Activities and experiences

Red Bay National Historic Site

Experience 16th century Basque whaling traditions, brought to life through costumed interpreters, original artifacts, scale models of work buildings, photographs and a 30-minute film. See original artifacts recovered from archaeological excavations. Get a close-up view of a 16th century chalupa. Discover tools and weapons used by the Basques, along with well-preserved personal items. Tour Saddle Island to see the archaeological remains of buildings where the Basques worked and lived 400 years ago.

Digging Through Time on Saddle Island

With the earliest and best preserved artifacts of their kind, take a short ferry ride to join a Parks Canada guide to visit the archaeological sites on Saddle Island. Walk around the breath-taking island to hear first-hand experiences of finding some of Red Bay’s most precious artifacts, check out where whale oil was processed, and explore the life and times of Labrador’s 16th-century Basque whalers.