Are you planning a trip to Vancouver Island?

Our Isle is only accessible by either air or sea. Yet, inside those 2 ways of getting here, there are a bang-up many options available to y'all. This article volition effort to provide you with an understanding of getting to Vancouver Island by gunkhole (or rather, ferry).

If you plan on flying to Vancouver Isle, delight read our subsequent article.

On a recent trip across to Vancouver nosotros witnessed this spectacular sunset view

Ferry Services to and from Vancouver Island

Whether you come by car, RV, or nada simply a backpack, arriving by ferry is the about pop way to get to Vancouver Isle. As tempting equally it is to catch upwards on social media during the crossing, make sure you enjoy the view. It's non uncommon to take hold of a glimpse of whales, dolphins and/or porpoises while on route.

Ferry Services from Vancouver, BC

BC Ferries is the main connection between Vancouver Island and the mainland (Vancouver). When coming from Vancouver, you lot take a few options available to you. W Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay concluding), Tsawwassen terminal, or via the Sunshine Coast (Powell River).

Vessels serving customers on BC Ferries between Vancouver and Vancouver Isle offer a wide range of passenger services. Although the mix can vary from one ship to the adjacent, you can typically find the following amenities on your trip across the water.

Ferry Civilities

  • An all-inclusive buffet (Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay merely) offering a wide pick of hot and common cold items, a salad bar, a corrupt dessert bar and more
  • Self-Serve Eating house offer pre-packaged Bread Garden fare. This includes sandwiches, wraps, sushi and salads.
  • An onsite White Spot serving hot and cold entrees, burgers and every kids favourite – the Pirate Pak.
  • Coffee and Snack shop
  • Retail Store

Insider Tip: The food on the ferries is not the same quality as you would wait at a regular eating place. It's also not cheap! We always try to swallow earlier or later on crossing the water.

Ferry Cost

Please visit the BC Ferries Website for electric current rates. (They are forever changing, and equally well, sometimes offer specials throughout the year). However, here are a few neat tips with regards to cost:

  • Group rates: Discount rates are available for groups of x or more travelling together. This is the case for both walk-on passengers or travellers in ane vehicle. To qualify you must volume at least 7 days in accelerate. Not applicative on all routes. You need to telephone call BC Ferries for information: 1-888-223-3779
  • Seniors charge per unit: BC Seniors travel free Mon through Thursday, except for holidays. You must present a BC Services Card, a BC Driver's License, a BC Identification Bill of fare, or a Nascency Certificate. If you lot are presenting a Birth Certificate, proof of residency in BC is required. The BC Seniors discount applies just to the passenger fare.
  • BC Ferries just accepts cash or credit cards (no debit menu utilize). This applies to all ticket purchases, besides every bit purchases made while onboard.
View of Vancouver

Horseshoe Bay Final (West Vancouver) – Nanaimo

Crossing Fourth dimension: 1 hour and 40 minutes

If you decide to board the ferry in Due west Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay), you'll country in Nanaimo at the Difference Bay Final. Due to location, this is a great selection if yous are planning to explore:

  • Nanaimo
  • Parksville and Qualicum Beach (Oceanside surface area)
  • Tofino and/or Ucluelet
  • Comox and/or Courtenay
  • Campbell River
  • Vancouver Island North (anywhere north of Campbell River)
Sechelt Inlet on the Sunshine Declension

Horseshoe Bay – Sunshine Coast – Vancouver Island

If you really take time to explore our cute coastline, and then take the circumvolve route through the Sunshine Coast. It's quite a lot of ferry rides, but if you are up for the chance, information technology's totally worth information technology!

  • Beginning, take the quick forty-infinitesimal passage to the Sunshine Coast (Horseshoe Bay to Langdale ferry).
  • Leisurely make your way up to Earl's Cove, making certain to take in the sights.
  • Then lath the Sechelt to Powell River ferry (Earl'southward Cove to Saltry Bay). A 50-minute crossing.
  • Drive to Powell River (and, of form, spend some time in that location).
  • In one case in Powell River, you board some other ferry spring for Comox (on Vancouver Island). A 1 hr and thirty-minute crossing.
  • From there you accept enough of options. You lot can head north and see the wonders of Campbell River, Telegraph Cove, or Port McNeil. (To name a few). Or, head south towards Nanaimo and Victoria.
  • To consummate the circle, board either a Nanaimo – Vancouver ferry, or a Victoria – Vancouver ferry.

Horseshoe Bay Amenities

The Horseshoe Bay Terminal has no real amenities to speak of. Unless, of course, vending auto snacks are your thing. With your ticket in hand, nevertheless, you lot can walk over to the shops and restaurants in the bay. There you will find quite a few food options. You'll just need your BC Ferries ticket to re-enter the terminal (then make certain to hang on to it!).

Tsawwassen sunset

Tsawwassen Terminal

If you determine to caput to the Tsawwassen terminal, in that location are ii options for a landing destination. Your choices are Victoria (Swartz Bay), and South Nanaimo (Knuckles Indicate).

To Victoria

If your plan is to bout around Victoria, then the Swartz Bay ferry is the obvious choice. The 1 hr and 35-infinitesimal route to Victoria, in my opinion, is the about scenic. The passage over the Salish Ocean is dotted with several small islands, giving y'all ample opportunity to glimpse wild animals. So I advise y'all to sit down back and enjoy your mini cruise!

To Nanaimo

If you hope to explore much of the Island, so I highly recommend taking the Tsawwassen ferry to Duke Betoken. This fashion y'all can slowly brand your way to Victoria. There is a lot to run into in the minor towns between Nanaimo and Victoria.

The Tsawwassen to Duke Signal (South Nanaimo) ferry crossing takes 2 hours.

Insider Tip: It's a flake of a longer trip, simply yous'll find that many locals have the Tsawwassen to Duke Point ferry. This is due to it typically being less busy than the ferry arriving in Deviation Bay.

Tsawwassen Final Civilities

The Tsawwassen Quay Marketplace features a diversity of food offerings to tempt your sense of taste buds including (but not limited to) Starbucks, Sushi, Pizza, Chinese food, BBQ fare, Salad bar, Sandwiches, Rocky Mount Chocolate Factory, bakery, Ice-cream shop, and more.

There is likewise a multifariousness of unique merchant stores.

BC Ferries Insider Tips:

  • Make a reservation!

This is specially truthful if you are planning on touring Vancouver Island in the summertime. The off-flavour (late Oct – early March) sees limited ferry traffic. However, if you hoping for a specific ferry, planning ahead is essential. On long weekends, it'southward not uncommon to wait for hours for your chance to lath the ferry. Those with reservations and bodacious loading passes will ever bump the poor suckers who decided to just have their chances. Trust me when I say, it's NOT worth it!!

Please note: Even with a reservation, yous have to make it at to the lowest degree xxx minutes prior to boarding. And Vancouver traffic can be much similar any other large city – hectic at the best of times. So brand sure you leave yourself enough time. It'due south e'er better to be early than tardily. (Your reservation is completely voided if you lot miss your designated ferry fourth dimension).

  • Baggage Service is available

Hand luggage service is available for walk-on passengers on all major routes between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. The maximum weight for each particular is 50 lbs.

  • Parking is at a Premium

This betoken is only relevant if you are walking on the ferry.

Over again, especially during the summertime months, it is not uncommon to discover the terminal parking lots completely full. (This is peculiarly true for the Horseshoe Bay last). The cost of driving onto the ferry is expensive. Which is why many people decide to walk on. This, however, causes major parking lot issues (something BC Ferries has yet to address).

Being dropped off by either a friend, cab or autobus is always the best pick. Which brings me to my next point…

Getting to Vancouver Island by Bus (via BC Ferries)

Sometimes taking a vehicle on the ferry is not an option. If this is the example, then taking a motorbus might be a good pick for you. There are several options to consider.

Bus Links to and From Vancouver Island

  • Coach Transfer from Downtown Vancouver to Downtown Victoria (tour) – this is a direct service, using BC Ferries to get you across.
  • BC Ferries Connector (Vancouver – Victoria) – This is a direct service to the ferry terminals without any transfers. Arriving on the other side, there are many drop off locations to suit your travel plans.
  • TransLink – is Metro Vancouver's transportation authority responsible for bus, track and SeaBus transit services. Check out their website for transit schedules, maps and further information. Please note: this option requires you to walk on and off the ferry. Plus, you will have to arrange your own transportation once on the Vancouver Island side.
  • Pacific Jitney Lines – Departs from Vancouver International Airport and downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria. For farther information call, 1-800-661-1725.
  • Tofino Bus – This line provides regular transportation to various locations on Vancouver Island. They likewise take a Vancouver – Horseshoe Bay route. You board the bus at the Vancouver bus depot and they will bring you to the Horseshoe Bay final. Once there, y'all volition disembark the bus and walk on the ferry. You volition then see the coach on the other side.
  • IslandLinkBus – provides passenger express jitney service between most Vancouver Isle points and BC Ferries' services at Nanaimo Departure Bay.
Victoria Harbour

Ferry Services from Washington State

There are three ferry services available to bring visitors to Vancouver Island from Washington land:

  • The Black Ball Ferry
  • Anacortes ferry
  • The Victoria Clipper.

The Black Ball Ferry Line

The Black Brawl Ferry (Coho ferry) provides daily service between downtown Victoria and Port Angeles.
The ninety-minute crossing is a scenic journeying through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with spectacular views of the Olympic Peninsula.

Ship amenities include:

  • A gift shop, featuring an assortment of unique gifts that reflect the essence of the west coast
  • A cafeteria that serves a broad variety of hot and common cold nutrient and potable items. This includes speciality sandwiches and soft-serve ice cream.

Anacortes Ferry

The Anacortes Ferry is operated by the Washington Section of Transportation and connects Sidney, BC with Anacortes, WA.

San Juan Provisions provides nutrient service on board the ferries and inside the Anacortes passenger terminal. The Anacortes Terminal Café also offers beer and vino.

Airport Shuttle
When travelling from Sea-Tac Drome to Anacortes there is a shuttle from Sea-Tac Airport to the Anacortes Dock. For schedule and fare data call i-866-235-5247 or check Bellair Airporter.

Island Airporter is another service that provides transportation from Sea-Tac Airport to Friday Harbor. To contact them for fare and schedule information, call (360) 378-7438 or check Island Airporter.

The Clipper

The Clipper is a rider-but catamaran service from Clipper Vacations and runs betwixt Victoria and Seattle.

The Victoria Clipper ferry ride takes two hours and 45 minutes. It travels straight between Pier 69 in downtown Seattle and the Belleville Terminal in downtown Victoria, BC'due south Inner Harbor.

The ferry features two classes of service, including Economy and Comfort Class (as an upgrade). The Comfort Grade, located on the upper deck, features panoramic views, spacious seating, and free snacks, coffee and tea.

Get the best rate by booking hither: Victoria Clipper 24-hour interval Trip

As you can see, even when deciding to travel by body of water to Vancouver Island, in that location are many available options. We hope this commodity helps you decipher which option is best for your needs.

Demand a Hotel?

If yous are looking for great places to stay while y'all are visiting, check out these deals: Vancouver Isle Hotels

This article contains a few affiliate links. If you happen to make a purchase through ane of the links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Utilise this epitome on Pinterest to save the article for hereafter employ:

Traveling to and from Vancouver Island is simple with these tips. Vancouver Island View