4 minutes reading
By Atmosphere - May 28 2025
Caroline Côté and Atmosphere teamed up with POP Spirit to reveal the exceptional beauty of Quebec's Côte-Nord through a paddleboarding experience.
The 20 participants went on a total of 6 outings over the 3-day, 3-night stay. The group of women also stayed in camping sites or rustic shelters for an even greater connection with nature!
The number of kilometres covered always varies for the SUP to whales experience. POP Spirit doesn't emphasize this fact, as the duration of the excursions varies according to all the stops to be made when encountering marine mammals. POP Spirit adheres strictly to Park's Canada's rules for whale-watching in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, and is licensed and certified as a nautical guide. For a more rugged outing, POP Spirit offers its must do downwind tour, a 17 km excursion in which participants have to work with winds, tides, counter-currents, heat or cold. It's the perfect way to challenge yourself and enjoy the beauty of the landscape!
POP Spirit strongly recommends that participants take the advanced techniques course at Pointe-Claire before their trip. This way, participants can make the most of the experience, especially on windy days.
Founded by Marie-eve Bertrand, POP Spirit is an organization that offers outdoor experiences for women, with the particular aim of creating bonds between participants.
With POP Spirit, Caroline Côté had the chance to experience SUP whale-watching excursions in the estuary of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. The aim of this outing was to observe these marine mammals in their natural habitat. She also experienced an outing on the water at sunrise, offering a breathtaking view. However, this outing required a 5:30 a.m. launch!
POP Spirit likes to work with the tides for this type of excursion, because when the mammals' food moves, the whales show up more. In addition to whales, participants were able to see minke whales, beluga whales and porpoises.
Towards the end of September, it's possible to witness the migration of shorebirds and grey seals - it's always impressive to observe a group of fast-moving grey seals. When the water is crystal-clear, the cove bottoms are lined with sea urchins and starfish.
Each stay includes a festive aperitif to encourage bonding between participants while enjoying local products. Living together in the camping area also creates strong bonds. Founder Marie-eve has observed the many friendships that develop during these stays. Many loyal customers return year after year with people they met in previous years. At the aperitif, Caroline surprised the participants by offering them her book. They also left with a gift bag of outdoor items, courtesy of Atmosphere!
Enjoy Caroline Côté's microadventure!
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To learn more about Caroline and her impressive achievements, read our introductory article.
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