There’s no better way to experience our region than with one of our local talented guides. Chester is an adventurer’s playground. Trek and experience or explore our diverse wildlife, marine mammals, plants, berries or the environment and culture through a variety of customized Eco adventure, and wildlife or cultural excursions. We invite you to experience our way of life on the west coast of Hudson Bay.
The Eco-Adventure
Chesterfield Inlet is a launch point for a variety of Eco adventures. The friendly staff at Tangmavik Hotel/Inns North can assist you organize customized:
- Beluga whale watching tours
- Thule archaeology tours
- Chesterfield Inlet walking tours
- Caribou migration trips
- Arctic bird watching expeditions
- Canada geese migration
- Plant life and berries
- Ukkusiksalik National Park
- The Heritage Rivers
- Nunavut Parks
The Beluga Whale Watching
Experience whale watching, where beluga cavort along coast in August. The beluga or white whale is an arctic species of marine mammal closely related to the narwhal. It is sometimes called the sea canary due to its high-pitched squeaks, squeals, clucks, and whistles. Residing in both arctic and sub-arctic waters, pods of belugas often congregate near the mouths of rivers. They can frequently be seen in distance; beluga whale watch can be arranged with a locally guided boat.
The Caribou Migration
July – September imagine seeing thousands of migrating caribou while a peregrine falcon circles overhead. We will provide you with an opportunity to witness this spectacular event firsthand. Caribou harvest is important part of tradition to the culture of the Inuit, caribou provide:
- food
- shelter
- clothing
- tools
- games
Clothing made from caribou skins is the warmest for northern winters, caribou skin is made into:
- mitts
- parkas
- tents
- blankets
- wind pants
- kamiks
A skin is often used as the roof of an igloo. Caribou meat is primary component to the Inuit diet. Caribou meat is made into stews, steaks, roast, sausage, and jerky. Even the hoof of a caribou is made into a delicacy enjoyed by Inuit. The sinew from the back of the caribou can be used for sewing. Bones and antlers are used to make tools. Large bones can be used as shovels. Antlers can also be used to make carvings. Caribou teeth are often used for ornamentation. The Inuit take pride in harvesting for caribou, as part of tradition. The Inuit and caribou have a distinct bond as they share the land, lakes, or rivers, plant life or berries, and its Eco-system.
The Inuksuk made of stone were used during early generation of Inuit on land for navigational aids, harvest grounds or food caches, and coordination points or landmarks.
The Arctic Bird Watching Tours
The Chesterfield Inlet area is home to a large variety of birds, this is a nesting, or migration area:
- Arctic Tern
- Canada Geese
- Peregrine Falcons
- Gyrfalcon
- Snow Geese
- Tundra Swans
- Snowy Owl
- Ptarmigans
- Eider Ducks
- King Eiders
- Ravens
- Sandhill Cranes
- Pacific Loons
- Glaucous Gull
- Snow Goose
- Horned Lark
- American Pipit
There are three islands near Chesterfield Inlet that are nesting areas for waterfowl. These areas are popular for egg hunting June. In July, finds these islands alive with new life as chicks hatch. Late fall, birds begin migration south.
- Pitsiulaaqtuuq
- Nanujumaaq
- Qikiqtaarjuk
The Wildlife/ Eco-Adventure
The Eco-boat trip (canoe or kayak) takes place during ice free season, July, or September along Chesterfield Inlet coast. Trekkers, adventurers, or visitors can view nature in distance i.e., plant life or berries on tundra, or along coast of Chesterfield Inlet were saltwater mixed ecosystem of natural freshwater channel north of Chester, and Baker Lake south. The river Stream of Thelon, and Karzan Heritage River run along coastal areas that blend seawater due to occurring in a natural environment, and low, or high tide coastal areas. Trekkers or adventurers often kayak, or canoe Chester to Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, Repulse Bay, or day trip. Venture takes about a week to arrive to its destination, weather permitting.
The channel to Inlet has wildlife, or marine mammals where belugas feed on marine life, and where ringed seals, harp seals, or bearded seals patrol the shallows. Frequent migrating caribou, muskox, arctic hare, fox, or wolves often seen, and at times polar bear may be spotted near floe edge or along coast, or grizzly migrating. In rare occasion, tree line moose may be spotted. The open water season, cargo vessels, barges sail/ anchor Chester channel, or Baker during sea-lift season.
The spring and fall season, birds migrate near community or islands, and April to May ice floe edge surface begins to break in spring. The sea ice drift occurs with low and high tide currents along Chesterfield Inlet coast. The river arctic char runs when ice breaks spring. Take photo op of floe edge in distance or ice drift along inlet coast, or catch a glimpse of seals prowling, the eider ducks, or migrating Canada geese. The Kinngarjuaraajuk peak is visible on horizon in clear weather southwest of Chester approx. 45 kilometres, and on top slope in distance Rankin, or Chester area is visible miles.
The Iqalukpik Fish Plant arctic char commercial fishery est. 1985, operates June to September. The commercial fishermen can be spotted casting their nets along the coast low tide. The arctic char commercial fishery contact Community Economic Development Officer 1-(867) 898-4603.
The Harvesters/ Outpost Camps is the responsibility of CLEAN ENVIRONMENT to maintain premises of the Lands & Waters of Clean Environment, and Management of Wildlife.
