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Travel Guide
Travel insurance, wildlife encounters, and how to be safe in the backcountry.
Overview
Canada is one of the safest countries in the world for tourists. The real risks are environmental — weather, wildlife, and distance from medical care in remote areas — not crime.
Canadian healthcare is excellent but expensive for non-residents. A broken leg can cost CAD $20,000+ without insurance, and helicopter evacuation from the backcountry runs CAD $10,000–30,000. Comprehensive travel insurance with medical coverage of at least CAD $1 million is essential.
Black bears and grizzlies are common in BC, Alberta, and the territories. Make noise while hiking, carry bear spray (legal and widely sold), store food in bear-proof containers, and never approach a bear for a photo. If charged, stand your ground with bear spray ready — running triggers chase instinct.
Hypothermia is the leading wilderness killer in Canada and can occur in summer if you get wet and exposed. Carry layers, fire-starting supplies, and emergency shelter on any backcountry trip. In summer heat, drink twice as much water as you think you need.
911 reaches police, fire, and ambulance everywhere with cell coverage. In remote areas, carry a satellite communicator (Garmin inReach, ZOLEO) — there is no cell service across vast stretches of the Rockies, prairies, and north.
Quick tips
Good to know
Straight answers from travellers who have been there.
Keep reading
Before You Go
Whether you need an eTA, a visitor visa, or just a passport — and what to expect at the border.
Read guide →Getting Around
Flights, trains, road trips, and ferries — how to cross the world's second-largest country.
Read guide →Money & Budget
How much to budget per day, how tipping really works, and where to get the best exchange rate.
Read guide →What to Pack
A season-by-season packing list for a country that swings from -40°C in February to +35°C in July.
Read guide →