Surrounded by national parks, this historically rich resort city serves upscale charm and five-star access to nature.
La Malbaie is a posh resort town in the heart of Quebec’s glorious Charlevoix region, home to the castle-like Hôtel Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu (consider heading there for a cocktail), the Astronomical Observatories and Charlevoix Meteorite Crater, and fantastic farm-to-table restaurants. For more than 200 years, vacationers have flocked here to enjoy the unspoiled natural beauty of the area in all seasons, from superb winter skiing to whale watching on St. Lawrence River. La Malbaie is a prime place to stop on any camping trip, with plenty of places to pitch a tent all around the city.
As the biggest population center in the Charlevoix region, you’ll find most amenities open year-round in La Malbaie because the winter season and many ski hills in the area are such a big draw. To observe whales in the St. Lawrence River, the best time is from May to October. The city can be very busy in July and August.