Air Canada’s Toronto-Lima service takes off on Dec. 5
Flights to Peru on Air Canada are now just over the horizon, with services to Lima from Toronto to start on Dec. 5. The new flights will operate two days per week (Tuesdays and Fridays), on a winter seasonal schedule that will run until March 28. The new/resumed service is in addition to a route that operates between Montreal and Lima, also twice per week.
The airline recently joined forces with three tour operators to remind travel advisors about the vacation opportunities that are offered by Peru, as part of an event in Vancouver in late September. Those tour operators included Air Canada Vacations, Belmond and Globus/Cosmos/Avalon.
Destination management organization PromPeru organized the PeruConnect 2025 event, ensuring the attendance of Jaime Cardenos, the senior trade commissioner for PromPeru, and Javier Pella Plenge, the country’s consul general in Vancouver.
Plenge covered some of the Peru essentials, including the fact that arrivals to Peru from Canada have been rapidly recovering from the doldrums of the pandemic. He said for instance that 75,000 Canadians travelled to Peru in 2024 – a 60.5% increase over 2023.
He also emphasized that the connectivity to Peru from Canada is now very good, including flights from Vancouver on Air Transat and flights from Montreal on Copa, plus the A.C. services.
Gastronomy is a big part of the Peru holiday offer, said Plenge. “People are coming to Peru for the cuisine,” he said. But Peru’s storied history, including Inca and pre-Inca cultures, continues to be a primary draw, he said, noting that Peru has 13 UNESCO world heritage sites.
Javier Pella Plenge, the Peru consul general in Vancouver, with (l. to r.) Andrea Valente of Belmond, Anna Teglasi of Air Canada Vacations, Edna Ray of Air Canada, Billy Stewart of the Globus family of brands, and Jaime Cardenos of PromPeru
Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations had staff on hand to fill in more details. For example, the new flights will operate on B787-8 Dreamliner aircraft with three cabins – Signature business class, Premium Economy and Economy. Signature class is the only service to Peru from Canada that offers fully lie-flat seating.
The airline also reminded advisors that they should sign up for Air Canada’s new agent incentive program, Air Canada & Me. This allows Canadian advisors to be rewarded on their bookings through AC Connex. They earn tokens based on the value of their bookings, which can be converted to Aeroplan points for personal use.
The ACV program to Machu Picchu includes access to an air conditioned lounge in Aguas Caliente, the town at the base of the mountain which cradles the Machu Picchu site. ACV is the only tour operator to offer such a service to Canadian travellers who are visiting Machu Picchu. ACV offers three levels of service for its Peru programs – Comfort, Superior and Premium – in keeping with the three cabins on the A.C. aircraft.
Belmond owns/operates six luxury hotels in Peru, as well as two railroads. For example, the Monasterio by Belmond in Cusco is a restored 16th century monastery located just two blocks from the city’s central square. It has 122 rooms and suites and features an oxygen enriched air system, to help travellers cope with the elevation of Cusco. There is also a chapel and extensive art collection at the hotel.
Billy Stewart of Globus with prize winner Laura Nelsen of Travel Best Bets & Prize winner Ross McKinnon of Travel Edge with Andrea Valente of Belmond and Edna Ray of Air Canada
A memorable train trip from Cusco to Aguas Caliente (Machu Picchu station), via the Sacred Valley, can be had on the Hiram Bingham rail tour by Belmond. It offers two dining cars and an observatory bar car for the three-hour-plus trip. Guides are assigned to groups of seven passengers each for exploring Machu Picchu before the train returns to Cusco later in the day.
“GFOB (Globus family of brands) really digs into the culture, history and natural beauty of Peru,” said Billy Stewart, the Globus national trade sales manager for Canada. “We give back to all of the communities we visit, showcase the traditions and cultures and employ hundreds of locals, both directly and indirectly.”
The company offers numerous group tours, under the premium Globus banner and the more modest Cosmos brand. But some of the most interesting options are the river cruises sold by Avalon. For instance, a 13-day itinerary includes sights of the Inca Empire, the Peruvian Amazon and the Nazca Lines.
Globus is running a World of Wonder Sales Event, offering savings of $1,300 per couple on select 2026 Globus tours worldwide, for bookings until Nov. 9.
