Maya ruins, freshwater cenotes, historic haciendas and some seriously good food: Yucatán has plenty going for it, and getting there from Canada is about to become easier. With new nonstop service to Mérida and more tour operator packages available, the Mexican state is looking to make inroads with Canadian travellers this winter. For this edition of Take 5, we find out what travel advisors need to know about selling Yucatán, in a chat with Laura Nesteanu, Global SVP at GMS and Account Director for Yucatán Tourism.
1. It’s easier than ever for Canadians to get to Yucatán this winter. What can you share in terms of airline lift and tour operator packages from Canada?
“Canadians will have more ways to fly nonstop into Mérida this winter. Air Canada’s new seasonal service from Toronto begins Nov. 21, with two flights a week, complementing WestJet’s existing seasonal Toronto service. WestJet is also scheduled to start weekly nonstop flights from Calgary on Dec. 17, giving travellers in Western Canada a new gateway to Yucatán.
“Air Canada Vacations begins selling guided Yucatán tours in November, a six-day Merida City Break uses Mérida as a base for visits to Uxmal, Chichén Itzá, Valladolid and the cenotes of Homún, and an eight-day Mexico Lindo – Yucatan Journey pairing Mexico City and Mérida.
“Meanwhile travelbrands and Goway developed Yucatán packages that are available to book now. Advisors can work with either operator to personalize an itinerary around their clients’ interests, preferred pace and style of travel, whether that means more time on the coast, a stay in a historic hacienda or a trip built around Yucatán’s cuisine.”
Cenotes Hacienda Mucuyché, Yucatan
2. What makes Yucatán such a special destination?
“With winter approaching in Canada, warm weather is a big reason to put Yucatán on your list. Mérida is just over four hours away on a nonstop flight from Toronto, so it’s easy to plan a week in the sun. Cancún and Tulum are also gateways to eastern Yucatán for travellers combining destinations on the peninsula.
“Peace of mind matters, too. The 2026 Mexico Peace Index ranked Yucatán the country’s most peaceful state for the ninth consecutive year. Mérida, a past winner in Condé Nast Traveler’s small city category, gives visitors a warm introduction to the state, with a walkable historic centre, lively markets and neighbourhoods that are easy to explore.
“What makes Yucatán special is how much you can experience in one trip. Spend a day on the Gulf coast in Progreso or Sisal, swim in a freshwater cenote, or look for flamingos in the Celestún Biosphere Reserve. Explore Chichén Itzá, Uxmal or Ek Balam, then see how Maya traditions live on in the food and crafts of towns such as Valladolid and Izamal, the Yellow City.
“Our cuisine has an identity all its own within Mexico. Try slow-cooked cochinita pibil at a market or sopa de lima at a neighbourhood restaurant, then see how local chefs are making those flavours their own. Three Yucatán restaurants earned a MICHELIN Star each in the state’s debut in the 2026 guide.
“For Canadians who want to stay beyond a week or two, Yucatán also has an established snowbird community. The affordable day-to-day lifestyle, charming historic homes and neighbourhood markets make it easy to settle in and spend part of the winter here.”
Stealing a kiss in Parque Santa Lucia, Merida
3. Many Canadians want to go beyond the beach and explore more than one destination during their holiday. What does Yucatán offer in this regard?
“For Canadian travellers who want to move beyond the traditional sun-and-sand bubble, Yucatán State is the ultimate multi-destination playground.
“What makes this region so unique is its diverse concentration of experiences packed into a highly accessible, compact geography. Instead of committing to a single, static beach resort, Canadians can easily weave three or four entirely different vacations into one trip. You can wake up in a historic colonial city, spend the afternoon swimming in a hidden jungle sinkhole, and fall asleep at a restored 19th-century agave hacienda. It is a destination designed for curiosity and independent exploration.
“We generally see travellers anchoring their itineraries around our distinct cultural hubs and “Pueblos Mágicos” (Magical Towns). Mérida, our vibrant capital, serves as the perfect urban base with its thriving culinary scene and beautifully converted boutique mansion hotels. From there, it is an easy drive to Valladolid, a walkable colonial town, or Izamal, a striking micro-destination where every single building in the historic centre is painted a brilliant golden yellow.
“These towns aren’t just scenic backdrops; they are living communities where visitors can genuinely engage with modern Maya culture, local art, and regional gastronomy.
“For those interested in history and eco-adventure, the state offers incredible variety without the crowds. While iconic landmarks like Chichén Itzá are spectacular, we love pointing travellers toward the Ruta Puuc in the south. This driving loop connects stunning, crowd-free Maya ruins like Uxmal with historic haciendas, allowing for a much more intimate look at ancient architecture.
“You can then seamlessly pivot from history to nature, whether that means ‘cenote hopping’ through the subterranean limestone caverns of Homún or taking a boat safari to see thousands of wild pink flamingos in the Celestún Biosphere Reserve.”
4. Canadians are known for their affection for all-inclusive resorts. What do you want travel advisors to know about Yucatán’s hotels and resorts?
“When selling Yucatán State to Canadian clients, travel advisors should frame the region not as a competitor to the massive all-inclusive strips of Quintana Roo, but as a completely different category of luxury.
“While Canadians naturally gravitate toward mega-resorts for predictability and convenience, Yucatán offers an experiential alternative defined by deep heritage, character, and tranquility. Instead of bottomless swim-up bars and sprawling buffet lines, this region excels at intimate, high-end pampering where the destination itself is the main attraction. It is the perfect sell for clients who want to be immersed in culture without sacrificing premium comfort.
“The crown jewels of the region’s hospitality scene are its historic 19th-century haciendas, which have been meticulously restored into ultra-luxury boutique sanctuaries. Properties like the internationally acclaimed Chablé Yucatán offer standalone casitas, private pools, and world-class spas built directly over sacred cenotes. Advisors can pitch these estates as exclusive, character-driven retreats that trade crowd-filled complexes for tailored, chef-driven gastronomy, private tequila collections, and wellness rituals grounded in local Maya traditions. It is an unmatched level of privacy that no standard mega-resort can replicate.
“For design-conscious travellers, the state boasts a growing collection of globally recognized boutique stays and hidden coastal lodges. This includes jungle-enclosed hideaways like Galopina – which has earned a prestigious MICHELIN Key for its intimate, five-suite forest reserve layout—as well as chic urban design hotels like Künük Boutique Hotel in Mérida. On the coast, minimalist beach retreats like Club de Patos in Sisal offer unpretentious, raw luxury right on the sand. These properties excel at personalized touches, such as home-cooked breakfasts, evening mezcal tastings, and hosts who double as expert local concierges.
“The strategic pitch for advisors is to highlight the value of splitting a stay to create a seamless, high-end itinerary. By pairing three nights at a secluded hacienda with a couple of nights in a chic Mérida boutique hotel, you can curate a dynamic vacation where archeological ruins, cenotes, and vibrant local culture are right at the client’s doorstep. For the Canadian market, this completely removes the hidden costs and long transit times of resort-based excursions, delivering a far richer, more sophisticated holiday than any single all-inclusive footprint ever could.”
Feasting on Aguachile Mayakuya
5. What resources are available to Canadian travel advisors, and how can they turn Yucatán’s appeal into bookings?
“Advisors can reach our Canadian travel trade team at Global Marketing & Sales at cheryl.green@1gms.com or laura.nesteanu@1gms.com for destination training, itinerary ideas and introductions to local operators. Yucatan.travel is a good starting point for exploring the state.
“For product information, quotes and bookings, advisors can contact Air Canada Vacations, travelbrands or Goway. Advisors can also check schedules and book nonstop flights to Mérida with Air Canada or WestJet.”
