Photo courtesy CNW Group: Sunwing Vacations Inc.
Cozumel just got a whole lot easier to reach from Canada. Sunwing Vacations and Vacances WestJet Québec launched a new direct route from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport to Cozumel International Airport in March, with weekly service operating on Boeing 737 aircraft throughout the spring season.
The route marks the first time Canadian vacationers from Québec have had nonstop access to Mexico’s largest Caribbean island, eliminating the need for connections through Cancún or Playa del Carmen.
The new service comes bundled with hotel packages at 13 beachfront resorts, with an introductory offer at Secrets Aura Cozumel starting at CAN$1,565 per person, taxes included. Three additional properties, Allegro Cozumel, Iberostar Waves Cozumel, and Occidental Cozumel, are expected to join the lineup soon. For frequent visitors to the Riviera Maya, the route also signals growing international confidence in Cozumel as a standalone destination rather than simply a Cozumel day-trip from the mainland.
Cozumel’s Appeal to the Canadian Market
Cozumel’s appeal to Canadian travelers goes well beyond the standard sun-and-sand package. The island is home to a section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest coral reef system in the world, and is consistently ranked among the planet’s top five scuba diving destinations. Dive sites such as Palancar Gardens, Santa Rosa Wall, and Columbia Reef draw repeat visitors who return specifically for Cozumel’s famous drift diving, where ocean currents carry divers along healthy coral walls in visibility that regularly exceeds 100 feet (30 meters).
Water temperatures hover between 78–82°F (26–28°C) year-round, making the island a natural escape for Canadians looking to trade sub-zero winters for warm Caribbean island waters. Operators like Aldora Divers, Sand Dollar Sports, and Scuba Du cater to everyone from first timers to seasoned professionals, with eagle ray encounters a particular highlight during the winter and spring months.
Above the waterline, the island offers Punta Sur Eco Beach Park’s 247 acres of protected coastline, the San GervasioMayan ruins dating to 800 CE, and a food scene anchored by fresh-catch seafood restaurants in the San Miguel town center. Cozumel also remains one of the safest destinations in Quintana Roo, with a strong police presence and a tourism-dependent economy that prioritizes visitor security. Bernardo Cueto Riestra, the state’s Secretary of Tourism, noted that the new air connectivity is the result of ongoing promotional work to bring the Canadian market closer to Quintana Roo’s island destinations.
Resort Options and Booking Details
The 13 resort properties currently available through the route span a range of price points and styles. The adults-only Secrets Aura Cozumel and Cozumel Palace target couples and honeymooners, while Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort and Spa and Fiesta Americana Cozumel cater to families.
The Westin Cozumel brings Marriott’s loyalty program into the mix for points collectors, and The Explorean Cozumeloffers an adventure-focused concept with guided excursions included in the rate. El Cozumeleño Beach Resort and Grand Park Royal Cozumel round out the all-inclusive options at more accessible price points.
Both Sunwing and WestJet have noted that flights to Cozumel are filling quickly, and encouraged early booking to secure preferred dates. The route is particularly well-timed given that Cozumel closed 2025 with record tourism numbers and is on track to match them in 2026, driven in part by its status as one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.
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Bryan Dearsley is a luxury lifestyles writer, a prolific traveler, and a Co-Founder of the Riley network of luxury lifestyle websites.
