Vancouver Island Transportation
Getting Around The Island
Home > Getting Around The Island
Vancouver Island transportation services are modern and efficient.
Whether you're on a budget and looking for public transportation
schedules, or want to go all out with a helicopter tour, we'll help you
find the best way to get to your next destination while visiting the island.
You may want to decide before you get here how you'll get around, or you might want to wait until you're settled into your home base to explore the local options.
Of course, your decision will partly depend on where you want to go on the island, as some areas are remote and have limited choices for getting there.
If you'd like to explore ahead of time, this page will help you figure out all your Vancouver Island transportation options.
Vancouver Island Transportation Services
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If you arrive by ferry, you may be able to bring your car or RV along. Many ferries to Vancouver Island take vehicles, so if you choose this option you can bring your own transportation with you. However, there may still be times when you'd prefer to leave your vehicle at your home base and explore the island in other ways. |
And of course if you fly in, or you don’t bring a car, you'll need to know about your options for getting around.
- Public Transportation
We also call this "public transit" or simply "taking the bus." This is typically the cheapest way to get around, and is perfect for travelers on a budget.Most communities on Vancouver Island have a public transit system, though it's definitely easier to get around in the larger cities where the buses run more frequently and tend to cover a wider area.
You can click to view schedules and maps for all the communities served by public transit on Vancouver Island.
- Rental Cars
Using a rental car can give you the freedom to come and go as you please. Watch for recommendations for the best car rental companies, as well as discount coupons and special offers to help you save money, coming soon... - Charter and Tour Bus Services
These include private bus operators, from larger companies such as Greyhound and Island Coach Lines, to smaller tour operators that service specific destinations.While our public transit system provides service within towns and cities, these larger operators can get you from one city to another in comfort and at a reasonable cost.
- Shuttle Buses
Many Vancouver Island communities have a number of smaller shuttle service that operate privately to provide transportation to specific destinations, such as airports, ferries, and popular tourist attractions. Some attractions run their own shuttles as well, to help you get there more easily. - Horse Carriage
Many Vancouver Island cities and towns offer sightseeing tours by horse and carriage. While this isn't technically a mode of transportation (they won't take you from place to place, but rather you hire the carriage for a tour), it’s a fun way to get around and see some of the popular local sights. - Passenger Rail Transport
Great news...our Via Rail passenger service is coming back! You used to be able to take a sightseeing tour of Vancouver Island by rail, or use the railway system to travel from Victoria to Courtenay, or any one of a number of towns in between.However, in 2011 this popular Vancouver Island transportation service was halted due to safety concerns on the aging rail line. Since then a group known as the Island Corridor Foundation has been working to secure funding for much-needed repairs and upgrades to the line.
The passenger cars themselves will also be upgraded, and will have bike and ski storage, making it a more viable option for those wanting to use the rail line as a jumping off point for cycling trips or ski adventures.
This service is expected to be back in operation as early as Spring 2013. The best way to check on the current status is to visit our Vancouver Island News page, or the Island Corridor Foundation website.
- Ferries
While many people use the ferries to get to and from mainland British Columbia or Washington State, you can also take day trips to some of the smaller islands just off Vancouver Island's east coast.These are collectively known as the Southern Gulf Islands and the Northern Gulf Islands. Click to view schedule information for these routes.
Here’s some more info on getting to the island using our Vancouver Island ferries.
- Helicopter
There are a number of companies on Vancouver Island offering helicopter tours and private transportation services. Not for the budget traveler for sure, but this listing wouldn't be complete without mentioning this service.You can go heli-skiing, heli-fishing, and even stay aboard a luxury yacht and take the private helicopter to the local mountains for an incredible powder skiing experience. More details coming soon!
- Air and Float Plane
There are also several private Vancouver Island transportation companies operating flight services to different destinations on the island, many of them float planes. You can read more about some of these companies on our flights to Vancouver Island page.
There are so many ways to get around that you may have trouble deciding which Vancouver Island transportation service is best. Fortunately, you don't have to! Since there's usually more than one way to get from place to place, many visitors enjoy taking the train one way, and flying back for example.
And remember that there are always plenty of friendly and helpful locals who will be more than happy to help you figure it all out. Don't hesitate to ask for a recommendation!
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