Transportation
Getting There
By Air
Many people choose to fly into Canada, then continue their trip by bus, train, plane, or rented car. Most major cities have direct air connections with US cities. Many international airlines connect Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver with all parts of North and South America, Europe, and Asia. There are more limited services between Europe and Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax, and St John’s, Newfoundland. Air Canada and several regional carriers, including Porter Airlines and WestJet, connect with extensive feeder routes operated by associated airlines.
Private plane pilots are required to file a trans-border flight plan prior to departure, and to land at a Canadian Customs port of entry. Full aircraft and personal documentation is required.
Airport Charges
A number of airports across Canada levy an Airport Improvement Fee (AIF) to all visitors departing from the airport. These fees are generally added to the ticket price, so there is no additional fee payable on departure.
Airlines
Air Canada
Tel: UK 0871-220 1111
Canada and US toll-free 1-888-247-2262
Air Canada Jazz
Tel: toll-free 1-888-247-2262
Air Transat (part of Air Canada)
Tel: toll-free 1-877-872-6728
First Air, Airline of the North
Tel: toll-free 1-800-267-1247
Porter Airlines
Tel: 416-619-8622/1-888-619-8622
WestJet Airlines
Tel: toll-free 1-888-937-8538 within Canada and from the US
By Sea
There are car-ferry services between Maine and New Brunswick (Deer Island), and Washington State and British Columbia. Many cruise lines sailing from the US call at ports on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and there are also a few cruises in Arctic waters. Many yachtsmen sail to favorite Canadian cruising grounds on the coasts and within the Great Lakes, but in summer dock space can be tight. US and other foreign yachts are required to clear Canadian Customs at a designated port of entry.
By Road
From the US, passing through customs and immigration at the border can be a lengthy process, with line-ups of an hour or two not uncommon on weekends. If possible, avoid the border, traveling in either direction, on Friday or Sunday late afternoons and evenings.
The major bus company with routes into western and central Canada is Greyhound (US) and its associated companies. Some routes end at a city just over the border, where you can subsequently transfer to a Canadian carrier, but there are also special packages from certain US cities (including Boston, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco) to Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montréal, and other destinations in Canada. Greyhound offers a variety of deals and discounts including student fares, web only fares and advance purchase fares. For further details, contact Greyhound Canada on 1-800-661-8747, www.greyhound.ca.
By Rail
Amtrak offers two direct passenger train routes into Canada: Seattle to Vancouver; and Washington and New York to Montréal. VIA Rail has similar services from New York to Toronto via Niagara Falls; and from Chicago to Sarnia, London, and Toronto. VIA Rail offers group, family, and senior-citizen discounts, as well as flat-rate “CanRail” passes, which allow for travelling between Quebec and Ontario for 21 consecutive days (Corridor pass), or across Canada for 60 consecutive days (System Pass). Both first-class and coach accommodations are available, each with dining cars.
For further information, telephone the nearest train station or contact:
VIA Rail,
PO Box 8116, Station “A”, Montréal, QC H3C 3N33
Tel: 514-989-2626/1-888-842-7245 (from anywhere in Canada)
To call Amtrak in the US dial 1-800-USA-RAIL; in Canada dial 1-800-872-7245; or visit www.amtrak.com
Getting Around
For travelers who know where they want to go to in Canada, there are a number of different transportation options available.
By Air
Domestic air services are preferable, both for traveling long distances and for accessing any particularly remote areas, since driving can be very time-consuming. (A straightforward drive between Toronto and Montréal will take five hours.) While Air Canada is the main carrier, a number of smaller no-frills and discount airlines emerged after the collapse of Canadian Airlines in 2001. Some have not survived the fierce cut and thrust of Canada’s passenger airline industry, but the survivors both compete with Air Canada on the most traveled routes, and offer services to smaller, less accessible communities.
Air Canada
Tel: 1-888-247-2262
Air Transat
Tel: 1-877-872-6728
First Air (for the Northwest Territories)
Tel: 1-800-267-1247
Porter Airlines (Toronto and east)
Tel: 1-888-619-8622
WestJet Airlines
Tel: toll-free 1-888-937-8538 within Canada and from the US
By Rail
Railways are good for both short and long distances, although trains take five days to travel the 6,360km (3,950 miles) from Halifax in the east to Vancouver in the west. VIA Rail, Canada’s major passenger train service, offers a range of cost-saving package discounts and travel passes. Ontario also operates some passenger rail services. Bear in mind that many routes sell out, so make sure you check availability early in the planning stages of your trip. For further information on routes, prices, and timetables contact:
Rocky Mountaineer
Suite 101, 369 Terminal Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6A 4C4
Tel: 604-606-7245 (international) or toll-free in Canada and US 1-877-460-3200
Their two-day journey is billed as “the most spectacular train trip in the world.”
VIA Rail Canada
For further information, call the following toll-free number: 1-888-842-7245 (from anywhere in Canada or the US); or, in Montréal, 514-989-2626.
Steam Trains
Canada is a beautiful country and it is possible to make your journey part of, or the main focus of, your vacation. With the railway playing such a vital role in Canada’s development, it is not, perhaps, surprising that there are some terrific steam train rides to be enjoyed across the country.
In Ontario, the Agawa Canyon Tour Train offers a spectacular excursion, some 180km (114 miles) north from Sault Ste Marie, over towering trestle bridges, alongside pristine northern lakes and rivers, and through the granite rock formations and mixed forests of the Canadian Shield to the Agawa Canyon. It is especially popular during the fall, when advance reservations are an absolute necessity. For more information tel: 1-800-242-9287, www.agawacanyontourtrain.com.
In Manitoba, Prairie Dog Central Railway (tel: 204-832-5259; www.pdcrailway.com), running on weekends during the summer and before Christmas (the Santa Express), takes passengers from the big city – Winnipeg – to rural Manitoba, visiting country markets in Grosse Isle and Warren, where the track terminates. The fully restored vintage rail coaches were built between 1901 and 1913 and the engine dates from 1882.
The 11km (7-mile) round trip on The Spirit of Kamloops, offered by the Kamloops Heritage Railway (tel: 250-374-2141; www.kamrail.com), travels through spectacular scenery, operating Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, July and August. Passengers have the option of riding in a custom-designed open-air “Hayrack” car or reliving the past in a 1930s heritage coach.
By Road
Buses
Buses are inexpensive and especially good for shorter distances or for getting to small towns not serviced by rail or air. Canada’s major bus line, Greyhound Canada, offers a number of travel passes and packages, as well as discounts for early booking. For bus service through the Alberta and British Columbia Rockies, Brewster Transportation is another good alternative.
Brewster Transportation
Box 1140, 100 Gopher St, Banff, AB TIL IJ3
Tel: 403-762-6700/1-866-606-6700
Greyhound Canada
877 Greyhound Way SW, Calgary, AB T3C 3V8
Tel: 1-800-661-8747
Driving
If general touring is on the agenda, it is usually straightforward to hire a car. Foreign drivers’ licenses are valid in Canada, and accident liability insurance is required. Driving is on the right and conventions are similar to those in the US. Seat belts are mandatory, as are child seats. Highway speed limits are usually 100kph (60mph), but speed limits, seat-belt regulations, and other laws differ slightly from province to province. Provincial regulations are usually summarized in tourist literature and on many official road maps.
The Canadian Automobile Association, a federation of nine automotive clubs across Canada, is a good source for information, maps, and driving regulations. Members of European automobile associations can contact any of the nine clubs through the CAA’s main website: www.caa.ca.
If you are traveling from the US check with your insurer before you depart to make sure it covers you during your stay in Canada. Be aware that most of Canada requires that you carry at least $200,000 in liability insurance.
Gasoline prices range from around $1.05 to $1.30 per liter (there are 3.8 liters in a US gallon and 4.5 liters in a Canadian imperial gallon).
Rules of the Road
Besides remembering to drive on the right, there are few other safety considerations to keep in mind. As some traffic rules vary from province to province, ask your car rental company if you have any queries of this nature.
While Canada has an extensive and modern system of highways, most of which are well numbered and clearly marked, at times it is very helpful to know your north from south and your east from west. Speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour (kph) and they vary from 30 to 50kph (19–31mph) in built-up areas to between 80 and 100kph (50–62mph) on highways.
To improve highway safety, some Canadian provinces and territories require vehicles to be driven with headlights on for extended periods after dawn and before sunset. The headlights of most newer vehicles turn on automatically once the engine is started.
In all Canadian provinces except Québec, you may turn right at a red traffic light after coming to a full stop and making sure that the way is clear before you do so. In Québec you may turn right at a red light anywhere in the province except for on Montréal Island.
School buses display flashing lights for around 150 meters (500ft) before stopping and 30 meters (100ft) after leaving a stop; drivers may only pass the bus at this time with caution. If the bus has stopped and is flashing its red lights, other drivers must stop behind that bus. Remember that pedestrians have right of way at all intersections without stop lights and crosswalks.
Car Rentals
Several international car rental companies have offices throughout Canada and rentals can be easily arranged before arriving in the country.
Call the following firms, toll-free, for information:
Avis
Tel: 1-800-879-2847 in Canada; 1-800-331-1212 in the US
Budget
Tel: 1-800-268-8900 in Canada; 1-800-527-0700 in the US; 0844-544 3455 in the UK
Hertz
Tel: 1-800-654-3131 in Canada and the US
National
Tel: 1-800-227-7368 in Canada and the US; 0845-120-2071 in the UK
Thrifty
Tel: 1-800-847-4389 in Canada and the US
Motor Homes
If you plan to rent a camper/recreational vehicle (RV) in July and August you should book 3–4 months in advance. Or, if you have time to be flexible, check out the relocation and last-minute deals, where you can save half or more on the rental cost. Both companies listed below offer pick-up and drop-off at numerous locations across the country.
Canadream
292154 Crosspointe Dr, Calgary, AB T4A 0V2
Tel: 1-888-480-9726 in Canada and the US
Cruise Canada
11 Westhampton Ave, Meza, AZ 85210
Tel: 1-800-671-8042
(Also in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal)
Car Ferries
There are numerous car ferries all over Canada which cross lakes and rivers large and small. Some are considered part of the highway system and are free, while others charge substantial fares. Of the large ferries, the most notable are those operated by BC Ferries along the British Columbia coast, and Marine Atlantic’s between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Area Codes
Telephone area codes are given in brackets after the place name. In general, the area code must be dialed before the number. For long distance calls (which will include some calls to other parts of the province you are in) you also have to dial the country code (1) before the area code.
Province by Province
Alberta
By Air Calgary and Edmonton international airports are served by a number of airlines from elsewhere in Canada and from the US, Europe, and Asia, principally Air Canada, WestJet, Delta, Northwest, American, and United.
By Rail VIA Rail (tel: 1-888-842-7245; www.viarail.ca) has thrice-weekly services to Edmonton and Jasper (a five-and-a-half-hour ride apart) on its transcontinental route from Vancouver to Toronto.
Rocky Mountaineer (tel: 604-606-7245/1-877-460-3200 Canada/USA, 0-800-088-5541 UK, 0-800-451-247 New Zealand, 1-800-821-531 Australia; www.rockymountaineer.com) operates numerous sightseeing train excursions, including a seasonal two-day service from Calgary to Vancouver, with an overnight stop at Kamloops B.C., so patrons can enjoy the spectacular sightseeing that spans the 1,000km (625 mile) journey.
By Bus Greyhound Bus Lines (tel: 1-800-661-8747; www.greyhound.ca), which has its Canadian headquarters in Calgary, and Red Arrow Motorcoach (tel: 1-800-232-1958; www.redarrow.ca) provide access to almost every Alberta community, while Brewster Transportation & Tours (tel: 1-877-606-6700; www.brewster.ca) provides major bus services to the parks and other tourist destinations.
By Car Trans-Canada Highway No. 1 runs west to southeast across Alberta, through Calgary. Highway 2 passes through Calgary on its way from the US border to Edmonton and points north. The major car rental companies are all represented, as well as a number of camper/RV rental agencies. Taxis are readily available in Calgary, Edmonton, Banff, and Jasper.
Calgary (403 & 587)
Calgary Transit (tel: 403-262-1000; www.calgarytransit.com) operates an express bus #300 from the airport to downtown or bus and light rail transit (LRT or the C-Train) to other parts of the city. City bus tours can be arranged through the tourist information center at the Calgary Tower on Center Street, or through most hotels.
Taxi: Checker Yellow Cab (tel: 403-299-9999).
Edmonton (780 & 587)
Edmonton Transit (tel: 780-442-5311; www.edmonton.ca/transportation.aspx) operates city buses and an efficient LRT line, including a dedicated bus, #747, to the airport.
Airport Transfer: Skyshuttle (tel: 780-465-8515).
Taxi: Yellow Cab (tel: 780-462-3456).
British Columbia
By Air Vancouver International Airport, located just south of the city in Richmond, is western Canada’s major air hub. It is served by North American, European, and Asian airlines. Many smaller airlines and charters also serve northern B.C. and the Yukon. With flights between Vancouver and Victoria, Nanaimo and Comox, as well as up to the Sunshine Coast, Harbour Air’s float planes offer a great way to see the coast and avoid the time involved in ferry crossings (1-800-665-0212; www.harbour-air.com).
Airport Transfer Quick Shuttle (tel: 1-800-665-2122; www.quickcoach.com) provides convenient transportation from Seattle. The best connection to the airport is the “Canada Line” rapid transit built for the 2010 Winter Olympics; it is both faster and less expensive than a taxi. See Translink comments below under Vancouver.
By Sea There are numerous ships and services between Victoria, Vancouver, and other points along the coast. Of note is the “Inside Passage” as far as Prince Rupert (from Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island): a scenic, 15-hour day cruise through deep fjords and narrow channels. Booking is mandatory, and can be done online at www.bcferries.com. Call 1-888-223-3779 (toll-free in Canada and US) for more details.
By Rail VIA Rail (tel: 1-888-842-7245; www.viarail.ca) operates passenger services connecting Prince Rupert with Alberta and the rest of Canada. Amtrak (tel: 1-800-872-7245; www.amtrakcascades.com) offers services from Seattle and points further south. In addition to its trips from Calgary, Rocky Mountaineer offers regularly scheduled services to Whistler.
By Bus Greyhound Canada (tel: 1-800-661-8747; www.greyhound.ca) offers services throughout British Columbia. Pacific Coach Lines (tel: 1-800-661-1725; www.pacificcoach.com) run from Vancouver to Victoria every two hours. Destination BC (www.hellobc.com) provides details of several other regional bus services.
By Car Interstate 5 in Washington becomes Highway 99 at the US border 48km (30 miles) south of Vancouver. Vancouver is a 3-hour drive from Seattle, potentially longer depending on the wait at the border. Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, enters Vancouver from the east as does Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway, which crosses southern B.C. From Alaska and the Yukon, the Alaska and Klondike highways provide rugged routes into the province.
Vancouver (604 & 778)
Translink (tel: 604-953-3333; www.translink.ca) provides a mass-transit system for the whole region, with a rapid transit LRT service, buses and trolleys, and Seabus harbor passenger ferries to north Vancouver. The 15-minute Seabus ride is an inexpensive way to get a great tour of the Vancouver harbor, with a public market and plenty of restaurants in the area around the North Vancouver terminal.
Among others, Gray Line (tel: 1-800-472-9546; www.grayline.com) offers bus tours of Vancouver and environs, including Capilano Canyon and Grouse Mountain, and as far as Whistler. There are also numerous companies offering harbor cruises, some with deluxe buffet dinners.
By Taxi Blacktop (tel: 604-683-4567), Maclure’s (tel: 604-731-9211), and Yellow Cabs (tel: 604-681-1111).
Victoria (250)
BC Transit (tel: 250-382-6161; www.bctransit.com/regions/vic) provides bus services throughout Greater Victoria. A number of tour companies, including Big Bus (Tel: 1-888-434-2229; www.bigbusvictoria.ca), offer bus tours, some on trolleys and others on large, open-air buses. For slower, more romantic sightseeing, hire a horse-drawn carriage on Belleville Street, near the Royal British Columbia Museum.
By Taxi Blue Bird Cabs (tel: 382-2222) and Empress Taxi (tel: 381-4432).
By Boat and Ferry BC Ferries (tel: 1-888-223-3779; www.bcferries.com) provides the main access to Victoria and Vancouver Island. From the US, Black Ball Transport (tel: 250-386-2202; www.cohoferry.com) operates car ferries daily between Victoria and Port Angeles, Washington. Victoria Clipper (tel: 1-800-888-2535; www.clippervacations.com) operates a daily passenger-only service between Victoria and Seattle. Washington State Ferries (tel: 206-464-6400; www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) travels daily between Sidney, north of Victoria, and Anacortes, Washington.
Manitoba (204)
By Air Winnipeg International Airport is served principally by Air Canada, WestJet, and Northwest Airlines. There are also a number of regional and charter carriers.
By Rail Winnipeg’s Main Street Station is on VIA Rail’s transcontinental passenger service and is the terminus of the line to Churchill for polar-bear viewing in winter (tel: 1-888-842-7245; www.viarail.ca).
By Bus Greyhound Bus Lines (tel: 1-800-661-8747; www.greyhound.ca) serves scores of small towns across the province – the Winnipeg terminal is located at 2015 Wellington Ave.
By Car A reliable network of good paved roads extends across the southern part of the province and north to Thompson and Flin Flon. Several large car rental companies have offices in Winnipeg, both at the airport and downtown.
Winnipeg (204)
Winnipeg Transit System (tel: 1-877-311-4974; www.winnipegtransit.com) has an efficient bus system.
New Brunswick (506)
By Air Air Canada (tel: 1-888-247-2262) offers daily flights into the major airports at Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton, with connections via associated airlines to smaller communities.
By Sea For ferry services connecting Blacks Harbor to Grand Manan Island call Coastal Transport (tel: 662-3724). For ferries between Deer Island and Campobello, call East Coast Ferries on 747-2159/1-877-747-2159; www.eastcoastferriesltd.com.
By Rail VIA Rail passenger services between Halifax and Montréal follow two routes within New Brunswick: three times a week via McAdam, Saint John, Sussex, and Moncton; and three times a week via Campbellton, Bathurst, Newcastle, Moncton, and Sackville. For details call 1-888-842-7245 or check www.viarail.ca.
By Bus Greyhound and Voyageur offer routes into New Brunswick and transfers to the province-wide service provided by Maritime Bus (tel: 1-800-575-1807; www.maritimebus.com).
By Car New Brunswick has excellent highways. Since the 1980s the province has undertaken an ambitious freeway construction program, the focal point of which is the Fredericton–Moncton Highway. The 12.9km (8-mile) Confederation Bridge, a toll facility, joins Prince Edward Island and Cape Jourimain, New Brunswick. A shuttle bus operates on demand.
Newfoundland and Labrador (709)
By Air Air Canada, Porter, and WestJet operate regular air services to Newfoundland and Labrador. Air Labrador also offers services through St Anthony to many points in Labrador. Provincial Airlines offers services throughout the province.
By Sea The large ferries of Marine Atlantic cross up to four times a day in summer from North Sydney, Nova Scotia, to Channel-Port-aux-Basques (6-hour journey) and Argentia, Newfoundland (18-hour journey). Marine Atlantic also operates freight/passenger services from St Anthony and Lewisport to the Labrador coast (www.marineatlantic.ca).
In addition, a ferry service operates between St Barbe and Blanc-Sablon, on the border with Labrador. There are a number of coastal ferries that carry a few passengers. For more information on these services contact Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism (tel: 729-2830/1-800-563-6353).
By Rail A 7-hour trip from Sept Iles, Québec to Emeril, Labrador (approximately 45 minutes’ drive from Labrador City) is provided through Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. (Sept Iles, QC, tel: 1-866-962-0988; www.tshiuetin.net).
By Bus DRL Coachlines connects the Port-aux-Basques ferry docks with St John’s, a distance of some 905km (562 miles). Tel: 263-2171 in St John’s or 1-888-263-1854; www.drl-lr.com.
By Car The major car rental agencies are represented at St John’s and Deer Lake. Major highways are paved, though a few secondary roads are gravel-surfaced. The 80km (50-mile) stretch between the Blanc-Sablon ferry dock and Red Bay, Labrador, is paved, but Labrador highways are otherwise largely gravel-surfaced. Some car rental agencies have rules and regulations regarding travel along unpaved roads and may require you to rent a larger vehicle.
St John’s
The city’s Metrobus system (tel: 722-9400; www.metrobus.com) is efficient and inexpensive.
By Taxi It is often difficult to hail taxis on the street, so the best bet is to find one at a downtown hotel or to call Bugden’s Taxi (tel: 726-4400).
Northwest Territories (867)
By Air Getting around this huge region is possible only by using a network of regional airlines. Centers of operation include Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River, and Fort Smith. Air Canada, WestJet, and the main regional carrier, First Air (tel: 1-800-267-1247; www.firstair.ca), all fly into Yellowknife from Edmonton. From Yellowknife you can travel elsewhere in the Northwest Territories and to the Yukon by First Air and Canadian North (tel: 1-800-661-1505 in Canada, internationally 1-902-406-1217; www.canadiannorth.com). Buffalo Airways (tel: 867-873-6112; www.buffaloairways.com) flies six days a week between Yellowknife and Hay River.
Numerous charter companies located in Yellowknife airport serve most northern destinations west of Hudson Bay.
By Bus Greyhound Bus Lines (tel: 1-800-661-8747; www.greyhound.ca) offer services between Edmonton and Yellowknife.
By Car The territory has three highways, all hard-packed gravel. The Dempster Hwy stretches from Dawson City, Yukon to Inuvik on the Arctic Ocean. The Mackenzie Hwy runs between Edmonton and Yellowknife. The Liard Hwy runs from the Alaska Hwy near Fort Nelson, B.C. to Fort Liard, close to Nahanni National Park, and connects with the Mackenzie Hwy to Yellowknife.
For special precautions about driving in the north, see the Yukon Getting Around section. Note that highways here become impassable during the spring thaw and autumn freeze-up (usually May and November). Call 1-800-661-0750 for ferry schedules and the latest road information. Should visitors need to rent a vehicle, several agencies are available, but it is wise to reserve as far in advance as possible.
Nova Scotia (902)
By Air Air Canada (tel: 1-888-247-2262) connects Halifax and Sydney with the rest of Canada as well as the eastern US. Other carriers providing services to Nova Scotia include American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Icelandair, Porter, US Airways, and WestJet.
By Sea A number of car-ferry services are available, ranging from 1- to 6-hour voyages to a more luxurious overnight special with cabins and entertainment.
For travel from Wood Island, P.E.I. to Caribou, and from Saint John, N.B. to Digby, contact Bay Ferries (tel: 1-877-762-7245; www.ferries.ca). For travel from Port-aux-Basques, NFL to North Sydney, contact Marine Atlantic (tel: 1-800-341-7981; www.marine-atlantic.ca).
By Rail VIA Rail provides services from Montréal to Halifax via Amherst and Truro. For schedules and fares call 1-888-842-7245.
By Bus Maritime Bus operates daily throughout Nova Scotia (tel: 1-800-575-1807; www.maritimebus.com), as does DRL Coachlines (tel: 1-888-263-1854; www.drl-lr.com).
By Car Nova Scotia highways are generally in very good condition. Four travelways converge in Halifax: the Marine Drive, Evangeline Trail, Glooscap Trail, and Lighthouse Route. Cars can be rented in downtown Halifax, Yarmouth, or Sydney, and at the two airports. Recreational vehicles can be hired out using the province’s accommodations reservation system (tel: 1-800-565-0000).
Halifax
Metro Transit (tel: 902-490-4000; www.halifax.ca) operates a bus system in the Halifax/Dartmouth area. The system’s pedestrian ferry service between Halifax and Dartmouth is a truly delightful way to see the Halifax waterfront. Drivers will find that parking in downtown Halifax on business days can be difficult or expensive.
A number of tour companies, including Brewster Transportation (tel: 403-762-6700/1-866-606-6700), offer bus tours from the major hotels. However, the city is compact enough to explore on foot, either with a conducted group or on a self-guided tour, both of which are available from the Visitor Information Centre at Halifax Waterfront, Sackville Landing, 1655 Lower Water St. Tel: 902-424-4248. Taxis in Halifax are fairly inexpensive and easy to catch, as there are many cab stands.
For Halifax Airport Shuttle service to and from Halifax and Dartmouth contact Maritime Bus (tel: 1-800-350-6945; www.maritimebus.com).
Nunavut (867)
By Air Air Inuit (tel: 1-800-361-2965; www.airinuit.com), Calm Air (tel: 1-800-839-2256; www.calmair.com), Canadian North (tel: 1-800-661-1505; www.canadiannorth.com), First Air (tel: 1-800-267-1247; www.firstair.ca) have scheduled flights. There are also numerous charter air services available across Nunavut, using twin- or single-engine propeller aircraft. Helicopter charter services are also available, as they are sometimes more appropriate for the distances and terrain.
By Road As there is no road connecting Nunavut to the south, and only one 21km (13-mile) stretch of road within the territory, which connects the communities of Arctic Bay and the mining town of Nanisivik, travel by bus or car is not an option.
Ontario
By Air Lester Pearson International Airport, just 30 minutes northwest of Toronto, is served by nearly all the major Canadian airlines as well as international carriers. Useful numbers are as follows:
Air Canada (tel: 1-888-247-2262).
American Airlines (tel: 1-800-433-7300).
British Airways (tel: 1-800-247-9297).
Delta Airlines (tel: 1-800-221-4141).
United Airlines (tel: 1-800-784-4444).
US Airways (tel: 1-800-428-4322).
Union Pearson Express (tel: 1-844-438-6687; www.upexpress.com) provides a bus service every 15 minutes from Terminal 1 to downtown Toronto (journey time of 25 minutes). The service operates between 5.30am and 1am.
Ottawa’s MacDonald Cartier Airport (tel: 613-248-2000) is located 15 minutes south of the city. OC Transpo (tel: 613-741-4390; www.octranspo.com) bus no 97 connects the airport from Terminal 1 to the city.
Many of the province’s northern hunting/fishing resort camps can be reached only by air. Usually, the price of a chartered air fare is included in a package deal. View the Explore the Possibilities in Northern Ontario magazine at www.ontariotravel.net.
By Rail Toronto’s famous Union Station on Front Street is the city’s main rail terminus, with direct access to the subway as well. VIA Rail (tel: 1-888-842-7245) can whisk you across Canada, including to and from US connections in Windsor and Niagara Falls. VIA Rail serves Ottawa from Toronto and Montréal. The Ottawa station is located at 200 Tremblay Rd, near the Queensway.
By Bus Toronto’s bus terminal is located at 610 Bay Street, close to City Hall and the Eaton Centre. The two major carriers are Greyhound Canada (tel: 1-800-661-8747), which provides services throughout the province, and Coach Canada (tel: 1-800-461-7661), which provides services along the Highway 401 corridor, between Windsor, Toronto, and Montréal.
By Car The speed limit on Ontario highways is 100kph (60mph), unless otherwise posted. Remember that adults and children weighing over 40lbs (18kg) must wear seat belts; children smaller than this must be in child seats. In Ontario, drivers are allowed to turn right on a red traffic light, as long as traffic conditions make it safe to do so.
Ontario’s road network is among the best maintained in North America, so your car should leave the province in as good shape as it came. Unless, of course, you travel the dirt and gravel sideroads of northern Ontario, in which case a post-vacation underbody flush will be appropriate. See the Getting Around introduction for toll-free car rental numbers.
Toronto (416 and 647)
Toronto has an excellent mass-transit system, including clean, efficient, and safe subways, with connections to punctual buses and trolley buses. For information call the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC; tel: 416-393-4636; www.ttc.ca). Route maps are often available at hotels.
Taxis are easily hailed on the street. Otherwise call Diamond (tel: 416-366-6868), Metro Cab (tel: 416-504-8294), or Beck Taxi (tel: 416-751-5555).
As in any large city, driving in Toronto can enervate the most patient of drivers, especially at rush hours. Parking, naturally, is expensive, although less so in municipal lots marked with a large, green “P”. When a streetcar comes to a halt, stop behind it so that its passengers can exit through the right lane to the sidewalk. Whenever possible, it’s more pleasant to walk or take the subway.
Ferries (tel: 416-392-8193) leave for Centre Island daily every 30 minutes from the foot of Bay Street.
Gray Line (tel: 1-800-472-9546; www.grayline.com) runs hop-on hop-off daytime Toronto excursions. Moreover, Gray Line offers pleasant, meandering bus tours to Niagara Falls.
To enjoy a harbor cruise call Toronto Harbour Tours (tel: 416-203-6994; www.harbourtourstoronto.ca) or wander through the Harbourfront area, where smaller outfits and privately owned yachts run tour cruises.
Ottawa (613)
Ottawa is served by OC Transpo (tel: 613-741-4390; www.octranspo.com). For tours of Ottawa contact Gray Line (tel: 1-800-472-9546). For taxis call Blue Line (tel: 613-238-1111).
Prince Edward Island (902)
By Air Air Canada (tel: 1-888-247-2262) and some of the smaller airlines fly into Charlottetown daily from numerous Canadian cities. Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines offer direct seasonal services from Boston, New York, and Detroit.
By Sea From May to mid-December, Northumberland Ferries (tel: 1-800-565-0201; www.ferries.ca) leave hourly from Caribou, N.S., to Wood Islands, P.E.I., a 75-minute trip. The ferries are almost always crowded. Early morning and evening sailings have the shortest wait.
By Bus MaritimeBus provides services to the island. For information tel: 1-800-575-1807; www.maritimebus.com. There are few local bus services, but there are several taxi companies such as City Cab (tel: 902-892-6567) and Co-op Taxi (tel: 902-628-8200).
Prince Edward Tours (tel: 02-566-5466/1-877-286-6532; www.princeedwardtours.com) is one company that runs tours of Charlottetown, the North Shore beaches, and other island attractions.
By Car Confederation Bridge is a toll bridge that permits driving to the island from Cape Tormentine. NB: The island speed limit is 90kph (55mph). See Getting Around introduction for toll-free rental car numbers.
By Bicycle Cyclists adore P.E.I.’s rural lanes. Rent a bike by the day or week from one of a number of agencies. MacQueen’s Bike Shop and Travel, 430 Queen St in Charlottetown (tel: 902-368-2453; www.macqueens.com) will design a customized itinerary, arrange accommodations, and provide all equipment – even an emergency road service.
Québec
By Air Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (tel: 1-800-465-1213) is located on the outskirts of the city. It serves domestic, US, and international flights. All major Canadian airlines and numerous international carriers fly into Montréal, including Air Canada (tel: 1-888-247-2262).
Visitors piloting private aircraft should check first with Transport Canada in Ottawa.
By Rail Contact VIA Rail (tel: 1-888-842-7245, or visit www.viarail.ca).
By Bus Greyhound provides services throughout Québec (tel: 514-844-4040/1-800-661-8747).
By Ferry Many ferries offer year-round or seasonal services on the St Lawrence and other major rivers. The CTMA Ferry service (tel: 1-888-986-3278; www.ctma.ca) travels between the Iles de la Madeleine and Prince Edward Island, while a passenger/cargo ship, the Relais Nordik (tel: 1-800-463-0680; www.relaisnordik.com), connects Lower North Shore between Havre-St-Pierre, Ile d’Anticosti, and Blanc-Sablon. Places on this ship should be reserved in advance in peak season.
By Car Perhaps the best way to travel to Québec is by automobile, which gives you the flexibility to explore, and the freedom to stop and sample the local cuisine and to meander through the exceptional provincial parks. While good maps are available from most service stations, bear in mind that north of the major population areas the roads are often unpaved and sometimes even impassable in winter. The speed limit on autoroutes is 100kph (60mph), and drivers and all passengers must wear seat belts. Turning right on a red light is permitted throughout the province except in Montréal, where it is strictly prohibited unless there is an additional green arrow.
Montréal (514)
The City Transit System, STM (tel: 514-786-4636; www.stm.info), services the city with buses and its excellent Métro. You can use a bus transfer for admission to the subway and vice versa.
If you drive, try to make overnight parking arrangements in advance with a hotel. Be prepared to pay $20 a day to park around the city. Taxis abound in Montréal. The base rate is around $4. For car rentals try:
Avis (tel: 800-879-2847)
Hertz (tel: 800-654-3131)
Budget (tel: 800-268-8900)
Québec City (418)
In the Old City, walking is by far the easiest and most convenient way to get around. Woe to those who drive: parking is scarce and expensive (check with your hotel). You can avoid traffic snarls by renting a bicycle from Cyclo Services (tel: 692-4052/1-877-692-4050; www.cycloservices.net).
Saskatchewan (306 & 639)
By Air Saskatchewan’s two principal airports, situated in Regina and Saskatoon, are served by the following airlines: Air Canada (tel: 1-888-247-2262; www.aircanada.com), WestJet (tel: 1-888-937-8538 within Canada, 1-855-547-2451 from the US, 1-800-5381-5696 from the UK; www.westjet.com), and Northwest Airlines (tel: 1-800-441-1818; www.nwa.com). There are also a number of regional and charter carriers offering flights across the area.
By Rail Saskatoon is on VIA Rail’s transcontinental service, with bus links to Regina. For information call VIA Rail (tel: 1-888-842-7245; www.viarail.ca).
By Bus The Saskatchewan Transportation Co. (tel: 1-800-663-7181; www.stcbus.com) and Greyhound Bus Lines (tel: 1-800-661-8747; www.greyhound.ca) serve the province from the Regina terminal at 1717 Saskatchewan Drive, and the Saskatoon station at 50 23rd Street East.
By Car The speed limit in Saskatchewan is 100kph (60mph). Free maps can be obtained from Tourism Saskatchewan or from any other travel bureau in the province. Avis, Budget, Enterprise, National, and Thifty car rental agencies all have depots at both airports as well as Downtown.
Regina and Saskatoon (306 & 639)
Regina Transit (tel: 306-777-7000; www.regina.ca) runs several bus routes through the city and to the airport. In Regina, taxis are readily available downtown. Saskatoon Transit System (tel: 306-975-3100; www.transit.saskatoon.ca) provides a regular bus service. Taxis are available in Saskatoon, or call United (tel: 306-652-2222).
The Yukon (867)
By Air Air Canada (tel: 1-888-247-2262; www.aircanada.com) runs direct flights to Whitehorse from Vancouver and Calgary. Air North (tel: 1-800-661-0407; www.flyairnorth.com) offers services to Fairbanks, Alaska, and First Air (tel: 1-800-267-1247; www.firstair.ca) offers flights to Yellowknife, then connecting flights across most northern airports.
By Sea Most visitors arrive in the Yukon aboard cruise ships as part of a package tour. Independent travelers will find that Skagway, the Alaskan port close to three hours’ drive from Whitehorse, is served by the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS; tel: 1-800-642-0066; www.dot.state.ak.us).
By Rail There’s a seasonal sightseeing rail service between Skagway and Lake Bennett, about halfway to Whitehorse, with connecting buses to complete the journey. For details contact White Pass and Yukon Railway (tel: 1-800-343-7373; www.wpyr.com).
By Bus Greyhound Bus Lines (tel: 1-800-661-8747; www.greyhound.ca) travels from Edmonton to Whitehorse, and Alaska Highways through Yukon. Regional bus lines service the interior and connect with Alaska.
By Car Among the national car rental agencies Budget and National are represented in Whitehorse, and there are also a number of local car and RV rental companies.
The speed limit is 90kph (55mph). Yukon roads are well maintained and most major highways are paved. The Alaska Highway runs from Dawson Creek, B.C., through Whitehorse and on into Alaska. The Klondike Highway commences in Skagway and cuts north from Whitehorse to Dawson. There it splits into the Dempster Highway, which runs due north to Inuvik, the Northwest Territories, and the Top of the World Highway, which drops west into Alaska.
Although these are open year-round, travel is recommended only between mid-May and mid-September. Any trek should be planned and undertaken with great care, following these recommendations:
Headlights must remain on at all times.
When journeying between October and April, make sure that the vehicle is properly winterized.
Before starting, ensure that the vehicle is in good working order. Bring at least two spare tires and plenty of water.
Refuel frequently.
By Taxi For bookings in Whitehorse, call Yellow Cab at 867-668-4811.
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is permitted in most of Canada, except on high-volume highways where stopping for passengers constitutes a danger. It is prohibited in certain municipalities, so prospective hitchhikers should check with tourist boards about local regulations.