Water Sports · Quebec
NAVI
The Nuns' Island base of Navi in Montréal, renting kayaks and paddleboards on clearly marked St. Lawrence waters and running guided evening descents under the Champlain Bridge, with glowing reviews for its staff.
What visitors say
NAVI rents kayaks and paddleboards on the St. Lawrence from Nuns' Island, and appears to be run by the same team as Espace Navi in Verdun. Paddlers describe views of the bridges and the Montréal skyline, and beginners say the permitted area is clearly marked, so it feels safe even for first-timers.
Staff get consistent praise for being helpful and caring, from the front desk to the guides, and the kayaks are described as stable and easy to handle. Several reviewers found the price fair for the experience.
The guided outings are a highlight. Groups of up to about 12 are taken by boat to an island upriver and paddle back to Nuns' Island, some at sunset and after dark under the lit-up Champlain Bridge. Past participants have watched fireworks over the river from their kayaks, and the owner's local stories add to the evening.
Complaints are few. As with any river paddle, current and wind matter, so stay within the marked zone and listen to the briefing.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 320 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with NAVI directly.