The reef begins off Roatán. Colonial squares and rooftop restaurants fill central Mérida. Santo Domingo has cobblestone streets, centuries-old architecture, and the Caribbean capital built for dining, music, and long weekends.
This winter, Air Canada adds five new destinations from CanadaCreating new, non-stop options from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.
The expansion includes the following flights: From Toronto and Montreal to Roatannew service Montreal to Santo Domingonew Toronto to Mérida Routes and new flight departure points Vancouver to Mazatlan.
The seasonal service begins between November and December and continues through April, giving Canadian travelers a new collection of warm-weather options for mid-winter.
Two new direct flights to Roatan
Air Canada is scheduled to launch its first flight. Roatan, HondurasOne of the best diving and snorkeling destinations in the Caribbean.
The airline will operate non-stop services from: Montreal on SaturdayIt runs from December 12th to April 10th.
The second path leads to Toronto and Roatan on Sunday From December 13th to April 11th.
The two flights place the island of Honduras within a single non-stop trip of Canada’s two largest air hubs, eliminating the connections traditionally needed for many Canadian visitors.
Roatan is part of the Bay Islands of Honduras. Mesoamerican Barrier ReefThe second largest reef system in the world.
The island is famous for diving, snorkeling, mangrove tours and beaches, including West Bay, where hotels and restaurants line a wide curve of sand.
Coral reefs are close enough to the coast in many areas of Roatan that you can spend a day snorkeling directly off the beach and then move between small restaurants, beach bars, and waterfront hotels.
The island has added luxury resorts in recent years. Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort and SpaOpened on West Bay Beach with rooms, suites, bungalows and a large beachfront swimming pool.
Other options include: Ibagari Boutique Hotel, Maya Princess Beach and Dive Resort and Anthony’s Key ResortIt is one of the best known diving facilities on the island.
The new Air Canada route provides Canadian travelers with a direct connection to the Caribbean islands, which offers a very different feel from the region’s larger resort destinations.
Montreal is getting new flights to Santo Domingo
Air Canada is also launching new non-stop flights: Montreal and Santo DomingoThe capital of the Dominican Republic.
This service operates four times a week, with flights scheduled on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays.
The seasonal route begins December 10 and runs until April 18, making Santo Domingo one of the most frequently served destinations on Air Canada’s new winter flights.
Santo Domingo offers a different type of Dominican Republic vacation than Punta Cana or Puerto Plata.
The experience begins with: colonial areaIt’s a historic district where restored buildings, churches, squares, museums, restaurants and boutique hotels fill the walkable area of the capital.
Stay in a renovated historic home, spend an afternoon around Plaza de España and enjoy a meal inside a building that dates back hundreds of years.
Hotels in the area include: 16th century houseA collection of restored residences spread throughout the colonial area with properties including: Billyny Hotel and Kimpton Las Mercedes.
The city has a growing number of dining options beyond its historic centre, particularly in nearby areas including Piantini and Naco.
Santo Domingo can work as a standalone city tour, but new routes also offer the option to combine the capital with other beaches in the Dominican Republic.
Boca Chica and Juan Dolio are within driving distance, while the resorts of La Romana and Casa de Campo are within driving distance of the capital.
Toronto is finding new ways to reach Mérida
Air Canada begins direct flights to: Toronto and Mérida, MexicoNovember 21st.
This route will operate twice a week, every Monday and Saturday, until April 17.
Mérida is the capital of Yucatan state and one of Mexico’s strongest destinations for food, architecture and cultural travel.
The historic center is filled with white limestone buildings, courtyards, churches, and public squares. The city’s main boulevard, Paseo de Montejo, is lined with former mansions that are now home to museums, restaurants, cafés and boutique hotels.
Yucatecan cuisine is central to the experience.
The menu includes dishes such as cochinita pibil, sopa de lima, panucho and papazule, as well as seafood from the nearby Gulf Coast.
Mérida also serves as a base for exploring the wider Yucatan Peninsula.
maya site Uxmal Reachable as a day trip, cenotes, haciendas and small archaeological sites are spread throughout the region.
The coastal town development It’s about 30 minutes from the city, giving travelers the option to add a beach trip to their cultural itinerary.
Hotels range from restored historic buildings to modern urban resorts. Chavel Yucatan outskirts of the city, Recanda House, Roses & Chocolate and Wire World Imperial.
Toronto flights offer Canadian travelers a new alternative to Mexico’s wider beach destinations, with vacations structured around restaurants, architecture, markets and local history.
Vancouver is receiving new Mazatlán flights
Air Canada plans to add non-stop service on the following routes: Vancouver and Mazatlan From December 15th.
Flights will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays until April 9.
Mazatlan combines a long beach district on the Pacific Ocean with one of Mexico’s most charming historical centers.
that historic district The Malecon River is filled with restored buildings, squares, galleries, and restaurants as it follows its waters for miles through the city.
Travelers can split their stay between beach resorts and the old town, hopping between seafood restaurants, historic streets and waterfront hotels.
Mazatlan is especially known for its shrimp, ceviche, and Pacific seafood, along with its vibrant local music culture.
The destination offers a more urban Mexican beach experience than smaller resort towns, with working towns beyond the hotel districts.
The new Vancouver route will operate during Canada’s peak winter season, giving travelers from British Columbia another option to visit Mexico’s Pacific Coast directly.
Broader Air Canada winter expansion
The five new destinations are part of a much larger Air Canada winter program.
The airline is also adding new direct routes from Canadian cities to Aruba, Jamaica, Punta Cana, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Costa Rica and several Mexican destinations.
New Caribbean services include: Montreal to Aruba, Edmonton to Montego Bay, Winnipeg to Montego Bay, Winnipeg-Punta Cana, Quebec City – Pointe-à-Pitre and Halifax to Bridgetown.
Air Canada is also launching new flights from Vancouver to Liberia (Costa Rica, Monterrey and Puerto Escondido) and additional Mexico service from Calgary.
The expansion gives Canadian travelers more ways to reach the Caribbean and nearby warm-weather destinations without transiting through Toronto or Montreal.
Air Canada said the new routes are part of a broader effort to expand its leisure network in cities across the country, supported by expanded Air Canada Rouge and Airbus A220 operations.
Why the new route stands out
The new destinations are notable because they expand beyond the traditional Canadian winter vacation map.
Roatán is a small Caribbean island built around a coral reef and offers direct flights.
Santo Domingo offers Dominican Republic excursions that focus on culture, food and history rather than all-inclusive beach resorts.
Mérida offers Toronto travelers direct access to the culinary and archaeological heart of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Mazatlán adds another Pacific option to Vancouver, combining beaches and a historic Mexican city.
Each route operates seasonally, with most operations occurring between late fall and spring.
Traveling in Canada means there are more opportunities to escape winter, including destinations where your vacation begins far beyond your resort pool.
