Canadians visited this sunny destination more than any overseas country this year
This year, Canadians are travelling south — well past the U.S. — in search of sun, sand, and salsa, it seems.
New data from Statistics Canada shows that Mexico was once again the most visited overseas country by Canadian residents in 2026. While not technically overseas, Statistics Canada defines “overseas” as any country in the world outside of Canada and the United States.
Between January and March, Canadians made approximately 1.3 million visits to Mexico. That’s about 51,000 more visits than during the same period last year.
Mexico was followed by the Dominican Republic, which recorded approximately 441,000 Canadian visits in the first quarter of 2026. Costa Rica ranked third, with about 193,000 visits from Canadians — its highest first-quarter total since StatCan began collecting the data in 2018.
It’s not hard to see why Mexico is such a fan favourite, given its warm temperatures, vast beaches, delicious food, vibrant culture, and relatively short flights from Canada.
Its popularity also comes as Canadian travel habits appear to be changing.
Despite a reported 5.5 million trips which included an outbound visit to the U.S., StatCan says there has been a “persistent shift away from the U.S.” among Canadian travellers, with leisure travel to the U.S. falling sharply in 2025. Even Florida, a longtime popular spot among Canadian snowbirds, is feeling a little salty about it.
Meanwhile, overseas travel picked up. So far this year, Canadians have made 4.6 million trips to overseas destinations, up 6.2 per cent from the same period in 2025.
They’re also spending more once they get there.
StatCan says travellers spent approximately $10.1 billion overseas between January and March 2026, a 16.7 per cent increase year over year. On average, Canadian residents spent $2,210 per visit, and the average visit length was 13.3 nights.
If Mexico is calling your name, when is the best time to go?
The months between December and April are generally a popular time to visit, thanks to warm, relatively dry weather in many of the country’s beach destinations like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Tulum. But the rest of the year can be just as pleasant.
If lounging poolside is too slow a pace, you can always explore the vibrant streets and architecture of Mexico City or dive into the Indigenous culture and rich food scene of Oaxaca City.
Canadians should keep an eye out for any travel advisories. On Aug. 12, the government issued a notice for Mexico, warning of the possible risk of cyclosporiasis; however, that advisory has now been lifted.