Canadian Medical Travel Coordination
Quick Facts
Last updated: June 2026
Visa for Canadians
No visa is required for stays of up to 180 days. There is no e-visa, because none is needed. Arriving by air, you complete a short digital migratory form online on arrival. Current rules are published by the Government of Canada
Official language and hospital languages
Spanish is the official language. Private hospitals serving international patients commonly have English-speaking doctors and coordinators, though this varies by facility.
Currency
Mexican peso (MXN). Cards are widely accepted in private hospitals and hotels. In tourist areas such as Cancun and the Riviera Maya, US dollars are also widely accepted, though paying in pesos is usually better value. Canadian dollars are not accepted in most places, so carry some pesos or US dollars for smaller costs.
Quintana Roo tourism fee
Travel to the Cancun and Riviera Maya area carries a small state tourist fee (Visitax), separate from your flight.
Flights from Canada to Mexico
Most international patients are treated in Kuala Lumpur, served by Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL). There are no direct flights between Canada and Kuala Lumpur, so every route includes at least one connection..
from Toronto (YYZ)
to Cancun (CUN)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: About 4 hours 20 minutes
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 250 to 450 / peak CAD 500 to 800
from Vancouver (YVR)
to Cancun (CUN)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: About 6 hours 5 minutes
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 400 to 600 / peak CAD 650 to 950
from Calgary (YYC)
to Cancun (CUN)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: About 5 hours 25 minutes
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD From 470 / peak CAD 600 to 900
from Montreal (YUL)
to Cancun (CUN)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: About 4 hours
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD From 406 / peak CAD 550 to 850
Fares are indicative and shift with season and booking lead time. The drier months from late November to April are both the most comfortable and often the busiest, so booking early helps.
Where to Stay
We arrange recovery-friendly accommodation close to your hospital. In Cancun, international patients often stay in the Hotel Zone for comfort and security or in the quieter Downtown area for value, both within reach of the city's private hospitals. The most comfortable window for recovery on the Caribbean coast is the drier, cooler season from late November to April. Hurricane season runs from June to November along the Caribbean and Gulf coasts, and heat builds from April to September, so timing is worth planning around.
3-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD About 110
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 770
4-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 165 to 250
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 1,155 to 1,750
5-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 415 and up
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 2,905 and above
Safety and Travel
The Government of Canada advises travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico, its second of four advisory levels. The major medical cities patients most often ask us about, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Cancun, fall under this countrywide caution level rather than the stricter advisories that apply to certain other states.
In practice this means planning travel sensibly: we book air travel rather than overland routes, arrange trusted private transfers rather than street taxis, and keep you close to your hospital throughout recovery. Conditions can change, so we monitor the official advisory continuously, and you can review it any time through the Government of Canada travel advice for Mexico
Featured Treatments in Mexico
Mexico draws among the highest numbers of international patients in the world, according to Patients Beyond Borders, and its strengths are concrete and well documented. These are the treatments Mexico is genuinely recognized for.
Dental Care
Mexico has the densest concentration of dental clinics in the world, with Los Algodones alone holding more than 350 clinics, alongside major hubs in Tijuana and Cancun. Implants, full-arch restorations, crowns and veneers are the most common reason patients cross the border for care.
Learn more about dental care with Maple Med Global
Weight-Loss Surgery
Mexico, and Tijuana in particular, is recognized as a leading destination for bariatric surgery such as the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass, performed by board-certified surgeons at accredited facilities. In Canada, publicly funded bariatric surgery is tightly limited and waits commonly run to around three years.
Learn more about bariatric surgery with Maple Med Global
Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery
Procedures including rhinoplasty, liposuction, breast surgery and body contouring are a long-standing strength, concentrated in Tijuana, Cancun, Guadalajara and Mexico City. In Canada, the median wait for medically necessary plastic surgery reached 41.5 weeks in 2025.
Learn more about plastic surgery with Maple Med Global
Orthopedic Surgery
Hip and knee replacement and spine surgery are offered in hospital-led cities such as Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City. In Canada, orthopedic surgery carried the longest wait of any surgical specialty in 2025, at a median of 48.6 weeks.
Learn more about orthopedic solutions with Maple Med Global
Fertility and IVF
Fertility care is among Mexico's established specialties, with clinics in Cancun, Mexicali and Mexico City. In Canada, public funding for IVF is partial and varies sharply by province, and a single cycle commonly approaches 20,000 CAD privately.
Costs and Canadian Wait Times
The figures below are guide ranges in Canadian dollars. They show what care in Mexico can cost set against what waiting, or paying privately, can mean in Canada. Where a treatment is publicly insured in Canada, the wait time is the Fraser Institute 2025 national median for that specialty.
Gastric sleeve (bariatric surgery)
Mexico: CAD 5,520 to 11,040
Canada, public wait: Publicly insured. Bariatric surgery in Canada averages around three years
Single dental implant (implant, abutment, crown)
Mexico: CAD 1,090 to 2,070
Canada, private: CAD 3,000 to 6,000
Full-arch dental (All-on-4, per arch)
Mexico: CAD 9,660 to 15,180
Canada, private: CAD 20,000 to 30,000
Final quotes are confirmed per case.
Leading Internationally Accredited Hospitals in Mexico
-
Médica Sur, Mexico City, JCI accredited
-
Hospital Galenia, Cancún, JCI accredited
This list is informational. Hospital selection for each patient depends on diagnosis, complexity, and treatment plan.
Frequently asked questions
For general questions about Canadian health insurance coverage abroad, complication insurance, follow-up care after returning to Canada, and trip planning, see our General FAQ
Plan Your Treatment in Mexico with Maple Med Global
You should not have to wait in pain for care you need. Maple Med Global is a Canadian team that plans every step, from choosing an accredited hospital and surgeon to flights, accommodation, transfers and your return home. There is no obligation, and your quote is free.
Or call/text us at +1 (647) 492-2777
Explore Other Destinations
Comparing your options? Explore more of our medical travel destinations to find the right fit for your treatment.