Seven islands set in a semicircle close off the bay like the fingers of a hand open to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It's this archipelago that gave its name to the town, an outpost on Quebec's Côte-Nord long reachable only by boat: no road linked it to the rest of Quebec before 1960. Today a regional capital and one of Canada's most important ports by tonnage, Sept-Îles shows cruise passengers a very different face from its mining facilities: that of a town turned toward its promenade, its islands and Innu culture.

From the port to the Vieux-Quai promenade

Ships dock at the port facilities located close to downtown. From there, you quickly reach the Vieux-Quai area, whose first wharf was built in 1911. A paved promenade runs along the bay, dotted with parks, play structures for children and artisans' kiosks in summer. Local fishermen patiently mend their crab traps there under the watchful eye of the gulls, and the smell of the open sea accompanies every step. It's the beating heart of the town, where the people of Sept-Îles come to walk in the evening. You'll hear the lilting French of the Côte-Nord, sometimes Innu-aimun, and conversation starts easily with the strollers you meet along the way.

The archipelago and Grande Basque Island

From the nearby marina, water shuttles cross to Grande Basque Island, about ten minutes away. Twelve kilometres of marked trails wind there through boreal forest, sandy coves and granite headlands, with views of the harbour and the ships at anchor. Zodiac outings also let you approach the other islands, their seabird colonies and, with a bit of luck, the seals basking on the rocks. Corossol Island, a migratory bird sanctuary, is home to puffins, razorbills and eiders, among others, which the guides know how to spot without ever disturbing the colonies. Bring good shoes and a windbreaker: the sea cools the air even in midsummer, especially during late-day crossings.

Innu culture at the Shaputuan

Sept-Îles lives alongside the Innu community of Uashat mak Mani-utenam, and the Shaputuan Museum tells the story of this presence going back thousands of years. Set around a large traditional tent, the exhibition follows the cycle of hunting and gathering seasons, carried by the voices and everyday objects of Innu life. The visit sheds new light on everything you then come across in town, from place names to works of public art. It's often the part of the port call passengers talk about most at dinner.

Flavours of the Côte-Nord

Near the wharves, snack bars and restaurants showcase snow crab and northern shrimp in season. Local microbreweries serve beers made with northern berries, and the shops offer cloudberries and products of the boreal forest. A sweet tip: ask for a cloudberry pie, made with the golden Arctic berries picked in the region's peat bogs.

The port call at a glance

A last look at the harbour

On departure, the ship slips between the islands that have always sheltered the bay, from the Basques who came to hunt whales to today's ore carriers. The houses grow smaller, the forest reclaims the coast, and you then grasp the true nature of this port call: a door left ajar on the vastness of the Côte-Nord, which a few hours ashore can only brush against.