The village of Percé is the most spectacular spot on the Gaspé. Vertical cliffs rise straight out of the ocean on both the mainland shore (above) and the offshore islands. The most famous, the Rocher Percé (above right), is an island pierced by a giant hole 50 feet tall and 100 feet across (below right). A second hole collapsed in the 1800s. For two hours out of every twelve, you can walk out to the Rocher Percé on a spit of gravel that uncovers at low tide. On a good summer day hundreds of tourists make the pilgrimage and crawl over slippery boulders so they can walk through the Hole In The Rock and out the other side. Thousands more view The Hole from a distance from the safety of a cruise boat. Of those who opt for the "hands-on" visit, always a small number stay too long past low tide and get their feet wet on the return trip (bottom).
The Rocher Percé and nearby Ile Bonaventure, along with 1200-foot Mont-Ste-Anne overlooking the village, are protected within a Québec provincial park. Ile Bonaventure is home to one of the largest nesting colonies of gannets in North America. The red sand beaches are good places to look for jasper and agate crystals.
