Know Before You Go

Canadian Border

The Canadian border will soon re-open to fully-vaccinated international visitors:

• Starting August 9th, fully vaccinated American citizens and permanent residents (currently residing in the USA) will be able to enter Canada for leisure travel. If they meet the entry criteria, fully vaccinated travellers will not have to quarantine upon arrival to Canada. We look forward to welcoming you.
• Starting September 7th, fully vaccinated international visitors from all other countries will be able to enter Canada for leisure travel. If they meet the entry criteria, fully vaccinated travellers will not have to quarantine upon arrival to Canada. We look forward to welcoming you.
• For the latest information on travel to Canada including the updated federal requirements and restrictions, please visit the Government of Canada website here.

Provincial Border 

BC is in Step 3 of its Restart Plan and is thrilled to welcome visitors from across Canada for safe and responsible travel in the province. Get travel ideas, offers, and the latest information at exploreBC.com.

For more information about provincial borders and current travel restrictions, please visit the Province of BC’s Travel Affected by COVID-19 website.

BC tourism businesses are open and ready for Canadian residents to experience in a safe and responsible manner, but it’s still not business as usual. Right now we recommend that you check with the tourism businesses you are hoping to visit to get the latest on-the-ground information. Here are some helpful resources to get you started:

Visitor Centres

If you’re looking to connect with a local tourism expert, there are more than 100 community-owned Visitor Centres and booths across the province that make up BC’s Visitor Services Network.

Accommodations

See our BC Accommodations listings for a full list of accommodations in BC, including hotels, B&Bs, campgrounds, and more.

Attractions

See our Experience Providers listings for a full list of attractions in BC.

Indigenous Experiences

Please visit Indigenous Tourism BC’s website for a list of Indigenous experiences currently open in BC, and familiarize yourself with their valuable tips on how to visit responsibly.

Travel Deals

Find the latest special offers and travel deals for your next BC getaway.

BC has sustained an extended period of very hot and dry weather conditions. As a result, some areas of the province are currently dealing with wildfires, and campfire bans are officially in effect for most of BC. British Columbia is a very large and diverse province, and there are many areas that are not directly impacted which are open for business and excited to welcome you.

Conditions can change rapidly, and we encourage you to check the latest, on-the-ground information before your trip so you can make an informed travel decision. In addition to checking in with your accommodation provider, here are some other key resources to help you out:

• Download the free BC Wildfire Service app from the App Store or Google Play for real-time alerts, orders, and conditions related to active wildfires across BC.
• Check BC Wildfire Service for a map of current fires, details on fire bans, tips on wildfire prevention, and more.
• Check DriveBC for the latest information on detours or closures along your planned driving route.
• Check BC Parks Wildfire Updates for a list of parks impacted by wildfires to confirm any closures.
• Check the Air Quality Health Index map for hourly updates from across the province.
• Contact the local Visitor Centre in the communities you will be visiting for real-time on-the-ground updates.

To report a wildfire dial *5555 on a cell or call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free.

Find all you need to know about travelling with BC Ferries at bcferries.com.

Reservations are highly recommended. If you have questions about travel with BC Ferries, you can contact 1-888-BC Ferry, or www.bcferries.com/contact-us.

This summer, many visitors are looking to go camping in British Columbia’s outdoor spaces. Please plan ahead this year and ensure you’re taking all the appropriate steps to have a safe and enjoyable time. Reservations are strongly recommended.

For safety tips, see COVID-19 Tips for Camping and RVing.

Camper’s Code

Please camp responsibly and follow the Camper’s Code.

Private Campgrounds & RV Parks

To find a complete list of campgrounds and RV parks in your local community, visit the Camping & RV in BC website.

Provincial Parks (BC Parks)

This year, British Columbians have priority access to BC Parks camping reservations for the entire summer season. Starting July 8, 2021, non-residents of BC will be permitted to make reservations for any remaining arrival dates in the season. Reservations can be made on DiscoverCamping.ca and can be booked up to two months in advance from there on. Find out when you can book at each park at bcparks.ca/operating-dates. Policy information can be found at bcparks.ca/covid-19/camping-2021.

BC Parks will restrict out-of-area bookings, and refund bookings where necessary. If you have questions about your booking, you can call 1-800-689-9025.

Additional Resources:

• Visitor Guide to Camping During COVID-19
• Discover Camping FAQs
• BC Parks Re-opening FAQs

Recreation Sites & Trails (RSTBC)

Before leaving on your trip, check for possible closures, alerts or other warnings that may affect the site or trail you plan to visit. For more information, visit the RCTBC website.

Note: Recreation sites and trails are often accessed by resource roads, also known as forest service roads (FSR). BC’s resource roads are not built or maintained to the same standards as public highways, with many additional hazards such as rough, loose gravel, potholes, sharp corners, large industrial vehicles and other unmarked hazards. High-clearance 4WD vehicles are often required. Remember to check your insurance policy, as some coverage may be void when using these roads. Please read road safety, road use regulations, and road policy information before travelling on forest service roads. For more information, please visit the Government of BC website.

National Parks (Parks Canada)

To reserve a campground in a national park, please check the Parks Canada Reservations website.

Be AdventureSmart

This summer, many visitors are looking to explore the outdoors in new ways, such as hiking on a new trail, taking up mountain biking, or learning how to kayak. No matter what outdoor activity you are planning, do your research in advance and be prepared. Learn the three Ts—trip planning, training, and taking the essentials—and apply them to all your outdoor adventures.

Tip: AdventureSmart.ca will be your best friend when it comes to outdoor safety in BC.

Practice Leave No Trace

When exploring BC’s outdoors, always leave it in a better state than when you arrived. Respect local wildlife. Minimize the impact of campfires and check BC Wildfire Service for fire bans and fire safety tips. Pack out what you pack in and dispose of waste properly. These are just some of key principles of Leave No Trace, a set of seven guidelines for enjoying the outdoors responsibly while minimizing your impact on the landscape.

Tip: Visit LeaveNoTrace.ca to learn more about responsible outdoor recreation.

National Parks (Parks Canada)

Check the Parks Canada website for the latest updates on BC’s national parks, such as Pacific Rim (including the West Coast Trail), Yoho, Kootenay, Glacier, Mount Revelstoke, and Gwaii Hanaas.

Provincial Parks (BC Parks)

For more information on BC’s provincial parks, please visit the BC Parks website.

Recreation Sites & Trails BC (RSTBC)

For more information, please visit Recreation Sites and Trails BC.

Note: Recreation sites and trails are often accessed by resource roads, also known as forest service roads (FSR). BC’s resource roads are not built or maintained to the same standards as public highways, with many additional hazards such as rough, loose gravel, potholes, sharp corners, large industrial vehicles and other unmarked hazards. High-clearance 4WD vehicles are often required. Remember to check your insurance policy, as some coverage may be void when using these roads. Please read road safety, road use regulations, and road policy information before travelling on forest service roads. For more information, please visit the Government of BC website.

Regional & Municipal Parks

Not all parks fall within national or provincial jurisdiction; many are managed by regional or municipal parks boards, which set their own rules, regulations, openings, and closures to ensure visitor safety. Always check with the park’s website before planning your visit to learn about the latest updates.

Check Road Conditions

Always check DriveBC before heading out on the road to learn about the current conditions along your planned route, including webcams, closures, construction delays, or detours.

Prepare Your Car

Plan ahead with BCAA’s Ultimate Guide to Safe Road-Tripping in BC, including helpful resources such as the BCAA vehicle checklist, how to pack for an emergency, and more.

Check Weather Conditions

BC’s mountainous terrain means weather conditions can change rapidly within relatively short distances, and snowfall can happen any month in the higher-elevation mountain passes. Before heading out on the road, always check the current weather conditions and weather alerts along your planned journey. Drive for the conditions. If the weather is bad (i.e. snowfall warning along the Coquihalla), delay your drive until the weather and road conditions improve, or consider an alternate route or a different mode of transportation.

Winter Tires

BC’s winter road conditions can include snow and ice. Drivers legally need winter tires from October 1 until April 30 when travelling on all BC highways, even if there’s no snow on the road. Learn all the details about the winter tire requirement from the Government of British Columbia website.

BC Road Rules

Whether you’re new to driving in BC or need a refresher about province’s road rules, see ICBC’s Driving Guides to refresh your knowledge and skills.

The 2020/21 ski season in BC is now closed. For information on skiing & snowboarding experiences in BC for future seasons, see Skiing & Snowboarding.

If you are considering planning a trip to BC’s backcountry, please see Avalanche Canada’s Safety in the Snow: What You Need to Know and BC AdventureSmart’s 3 Outdoor Winter Safety Tips Everybody Should Know article for tips on staying safe.

Anyone in BC who begins to feel ill can seek medical attention at local hospitals or urgent care centres.

Note: In suspected cases of the coronavirus, it is important to call ahead to the hospital, doctor or urgent care centre first for advice. Where language may be a barrier, tour operators, accommodation providers, and other tourism businesses can provide support by offering to contact a health-care professional on their behalf. (Symptoms of a coronavirus infection include, but are not limited to, fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue and difficulty breathing.

For anyone in BC who suspects they might have coronavirus symptoms, you must provide health-care professionals with the following info (via phone):

• Symptoms;
• Where you have been travelling, working or living;
• If you had close contact with a sick person, especially someone with a fever, cough or difficulty breathing

International mobile phones on a Canadian network should be able to access the following phone numbers:

• For non-emergency situations only, call 8-1-1 (or 7-1-1 for the deaf or hard of hearing). This is a free-of-charge provincial health information and advice phone line operated by HealthLink BC. Translation services are available in more than 130 languages.
• In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1.
• Find the nearest hospital or health centre in British Columbia here.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is working with provinces, territories, and international partners, including the World Health Organization, to actively monitor the situation. Public health risk is being continually reassessed as new information becomes available, with updates being posted to the government’s COVID-19 Updates page. The current risk to Canadians is considered high. This does not mean that all Canadians will get the disease. It means that there is already a significant impact on our health care system. If we do not flatten the epidemic curve now, the increase of COVID-19 cases could impact health care resources available to Canadians. The current assessment also indicates that there is an increased risk of more severe outcomes for Canadians:

• aged 65 and over
• with compromised immune systems
• with underlying medical conditions

There are also increased health risks for Canadian travellers abroad. Because of these risks, the Government of Canada advises you to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice, including cruise ship travel.

Canada’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak takes a whole-of-government approach, based on plans and guidance related to pandemic preparedness. For an overview on the national response to the virus outbreak, including national updates, travel advice and links to official sources of information, visit PHAC’s Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Canada’s response page.

For detailed information about Canada’s response, including the measures already taken to respond to the outbreak, new investments to limit the spread of the virus and prepare for its potential impacts, and more, on the Government of Canada takes action on COVID-19 page.

For any questions, call the Health Canada COVID-19 information line: 1-833-784-4397, or email: [email protected]

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) have issued a joint statement on international cooperation as key to the containment of COVID-19. Read it here.

• Visit Health Link BC’s website.
• Call the Health Canada COVID-19 information line: 1-833-784-4397. Interpretation services are available in multiple languages. Or email: [email protected]
• Visit the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)’s website for the latest outbreak update on COVID-19.
• Visit the Health Link BC website for detailed information on COVID-19, including FAQs.
• Visit the BC Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC) website for the latest on how to prevent the transmission of diseases.