand. The contrast between the sand, the red cliffs and the blue sky on a beautiful summer day is breathtaking to say the least!

Old Harry Beach

This beach is an integral part of the Réserve nationale de faune de la Pointe-de-l'Est. If you venture to its farthest point, you might get to see seals playing in the water. You can also take advantage of this location to enjoy water sports, available on site such as kayaking, kite-surfing and wind-surfing. This beach offers over 22 km of fine sand surrounded by ochre cliffs and caves accessible at low tide. The renowned National Geographic magazine has even ranked this Magdalen Island beach among the most beautiful in the world!

Martinique Beach

Families love this spot. The shallow waters that extend for many kilometres make it an ideal location to enjoy swimming with children. It is said that the waters of this beach are always a few degrees warmer than elsewhere on the Islands which is why they probably named it after a Caribbean Island! It is very popular with the surfers and is the perfect spot for those who would like to try out this exciting water sport.

Pointe-aux-Loups Beach

Excellent place for aspiring ornithologists, the site offers picnic tables to accommodate you during your observations. The water is very warm. However, we do not recommend swimming due to the strong tides.

Bassin Est Beach

More accommodating than the Plage du Bassin, there, you will be able to observe the seals and put your kayak to water if you wish to follow the maritime path of the Tour de la Grande-Entrée.

Cap Beach

If you are looking for seashells to bring back as a souvenir of the Magdalen Islands, take a walk to the Plage du Cap. It is well known for its sand dollars, typical shells of the region.

Sandy Hook Beach

This beach, famous for its sand castle competitions, will captivate and delight you. Creative minds, surfers and families gather there every year. It also offers a three-hour hikes for those who seek adventure, at the end of which, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of Île d’Entrée. It is also an excellent bird watching site.

Sports and nautical activities

Several boat launching areas are available via the beaches for kayaking, kite-surfing and wind-surfing but many other water activities can also be practiced through several local businesses. Here is a small directory that will help you find the activities that suit you best. For diving and surfing, equipment rental and services are usually available on the beaches.

Sailing

Paddle board

Horse riding

The equestrian center La Crinière au Vent is another activity to try. Horse-riding through bays and capes; you will be guided by trained and certified horses both in the water and on the sand.  Different courses, friendly races and challenges with family or friends will be offered.

Museums

What would the Islands be without their history and culture? Here are various places that provide you with information on how life on the Magdalen Islands took shape through its events and unique environment. Let us guide you through the museums available on site.

Seleine Mines Interpretation Center

The Musée de la Civilisation de Québec, in partnership with the Musée de la Nature et des Sciences, is pleased to present the Sel Essentiel exhibition. You can discover and learn about the salt that constantly surrounds us at the Centre d’interprétation de Mines Seleine. The only salt mine in the province is on the Magdalen Islands. The ore is mined to a depth of 489 metres. Each year, more than 1,300 000 metric tons of salt are mined. Impressive feat!

Veterans Museum

At Old Harry on Grosse Île, you will be able to go back in time and relive the daily life of the little Madelinots who came to school. The old wooden floors, tables and desks will take you back and remind you of a different era. The museum’s collection contains several objects and artefacts that will give you a glimpse into the lifestyle of the English-speaking community on the Magdalen Islands.

Mid-Lent Museum

Mid-Lent is a medieval festival that has kept its tradition in the village of Fatima. Disguises, music and joie de vivre are the main themes of this cultural incursion. Let yourself be transported to a different setting through audio-guides or organized visits.

Historical Site

Would you like to contemplate the Magdalen Islands with the look and feel of a bygone era? This historical site will allow you to walk through the reconstruction, either with a scale model or life-size, in the homes of yesteryears. You can also revisit the farm and fishing days that marked the reality of the Madelinots of that period.

Maritime Culture 

In business for over ten years, La Moule du large inc. is the only offshore mussel and oyster farming specialist in North America. Come and learn more about this unique technique of aquaculture and its products. It is also possible to visit the farm at sea if you are brave enough to strap on your boots and come aboard!

Potter Workshop and Boutique

The potter artists, both crafstmen and teachers, will be happy to share their techniques with you during workshops. You can browse workshops and find out more about the manufacturing steps as well as the tricks of the trade.

Île d’Entrée Museum

L’île d’Entrée is recognized as one of the small treasures of the Magdalen Islands. If you wish to learn more about its past, this museum will take you back to the life of the older days. Artefacts, photographs, articles of daily life and stories will make you witness that era.

Sea Museum

The islands, being surrounded by the sea, have developed a maritime lifestyle. The Vivre aux Îles - Vivre les Îles exhibition showcases the influence of the sea on the residents. Objects, photographs and archives will illustrate the life on the Magdalen Islands.

La Grande Saline 

It is the last building that witnessed the industrialization of fishing. La Grande Saline will tell you the history of the Grave and its maritime past.

The Saveurs et Art et Culture package offered by Voyages AML offers visits to some of these museums during three days of exploration on the Magdalen Islands. A beautiful way to discover the culture of the Island!

International Sand Castle contest

Usually held during the second weekend of August, the International Sand Castle Contest of the Islands is the largest event of its kind in the world. With the gathering of thousands of visitors and hundreds of participants annually from around the world, this contest is a must in the region. Created more than 30 years ago by a family of Madelinots wishing to establish a popular and unifying event, the contest has taken on unbelievable proportions and each year, kilometres of sand-coloured works of art line up on the Sandy Hook beach. Sand castles construction workshops, face paint and games for children, musical and circus performances are offered throughout the weekend. A huge and colourful party in the image of its residents!

Not to be missed

Whether you are attracted to the Magdalen Islands for their unique beaches, the breathtaking landscapes, its culture, history or friendly people, you will surely find what you are looking for. The islands are full of activities and memorable places to discover no matter the weather.

Happy exploring!

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