Summer on Fogo Island

While commercial fishing starts earlier in spring, the recreational fishery opens in the summer, usually in late June or early July. From early morning to late in the evening, longliners and smaller boats can be spotted on the horizon, fishing for the cod that has shaped the past and present of this island. At Fogo Island Inn, you can try your hand at the long-standing tradition of cod jigging: fishing with a single line from a small boat. And what’s caught doesn’t go far. Your fresh catch is often served to you by our culinary team.

Fresh and locally caught seafood are also the star of the evening during meals in The Shed. Inspired by the spirit of outport shed culture, The Shed at Fogo Island Inn invites you to a family-style, casual dining experience. A long communal table runs through the centre of the space, welcoming you to sit side-by-side with other guests to share food and stories. The meal is anchored by Fogo Island fish and seafood, from cod served traditional and contemporary ways to Atlantic snow crab harvested from our waters.

From June to August, the waters around Fogo Island come alive with humpback and minke whales, drawn by the arrival of capelin. The whale-watching season on Fogo Island usually peaks from mid to late July. At the Inn, you can plan an open-boat trip to get a little closer, where a local fisher who has made their living on the water will do their best to ensure a safe encounter.

These majestic mammals can also be spotted from land. Many of the island’s hiking trails take you along the coast, where keen eyes can likely spy a fin or a tail breaking through the ocean’s surface. Try walking Lion’s Den Trail in Fogo, Joe Batt’s Point Trail in Joe Batt’s Arm, Turpin’s Trail in Tilting, or check in with our Guest Experience team during your stay for trail recommendations based on when and where whales have been spotted around Fogo Island.

If you’re lucky, you might even watch whales breaching the North Atlantic from the Dining Room at the Inn, or from the comfort of your own room.

Summer is an invitation to get in the water.

While the weather on Fogo Island in July and August remains cooler than sweltering summers elsewhere, with temperatures averaging around highs of 22 degrees Celsius and lows of 12, the island’s freshwater ponds warm just enough by July to swim comfortably. Their still waters provide a perfect way to cool off after a long afternoon hike. Our Outdoor Adventure Guides can suggest some of the best pond swimming spots on the island.

For those a little bolder, the chilly North Atlantic offers something else entirely. A cold plunge from Sandy Cove, Fogo Island’s only sandy beach, or from a hidden cove or tickle recommended by a Guide, can be an invigorating experience.

Music and storytelling are a part of everyday life on Fogo Island, especially in summer, a season that comes with its own soundtrack. At the Inn, we offer many ways to connect to outport culture.

Our team can arrange a private Shed Party, while some of these outbuildings shelter tools and lumber, others conceal stages, built-in bars, memorabilia, a dance floor, and unforgettable nights with music and friends. Community-run festivals take place throughout the summer and into the fall, while scheduled, weekly gatherings like a night at Art’s Landing or Foley’s Shed or the weekly Music Night in Tilting showcase a rare kind of hospitality. 

Along the bogs and barrens, wildflowers come into their own.

Freshly picked bouquets adorn the shared spaces of the Inn, bringing the wild in. Lilac, rose, and dandelion petals appearing on plates in the Dining Room as delicately as they appear on the landscape. The first vegetables of the growing season are harvested – greens, beets, and fennel – and then come the berries. Strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, and crowberries ripen in the summer heat.

In late July, golden-orange bakeapples, also known as cloudberries, burst across bogs, while the first lowbush blueberries appear on the land. Summer signals the start of wild berry picking, before an even more prolific berry season in the fall. 

Between breakfast and supper, summer days are often quiet within the Inn, when guests are busy exploring the island at its brightest. But after a day spent on the water or exploring the trails, relaxation is a must.

You can unwind at your own pace in our Rooftop Hot Tubs, with uninterrupted views of the North Atlantic Ocean. Soak in the remaining warmth of the setting sun or enjoy stargazing once the sky darkens.

Near the hot tubs are our two saunas, heated by wood-burning stoves. The warming comfort and crackling of the fire offer a tranquil environment ideal for a meditative experience. Each sauna has a unique perspective. The south-facing sauna receives direct sunlight and faces the rocky inland. The sauna to the north has views of the sea and can be a perfect spot to watch the movement of the waves.

At the bar, our cocktails and mocktails draw on local and foraged ingredients, from Newfoundland spirits to locally harvested rhubarb and Labrador Tea. Even a refreshing beverage tells a story of this place.