Chalets for Rent in La Malbaie, Charlevoix

La Malbaie owes its name and shape to a cosmic event 350 million years ago: a multi-kilometre asteroid struck the Canadian Shield and left a 56-km-wide crater. Today the rim of that crater traces the contours of the Charlevoix region — a horseshoe of mountains, deep valleys, and the great river opening into its estuary. La Malbaie itself sits at the head of the bay, where the Malbaie River meets the St. Lawrence. UNESCO recognized the area as a World Biosphere Reserve in 1988.

La Malbaie today gathers five former villages: Pointe-au-Pic, Cap-à-l'Aigle, Saint-Fidèle, Rivière-Malbaie, and the historic downtown. Each kept its character. Cap-à-l'Aigle, perched above the cliffs, became a refined resort enclave of secret gardens and discreet estates.

Our three chalets are all located in Cap-à-l'Aigle, in La Malbaie, on the heights overlooking the bay. Each has its own personality — a playful kids' wing, a dedicated thermal zone, terraces on green roofs — but all share the same promise: contemporary architecture, high-end equipment, views over the St. Lawrence River.

In winter, Mont Grand-Fonds is a 10-minute drive. This family-and-technical mountain offers 21 runs, the highest vertical drop in eastern Quebec after Le Massif (335 m), and 160 km of cross-country trails. For the marquee experience, Le Massif de Charlevoix is 1 h 30 away — the most dramatic ski-to-the-river descent in North America.

In summer, La Malbaie becomes the gateway to Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park, 30 minutes inland: 800-metre cliffs, granite fjord, cruises, day hikes. The Malbaie River itself can be paddled in kayak or canoe.

Downtown La Malbaie has every essential service: Metro and Maxi for groceries, SAQ for wine and spirits, several artisanal butchers and bakeries, and a culinary scene that has grown denser in recent years. The area lists tables noted by major guides — Vices Versa, Saint-Pub, Mouton Noir, Maison du Bootlegger — alongside several independent cafés.

Our detailed guides to the best restaurants in La Malbaie and the groceries of the area cover the addresses worth the detour.

Domaine Forget de Charlevoix, in Saint-Irénée (15 minutes), hosts each summer an international classical and jazz festival in one of the country's finest acoustic halls. The Casino de Charlevoix and the Manoir Richelieu, two emblematic institutions, dominate the tip of Pointe-au-Pic. Distillerie Menaud, in Clermont (10 min), produces gins and bitters from local ingredients.

From Quebec City: 1 h 30 via Route 138, or 1 h 45 via the Route 362 (the "scenic route" hugging the river through Baie-Saint-Paul, Les Éboulements and Saint-Irénée — significantly more beautiful than the 138 for those not in a hurry).

From Montreal: about 5 hours. A romantic alternative: the Train de Charlevoix runs from Quebec City to La Malbaie along the river in 3 h 30, with table service and panoramic windows.

Check-in at our chalets is from 4 PM, check-out before 11 AM, Sunday through Friday (Saturday not available).