As Hurricane Irma through the Caribbean toward southern Florida, Global Affairs Canada is warning Canadians to avoid all travel to several affected destinations, including more than a dozen island nations in the region.

Countries and regions included:

  • Florida鈥檚 peninsula, including the Florida Keys
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Haiti鈥檚 north coast
  • The Dominican Republic鈥檚 north coast
  • The Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus and VillaClara
  • Bahamas
  • Puerto Rico
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Virgin Islands (U.S.)
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Anguilla
  • Montserrat
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Martin
  • Sint Maarten
  • Saint-Barthelemy

Global Affairs also warned Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel to the following regions:

  • Central Florida
  • Georgia鈥檚 coast
  • The Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, Las Tunas and Matanzas

The agency also warned that, due to Hurricane Katia, travellers should avoid Mexico鈥檚 Gulf Coast, from Cabo Rojo to Laguna Verde.

Contact information for embassies and consulates

For those who remain in the path of the storm, Canadian embassies and consulates can be contacted at the following numbers:

Miami/Florida Keys: 305-579-1600

Cuba: +53-7-204-2516 or +53-7-204-7097

Dominican Republic: 809-262-3100

Punta Cana: 809-455-1730

Bahamas: 242-393-2123 or 242-393-2124

Puerto Plata: 809-586-5761

Jamaica/Turks and Caicos: 876-926-1500

Haiti: 509-2812-9000

Puerto Rico: 787-759-6629

Anguilla/Barbados: 246-629-3550

Travel information

Airlines and travel companies have been working around the clock to bring Canadian travellers home ahead of the storm, and several have instituted flexible policies for those looking to reschedule their vacations.

has cancelled all flights to and from Miami and Fort Lauderdale from Friday until Monday. The airline has put a 鈥済oodwill policy鈥� in place that allows travellers affected by Irma to reschedule flights free of charge. 

says it has put 鈥渇lexible鈥� cancelation and flight change policies in place for travellers with bookings to several countries hit by Irma.

has issued several special advisories for travellers. In Cuba, travellers are being moved from the islands of Cayo Coco and Cayo Santa Maria to Veradero, where additional flights will be transporting them home.

says it is running a 鈥渞escue operation鈥� and helping bring travellers home who are in Irma鈥檚 path. So-called 鈥渞escue flights鈥� from Orlando and Fort Lauderdale have been scheduled for Friday and Saturday, heading to Toronto and Montreal.