Wow. Jet boating with Saute-Moutons was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Montreal. I…read morehighly recommend it, but it's not for everyone. It's thrilling, it's exhilarating, and sometimes, it's even scary. This is like a roller coaster ride on the water. And you will get completely soaked, from head to toe, over and over. If getting repeatedly hit and completely doused with large volumes of cold water is not your idea of fun, then do not go on this ride and stop reading now. However, if you're looking for a little excitement in your life and want something different to do, this definitely fits the bill. If you're concerned about safety, our guide pointed out upfront that Saute-Moutons has not had a single fatality since opening for business in 1983. What to expect is pretty simple: 1. You show up to the docks/Saute-Moutons 45 minutes prior to departure. You check in, sit through a tutorial, and review safety procedures. 2. You check your bags/belongings at a counter into a secure room. You change into clothes for the ride. 3. Clothes: Wear a swimsuit or anything you don't mind getting completely soaked. Bring a towel and a complete change of clothes, including footwear in case you decide to wear your own footwear on the boat. Saute-Moutons provides low-quality sandals with strapped-in heels that you can use, included with your ticket price. The water is cold and you will be traveling at high speeds so you will get cold. Saute-Moutons provides sweaters (fleece pullovers). Don't be afraid to layer up. You then put a jumpsuit on. Then you put a poncho on. After that, it's the life vest. Even though you have all of these layers, make no mistake, every crevasse of your body will get wet. Do not bring any loose objects with you onto the boat. You risk losing it. There are pouches on the back of each seat where you can store items such as waterproof cameras, but I don't recommend bringing much else. The water comes in at quite a force and it will easily knock off things like glasses/sunglasses and loose footwear. You might even considering bringing spare contacts because if you're not careful, the force of the water could knock the contacts off your eyeballs. 4. Once everyone is checked in, briefed, and dressed, they are loaded onto an aluminum boat. Ours had two 700 horsepower engines (1,400 horsepower total). Powerful. We made our way south down the St Lawrence River, around Nuns' Island, to the Lachine Rapids. Along the way, our guide narrated and gave us a river tour of Montreal. 5. The fun happens at the Lachine Rapids. Basically, the captain of the boat goes around in circles, in the rapids, trying to smash the front and sides of the boat into huge oncoming waves. You'll go up waves, down waves, and crash directly into them. The captain times a lot of the hits and most of them are huge, dramatic, and downright jolting. To get an idea of what I'm describing, just search YouTube for videos of Saute-Moutons. I must note the videos do not completely do what you actually feel in person justice. Sitting in the boat at rest, the water can get as high up as your belly/chest. The boat gets filled with water (it later drains out). Prepare to get water from the St Lawrence River in pretty much every orifice of your body except for, probably, those in your nether regions, which should be protected by at least two or three layers. I sat on the far right side of the boat (starboard). The first wave the captain smashed into us struck the right side of the boat first. I can only describe it as a rude awakening. It was literally like a roomful of cold water crashed into me from above and from the side. Whoosh. I got a direct hit of water into my right ear. The first hit set the tone for the rest of the ride. People were laughing hysterically, including myself, at how crazy the whole situation was and what we had gotten ourselves into. During the ride on the rapids, the guide (one of two Saute Moutons employees on board) continues to commentate. Our guide also took photos and videos of us with a GoPro. That media was available later on Saute Moutons' website. At one point, he handed us a shampoo bottle and had us pass it around. We literally washed our hair during the ride. 6. The ride lasted about an hour. We made our way back to the docks, all soaked, some cold. They have changing rooms so you can change into a new set of clothes. Consider bringing a large waterproof bag to put your wet swimsuit/clothes in. Todd "the Legend" was our guide (I think that is what he wanted us to call him). He was hilarious. It appears he's been doing this for years and multiple times per day. I'm not sure where he gets his energy from and how he's able to be "on" all the time. Not only is he informative, but he's very friendly and entertaining. He's like a comedian. Prices vary depending on season. We paid about $70 Canadian each after all was said and done. That included tax and tip. I thought it was worth it.

I got tickets for this though the GoVieuxPort.com website as part of the Nautical Getaway package…read moreand it was worth every penny (especially at a 40% discount)! I had a guest from out of town so we brought her with us for the ride. Even my 70 year old mom joined in though she was quite nervous about the experience. However, the ride was way safer and more fun than expected. We got there 45 min early and they play old promo videos to keep you entertained while you wait. You can definitely take this time to go to the bathroom/drink water and even strip down to your swimwear (whatever you're wearing on the boat). Presentation really starts at the 30 min mark. They go over the trip details and send everyone off to check their bags and get their sandals (if needed). NOTE: if you want to sit up front in the boat, you'll have to hustle to be first to check your bags and suit up and run over to the boat because those are the coveted seats!! We were slow so we ended up sitting in the last row. It's still a good experience, especially with my mom on board but I felt it was just a touch on the tamer side than what I wanted. Being this close to the Lachine rapids is such a thrill!! The pale turquoise waves look awesomely beautiful and fast! The curls that the waves made were absolutely stunning!! For me it was really a visual treat. We went on a hot day and our departure was at 5pm so the water had the whole day to warm up and was a tepid 23°C in August. When you hit a good wave, the water floods and drains out the back of the boat so after a huge wave crashed on the boat, we had water right up to our knees!!! I think we must've done 5 loops of going up and coming down the rapids and then it was a very speedy ride back to the Old Port. You'll appreciate the free hair drying portion of the ride as the wind whips your hair dry! The staff were helpful, funny, warm and personable. The owner Jack made you feel super welcomed. In fact, he asked us if it was our first time, he joked why did we wait so long to come see him! Here's my recommendations, if it's not 30°C out, you may feel a touch chilly in the 15 min speed ride to and from the rapids, especially after getting wet! Wearing a poncho keeps you warm and your hair almost dry because it comes with a hood. Even if it's your first time, try to sit at least 3 rows from the back because during the ride out, the engine is loud so you won't here anything the tour guide is saying even on the speakerphone. Also, you'll get a more immersive (literally) experience!! Be the first one out to the pier if you want front row seats. At the back, we still got totally soaked but we weren't really baptized in the river like those in the front rows. Sometimes we saw waves but they never reached the back of the boat. I brought my goggles cause I wore contacts but they fogged up a bit so I couldn't see how awesome the waves were but I put them up in between rounds. The water isn't a spray... More like a pounding so it can knock things loose. Bring a hair tie to keep your hair out of your face. Take the 5pm ride if you want a warm water experience. It was hot out but the sun wasn't overbearing. When the water filled the boat it was nice and tepid. If you can bring a waterproof GoPro to capture the waves cresting as the boat prepares to dive into the waves, it's the most epic thing ever! Alternatively you "can" bring your phone and during the ride back to the Old Port our tour guide offered to take pics and videos on people's phones. Great experience and if you're from Montreal, you gotta try it at least once!

From the owner: Location des Quatre Lacs has been specializing in pontoon boat rentals for over 10 years in various…read moreregions of Quebec. Located in Estrie, Mauricie, Monteregie, Outaouais, and the Laurentians, our range of services allows you to navigate different regions for a few hours or a full day! Our Princecraft pontoons are available for a perfect, safe, and hassle-free relaxation. Whether it's a family celebration, gathering with friends, or a business occasion, we are the solution for your day on the water. Recognized for our professionalism, our turnkey service will undoubtedly satisfy you. Bring your lunch and drinks, and we take care of everything else! Learn more about our hourly packages and our VIP offer for unlimited pontoon use! Visiting us means adopting us!

Nous avons passé mon mari et moi une excellente soirée le 13 février dernier. Service impeccable;…read moreemployés courtois et gentils. Nourriture très très bonne. Ambiance douce et calme. Nous comptons refaire l'expérience.

Nice excursion.Slow and steady down the river. Drinks are expensive but plentiful. Make sure you…read morecheck the Tourisme Montreal for a ticket or buy one at the kiosk.

Finding the port was fairly easy. We checked in and a friendly young lady greeted us & lead us to a…read morenice little waiting area with a very small bar but let's go cruising. At the plank we were greeted by Alex who welcomed us abord. We chose a window seat & felt like we were in a green house lol since it was floor to ceiling glass & the sun was smiling at us in full force. Our server, Sofiane, had a great personality & totally made the experience! He got us our bloody Mary's toute de suite & we were ready to go. The menu is a QR code access only. You have a choice of entrees but they automatically bring you a complimentary Mimosa that is very sweet & you cannot really taste the champagne, a selection of mini pastries to start, a basket of bread with your entree, and a little dessert of mini cream puffs. We ordered the smoked salmon with beets appetizer and some bloody Mary's to go with it. The salmon was excellent & the BM's were decent. This was the best part of the meal! We both got the Terroir omelette which consisted of ham, cheese and asparagus. It was served with sausage, bacon & potatoes. The omelette was a bit overcooked & dry & the entire dish was so-so. We went to the upper deck to get some fresh air & take in the view. They had a girl on a mic sharing information as we went along but the tour itself was average & not very long. It was a beautiful day but for the price & experience, we wish chosen something else to do.

They open the waiting area about 30 minutes prior to the boat departure, and you can purchase…read moretickets online or at the ticket windows at the pier. The crew do their jobs well. The ride itself is a good way to learn about Montreal, with the tour guide speaking from a microphone on the top deck, which is shaded but open. Loudspeakers are throughout the second deck, which is enclosed in windows and reasonably air conditioned. The tour guide did our ride in both English and French. Don't expect as much of a "ride" although you do move down the river a bit, passing by La Ronde and seeing just how big the Port of Montreal actually is. But you'll start right by where the boat is normally docked, sorta "treading water" for at least half an hour because all the interesting bits of Montreal are right there. The wait staff are attentive, and do well at service given the size of the boat and the number of people. However, the drinks are somewhat watered down, at least the ice melted so fast on this hot day (36C) that it seemed that way. But they have a basic beer and wine selection, and so I'd recommend enjoying a beverage while on the tour. What I do NOT recommend is getting any food. It is very overpriced and not at all worth it. You are better off eating before or after your excursion. We ordered the $21 charcuterie board, which sounded like a good sharable spread of meats and cheeses. You actually get a small portion of some salami, prosciutto, and a minced meat of some kind, and then a small amount of 3-4 cheeses, just a slice each. The two slices of baguette must have been sliced 5-6 days ago, as they were harder than the board the food came on. The redemption of this dish was only the onion confit. The rest you could assemble a better quality spread from a gas station convenience store.

This tour was great and informative. I easily booked online for the same day. The boat was quiet…read moreand it was easy to hear the guide. It was a small group so it was overall very calm. The guide went around to help every group take a photo. You can purchase alcohol on the boat. They spoke English as everyone on the boat did, otherwise they can do the tour in French and English.

The best boat tours in Montreal. I have done three of them…read morenow: the Old Port, the Fireworks, and the Canal Lachine. Always excellent, great value, and no nasty smells because they run on clean electricity!

A beautiful experience. Highly recommended. We've seen many options for kayaking but this one is…read moreunique. You could spend an hour or five. We went with 4 kids under 10. It's safe and beautiful. It feels like sitting in a post card. The views are unbelievable. Surreal. You can hop on the tiny islands for a little break and enjoy the sound of water and soft wind. We went in August. They say May is even a better time as the water level is higher and you can kayak on top of the trees.

From the owner: Location de canot, kayak, kayak double, kayak de pêche, rabaska, pédalo, paddleboard (SUP),…read morechaloupe, chaloupe à moteur à Laval sur la Rivière des Mille-Îles.

Covid warning - very few people here seem to be observing social distancing rules nor are they…read morewearing masks. The riverside parks and Verdun and LaSalle have been packed solid the past few days because of the warm weather. Runners, joggers, bikers, strollers, families doing BBQ and picnics, kids, couples, guys hanging out downing a couple of brewskis together, they've all been here in droves. I've seen very, very few people keeping the social distance rules or wearing the required masks. I don't think people seem to understand the gravity of this pandemic and are just treating the warm days as some kind of vacation holiday. I don't mean to be a killjoy but Quebec is the epicentre of the Canadian pandemic. Think about it, People.

Best place to go and relax. I've been coming here for years and I wouldn't go anywhere else…read more There's lots of places in the park that are Packed with people but there's a few spots that you can actually get peace and quiet. Weekends are madness so come early afternoon during the week for picnic or just to think. Love this park