Vancouver Island Ferries
...and other methods of getting there!
Vancouver Island ferries are not the only way to get to your destination. Because it is an island, there are quite a variety of ways of reaching Vancouver Island safely! [Photo Credits and Links below!]
The most interesting way to get to Vancouver Island was by powered Bath-Tub (this was an annual event from Nanaimo to Vancouver but it was, sadly, discontinued) but there are many other, more comfortable ways.
You can drive your car, motor home or motor-cycle, peddle your bike or roller-blade but you would need to use the Vancouver Island ferries. You could take a bus tour or van tour from Vancouver or do the same from Seattle, but again you would need to use the ferries...so this page is all about the available Vancouver Island Ferries.
A further page (linked to this) examines the use of sea planes, sailing boats, kayaks or visiting, nationally or internationally, via Victoria Airport i.e. Getting to Vancouver Island without using the ferries!
The Vancouver Island Ferries
There are two categories. Those that take cars and passengers (A)and those that only take passengers (B).
A. Those that take cars and passengers.
As there are no bridges connecting Vancouver Island to the mainland in any direction, understanding ferry transportation is crucial. You could sit back and let the tour bus driver work it all out but if you are doing it yourself, you need some help.
There are six different routes for Vancouver Island Ferries. Two from south of Vancouver at Tsawwassen (38 kilometres south), two from north-west of Vancouver at Horseshoe Bay (20 kilometres north-west), one from Anacortes in Washington U.S.A. (north of Seattle) and one from Port Angeles Washington U.S.A (west of Seattle).
Coming from the U.S.A. to Vancouver Island, Canada, you would obviously need I.D. preferably a valid Passport!
The four routes from the British Columbia Mainland to Vancouver Island are operated by B.C.Ferries and space can be booked in advance.
This would be a valuable tip for those travelling during the summer, for although the B.C.Ferries are very comfortable, big and efficient, they do get crowded during tourist season.
Go online and book a spot...there is a cost but it can be worth the peace of mind, especially if you have a larger R.V. (March 2008 the booking fee was $17.50 Canadian).
Also check out costs for vehicles over 20 feet in length as there is a "per foot" cost after 20 feet, and notice that it is cheaper to travel midweek!
So, if your coming from your base in Vancouver, either head south across the Oak Street bridge, through the tunnel along route #99 and turn right on highway #17 and keep driving to the waters edge....you can't go any further, the ferry dock at Tsawwassen is as far as you can go, so you can't miss it,
OR
head west towards Stanley Park, over the Lions gate bridge and up onto highway #1 (yes it goes right across Canada!) where you travel west until the sign tells you to slide down into Horseshoe Bay for the ferry. This ferry from Horseshoe bay will take you to Nanaimo, at mid east coast of Vancouver Island.
The ferry dock on Vancouver Island is either at Swartz Bay, (some 32 kilometres north of Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula, which is the one for ferries from south of Vancouver at Tsawwassen...and the nearest direct route to Victoria),
OR
in Nanaimo (there are two here, Duke Point, south of Nanaimo for ferries coming from Tsawwassen and the other at Departure Bay, north of Nanaimo for ferries coming from Departure Bay, north-west of Vancouver.)
Travelling by ferry to Nanaimo either means you would want to explore the north of the island or make the circle tour, south to Victoria and back by ferry from Victoria.
(More on the "Circle Tour later!)
There is a third ferry route.
North from Horseshoe Bay to the Sunshine Coast (Langdale), drive north and take the ferry across from Earls Cove (free!) and get the larger ferry out of Powell River across to Comox on Vancouver Island. Again this is a great driving route and one that gets you to the north of the island.
Confusing eh?...have a look at a map, the routes are in blue--->
Vancouver Island Ferries from the Mainland of British Columbia, Canada.
Most of the routes have 8 sailings a day from around 7 in the morning until 9 or so at night, usually every other hour but PLEASE CHECK THE SCHEDULES AND FARES BY GOING TO THE OFFICIAL B.C.FERRIES WEBSITE.
Link to the official B.C.Ferries Website
Check schedules, routes, costs and book online.
There are two ferries that travel between the U.S. and Vancouver Island that also take cars.
The big green Washington State ferry travels between Anacortes and Sydney, a town 20 kilometres north of Victoria, but only once a day in each direction. The trip starts in Anacortes at 7.45 am and arrives in Sydney at 10.45 am with stops in the Gulf Islands, probably Orcas and/or Friday Harbor. This route does not run all year but starts March 30th 2008 and runs during the summer. Check with the official website for times and costs.
Link to The Washington State Ferries
Check routes, schedules and costs.
Black Ball Transport has been ferrying cars and passengers from Port Angeles U.S.A. to Victoria harbor for over 40 years! The "COHO" ferry has become a famous site for the Victoria tourist.
The crossing takes 90 minutes and runs all year, with one crossing a day in winter but up to three a day between May and September. Online booking of space can be done through their website, and it is recommended.
Link to the Port Angeles-Victoria Ferry
Schedules, costs and GREAT pics.
B. Ferries that only take passengers.
These all come from a U.S. destination and end up in the Victoria downtown harbor, but not all of them are year round.
(Again, documentation is required because of international travel: U.S. to Canada and vice-versa)
The Victoria Clipper
This is a fast, 127 foot, Catamaran, powered by water-jet, much like a hydrofoil.
It’s a two hour and forty-five minute trip from downtown Seattle to the Victoria inner harbor which happens once a day, each way during winter and three times a day between May and September.
There actually three Clippers but the two smaller ones are used more for whale watching tours and tours of the San Juan Islands. You should check out the schedules and costs at the official website below--->
Link to The Victoria Clipper Home page
The Victoria Express
These are two chips that operate between Port Angeles and Victoria, which can be undertaken in just one hour. Passengers only, can travel once a day during winter but up to three times a day during the summer season, July and August. Again, check out the official website for schedules and costs--->
Link to the Victoria Express home page
The Victoria-San Juan Cruises
These are longer, buffet cruises, from Bellingham to Victoria and return. They leave Bellingham at 9 am and arrive in Victoria at 12 am, returning to Bellingham at 8pm. They only operate the tours from May 10th to the end of September, but there are several tour options that can be added to the actual boat trip. Check it all out at the official website shown below--->
Link to the Victoria San Juan Cruises home page
If you want one of my favorite ways to spend the day in Victoria, you have to start at 8am in the morning down by the sea-bus station in Vancouver. The “Ocean Magic” will take you on a four hour whale watching and local eco-tour, with a guide, through the islands to Victoria. Then a bus trip to Butchard gardens and finally a 5pm departure for a quick trip back to downtown Vancouver.
Check that one out with the link below--->
Link to the Prince Of Whales Vancouver/Victoria Tour
Those are the ferry options, and I know they are a bit confusing but when you track down some of the links and study what they say, it will become much clearer.
That was the Vancouver Island Ferries, now how about getting to Vancouver Island without using the ferries?
You will have to link to the next page for that--->
Getting to Vancouver Island other than by Ferry
Air and sea...boat,plane and kayak!
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