Table of Contents
Welcome to a super guide for traveling to Canada from Spain or anywhere in Europe. One of our newest destinations in this wonderful world, where every trip continues to surprise us with its hidden gems.
How lucky we are to have been born on Earth! How fortunate to be able to take a trip to Canada! Visiting Canada is a dream come true. If you're here, you'll understand perfectly. The excitement of planning a trip to Canada is immense; it's a dream in itself. There's so much to see in Canada, and it's all so magical!
In this guide, we'll try to summarize everything you need to know to travel to the second largest country in the world , after Russia, and the country that has 60% of the world's lakes . All the other countries combined wouldn't have more lakes! Everything you need to plan your independent trip to Canada and make it a perfect 10!
AN IMPORTANT TIP: Don't travel to Canada without a good travel insurance, avoid big problems. It is one of the first requirements that they tell you on the Canadian government website along with the processing of the And so.
We recommend you the Iati Star We hired this insurance after a good comparison and study of the different ones on the market. It is the only one that exceeds one million euros of coverage. Without a doubt, it is the best for North America, where breaking a leg costs you €150.000, as happened to a friend of ours in the USA. Another positive thing is that Iati has an app for virtual visits.
I leave you here a link where you have a 5% off for any Iati travel insurance.
About us
We are the Kucavana family , and we travel with our two children and our adopted dog, Max. We usually travel in our motorhome, also called Kucavana, hence the name of our blog (as a baby, Anna couldn't pronounce "motorhome" and said "Kucavana"). But we also enjoy traveling by bicycle, by plane, and backpacking—the point is to have adventures as a family. The one writing this is me, Pilar, the mom of the family and perhaps the craziest one. I enjoy every new experience we have as a family, and I hope to help you enjoy traveling as much as we do.
To stay connected with you, follow us on our social media channels: YouTube and Instagram
Why travel to Canada
After our last 21-day trip through Canada, we can say that this country is ENCHANTED, and its people even more so.
It's an incredibly safe country, brimming with unspoiled and pristine wilderness, some of the most beautiful in the world . No crowds, no stress. It's one of the least populated countries in the world ; only 38 million people live in Canada, the second largest country in the world. That's less than Spain!
They say it's one of the best places to live in the world , and we can vouch for that after talking to many immigrants who have moved to Canada. It doesn't surprise me at all; we'd move there in a heartbeat if it weren't for the bureaucratic hurdles. But who knows, maybe by the time you read this we'll already be there…
In conclusion, if you are one of those who likes to travel to safe, orderly, peaceful, easy, quiet places, without crowds and with wild nature in its splendor, this is your place.
Canada Basics
The first thing we often need to know before travelling to a country is very basic information. Sometimes to review it, other times to know exactly where we are going.
That's why I've put together this table for you with general data on Canada.
Information | |
Canada where is: | Northern North America, bordered to the south by the United States, to the northwest by Alaska and to the northeast by Greenland. |
Canada capital | Ottawa |
What languages do they speak in Canada? | English and French (mainly in Quebec), as well as First Nations languages. English is more widely spoken in the west and French is more widely spoken in the east, especially in the Quebec area. |
Currency | Canadian dollar (1 CAD ≈ 0.66 EUR). Beneficial for Europeans due to the favourable exchange rate. |
Plug in Canada | Type A and B (same as in the USA). |
Time zones in Canada | 6 different time zones: Toronto (6 hours less than Spain), Calgary (8 hours less) and Vancouver (9 hours less). |
Type of State | Federal parliamentary monarchy |
Federal Organization Canada | In 10 Provinces and 3 Territories |
TIP FOR GETTING INTERNET IN CANADA: Internet is essential in Canada, although coverage outside of towns leaves much to be desired—I'll tell you that right now! We used a Holafly SIM card with unlimited data and it worked great. You can buy it with a 5% DISCOUNT through this link.
Canada curiosities
If you want to learn more about Canada and discover some of the interesting facts you'll encounter during your trip, in this post about Interesting Facts about Canada I've tried to compile all the useful ones that caught our attention.
Here you will find practical curiosities such as the fact that you cannot buy beer in a supermarket and general curiosities about the country such as that it is a monarchy where the king is the King of the United Kingdom, among many others.
How to travel to Canada from Spain? Tips to reduce flight costs
The easiest way is to fly to one of the main airports connecting Canada and Spain: Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, or Quebec City . From one of these airports, you can then take domestic flights, trains, or rent a car, or, like we did, a campervan, which is a great option since the country is very well-equipped for it.
The best airline to fly to Canada for us is Air Canada, which we flew with on our last trip. Food, a large suitcase of up to 23 kg and a cabin suitcase plus a carry-on bag are included in the price. The space between the seats is superb and the on-board entertainment is also included on domestic flights.
TIP : If you want to save money, you should know that most flights to Canada from Europe depart from London . So, if you take a Ryanair flight to London and then a connecting flight from there, it can be much cheaper than flying directly from Spain. Compare prices on a flight comparison website , but do it carefully beforehand and consider any extra costs associated with layovers.
On the other hand, if you want to know the best airport for seeing the Rocky Mountains , it's Calgary . For seeing Canada's West Coast, it's Vancouver. And finally, for seeing Niagara Falls, Toronto is the best option, or Quebec City or Montreal for exploring Canada's East Coast .
For more tips on how to get the best cheap flights from Spain to Canada, read our post on How much does a trip to Canada cost, where you'll find all the detailed costs and plenty of tips for saving money on your trip to Canada.
Requirements for travelling to Canada from Spain
In this post you will find all the details of the requirements for traveling to Canada from Spain or Europe, which will be of great help if you are wondering what you need to travel to Canada from Spain or anywhere in Europe.
In this post, you'll discover everything from how to get your eTA ( electronic travel authorization) without falling for scam websites , to all the information you need about your passport and bureaucratic procedures , and even practical tips on what to pack and what to leave behind . You'll also find essential travel insurance for medical coverage and the necessary plug adapter . All the requirements for traveling to Canada from Spain or Europe will undoubtedly be very useful.
Tips for traveling to Canada
After receiving many questions, I've written a post with 30 tips for traveling to Canada , trying to compile many of your questions and recommendations. In this post, you'll find all the advice I wish I had known before traveling to Canada.
Here are four examples of the tips you'll find in this post. As you'll see, you'll find all sorts of advice: practical tips for everyday life, driving tips, money-saving tips, practical tips for traveling with children, and even plenty on safety in Canada.
Canada's emergency phone number is 911, not 112!
In Canada, the emergency phone number is not 112, as we are used to in Europe. There, for police, fire and ambulance emergencies, the phone number you should call is 911.
Be careful with gas station hoses!
In Canada, filling up with petrol, even though petrol is cheaper than in Europe, can be very expensive if you don't look carefully at the hose. In Canada, diesel is always the yellow hose. The black hose is always petrol, black or also green.
Discovery Pass to visit the National Parks
If you are going to visit a Canadian National Park for more than 7 days or are going to visit more than one Park, buy the Discovery Pass, which is an annual pass that will give you a better price.
Never feed wild animals
Never feed wildlife, it only makes them more aggressive towards humans. They learn that humans have food and then you cause them to have aggressive behaviors.
When to travel to Canada? Best time to travel to Canada
One of the first things to consider when planning a trip to Canada is when to go—the ideal dates for your trip. Two factors influence finding the best dates for your trip to Canada: your preferences and your budget.
Traveling to Canada in summer
Summer is undoubtedly the best time to enjoy mountain trails and nature in all its splendor. In July and August, it's not cold , or rather, the cold is similar to what you might find in the Pyrenees or the European Alps—a pleasant chill that's perfect for light trousers and a not-too-thick jacket.
Besides, that's when everything is open. In July and August , nothing is closed , but sooner or later, everything starts to close or only opens on weekends. I'm referring to National Park visitor centers, theme parks, and museums, which we saw were already closed during the week by the beginning of September.
Traveling to Canada in spring or fall
If you want to save money and get lower prices for your trip to Canada, spring or autumn are ideal.
If you don't mind it being a little colder or having some things closed, May, June, September, and October are probably the best months to travel to Canada.
You'll find the landscapes just as spectacular, or even more so, than in summer, and everything is cheaper. Plus, in September you can already see the Northern Lights in many places in southern Canada.
Traveling to Canada in winter
If you love winter sports , Canada in winter can be your paradise. Starting in October or early November, snow begins to fall in Canada. So much snow falls and it gets so cold that Canada becomes one of the coldest countries in the world . Many of its major cities easily reach -20 degrees Celsius.
Be prepared, if you don't like the cold, we recommend avoiding this time of year for your trip to Canada.
What to pack for a trip to Canada in summer
Below, I detail our luggage for 21 days in Canada in August and early September , and what we advise you to bring on your trip.
Above all, remember that the best thing to do when trekking in the mountains due to the Rocky Mountain tick is to always wear long pants, closed shoes, and socks.
Clothes per person (we will wash by hand during the route what is necessary, it is better to travel light based on experience):
Things we carry apart from clothes, very useful on our trips:
Above all, keep in mind that the following items are not allowed in your luggage on the plane to Canada: Fresh foods such as fruits, cold cuts, meats or fish, and also dangerous products such as antibacterial sprays, which you cannot take back with you if you buy one.
- Canada plug adapter
- Small Italian coffee maker + a packet of ground coffee, if you are a coffee drinker like us and you are going to campsites, bungalows or apartments like us.
- Foldable memory foam travel pillow, if you have trouble sleeping on those thin pillows from Ikea, which is what they will give you in the rental motorhome. Also, it is useful for the plane, which low-cost airlines do not provide.
- A couple of small travel blankets, for the cold-blooded people in the house and for the plane, which low-cost airlines don't provide.
- 2 extendable skewers for barbecues and making marshmallows
- 1 multi-purpose knife with a whistle for the mountains and a compass if possible
- 1 lighter to light the barbecues
- Relec Extra Strong Mosquito Repellent, otherwise it won't do anything there
- Sunscreen
How much does a trip to Canada from Spain cost?: our costs and the price of the trip to Canada
Regarding the budget for a trip to Canada from Spain , we'll be clear and give you all the cost details for different travel options, along with tips for saving money . You'll find everything in this post about how much a trip to Canada from Spain costs . Here you'll also find details of our costs during our last 21-day trip to Canada.
What you need to know in summary is that, luckily for us, the Euro is stronger than the Canadian dollar and that is why travelling to Canada is currently quite cheap.
100 Canadian dollars are currently 66 Euros in August 2024.
Example of our costs from our last trip to Canada:
Please note that we are two adults and two children and that the price of the motorhome is divided into 4.
What do you think of the budget for 21 days in Canada? In general, in our opinion, compared to the trip to the United States last year or to Iceland this year, which were very similar in form, we think it is a very good budget and cheaper than the other two.
Traveling to Canada on a budget: tips
Traveling to Canada cheaply is possible, yes and no , it depends.
It depends on each person what is cheap for them and what you compare it to.
Of course, if you want to travel to Canada cheaply, you should do the following:
Roadtrip: Canada by car or motorhome?
Canada is ideal for exploring by car. It's an easy country to drive in, with wide, well-maintained roads connecting the main tourist attractions and destinations.
That's why we've put together a specific post about what it's like to drive in Canada , with everything you need to know about regulations, roads, tolls, and even services like refueling.
And if you're thinking of doing your road trip through Canada in a motorhome, like we did on our route through the Rockies, take a close look at our post about traveling in a motorhome in Canada with all the regulations, tips and practical information on how traveling in an RV, or recreational vehicle, works in Canada.
TIP: If you want to do this road trip through Canada in a campervan like we did, we recommend renting one. We suggest doing so in Calgary or Vancouver with Roadsurfer , a company we would definitely use again. Roadsurfer gave us a $ 150 discount that you, as readers, can also take advantage of by applying the DISCOUNT CODE: KUCAVANAAMERICA
Canada with kids: tips, what to see and do
Canada as a family is an unparalleled trip. On our last trip to Canada we enjoyed more than ever the quality time that is a family vacation.
Nature, animals and good child care in Canada make Canada with children a great plan.
In our post about Canada with kids: 30 things to do and see as a family, you'll find the best family activities in Canada, tips, and much more. Don't forget to read it if you're traveling to Canada with little ones.
What to see in Canada
Having completed the tasks of obtaining the eTA visa on the official Canadian government website, purchasing the required travel insurance, checking the validity of our passport , buying the necessary plug adapter , purchasing a SIM card for mobile internet in Canada , booking tours and activities , and packing our bags with the essentials, leaving the unnecessary items at home, we can now depart for Canada and its breathtaking landscapes!
Now, it's time to start designing the route , in addition to completing the checklist I mentioned above.
There's no single best route , especially one that will work for everyone. That's why I recommend designing your own route, drawing inspiration from trips others have taken and choosing what appeals to you most and what best suits the number of days you have.
Below, I've listed the 3 most common routes with the best destinations to see in Canada so you can plan your own itinerary. Remember that your route will depend on your preferences, the number of days you have, and your budget.
From here you decide the best route for you.
Route along the West Coast and Canadian Rockies
On this route, the best destinations you can see are those listed below.
In many of these destinations, I explain our route, experience, and what to see and do in a more detailed blog post, which you can access via the link.
What to see in Canada on the route along the West Coast of Canada: The Canadian Rockies
- Banff National Park in Canada
- Banff Village Area and Lake Minnewanka
- Lake Louise Area y Lake Morain
- Johnston Canyon
- Icefields Parkway, the ice fields road
- Yoho National Park
- Glacier National Park of Canada
- Mount Revelstoke National Park
- Golden village
- Kootenay National Park and Fort Steele
- Waterton Lakes National Park
- Alberta Dinosaur Provincial Park
- Drumheller Dinosaur Valley
- Calgary
- Vancouver
- Victoria
In our case, on our last trip, we did this route, the West Coast route but focused on the Canadian Rockies. Full of nature, we only visited one city, Calgary. We visited it one day when it was our arrival and departure point to the airport from Barcelona.
Our route was a circular route through different National Parks, which I detail above, but also Provincial Parks.
To see it in full, with all the destinations, visits and places of interest, along with our own experiences, I recommend you read the article I wrote about our 21-day route through the National Parks of the Rockies in Canada.
Route along the East Coast of Canada: Niagara Falls and big green cities
On this route, the best destinations you can see in eastern Canada are those listed below.
- Toronto
- Kingston and the Thousand Islands
- Ottawa
- Montreal
- Quebec city
- Tadoussac
- Forillon National Park
- Fredericton
- Saint John and the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick
- Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
- Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Niagara Falls
Route to Alaska crossing all of Canada
Another very famous route in Canada is the Trans-Canada Highway, which goes all the way to Alaska (USA).
This route requires at least a month to savour and enjoy what Canada has to offer.
This route passes through some of the National Park destinations I mentioned above on the west coast of the Canadian Rockies and then continues through the Yukon until reaching Alaska.
Map of what to see in Canada what to see and do from our last route
Below, I give you the map of Canada that I made to plan our last route with the main things to do and see in Canada, especially in its western part, although there are some in other parts of Canada. I hope it is useful to you.
Conclusions about traveling to Canada
This is all the information that we can provide you with based on our experience regarding travelling to Canada. A super guide that we hope will be of support on your trip.
I hope this article has helped you and if it has, please the best way to thank us is to comment below and write to us on social media to tell us about it, remember.
Good route friends!
Latest posts from our blog
-
Definitive manual for traveling by motorhome【2024】
Super complete manual for traveling by motorhome with all the answers to your questions.
-
Namibia Trip: Complete Guide for Independent Travel (24-day Itinerary, What to See and Tips Based on Our Experience)
Are you thinking of planning a trip to Namibia on your own and don't know where to start? After traveling the country for 24 days as a family in a 4x4 with rooftop tents, we've put together this comprehensive guide with everything we wish we had known before our trip. Here you'll find information…
-
London with children: what to see and do as a family (royal guide with map) of the top 22 plans
If you're planning a trip to London with kids and don't know where to start, here you'll find the 22 best family-friendly activities, an optimized 3-day itinerary, money-saving tips, the best free museums, and an interactive map with all the must-see places. Basic summary: London with kids. Quick information. Recommended days: 3-5…
-
Guide to traveling to Canada: everything you need to know for a trip to Canada on your own
Welcome to a super guide for traveling to Canada from Spain or anywhere in Europe. One of our newest destinations in this wonderful world, where every trip continues to surprise us with its hidden gems. How lucky we are to have been born on Earth! How fortunate to be able to travel to Canada! Visiting Canada…
Ethical code:
On our blog you will find affiliate links. These are always placed with our highest ethics. We never publish any service or product that we have not used before and that we are sincerely happy with. That is why our recommendations are always ethical. In addition, there is no additional cost for you to book through our links and, on the other hand, it means a small commission for us that helps us maintain this blog so that you can continue enjoying it for free.
Thank you very much for all your work! It always serves as a guide for us on our trips.
Thank you very much Yolanda for your comment and your kind words. You are pure energy for us. Thank you so much!
Hello family! Thank you so much for everything you share, we have recently discovered you and we are hooked on your travels 🙂 We are thinking of travelling to Canada as a family this year and your blog and Instagram stories have been very helpful. I wanted to ask you, do you remember approximately how many km you did in total on the trip? We have seen that many motorhome rentals do not include unlimited mileage and we don’t know if it is worth taking it because it is almost €1000 more… Thanks again and best regards!
Hi Cristina, thank you for your lovely comment. Regarding your question, I honestly don't remember the kilometers, but without going to Vancouver, the kilometers are much shorter and everything is relatively close on the route we took 🙂
We're almost there for our trip to Canada: two days! We just want to thank you for everything you're sharing; it's helped us so much. We'll be following you for future adventures.
Thank you so much for such kind words, Monica! A big hug, and we hope your trip is as magical as ours last year 🙂 It definitely will be, and even better! Have a great trip, family!