Portugal is already a top destination for Canadians. But one region is hungry for more.
Representatives from the Albufeira and Lagos districts in the Algarve region descended on Toronto yesterday for a media lunch and an evening event with travel trade.
The sunny Algarve region has 12% of all the hotel and resort beds in Portugal, with everything from five-star luxury and boutique places to villas and budget hotels.
With 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s an area of Portugal that draws a good deal of Canadians already.
“Canada is a strategic market for us,” Dora Coelho, Regional Manager Algarve, said at a downtown Toronto lunch featuring fine Portuguese cuisine and wine. “Some 729.000 Canadians visited Portugal in 2025, and the majority visit the Algarve.”
A recent Virtuoso study found Portugal is the fourth most popular overseas destination for its Canadian clients, bested only by Italy, Japan and Greece.
Coelho and other Portugal tourism officials noted Albufeira and Lagos (Lagoa in Portuguese) are famous for exceptional beaches, culture, nature experiences, boating, gastronomy, wine, and night life.
Portugal is well served by Canadian and other airlines, including Air Transat, Air Canada, SATA and TAP.
A beach in Albuefeira, Portugal. Dan Gold/Unsplash Photo
Yours truly visited Lagos a few years ago and had a great time kayaking in and around massive sea caves, as well as taking in a bit of shopping.
Albufeira boasts some 30 km’s of coastline and a diverse array of beaches, many of them backed by colourful, dramatic cliffs. Praia do Falesia was voted best beach in the world by Trip Advisor in 2024. The city also has an historic old town with whitewashed houses and colourful cafes.
Golf is also a hugely popular sport in the region, where the average daily high temperature in January is around 16C and the average in March closer to 18C.
Lagos features picturesque coastal villages, dramatic limestone cliffs and a distinctive wine-producing tradition.
AIR CANADA BOOSTS GUATEMALA SERVICE
When a destination suddenly becomes popular with visitors and the media, it’s common for pundits to suggest the destination “is having its moment in the sun.”
Harris Whitbeck, the Guatemalan Tourism Minister says he’s doesn’t want his country to have a moment, but a long-term relationship.
Whitbeck, the former Latin American bureau chief for CNN and now a senior official in the Guatemalan government, told a meeting of travel trade and media in Toronto last night that his country is thrilled to have more flights from Canada.
Air Canada in December will launch direct flights to Guatemala City from Toronto Pearson, with one flight per week. The airline also has extended its season Montreal-Guatemala service to year-round, with three flights per week.
Guatemala, which sits directly south of Mexico and has a large Pacific Ocean coastline and a small patch of land along the Caribbean, is famous for its Mayan ruins, artistic weaving, active volcanoes and strong indigenous centres. Lake Atitlan in central Guatemala is surrounded by three volcanoes and is a major draw, as is the handsome colonial city of Antigua, which is only an hour or two from GUA.
The Maya Biosphere Reserve in northern Guatemala (sandwiched between Mexico and Belize) is the second largest rainforest in the Americas and contains thousands of Mayan ruins.
Antigua, Guatemala. Dozz J/Pixabay Photo
While it’s not known as a beach destination, there are fine beaches to be found on both of Guatemala’s coastlines.
Guatemala tourism grew 11% last year, compared to 5% for global tourism as a whole. They’re expecting 60,000 Canadian visitors next year with the new flights, which would be a 22% increase from this year, Whitbeck said at a posh reception in downtown Toronto.
Officials said there’s a strong commitment to protect the landscapes, sacred places and cultural heritage that make the country special.
“Guatemala offers an incredible combination of culture, history, adventure and warm hospitality, making it a destination that can be enjoyed throughout the year,” said Shabnam Esfahani, specialty sales manager for Air Canada.
Esfahani said flights from Canada are on the Airbus A333, with a variety of seating choices, including Signature Class. The flight from Toronto to Guatemala City is around five hours.
IMPROVED ACCESS FROM CANADA TO TOBAGO
Tobago celebrated a major milestone this week as Caribbean Airlines launched its first nonstop flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport to A.N.R. Robinson International Airport. The new weekly service offers Canadian travellers direct access to an unspoiled Caribbean island renowned for its extraordinary natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality.
The flight also marked another exciting development for the island, with passengers arriving through Tobago’s newly opened international airport.
Tobago coastline. Renaldo Matamoro/Unsplash Photo
Until now, Canadian travellers heading to Tobago typically connected through Trinidad or another Caribbean hub. The new service eliminates that connection, strengthening Tobago’s ties with one of its most important international markets and making the island more accessible for winter escapes, extended holidays, and visits with family and friends.
“Canada is an important market for Tobago, and travellers can now fly directly from Toronto and discover an island that still offers the Caribbean the way it used to be: unspoiled, welcoming, and full of character,” said Farley Augustine, Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly.
Caribbean Airlines operates the new route every Sunday, with nonstop service from Toronto to Tobago aboard flight BW615 and return service aboard BW614. The southbound flight takes approximately five hours and 35 minutes. Schedules and fares are available at www.caribbean-airlines.com.
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