Located just 60 miles from Seattle, Victoria is the capital of British Columbia and a major tourism hub, attracting some 3.5 million visitors each year. The mild climate, whale-watching opportunities, and enjoyable nightlife make Victoria an inviting destination for a wide variety of visitors. Purchase travel medical insurance and start exploring.
Travel Medical Insurance for Travelers visiting Victoria – FAQs
The perfect vacation can be ruined in an instant if you get injured or become sick. And while there’s no way to help all the fun activities you’ll miss out on, there is a way to prevent it from damaging your bank account: travel medical insurance.
Do I need travel medical insurance for Victoria?
There’s no law that requires visitors to buy travel medical insurance in order to visit Canada. It’s totally optional. But you should always purchase it. The fantastic hospitals available in Canada will not treat foreign tourists for free. You’ll need a way to pay for care, and you cannot expect your domestic health insurance to be accepted here. If you want to ensure you can get the best treatment available for a fair price, you need travel medical insurance.
Why buy travel medical insurance before visiting Victoria?
Due to its location on the Pacific Ocean, Victoria can be quite rainy. It only takes one unseen patch of mud to land you in the hospital with a broken bone or a concussion. Just the same, you could catch the flu or suffer something more serious. Medical issues can’t always be predicted, but they can be prepared for if you have travel medical insurance.
Victoria’s Most Popular Activities
Go Whale Watching
Whale watching is one of the most popular activities for tourists in Victoria. Numerous tour operators offer experiences lasting from just a few hours to half a day or longer. See amazing creatures like orcas and other wildlife that call the surrounding seas home. Not only are these tours entertaining photo opportunities, they’re also very educational.
See Nature’s Splendor at the Butchart Gardens
The Butchart Gardens have been providing incredible natural experiences to visitors for over 100 years. These 55 acres boast a rose garden, perennials, Japanese maples, Christmas lights, and much more. What you can see depends entirely on the season when you visit. Plus, there are delicious restaurants on site, so you can spend most of a day here.
Test Your Nerve on the Suspension Bridge
So long as you aren’t afraid of heights, a visit to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is a must. The park offers multiple experiences. Its namesake is Capilano Suspension Bridge, a wobbly 450-foot bridge some 230 feet above the water that was built in 1889. Visitors can also take on the Cliffwalk, or the Seven Bridges of Treetops Adventure.
Take a Cycling Tour
One of the best ways to discover the culture and charming neighborhoods is by bicycle. Several companies offer guided bicycle tours that can lead you to the coolest neighborhoods, restaurants, bars, and parks in Victoria. Tours are available for individuals and families, and the bicycles are comfortable and designed for casual riders.
Take to the Sky in a Seaplane
Lift off from the water and see Victoria from the air with a seaplane tour. Flights from different operators range from just 20-minute city view tours to daylong adventures showcasing the entire region. You can even use a seaplane operator to visit other areas like Vancouver, Whistler, and Seattle.
Key Guidelines for Travelers visiting Victoria
Crime and Safety
While it is true that Victoria is one of the more dangerous cities in Canada, it’s still quite safe compared to cities in countries like the United States. Petty crimes such as pickpocketing are the most common, which you can largely avoid if you properly secure your valuables. The downtown area does seem to have a bit of a problem with unhoused individuals who may harass pedestrians, but relatively few reports of actual incidents exist.
Best Time to Visit
Despite its northern location, the ocean location of Victoria means the temperature is much more moderate than in most of Canada. Summers are warm but not hot, and winters are cool but rarely cold. However, there are distinct wet and dry seasons. Victoria sees the majority of its rainfall from November to March, so it’s best to visit in the spring or summer if you prefer to stay dry.
Getting Around Victoria
If you stay in the Inner Harbour or the downtown area of Victoria, you’ll find that walking is the easiest way to get around, as the city is quite friendly for pedestrians. Renting a car or motor scooter is another option. Of course, there are plenty of taxi options both on land and the water, and BC Transit offers public transportation.
Before You Visit Victoria – Do This
- Pack an umbrella – It can rain at any time in Victoria, even during the drier summer months.
- Book tours ahead of time – Victoria sees a lot of tourists during summer holiday season, so you’ll want to make reservations.
- Buy travel medical insurance – It only makes sense to protect yourself from the uncertainties that come with travel.