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Welcome to a super guide to travel to Canada from Spain or anywhere in Europe. One of our new destinations, having travelled around this wonderful world, where trip after trip we continue to be surprised by all its corners.
How lucky we are to have been born on Earth! How lucky we are to be able to take a trip to Canada! Visit Canada ands everything a dream fulfilled. If you are here, you will understand me perfectly. The illusion of planning a trip to Canada is maximum, in itself it is a dream. Everything there is what to see in canada it is so much and so magical!
In this guide we will try to summarize everything you need to take into account when traveling to second largest country in the world, after Russia, and the country that has the 60% of the world's lakes. Not even the sum of all the countries would surpass it in lakes!All all with plan your trip to Canada on your own so that it is a 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 familyWe travel with our two children and our adopted dog, Max. We usually travel in our campervan, Kucavana, hence the name of our blog (as a baby, Anna couldn't pronounce "campervan" 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 family learning experience and I hope to help you enjoy it as much as we do. We do it by traveling.
To be closer to you follow us on our social networks: YouTube e Instagram
Why travel to Canada
After our last 21-day route through Canada, we can say that This country is ENAMOURING and its people even more so.
An Super safe country full of wild and the most beautiful nature in the world in its purest form. Without crowds and without stress. It is one of the most depopulated countries in the world, only 38 million people live in Canada, the second largest country in the world. Less than in Spain!
They say he is one of the best places to live in the world, and we can attest to this after speaking with many immigrants who have gone to live in Canada. The truth is, I'm not surprised, we would go live there without a doubt, if it weren't for the bureaucratic obstacles, but who knows if when you read this we'll already be there...
In conclusion, if you are one of those who likes to travel to safe, orderly, quiet, easy, peaceful places, without crowds and with wild nature in all 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 HAVING INTERNET IN CANADA: Internet in Canada is essential, although coverage outside the towns leaves something to be desired, I can tell you that in advance! We use a card with unlimited data Holafly and it was great for us. You can buy it with a 5% OFF through this link.
Canada curiosities
If you want to have more information about Canada and know some of the curiosities of Canada that you will find during your trip, in this post about Curiosities of Canada I have tried to compile all those that were useful and 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 thing is to travel By plane to one of the main airports connecting Canada with Spain: Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver or Quebec. From one of these airports you can then Take internal flights, train or even a car. by rental or, like us, by motorhome, which is a great option, since it is a country very well prepared 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 where the most flights to Canada leave from Europe is from London, so if you take a flight with Ryanair to London and then a flight from there it can be much cheaper than from Spain directly. Compare on a flight comparator, but, very well before and evaluate the additional costs when there are stopovers.
On the other hand, if you want to know what the best airport To see them Rocky Mountains , that is Calgary. To see the West Coast of Canada is Vancouver. And finally to see the Niagara Falls, Toronto O well Quebec or Montreal to do the East Coast from Canada.
For more tips on how to get the best cheap flights from Spain to Canada Read our post about How much does a trip to Canada cost? where you have all the detailed costs and lots of advice to save on your trip to Canada.
Requirements for travelling to Canada from Spain
In this post you will find in detail the Requirements for travelling to Canada from Spain or Europe which will be of great help to you if you are wondering What do I need to travel to Canada from Spain or anywhere in Europe?.
You will discover in the post from how to make the eTA, electronic visa, without being scammed by websites, everything related to your passport y bureaucratic procedures and to very practical tips de What to pack in your suitcase and what not to, among other requirements such as travel insurance that you will need to have medical coverage or the plug adapters that you will need. All the requirements to travel to Canada from Spain or Europe that will undoubtedly be very useful to you.
Tips for traveling to Canada
After many questions you have asked me, I have written a Post of 30 tips for traveling to Canada, trying to gather together many of your questions and recommendations that I have for you. In this post you will find all the advice that I would have liked to know before traveling to Canada.
Here 4 examples of the tips you will find in the post. As you will see, you will find all kinds of tips: practical tips for everyday use, driving tips, savings tips, practical tips for traveling with children, and even many tips 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 plan for a trip to Canada is when to travel to Canada, the ideal dates for your trip. Two things influence finding your best dates to travel to Canada: your tastes and your budget.
Traveling to Canada in summer
Without a doubt, summer is the best time if you want to enjoy mountain routes and nature in all its splendor. July and August are not cold Or rather, the cold is like what it can be in the Pyrenees or the European Alps, so it is pleasantly cool in long, thin trousers and a not-too-thick jacket.
Plus, it's when everything is open. July and August There is nothing closedBut sooner or later everything starts to close or only opens on weekends. I am referring to visitor centres in National Parks, theme parks or museums, which we saw closed during the week already at the beginning of September.
Traveling to Canada in spring or fall
If what you want is save and get lower prices for your trip to Canada in spring or autumn they are ideal.
If you don't mind having a little bit colder or things are closed, may, June, September and October These are surely the best months to travel to Canada.
You will find the landscapes just as spectacular or more than in summer and everything cheaper. In addition, in September you will be able to see Aurora borealis in many places in southern Canada.
Traveling to Canada in winter
If you are one of those who likes them, winter sports, Canada in winter can be your paradise. From October, early November, snow begins to fall in Canada. There is so much snow and it is so cold that Canada becomes one of the most beautiful places in the world. coldest countries in the worldMany of its large cities easily reach -20 degrees.
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 that we advise you to take on your trip.
Above all, think that the best To go trekking in the mountains along the Rocky Mountains, you should 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, remember that the following are not allowed on the plane to go to Canada: Fresh foods such as fruit, sausages, meat or fish, and also no dangerous products such as bear spray, which if you buy one you cannot take back with you.
- 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
As for the budget of How much does a trip to Canada from Spain cost?, let's be clear and give you All the cost details of the different travel options and tips to save moneyYou will find everything in this post about How much does a trip to Canada from Spain cost?Here you will also find details of our costs for the last 21-day trip through 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
Travel to Canada on the cheap it's possible, Yes and no, 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 touring on wheels. It is a country Easy to drive, with wide and well-maintained roads that connect the main tourist spots and destinations in Canada.
For this reason, we have prepared a specific post on what it is like. driving in canada, with everything you need to know about regulations, roads, tolls and even services such as refueling with gasoline.
And if you are 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 Canada by motorhome with all the regulations, advice and practical topics on how traveling in an RV, recreational vehicle, as they call it in Canada, works in Canada.
TIP: If you want to do this route by Canada by motorhome Like us, we recommend renting a motorhome. Do it in Calgary or Vancouver with Road surfers, a company we would repeat with. Roadsurfer gave us un discount of 150 $ that you as readers can also benefit from 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 children: 30 things to do and see as a family Here you will find the best things to do in Canada with your family, tips and much more. Don't forget to read it if you are going to travel with kids in Canada.
What to see in Canada
Once the tasks of doing the eTA visa On the official website of the Government of Canada, hire the travel insurance required, review the validity of our passport, buy the adapter plug that we will need, buy a SIM card for having internet on mobile in Canada, reserve the tours and activities from the trip and pack your bags with what you need, leaving the unnecessary at home. We can now leave for Canada and its impressive landscapes!
Now It's time to start designing the route, apart from completing the checklist I told you about above.
The best route never exists, especially so that it serves as the best route for everyone. That's why what I advise you is design your own route getting inspired by the trips others have made and choosing what draws your attention the most and what best suits you depending on the number of days you have.
Below I list you The 3 most common routes with the indispensable and necessary best destinations to see in Canada so you can put together your best route. Remember that your route will depend on your tastes, days and 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 the ones I list 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 through 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, with our own experiences, I recommend you see the article I have made about Our 21-day route through the Rocky Mountains National Parks 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 the ones I list 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-Canadian that reaches 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!
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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!