Îles de la Madeleine (or Magdalen Islands) is a set of serene islands floating in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Winter morphs the archipelago into a postcard-perfect picture of Canadian wildlife, hosting harp seals and their pups on snowy shores. Summer shines on the isles' red cliff-ringed beaches and windswept, pastoral landscapes. Year-round, a warm welcome always awaits from the madelinots, the proud descendants of shipwreck survivors serenading you with traditional island tunes.
Visit Îles-de-la-Madeleine: get started
See the best of this unique Canadian archipelago! Make time for top attractions like the Cap-Alright Lighthouse, the Musée de la Mer, and the Site d'Autrefois. Opt for tour packages for unique experiences like admiring adorable harp seal pups, savouring the islands' best seafood, or kayaking around Parc de Gros-Cap. Plus, all our packages include top hotels like the Chateau Madelinot!
Îles-de-la-Madeleine travel guide
Destination facts
Language
Officially French and English
What to bring back
A bottle of bagosse (the legendary, locally-brewed fortified wine), island-made sauces and spice mixes from Gourmande de Nature, organic soaps from La Fille de la Mer and crafts from the many art boutiques and galleries.
What to eat
Everything that is fresh and from the sea (lobster, scallops, herring, mussels, crab and mackerel), local products like artisanal cheeses and island-made chutneys, pot-en-pot (seafood pot pie), salted meat stew, and croxignoles (braided fritters).
Fun fact
The archipelago was originally named Menagoesenog by the First Nations Micmac people who came here to fish and hunt. The name can be translated to “islands swept by the surf.” While explorer Jacques Cartier jotted the location down as the Araynes islands in his journal, it’s the first lord of the islands, François Doublet de Honfleur, who named the archipelago in honour of his wife Madeleine in 1663. The islands are mainly populated by the descendants of Acadian refugees (who were removed from the Maritimes by the British) and shipwreck survivors.
Important info
For more information on all necessary travel documents and more, check Air Canada’s Travel Requirements page.
