When the air gets brisk, seasoned jetsetters set their sights on travel to relax, take in the year that was and reconnect with loved ones around the world. This holiday season, Pearson came prepared: 18 new ways to reach your favourite warm-weather destinations around the globe.
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Pearson’s newest landing spot is Tenerife, the Spanish island off the Moroccan coast rich with beauty and fun things to do. Hike along its ravines, cliffs and mountains. Set sail with some friendly dolphins and whales. Dive into a plate of Conejo en Salmorejo. Hit the links. Or cap it all off with a visit to the Starlight Reserve at Mount Teide to appreciate the night sky as you were meant to.
Launches: October 25 with Air Canada
Mumbai, India
Mumbai, without question, is one of the world’s largest cities: a cultural and financial powerhouse, home to 13 million people. Mumbai is a mega metropolis, so travellers should expect high energy and excitement. The city is best experienced on foot, so a good idea is to first load up on calories by eating its flavour-packed and affordable street food. From there, make sure to frequent some temples, check out a Bollywood film and explore the town’s brilliant craft brew scene.
Launches: October 25 with Air India
Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago
For a Caribbean escape that feels a world away, set your sights on Tobago. This laid-back island is a treasure trove of powdery beaches, turquoise waters and lush rainforest, with plenty of room to trade the crowds for a slower pace. Snorkel through the coral gardens of Buccoo Reef, take a dip in the crystalline Nylon Pool or follow winding forest trails through the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, one of the oldest protected rainforests in the Western Hemisphere. Back on the coast, tuck into freshly caught seafood and local specialities like crab and dumplings, best enjoyed with a sea breeze and nowhere else to be.
Launches: October 25 with Caribbean Airlines
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Here’s a Latin cosmopolis that embraces ancestral heritage and invention in equal measure. That ethos is all over the city’s culinary landscape, now regarded as one of Central America’s shining stars. There’s a surplus of critically acclaimed restaurants here, though adventurous gourmands should turn their eyes to roadside dining, where cheap and cheerful grilled delicacies warm the souls of Guatemalans and foreigners alike. If Eden-esque solace is what you’re after, plan a trip to Tikal National Park in northern Guatemala. Deep in the jungle, this ancient Maya city is home to towering pyramids and temple ruins surrounded by lush rainforest. It’s a journey worth setting aside time for, with flights from Guatemala City to Flores offering a faster route to this remarkable archaeological site.
Launches: December 1 with Air Canada
Quito, Ecuador
Quito is a city with UNESCO World Heritage bona fides. It’s got old-world monasteries loaded with European and pre-Columbian art, architecture imbued with both classicism and new-world verve, and stone-laid plazas for days. And no trip to Quito would be complete without a pilgrimage to Rucu Pichincha, what locals call their “guardian mountain.” Take the TelefériQo cable car up to Cruz Loma for sweeping views of the city, or join an experienced guide for the challenging hike to Rucu Pichincha’s summit.
Launches: December 5 with Air Canada
Las Palmas, Canary Islands
Now for another Spanish island, Gran Canaria, and its capital, Las Palmas, known for the three-kilometre Playa de Las Canteras beach. Other go-tos on any visitor’s list must include the historic quarter of Vegueta, home to the impressive Cathedral of Santa Ana, sampling traditional Canary Islands tapas, and enjoying the nightlife around Las Palmas’s Triana district. From late January through February, the city’s Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Carnival returns for a wild party of feathers, rhinestones and dancing with strangers.
Launches: December 12 with Air Transat
The Valley, Anguilla
A misnomer, The Valley is a relatively flat and beach-heavy destination. Residents like to call their home the Caribbean’s culinary mecca, the greatest hits from West Africa, Spain, France and England all colliding over a buffet of native seafood and produce. Beyond the dining scene, there’s plenty to fill your itinerary, from boat racing and oceanfront bars to family-friendly water parks and indulgent spa days. Or simply claim a spot on the sand and let the turquoise waters do the rest.
Launches: December 19 with BermudAir
Oranjestad, Aruba
Oranjestad literally translates to “Orange City,” fitting as this coastal cruise-ship city was once a Dutch settlement, hence the gingerbread architecture, pastel streetscapes and traditional Dutch restaurants. Another quaint Euro-style feature is the Aruba Streetcar, which offers free guided tours downtown.
Launches: October 30 with Porter Airlines
Los Cabos, Mexico
Los Cabos overlooks the glorious Gulf of California, so travellers should take advantage of the water. Sail past the otherworldly Arch of Cabo San Lucas, catch waves at Costa Azul and swim in the calm waters of Médano Beach. For a taste of the local food scene, savour fresh seafood at everything from Michelin-recognized restaurants to laid-back, family-run spots.
Launches: November 16 with Porter Airlines
Mérida, Mexico
The capital of Yucatán, Mérida has both small-town charm and big-city energy. History is everywhere, so jetsetters might want to mix it up with a trip to the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, a sci-fi-looking museum with a modern take on all things Mayan.
Launches: November 21 with Air Canada
Montego Bay, Jamaica
At a population of roughly 120,000, Jamaica’s most popular vacation locale punches way above its weight. Sporty travellers will want to tour the city’s caves, snorkeling hotspots and immaculate golf courses, but if relaxation is calling, you can kick back on one of 18 beautiful beaches.
Launches: November 23 with Porter Airlines
San José, Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s San José has all the wonderful attractions you’d expect from a big, cosmopolitan city. What makes the place truly special is its nature: rolling hills, ethereal volcanoes, and waterfalls in all directions.
Launches: December 2 with Porter Airlines
Roatán, Honduras
This lush island is part of a larger archipelago famous for its tropical weather (27 degrees Celsius on average) and mind-blowing barrier reef system, the northern hemisphere’s largest.
Launches: December 13 with Air Canada
Fort-de-France, Martinique
Walk the streets of Fort-de-France and you’ll hear a delightful mix of Caribbean French and Martinican Creole. That mélange is the secret sauce behind the town’s energy, felt across its tropical parks, bustling markets and world-beating bays and marinas.
Launches: December 19 with Air Canada and Air Transat
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
This place is a technicolour mix of crystal oceans, Indigenous culture and colonial architecture. The lookout from San Felipe Fortress is an ideal spot to take in past and present.
Launches: December 19 with Flair Airlines
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos’ most populated island, Providenciales, comes with fine dining, shopping and nightlife, plus more than a dozen beaches, the most stunning being Grace Bay Beach.
Launches: November 6 with Porter Airlines, and December 19 with BermudAir