There’s a point every Canadian hits in winter — usually somewhere between the third freezing‑rain warning and the moment your boots refuse to dry — when the season stops being quaint and starts feeling like a personal affront. That’s when Cancun stops being a vacation idea and starts looking like a survival strategy. It remains one of the most popular destinations for Canadians, and for good reason: warm turquoise water, long walkable beaches, dependable sunshine, and a hospitality culture that makes you feel welcome the moment you arrive.
If you live in a cold‑weather city like Ottawa, even a short break in the sun can reset your entire outlook. A few days of heat, colour, and ocean air do more than warm you up — they remind you that winter doesn’t get the final say.
Cancun hits that sweet spot of being close enough to be practical but far enough to feel like you’ve stepped into another season entirely. With direct flights from Ottawa, coming in at just under five hours, it really is a quick hop south.
And I’ll say this plainly: the Meliá Casa Maya is a standout. This boutique‑style all‑inclusive works beautifully for both couples and families, and it’s built for exactly what most of us need in mid‑winter — a few days, or a full week, of decompressing and letting the tension fall away.
Getting there in 2026 couldn’t be easier. Several airlines — Air Canada, Air Transat, and Porter among them — are running direct seasonal flights from Ottawa to Cancun throughout the winter. No connections, no long layovers, no detours through Toronto’s chaos. The flight is short enough to watch a movie, close your eyes for a bit, and suddenly find yourself stepping into Cancun’s warm, open‑air terminal.
To read our full story on escaping to Meliá Casa Maya Cancun, check out the complete article on our new travel site, TravelTrekTour.com.
