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Signature Landscapes
- Manitoulin Island
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- Lake Superior Coast
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- Beaches of Southern Ontario
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- Temagami and The Uplands of Ontario
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- Travel Tips and Tools
Things you Should Know when Traveling to Canada
- Bringing Your Boat into Canada
- Currency
- Customs Requirements
- Fishing Licenses and Regulations
- Traveling Information
- Travel Information Centres
- Weather Conditions
- More information
Bringing Your Boat into Canada
You may enter Canada aboard your pleasurecraft or with it hitched to a trailer. Customs officers stationed along highway border crossings and at harbours will issue you a permit, which is then returned upon departure as proof that the boat has left the country. Many destinations offer Remote Area Border Crossings, which require you to register by telephone.
For more information:
- Canada Border Services Agency
- Tel: 1-800-461-9999 for general customs information toll-free from anywhere in Canada. If calling from outside of Canada, call (204) 983-3500 or (506) 636-5064 (long distance charges apply).
- Fax: (416) 954-9421
Useful Links:
Currency
It’s recommended that visitors use Canadian funds in Ontario. Currency exchange offices, conveniently located at most Ontario Travel Information Centres at the U.S./Ontario border, offer a good rate of exchange and are open daily.
A good rate of exchange is also offered at the currency exchanges at international airports (Toronto, Ottawa) and at all banks, trust companies and credit unions. Banks are generally open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday; to 6 p.m. Friday. Most trust companies are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and Saturday mornings.
Useful Link:
Customs Requirements
All persons, including U.S. Citizens, travelling by air or sea between the United States and Canada (including in transit passengers who are transferring planes in the U.S.) are required to present a valid passport or Air NEXUS card, according to a new American law, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).
US Visitors can continue to use such documents as their birth certificates and drivers' licences to cross the Canada-U.S. border by land until June 1, 2009, though may be asked to verify their citizenship with such documents as a passport or a birth certificate.
Naturalised U.S. citizens should carry a naturalisation certificate. Permanent U.S. residents who are not citizens are advised to bring their Alien Registration Receipt Card (Green Card).
- Canada Border Services Agency
- Tel: 1-800-461-9999 for general customs information toll-free from anywhere in Canada.
- If calling from outside of Canada, call (204) 983-3500 or (506) 636-5064 (long distance charges apply)
Useful Link:
Fishing Licenses and Regulations
If you’re a non-resident of Canada, you need a license to fish in Ontario.
Residents of Ontario and Canadian residents living outside of the province need an Outdoors Card before they can buy a license. Applications for the Outdoors Card and licenses are available at most sporting goods stores, bait and tackle outlets, many tourist outfitters, fishing lodges, and at district offices of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
License fees are comparable to those in other Canadian provinces or US states. For complete information, pick up a copy of the Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary from most Ontario Travel Information Centres, or visit the Ministry of Natural Resources Web site.
For more information:
- Ministry of Natural Resources
Natural Resources Information Centre -
300 Water Street
Peterborough, Ontario
K9J 8M5 - Tel: 1-800-667-1940 | (705) 755-2000 | (416) 314-2000
Traveling Information
Ontario boasts a number of extensive and efficient transportation systems offering the traveler an array of ways to get around the province, from air to land to water.
Airports and airlines provide speedy travel within Ontario, to other parts of Canada, and overseas. Car rental companies or airport taxi and shuttle services are often situated right on airport premises. Bus lines and rail lines span the province and offer services that can be tailored to suit any budget.
Read more Traveling Information.
Travel Information Centres
Ontario’s Travel Information Centres are operated by the Ministry of Tourism. They provide tourist information on the entire province and supply brochures and public restroom facilities.
Call or drop in to the centre for brochures, special-interest publications, maps and directions. Call 1-800-ONTARIO (1-800-668-2746) to verify current hours.
View our list of Travel Information Centres in Ontario.
Weather Conditions
Due to Ontario’s size, temperatures vary tremendously from region to region, even within the regions themselves. Generally, the weather is considered continental with the lowest temperatures being recorded in January and the highest in July.
On the whole, Northern Ontario experiences a colder climate than Southern Ontario. Temperatures are given in degrees Celsius (°C) with the Fahrenheit (°F) equivalent often added — for an exact conversion of °C to °F, multiply the °C by 9, divide by 5 and add 32.
View detailed information about Ontario’s climate.
More information
Read more helpful tips, facts and resources to help you get the most out of your Ontario travel experience, no matter where you’re visiting from.