Can we travel to Canada in July?

There are reasons to be optimistic. Canada may begin reopening its borders to tourist travel on 1 July

Asked whether Canada will lift its COVID-19 travel restrictions on 1 July 2020, the answer for now is “no one knows”. However, given the federal government’s recent actions and the apparent decline in Canada’s pandemic curve, an opening may be possible on 1 July. The Canadian government will lift restrictions when it believes it is safe to do so.

Current situation (10/06)

Everyone entering Canada, regardless of origin or mode of entry, must isolate for 14 days if they have symptoms or confirmed COVID-19, or quarantine for 14 days if they have no symptoms. This restriction applies until at least 21 June 2020.

Why could Canada ease travel restrictions?

Health Canada says the curve of the epidemic is being controlled thanks to measures taken from mid-March onwards. Canada’s provinces and territories entered a lockdown that has gradually eased in recent weeks.

There were 759 new cases of coronavirus in Canada on June 1, the lowest since March 29.

If this positive trend continues, we could see that Canada allows more foreign travellers to enter the country, including tourists.

Prime Minister Trudeau has said that Canada recognises the difficulties being caused and that some provincial premiers are concerned about lifting restrictions on the United States. However, There are reasons to be optimistic.. New coronavirus cases have stabilised, lockdown restrictions in Canada are being lifted, and some foreign travellers have been allowed to enter.

Possibility to open borders on 1 July

Therefore, on July 1, Canada can decide that it will safely receive more travelers from abroad. To ensure the health and safety of Canadians, these people will surely also shall be subject to health checks and shall for the time being be quarantined 14 days.

Canada will welcome more foreign travellers as soon as it is safe to do so avoid overloading the immigration system. The longer the restrictions are applied, the more pressure there will be on the IRCC and Canadian diplomatic missions due to the accumulation of people waiting to enter Canada.

From an economic standpoint, opening borders from 1 July will help support economic recovery Canada’s immigration minister, Marco Mendicino, has stressed this point on numerous occasions over the past few weeks.

Safety is the top priority

Of course, public safety is more important than the administrative and economic implications of travel restrictions. However, the flattening of the curve in Canada suggests that the country can effectively balance between the three considerations on 1 July.

A new route to discover the Québec natural parks this summer 2020. The St Lawrence River is the backbone of this trip to Canada following the route of explorer Jacques Cartier (Dec 31, 1491 – Sep 1, 1557). Some of the continent’s oldest cities, nature parks with exceptional landscapes and wildlife viewing make up this varied, comprehensive and active route through Quebec.

Jacques Cartier was the first European to explore and navigate the St Lawrence River.

The river is the thread running through this trip. Two beautiful cities, Montréal and Québec, were built on its banks. The rich ecosystems of this region of the Canada is exceptional: alpine forest, tundra, taiga; whales, moose, black bears, caribou, seals...

We make the most of Québec’s extensive network of park trails, combining it with train journeys, lake canoeing and kayaking to discover everything this remarkable region has to offer.

Trip highlights

• St Lawrence River
  One of the world’s largest estuaries, the backbone of Québec and the thread running through our route. Jacques Cartier sailed it in the 16th century in search of the Northwest Passage to the Indies.
• Quebec wildlife
  The whales in the river are undoubtedly the highlight of the route, alongside black bears, herds of caribou and the enormous moose, a symbol of the local wildlife.
• Québec National Parks
  Tundra vegetation, pristine rivers and the Appalachian foothills. Activities in the parks will allow us to enjoy this remarkable environment.

Price for the Québec nature parks trip

To consider on this trip to Quebec

Walks and other activities

The walks on this itinerary are of easy to moderate difficulty, suitable for any traveller accustomed to walking.

The plan is for 2 to 5 hours of hiking each day; some trails are more demanding than others, with climbs of up to 500 metres. (All parks have trails for different ability levels, and the guide will recommend the most interesting based on their judgement and the group’s abilities. Most walks follow forest trails and rivers, reaching modest summits (always below 2,000 metres). The recommended minimum age for this route is 14 years.

Both canoeing on the lake and sea kayaking in Bic National Park are easy activities suitable for beginners, with no previous experience required. Sea kayaking is timed around the tides so there is no need to paddle against the current.

In one of the parks (Saguenay, BIC, Jacques Cartier...), mountain bikes may be available to rent for exploring suitable trails. If you are interested, ask the guide locally.

The park websites listed in the itinerary offer downloadable guides in English and/or French, with details of the walks and other useful information.

Difficulty / Conditions of travel

The group is guided by ONE person who acts as both a driver and a guide/coordinator of the group. The guide is not a specialist in fauna, flora or local history but will always do everything possible to give the best answer to our questions.
The guide takes care of driving, cooking and logistics. All travellers are expected to help with daily tasks, such as preparing picnic lunches and loading and unloading the vehicle and luggage. Teamwork is essential to make the most of the journey: the sooner these tasks are done, the more time we have for activities and enjoying the exceptional surroundings.
For safety reasons, the guide cannot give commentary while driving. The guide accompanies some walks, but not others: some routes are one-way, so the guide must drive to the trail’s end to collect participants. In every case, the trails are very well marked.
All lunches consist of simple picnics prepared by each of the participants.

Documentation required to travel to Canada

Spanish passport holders: a passport valid for at least 6 months after entry into the destination country. Spanish citizens do not need a visa, but must apply for electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travelling. Apply on the official website; the cost was 7 Canadian dollars (approximately 5 €) as of 30 November 2019.
It is the responsibility of the traveller to confirm this information with the information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its website.
Citizens with a passport of another nationality (not Spanish): Contact the respective Consulates and/or Embassies to learn about the entry formalities required by the countries visited on the trip.
Social and political situation at the destination: Viajes Tuareg follows the notices and recommendations published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Travel health
Compulsory vaccinations and health recommendations: no special health precautions are recommended beyond common sense for routes largely taking place in natural surroundings.
Viatges Tuareg can advise only on the destination’s compulsory health requirements, adding recommendations from its own experience. Consult a medical professional about health precautions and preventive treatment, or refer to guidance from official health agencies
Official information on health precautions and vaccines can be found on the website of the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs.
The Government of Catalonia provides travellers with the Sanitat Respon telephone service, 902 111 444, and the website “Consells i vacunacions a viatgers internacionals” for information about vaccination centres.

Recommended clothing and equipment for this trip

Luggage must be packed in a soft bag with a maximum capacity of 80 litres. We recommend carrying a few essentials in your cabin bag in case your checked luggage is delayed.

• A cap or hat.
• Hiking socks and trousers; lightweight hiking boots with good ankle support (we recommend telescopic walking poles).
• Waterproof, breathable jacket. A fleece for changeable weather.
• Short- and long-sleeved shirts, preferably light-coloured.
• Shorts and swimwear.
• Bath towel.
• Comfortable clothes for evenings in towns or at camp (trousers, shirts, a light jumper and comfortable shoes).
• A 25–35-litre daypack for jackets, drinks, snacks, sunglasses, a camera and so on. The guide will tell us each day what we need to bring.
• Water bottle: allow at least two litres per person.
• A sleeping bag with a comfort rating of around 10° for nights in the parks’ permanent tents.
• Head torch and spare batteries.
• Toiletries, insect repellent, high-SPF sunscreen and a basic first-aid kit.
• Adapters for plugs, power bank, memory cards and additional batteries for cameras.
• Small travel binoculars can be useful for wildlife observation.

Services Included

• Barcelona – Montréal – Québec and Montréal – Barcelona flights with Air Canada in economy class, subject to change and cancellation restrictions.
• Arrival transfer to Québec.
• Accommodation and meals according to itinerary.
• Tour and visits as described in the itinerary.
• Whale-watching excursion on the St Lawrence River; sea kayaking in Bic National Park; canoes (2 people per canoe) for exploring Cascapédia Lake in Gaspésie National Park.
• Admission to Quebec's national parks; visit to the Wendake Huron cultural centre.
• Tour in a 15-seat Maxi-Wagon van; luggage is carried inside the vehicle or in an additional trailer, depending on group size.
• Ferry crossing from Les Escoumins to Trois-Pistoles.
• Charlevoix train: Baie St. Paul to La Malbaie.
• Local Spanish-speaking driver-guide.
• Basic insurance for travel assistance and cancellation.
• Air taxes included in the airfare (the amount is listed separately in the prices section).
• Taxes and VAT where applicable.

Services not included

• Tips for drivers, guides, porters…
• Optional visits or activities.
• Advance seat reservations on flights. These must be made during online check-in.
• Departure transfer to Montréal airport on the last day. The guide will report on the different options (Uber, public transport...)
• Beverages
• ETA (electronic visa) for travel to Canada.
• Optional extensions to travel assistance and cancellation insurance cover.
• Anything not specified in the Included Services section.

Planned or similar hotels:

– Québec: Hotel Lindbergh
– Grands-Jardins National Park: Permanent tents with shared showers/toilets
– Essipit: Bungalows Essipit
– Gaspésie National Park: Permanent tents with shared showers/toilets
– Rimouski (Bic National Park): Hotel Le Navigateur or Hotel Rimouski
– Jacques-Cartier National Park: Le Manoir du Lac Delage
– Montreal: Hotel Chrome or Travelodge Montreal Centre