Vancouver Island Ferries
BC Ferries and More...
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!
  
The most interesting way to get to Vancouver Island that I've heard of--was a powered Bath-Tub. We used to have an annual event for bath tub travellers--from Nanaimo to Vancouver. It was discontinued a few years ago.
Fortunately, there are a number of other, more comfortable ways to travel to Vancouver Island BC.
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.
The Vancouver Island FerriesThere are two kinds of ferries: passenger ferries and ferry boats that can take vehicles like cars, motorcycles, motor homes and buses.As you may know, there are no bridges that connect Vancouver Island to the mainland. So, that means that most people, coming or going from the island, take ferries. If you are coming to visit, you can bring your own car, or you can come by tour bus. The ferries to Vancouver Island take 6 different routes: - two routes from south of Vancouver at Tsawwassen (38 kilometres south)
- two routes from north-west of Vancouver at Horseshoe Bay (20 kilometres north-west)
- one from Anacortes in Washington U.S.A. (north of Seattle)
- one from Port Angeles Washington U.S.A (west of Seattle)
The four routes from the British Columbia Mainland to Vancouver Island are operated by B.C.Ferries and space can be booked in advance.
Ferry ReservationsIf you will be traveling during the summer (like most visitors), a good tip is to book your ferry seat in advance.The B.C. ferries are very comfortable, big and efficient--but they do get crowded during the summer tourist season. Go online and book a spot...there is a cost for reservations, 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!
 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.
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. Confusing eh?...have a look at a map, the routes are in blue--->
Ferry Routes to Vancouver Island
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
Link to the official B.C.Ferries Website
There are two Vancouver Island ferries that travel between the U.S. and Vancouver Island that also take cars.
Washington State Ferries
To Vancouver Island The big green Washington State ferry travels between Anacortes and Sydney, a town 20 kilometres north of Victoria, but it only goes 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
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 I recommend that you reserve a seat if you plan to use this ferry.
Link to the Port Angeles-Victoria Ferry
Vancouver Island Ferries for 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.
If you travel by ferry to Vancouver Island from the U.S., you will need to show a valid passport.
The Victoria Clipper
This is a fast, 127 foot, Catamaran, powered by water-jet, much like a hydrofoil.Traveling by Clipper is a two hour and forty-five minute trip--from downtown Seattle to the Victoria inner harbor. The Clipper goes once a day, each way, during the winter and 3 times a day between May and September. There actually are three Clippers, but the two smaller ones are used more for whale watching tours and tours of the San Juan Islands.
The Victoria Clipper
 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 trip and a 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.
As you can see, there are quite a few choices for Vancouver Island ferries. You can use them as transportation to get to and from the island, as transport to another place on Vancouver Island or as a way to take in the sights around the Island.
Vancouver Island Ferries to Vancouver Island Transportation
Vancouver Island Ferries to Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
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