Relive the experience of immigrants to Canada in the 19th and 20th centuries and tour the facilities of the quarantine station on Grosse Île, in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. Admire views of the Isle-aux-Grues archipelago from the Mirador Trail.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Duration 6 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English, French
Small group: Limited to 15 participants

Highlights

Visit the quarantine station where many immigrants entered Canada
Explore the Mirador Trail for views of Isle-aux-Grues archipelago
See the Celtic cross that stands in memory of the Irish immigrants who died on the island

Full description

On your day tour of Grosse Île you’ll meet period figures who will tell you about the daily lives of the immigrants and employees that resided in this quarantine station. Experience what the immigrants must have felt when they entered the disinfection building, and learn about medicine and immigration procedures here during the 19th and 20th centuries. You can choose to walk or hop on the tourist trolley to visit the central part of the island and the village where the quarantine station employees lived. Continue on to the hospital sector at the easternmost point of the island to visit the Lazaretto. Take a walk along the Mirador Trail and admire the views of the Isle-aux-Grues archipelago, taking in the natural treasures that await you at every turn. Retrace the footsteps of the Irish immigrants or linger a while at the memorial and think about what they experienced as they arrived in Canada. Departure is from Berthier-sur-Mer, on the South Shore of the St. Lawrence River. The cruise lasts about 45 minutes. You remain on the island for about 4 hours. The return trip to Berthier-sur-Mer is at a set time, and also lasts about 45 minutes.

Includes

Guide
Local taxes and fees

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned

Meeting point

Please note that parking is difficult to find and traffic can be very heavy during peak months. It is recommended that you use public transport or arrive well in advance of your cruise departure time.

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Important information

Know before you go

Boats depart on time, so please arrive at the ticket booth 30 minutes before departure
The departure time may change at the end of August and may vary according to the tides and weather
Rain Policy: Unless the weather presents a danger to the security of the passengers, cruises are not canceled due to rain. There is always an enclosed area on the boat
Wheelchair policy: "Foldable" wheelchairs are OK, but unfortunately electric wheelchairs cannot be accepted as the ramps and stairs on the boats are too steep with the tides

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 400 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.9/5
Transportation
4.9/5
Value for money
4.6/5
Safety
4.9/5

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I loved the enthusiasm of the guides and actors, both on the ferry and throughout the course on the island! Their talents as well as their way of getting people to interact! The story is well detailed and the island is beautiful!! On the other hand, a little in a hurry at times… I'm disappointed to learn that it's the same price to go back and do the ride independently! Because we could have taken the time to read everything and visit the buildings! Very nice day

August 5, 2022

An extraordinary day on this island which has so much to tell! Playful and serious at the same time. The actors are really impressive and put us in the shoes of immigrants who landed despite themselves in quarantine. The animators give us a lot of historical information, they really have a great knowledge of places and times.

August 2, 2022

From the start, when boarding the boat until our departure, we appreciated the concern of the staff to ensure that the visit was a pleasant experience. A concern that is unfortunately no longer very present elsewhere! The landscape and the amenities at the start (clean toilets and restaurants) also made for a great day. From the outset, the captain of the boat shows us the height of the quality of the experience to come through his informative and/or funny exchanges and comments with the passengers! Thank you for this beautiful day spent with my two 83-year-old parents, who enjoyed the day as much as I did.

July 31, 2022

Quebec: Grosse Île & Irish Immigrant Memorial Day Trip

Quebec: Grosse Île & Irish Immigrant Memorial Day Trip

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