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It's so easy to rent a boat or charter a yacht in Canada with Yachtious. Book Now!
It's so easy to rent a boat or charter a yacht in Canada with Yachtious. Book Now!
SAILING IN THE CANADA
A DIVERSE LAND OF BEAUTIFUL SAILING COASTS
Canada is a wonderful yachting destination for those who seek to explore nature and enjoy a bounty of activities. The diverse and unique topography of this North American country offers mountains, rivers, and lush green forests, though during winter, it becomes a snow-covered winter wonderland to marvel at. Just north of the United States, it has the longest coastline that spans thousands of miles with islands peppered around the coastal areas.
On the west, the Pacific Ocean laps at the shores while the Atlantic Ocean helms the east. Plus, the Great Lakes also provide incredible yacht charter explorations, making Canada a truly marvelous place for yachting.
The cold waters of the northern latitudes of the Atlantic sometimes bear rough weather, however, the views here are often the most sublime. The natural wonders that lie along this region are filled with picturesque ports of call. Head north past the US border from Maine and you’ll find the four Canadian provinces that are referred to as Atlantic Canada. This area is brimming with history, culture, and absolutely astonishing natural surrounds. These four provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland & Labrador – are all ideal vacation destinations in their own right, plus they also are bonded by the sea.
From a geographical standpoint, Atlantic Canada’s gateway from the US is New Brunswick. It borders Maine and is southeast of Quebec, covered with forests for an incredible 85% of the terrain. Despite this though, it is identified with the sea and has four coastlines that include the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the east, Chaleur Bay or Baie Des Chaleurs to the north, and to the south, the Bay of Fundy.
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BEST TIME TO VISIT CANADA
Canada might be a huge country, but the weather patterns tend to stay the same across the country. The defined seasons are very similar to what you’ll find in Europe with some variations of course. The coastal regions are more temperate than the provinces in the prairies, and the mountainous areas have higher rainfall and snow. In winter, it’s cold throughout the entire country, and in summer, it’s warm. In fact, summer is most popular because of the sunny weather and lovely temperatures.
Want to see the famed Northern Lights? Get to the Yukon Territories in February, March, and April. In April, Vancouver and the Canadian west coast are purely delightful too.
Year-round, you can connect from Jasper and Banff National Parks via the Icefields Parkway, also known as Highway 93. It’s been said to be one of the world’s most scenic drives, but please use caution in winter. There are often temporary closures due to snowfall and avalanche risks. You can check the advisory before getting in the car.
If you delight in nature, seeing the polar bears in Churchill is an ideal plan, but you should book well in advance for October and November to see them with expert naturalists. The babies will come out from the dens in March but these reservations are booked years in advance. If you book now, you can get on the list which is lengthy but worth it.
Many people find June is the best time to see Canada. The days are warm and long without being too hot. Hiking trails have opened up and the lakes and rivers are thawed so the wildlife is active and diverse. Wildlife enthusiasts will also love Churchill in July and August because the Beluga whales come around. Wildflowers bloom, and the long days of summer are perfect for getting outdoors. Canada is a playground for those who love being active outside with hiking, camping, fishing, and boating at every turn. On the west coast, viewing the orca in summer is a pleasure as they follow the migration of salmon.
Autumn weather in September through October is comfortable, and the visible season change is gorgeous. The cooler temperatures are still lovely enough to enjoy the outdoors. September is also great for watching the salmon run and the bears that fish for them too.
You might not like polar bear watching at all if you don’t like cold weather. In Churchill in November, temperatures can dip to -30°C in Churchill. However, November and December are ideal months to celebrate the holidays with all the festivals, ice skating rinks, and loads of family fun.
GETTING TO CANADA
Canada has three main international airports: Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR) and Montreal (YUL). Many other cities have international airports too though they are not as popular. You’ll find them in Calgary, Halifax, Ottawa, Winnipeg, St. John's, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Quebec City, Kelowna, and Victoria. Air Canada and WestJet are the only national air carriers for Canada. They cover the entire country as well as international destinations. You can also find regional and domestic airlines plus charters available for international destinations.
You can also rent a private jet and enjoy the freedom of choice, total comfort and flexible terms for your travel.
Always bear in mind that the airline industry is a fluid one and the services detailed here may change, sometimes from month to month. Please do not rely solely on this information for your travel plans. To keep an eye out for any new flights and to search for excellent flight deals, a website such as Tripadvisor can be a handy resource.
Canada’s land border north of the USA is over the continental US as well as between western Canada and the USA’s northernmost state, Alaska. You can drive through the USA to Canada by entering one of the many border crossings available. Or you can try by train. Via Rail is the national passenger rail service for Canada. Amtrak is the US counterpart and can connect you to Toronto from New York at Niagara Falls. You can also connect to Montreal from New York and to Vancouver from Seattle through Bellingham.
Another way in is by bus. Greyhound Canada connects to regional lines as well as US Greyhound coaches. You’ll find connections between many big cities like Montreal and New York City through New York Trailways and Vancouver to Seattle by Greyhound. Toronto connects to New York through Buffalo thanks to many bus lines like Greyhound and Trailways, plus Coach Canada and Megabus for a discounted fare. You can also look around for local bus companies throughout Canada that can serve you.
There are a few cruises lines that run cruises between the eastern US and Halifax. Freight is most common to Montreal on the east and Vancouver on the west. Cruise ship passengers will need to go through customs at the port of their destination. Ferries are another way into British Columbia from both Alaska and Washington. Serving Prince Rupert is the Alaska Marine Highway. Washington State Ferries serve Sidney, which is near Victoria. You can hop aboard the passenger-only ferries that go from Victoria to various points in Washington. Smaller craft cruising is another option to get to Canada from Saint Pierre, Miquelon or even the US border towns on the Great Lakes, New Brunswick’s St. Clair River, Saint Lawrence Seaway, and from both coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific.
QUICK FACTS
BEST FOR CRUISING: MAY TO SEPTEMBER
TIME ZONE:
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LARGER WESTERN PART OF BRITISH COLUMBIA GMT −08:00
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LABRADOR (ALL BUT SOUTHEASTERN TIP), NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, EASTERN PART OF QUEBEC GMT −04:00
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LABRADOR (SOUTHEASTERN), NEWFOUNDLAND GMT −03:30
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
CURRENCY: CANADIAN DOLLAR
REASONS TO VISIT
CULTURE
GREAT LAKES
HISTORY
LUSH GREEN FORESTS
MOUNTAINS
NATURAL WONDERS
PICTURESQUE PORTS OF CALL
RIVERS
EXPLORE OTHER CHARTER AREAS WITHIN WESTERN EUROPE AND THE NORTH ATLANTIC
AZORES
BALTIC
BAY OF BISCAY
BERMUDA
BRITTANY
CANADA
CANARY ISLANDS
COWES
FAROE ISLANDS
HOLLAND
IRELAND
MADEIRA
NORWAY
SCOTLAND
SWEDEN
WALES
WHERE TO STAY IN CANADA
In a country as grand as Canada, you’ll find accommodation options that will suit any need. Big cities feature some of the most posh and sophisticated hotels, however in the country inns, you can find Canadian charm and hospitality. Nature lovers shouldn’t miss wilderness retreats. And just about anyone will love the coziness provided by boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts.
If you want to find a more remote patch of land before or after your yacht charter, your options will be more limited, particularly the more north you head into the Arctic regions. However, it’s those places where you will get the special touch of not having crowds to contend with while surrounding yourself in epic nature full of untouched lands, incredible wildlife and the scenery of your dreams.
WINING AND DINING IN CANADA
Because Canada is so large, the cuisine is incredibly varied. With cosmopolitan cities all around, you’ll find any cuisine from around the world just about everywhere you go. In particular, Montreal likes to add a North American flair on foods from its Gallic heritage. Pacific Rim Fusion Cuisine is a thing while over on the Atlantic side of Canada, you’ll find some of the biggest, best, not to mention freshest, lobsters you’ll ever see along with plenty of other seafood. Inland, you’ll find farm-raised meats that come from local farms, barbecues of steaks, and heaping portions. The breakfasts here are truly impeccable with spreads that includes eggs, pancakes with maple syrup from Canada, and giant presentation of pates, hams, and cheeses.
