Travelling to Waterloo by Plane
- Pearson International Airport, Toronto (YYZ)
- For participants travelling from eastern Canada, the United States, or overseas, Toronto’s Pearson International Airport is the most convenient destination. WCGS will provide you with information on how to arrange taxi/shuttle transfers from Pearson to Waterloo (ca. two hours, depending on traffic).
- Region of Waterloo Airport, Kitchener (YKF)
- For participants travelling from western Canada, Pearson is likely your best choice, though there are flights into the Region of Waterloo Airport from Vancouver and Calgary operated by WestJet and Flair Airlines.
- For participants flying Air Canada from anywhere, you have the option of booking a flight with a destination of Kitchener (YKF). The flight will take you to Toronto, and then you’ll be transferred to the Region of Waterloo Airport via Air Canada bus, and from there you can take a taxi to the Delta Hotel. (It is probably simpler, however, to take a taxi or shuttle directly from Pearson to Waterloo.)
Please note that non-Canadian visitors from abroad may need an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter the country. Information about how to obtain an eTA can be found on the Government of Canada's official webpage.
Transfers between Pearson International Airport and Waterloo
Taxis and Shuttles
- The simplest way to travel between Pearson Airport in Toronto and Waterloo is using Waterloo Taxi. They charge $130 from the airport to Waterloo and $110 from Waterloo to the airport. They track your flight, so even it if it is delayed, they'll have made arrangements to pick you up.
- Another option is Airways Transit. They charge $145 for a shared ride service from the airport to Waterloo. They also track your flight.
- Über and Lyft ride services also pick up and drop at Pearson. Their pricing is dynamic, but generally cost the same as a taxi.
Public Transit (Bus and Train)
- Flixbus operates a bus between Toronto Pearson and Kitchener, from where you’d need to take other transportation (public transit, taxi, or Über) to get to the hotel. This bus operates a couple of times a day, so depending on your arrival time it may or may not be convenient. The price can run between $15 and $30 depending on how busy the bus is. It’s best to book it ahead.
- GO Transit operates commuter buses and trains between Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo. It can be a bit complicated using GO Transit as there is no direct connection between Pearson and Waterloo - you’ll have to transfer at least once or twice. A good way of planning a trip with GO Transit is to use the Directions feature in Google Maps. Cost of using GO Transit would be about $20 one way. Reservations on GO Transit are not possible.
- VIA Rail offers limited service to Kitchener (one trip from Toronto Union Station to Kitchener in the late afternoon, and one trip from Kitchener to Toronto Union Station at midday). To transfer to/from VIA, you need to take the UP Express train that travels between Pearson and Toronto Union Station.