There are many options for virtual tours to enjoy the natural beauty of Canada. Check out our selection of free videos.
By Estela Cangerana
The natural exuberance of Canadian parks thrills about 16 million live tourists each year. There are mountains, forests, lakes and waterfalls to be regaled with beauty that, during the pandemic, were only in the memory of many people.
Even during the pandemic, you can have access to all the Canadian breathaking mountains, forests, lakes and waterfalls. even the current travel restrictions, anyone who wants to relive beyond memories or visit these places for the first time can count on the help of technology. Dozens of free videos, short or long, which reveal part of Canadian wonders are available on the internet.
They may not bring all the excitement of the live experience, but they will for sure help you planning your next trip. Especially because, if the desire to check in person increases after them, some of the selected sites also give tips for putting together a complete script.
And should you feel the need to check them in person after the COVID-19, some of selected sites offer excellent tips for putting together a complete road-map
Parks Canada
The government agency Parks Canada offers a huge repertoire of virtual tours that showcase the natural beauty of various parts of the country, which can be explored in many ways. On the official website, it is possible to visit more than 160 selected places through Street View for Google Maps images at https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/multimedia/cartes-maps.
But if the option is for 360-degree videos, there is a complete series available at https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/multimedia/360-videos or on the government agency’s YouTube page, which can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOe6XX2wBaibeuBcoxD5SA0yPche2_nB4 . There are 27 videos that contemplate spectacular images such as those of the Chilkoot Trail Scenic Tour (a 54 kilometres trail through the mountains of the west coast that goes from British Columbia to Alaska) or The Dunes of Prince Edward Island (the great dunes that are on the north Atlantic Canadian coast).
And if 360 degree photos and videos arouse interest for more options, Parks Canada’s YouTube features several other series on its homepage https://www.youtube.com/c/parkscanada/featured. Choose yours! On the institution’s website, there is the possibility to download an app to plan your trip (https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/multimedia/apps), with attractions and games about the parks also for children.
Canada 360º
The World Tours page is another option to see stunning Canadian landscapes from all angles and views. It’s free and is available at http://www.worldtour360.com/gallery.php?country=Canada&lang=en
Travel Alberta
The official tourism agency of the Province of Alberta maintains a YouTube page with 360 degree videos of the attractions of the region at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxwO43IFF1pRevjWFqNkD78wLVcJMNGY4 . But it is also worth checking out two other series on the page: Ready, which offers suggestions of what to do during the trip (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxwO43IFF1pQ8oRKGM-W7LL-GYAM7knWx ) and Stargazing in Alberta, with stunning videos of the magnificent Canadian starry sky in contrast to the province’s landscapes (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxwO43IFF1pStNOwzuWE3t7voMkSgm5Yu ).
One of the great regional highlights, Banff National Park has its own page of the tourism promotion agency of the reserve, Banff & Lake Louise Tourism, which offers virtual tours at https://www.banfflakelouise.com/virtual-360°-tours.
Ontario Parks
On the YouTube of Ontario province parks (https://www.youtube.com/user/TheOntarioParks), which has more than 330 parks, in an area of 9 million hectares, the tip is to explore the videos that show the leisure options in all seasons at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFQ6aZ8T_2rjMwDHBkRrGrkCLodDKBmSs.
Nevertheless, if the objective is to know more about specific reservations, there are special pages with a range of beautiful images, such as The friends of Algonquin Park at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uERTJ7d-RY&feature=youtu.be, and Friends of Killarney Park at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPqLKHVRINUSPrJNcnxPc9Q
Canada Day CCBC Online Festival Tours
You can explore more virtual tours of Canada on the website of the festival that celebrated Canada Day this year. The selection is available in the Cultural Contents of the page, in the Virtual Tour tab, at https://eventos.ccbc.org.br/canadaday/
